Julian

[J86579]

That’s our choice for DS, but all our UK friends (DH and I live in London but are not British) seem to be a bit meh about this name. Is there anything wrong with it or any associations we might not be aware of?

I think it's a great name. It's my brother's middle name (and much nicer than his first name!).

It's in the same category as Malcolm and Timothy to me...a bit like a limp handshake (sorry!)

I can't think of any specific negative associations or people in British culture this would be associated with.

I think it's just a preference.

There is Julian Assange, but he isn't British and there is Julian Clary, nothing specifically negative about that. They aren't amazingly famous either. It's not like calling your baby Adolph and not noticing the association until later, don't worry.

It's safe to call your baby Julian.

Walter isn't wet. The previous time around it was more of a working-class tough guy name.

It always makes me think of Walter the Softy from the Beano. You can't get any wetter than that.

Vivian, St.John, Giles, Caspar, Marmaduke, Roderick, Hector, Dominic, Gideon, Jasper, Quentin

wears a paisley cravat, has a pochette tucked under his arm, a dainty little dog, a disdainful air and sniffs

The Julian I associate the name with was a very manly, strong but intellectual character with a strong northern accent.

I like it.

Julian itself is a just about okay name, but it ends up as 'Jules', which is awful.

This is so interesting. I like the name and having grown up in another European country I would have never made any of the associations listed here (and I have lived here for almost half my life). I like the name. I've only met a couple Julians growing up and they were pronounced Yuli-yahn but I like both versions.

It was on my shortlist but family couldn’t pronounce it. I was also tempted by Julius.

My husband is called Julian. He has a regional accent, def not London or posh. He is a lovely and good man so yes I recommend.

I like it, it has a gentle and intelligent quality to me.

Reminds me of Julian the politician in Ghosts.

Yes!

I can't believe that I didn't think of that. Julian was just the right name for him.

Not a favourite, but better than Jolyon, which I’ve come across fairly recently.

I like it a lot - for a girl as well.

I don't love it. It reads very posh to me - like public school, landed gentry.
But I live in south London and there are quite a few about now so I think it's coming up in popularity

I like this but it would just remind me of The Thick of It

My first thoughts were the Famous Five and Postman Pat’s son 😁

I like it!

Dreadful.

I love it. But then I've got a 9 year old Julian.
He's not effete.
I chose it partly because it works so well in French too. And I don't think it has anywhere near the same negative connotations in France as, on the strength of this thread, it seems to do here!

Definitely NOT in the same bracket as Nigel or Roger 😆

I'm sure your Julian is a lovely boy but I would definitely expect a hypothetical Julian to be best friends with Nigel and Roger at his public school.
Crispin, Sebastian, Edward, Hugo, Jasper and Charles would probably be in the gang too.

Use Julian!

It's one of my favourite names and if I were to have children (unlikely) it would be my choice for the name of a firstborn son. (Full name would be Julian Seymour.)

I liked Julian in The Famous Five Books and it also makes me think a bit of Julian Lennon (John Lennon's oldest son) who I think comes across as a nice person.