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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Boys names list - struggling to find one we love

24 replies

Dee51121 · 22/05/2024 22:59

I've always loved reading through the baby name threads - I'm now expecting my first baby next month and only just realised I have the perfect opportunity to post my own thread!

My husband and I don't know if we're having a boy or a girl. If it is a girl, we have a name we both agreed on early on and have stuck with (probably out of fear we'll go off it if we over discuss it). If it is a boy, I think it could be nameless for a while as we can't find one we both love or feel is just right. I feel that we've looked through every name going, although still open to other suggestions in case we've missed anything.

This is the boys name list we have (although some are more from my list, some are more from his!) Like I've said, don't love any of them in particular, so happy for people to rip them apart with their views 😁 It wouldn't put me off a name anyway, names are so subjective. Something that does put me off though is popularity as I had a popular name at school, although it hasn't really been an issue in adult life so perhaps I should get over this as a concern?

• Alfred (like that the nickname potential allows flexibility since we're so indecisive)
• Arlen
• Arthur
• Colin
• Felix
• Fergus
• Fergal
• Frank
• Franklin
• Fred or Freddie/Freddy
• Ivan
• Ivor/Iver
• Luan
• Malcolm (nn Malky/Malc)
• Patrick
• Sidney
• Ted or Teddy (or to be more original, Tedder)

We've decided on middle names - there will be two beginning with B (family names so wouldn't use them as first names). Surname is Irish and begins with R.

Thank you.

OP posts:
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SkaneTos · 22/05/2024 23:10

I think all the names on your list are good names!
My favourites are

Alfred
Felix
Fergus
Fergal
Frank
Franklin
Patrick

About the name being popular or not - I think some parents think it's a good thing that the name is popular, and some parents want the name to be more unusual.

Mumofgirls2017 · 22/05/2024 23:14

Like Alfred. Arthur, Felix, Franklin, Frederick, Ivan, Ivor, Patrick and Sidney.
jasper
stanley
theodore
albert
spencer
charles
rowan
casper
leonard
otis

Moreteaandchocolate · 22/05/2024 23:14

My favourites are Arthur, Freddie and Ted (prefer as short for Edward or Theodore), but these are also the most popular, so they are no good if that’s important to you.

I also really like Alfred (I see your point about nn potential), Felix, Frank, Ivan and Patrick - great choices if you want something less popular but not too “out there”
Your others are less to my taste.

Do you like
Max
Zachary
Isaac
Evan
Euan
Dexter
Asher
Stanley
Sebastian
Rpry
Lewis
Toby
Reuben
Joel
Fraser
Silus
Flynn
Koby
Rex
Eli
Albert / Albie
Caleb
Jasper
Robert / Bobby

JimNast · 23/05/2024 08:03

• Alfred - ok
• Arlen - nothingy, Arlo very popular
• Arthur - very popular
• Colin - dated
• Felix - ok
• Fergus - ok
• Fergal - ok
• Frank - ok
• Franklin - just Frank, or Francis nn Frank, better
• Fred or Freddie/Freddy - ok
• Ivan- ok
• Ivor/Iver - Iver is a village near Slough, Ivor Biggun?
• Luan - Loon?
• Malcolm (nn Malky/Malc) - seems dated
• Patrick - like
• Sidney - not keen
• Ted or Teddy (or to be more original, Tedder) - not sure

Out of those, Patrick. Paddy is great.

Littlelillies · 23/05/2024 13:30

From your list, I like Ivan.

How about

Reuben
Quentin
Magnus

Firsttimebabymummy · 23/05/2024 14:26

My favourites are Alfred and Freddie. They were on my list (although Frederick)

mathanxiety · 23/05/2024 18:46

With an Irish surname beginning with R, I'd choose:
Patrick, Fergus, or Luan (though I'd be inclined to spell it Lughan to avoid the mispronunciation of Luanne)

I don't like abbreviated names -
Frank, Fred/Freddie, Ted/ Teddie.
I'd use the longer or more formal form -
Francis
Frederick
Theodore or any of the Ed- names.

With an R surname I'd avoid names ending in R:
Arthur
Ivor
Tedder

The rest:
Alfred - nice; there are thousands of Alfies though.
Arlen - a bit made uppey. Not keen.
Colin- dated.
Fergal - rhymes with gurgle, burgle, so no.
Franklin - not great.
Sidney - nice, but very English alongside an Irish surname.

Felix - nice
Ivan - nice.
Malcolm - nice.

Suggestions:
Killian
Malachi
Ivo
Thomas
Callum
Damien
Dylan

Francis
Frederick
Theodore
Edward, Edwin, Edgar

Hoeboe · 23/05/2024 18:48

Ewan/Euan

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 23/05/2024 23:05

If it’s the popularity putting you off one that you really love then I say get over it imo- even the very top names are given to less than half the amount they were 20 years ago, let alone 30, 40 years etc. Everyone wants something “uncommon” now - getting 2 of the same name in a class can be unluckily random.

Of your picks I love Alfred - so Kingly and patrician yet with lots of cute diminutive choices as you mentioned. Also quite like underused, elegant Patrick, cute, quirky Felix or very trendy (but Kingly!) Arthur.

RogueFemale · 24/05/2024 00:22

Horatio
Edward

Violet17 · 24/05/2024 01:26

From your list
Fergus
Patrick
Sidney

Or
Declan
Michael
Kieran

Barleysugar86 · 24/05/2024 01:28

I love Arthur and Patrick. Strong classic names but still sound fresh to me.

sarahsunny · 24/05/2024 01:32

Oh I love Luan! That's beautiful.

Arthur, Teddy, Freddie, in contrast - all a bit boring and overdone.

FixItUpChappie · 24/05/2024 04:22

My favourites are Patrick and Sidney - classic and not overused

botleybump · 24/05/2024 05:13

Wilfred was too of our list.

I loved Wilf for short and my husband loved Freddy, so there were options

romdowa · 24/05/2024 05:23

Arlen is the real stand out from your list. It's unusual yet not wacky , it's quite lovely actually.

NewLifter · 24/05/2024 07:44

I'm not into anyvon the list, but have you considered Conor?

nobird · 24/05/2024 07:59

Colin is very out of use and for that reason I like it. Every Colin I’ve ever known has been lovely so that probably influences me.

I like Malcolm too. Solid name.

user1492757084 · 24/05/2024 12:30

From your list my faves are ..
Colin
Felix
Malcom
Sidney
Patrick

Do you like ..
Alistair
John
Thomas
Hugh
Alexander
Angus

Dee51121 · 17/06/2024 20:47

Thank you for the replies, I enjoyed reading through them. We ended up having a baby girl last week, so name crisis diverted, but if we ever end up having a second I'll no doubt look back at this thread!

OP posts:
SkaneTos · 17/06/2024 22:07

@Dee51121
Thank You for the update, and congratulations!

JimNast · 18/06/2024 20:49

Congratulations @Dee51121 ! 👶Flowers

wafflesmgee · 18/06/2024 20:52

Benedict
Domminic
Asher

Charlie2121 · 20/06/2024 00:05

Dee51121 · 17/06/2024 20:47

Thank you for the replies, I enjoyed reading through them. We ended up having a baby girl last week, so name crisis diverted, but if we ever end up having a second I'll no doubt look back at this thread!

Congratulations!

Did you call her Colin?

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