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Original poster

What do you think: Wesley or Julian?

86 replies

amitymama · 24/04/2008 17:33

These boy names are not extremely common but also not 'out there' where I'm from but I wondered what their popularity and associations are in the UK? There have been names I liked that my (English) DH informs me are too poncy or too common or too weird so I wanted to run these two past some other UK natives for perspective.

DH likes both names but thinks one might be considered odd and the other too popular. What do you think?

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Original poster
amitymama · 25/04/2008 22:58

Thanks for all the (constructive) input!

DH thinks he is leaning towards Julian now. I'm still not decided and need more time to think about it. Going to keep looking for other names as well. DH keeps suggesting Rocco or Cosmo so he's of no use.

OP posts:
seeker · 25/04/2008 23:03

How about "And Introducing Julian Smith - Heavyweight Champion of the World!

"And this is Mr Wesley Smith - he will be operating on you today"

Original poster
amitymama · 26/04/2008 11:03

So the measure of a boy/man's name is whether it sounds good as a news presenter, pilot, PM, boxer or surgeon? Hmmm...

Does this apply to girls names as well? What professions are we supposed to use to pigeonhole them?

OP posts:
DoubleBluff · 26/04/2008 11:06

Like Julian, not keen on Wesly. Knew a Wesley at school and he was a bit odd.

johnso · 26/04/2008 11:08

If I had to chose, then Julian

bandgeek · 26/04/2008 11:10

Julian.

Makes me think of Jools Holland

itsahardknocklife · 26/04/2008 11:10

I don't like either, to be honest. If I had to choose, though, I would go for Wesley. Julian is a bit...well...camp. Not that there is anything wrong with that. (runs off before she digs herself any further into a hole)

Nancy66 · 26/04/2008 11:58

Not made on either.
Wesley sounds like some kid from a dodgy estate and Julian sounds like a bed wetter.

KatieScarlett2833 · 26/04/2008 12:09

A "Wesley" round here is someone who is thought of as being a bit of a drip, sorry.

itsahardknocklife · 26/04/2008 12:22

lol at Julian sounding like a bed wetter!

SandyDennyWasAGreatSinger · 26/04/2008 12:22

i like Wesley. Twas my grandmother's maiden name.

julian makes me think Famous Five.

seeker · 26/04/2008 12:27

amitymama -the same apply to girls. I think you ought to think about the adult you are naming as well as the baby. There is a very good news reporter whose first name is Kylie - and I have to remind myself to take what she says seriously every time. And would you REALLY want to have your c-section performed by Chardonnay or Fifi Trixiebelle?

Beauregard · 26/04/2008 12:38

Sorry i dont like either of them.For some reason they conjure up images of a snivelly geek.

EffiePerine · 26/04/2008 12:39

I like Wesley a LOT and Wes is a nice shortening.

Original poster
amitymama · 26/04/2008 12:51

seeker, I don't plan to have a c-section but if I had to have one, I'd just hope the person was competent, no matter what their name. I just I just think we attach too much meaning to names and assign people personality traits they probably don't even have based on our preconceptions of what people with that name 'should' be like. Seems a bit silly to me, but I realise that this is the reality we live in. c'est la vie.

BTW, those who said Julian sounds camp...is that because of Julian Clary or something/someone else I'm not aware of?

Thanks!

OP posts:
seeker · 26/04/2008 12:56

I wish I had your clear, focussed rationality on the subject, amity - but I suspect you might be alone!

helenelisabeth · 26/04/2008 20:48

My best friend's DH is called Julian - he is the most stunning man I have ever met! (don't fancy him though!) So go for Julian! Also gorgeous boy called Julian in DD's class - not poncey at all!

PuppyMonkey · 26/04/2008 20:54

EEk. Please don't call your baby Julian . It's not that it's poncey, tis just... naff. Like calling a baby Trevor or Craig.

And Wesley... Snipes. Enough said.

B1977 · 26/04/2008 20:54

I like Julian, would shorten to Jules not Jools as Jamie Oliver's wife is called Jools and it now seems to be normal as an abbreviation for Julia, rather than Julian.

B1977 · 26/04/2008 20:55

Wesley makes me think of Buffy, actually, but now you mention Snipes - yuk!

chocolatemummy · 26/04/2008 20:56

I had the same prob, I was going to use Sebastian because I like Seb, luckily I had a girl lol

hatrick · 26/04/2008 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

RustyBear · 26/04/2008 21:06

DS's second name is Julian - I agreed to it in a weak moment after he was born beause DH liked it & I'd chosen his first name - we both regretted it very soon after registering him, but didn't get round to changing it within the year. He has totally dropped it & uses his first & third names -it's only his passport & bank account that use it.

pantiesandsussies · 26/04/2008 21:08

dd went to primary school with a Wesley and a Westley. Everyone I know thought the Westley lad was called Wesley ... until the mam came up and informed us his name was WesT(ttt) ley

pantiesandsussies · 26/04/2008 21:09

btw dd is 13. Wesley is a normal lad, but Westtley is like a wet weekend.