Boys names in the UK

[ThatLilacExpert]

What is your opinion please for these boy names in 2025? Please help me decide. I don’t want a name he will be taken the piss at school. Also, I’d like a name that is strong and elegant at the same time. Short list:
Eric, Nicholas, Vincent, Gregory, Patrick.
I am open to other suggestions too but so far the above are my favourites. :-)

Nicholas is my favourite of your ideas - it was much more popular 30 + years ago, but it’s stayed steadily in the top 200 over the past 20 years, so feels like a traditional classic rather than dated in a bad way.

Patrick is ok - I’m just not keen on Pat for short.

Gregory feels dated to me. My kids know the name associated with the character in diary of the wimpy kid books (not necessarily a bad association).

Vincent - My own associations are that it feels dated. Apparently it’s rising in the charts but I don’t know any little ones with the name. Vinny is quite nice as a nn.

Eric is my least favourite because I only associate it with comical tv characters and don’t know any in real life, but apparently it’s rising in the charts, so maybe when I meet a little Eric my opinions will change.

I don’t want a name he will be taken the piss at school

Kids are pretty accepting of most names so i wouldn't worry about that

The only name I've ever heard teased was William with Willy, and even that is only at primary school.

As pp said, kids don't tend to tease about names. Elsa and Alexa are the only ones I've know recently to be teased. There were lots of Erics and Vinnies locally a few years ago.

Patrick and Nicholas are my favourites-I have a young adult Patrick and still love the name and so does he.

I like them all except Nicholas (I can’t help but hear knickerless).

Patrick and Gregory are my favourites. They’d be high on my list for DS due soon except Gregory doesn’t work with our surname and a friend has a 1yo Patrick.

I like Patrick.

Not keen on Eric or Vincent. Not sure why.

Kids don’t generally take the piss out of names these days, names are more varied than ever, nothing is really that unique or unusual now.

Love Nicholas. Like Patric. Not sure on the others.

I guess Nicholas could be teased with Knickerless

But I honestly wouldn't worry about teasing if you love a name

I know a little boy called Patrick who is 7. I think Vincent could work too as I know quite a few little Vinnie's. Not sure about the others sorry.

Like them all except Eric. Simon Cowells son is Eris but otherwise haven't heard it much recently.
Love Nioclas..its a great name

Vincent is OK, have you considered Laurence or Sebastian?

I like Nicholas.

Am not really a fan of Eric or Vincent… or Gregory really, particularly dislike the nickname Greg.

The only Patricks I know are in their 70s, so I struggle to picture baby Patrick!

Patrick is ok but Pat or Patty is less nice imo

Like they all apart from Gregory. Vincent and Eric best for 2025 I think.

Eric - fine
Nicholas - nice but will be shortened (Nick, Nico)
Vincent - not keen. Vince and Vinnie are awful
Gregory - it's OK but I can't imagine a nice Greg
Patrick - nice but he'll be Pat or Paddy

I think of Nicks as being mostly around 40-50. And I’m not a Vinnie fan. But love all the others, especially Eric.

Unless a name is short, imo you have to think of the most obvious potential diminutive too - and personally I’m not keen on Pat, Vin or Greg (which is a shame as I do really like Patrick as a full name).

Nicholas has fab nn options- as well (boring) Nick, there is very cool/trendy Nico and even Cole too. Unfortunately you have to decide whether you are willing to risk potential “knicker less” teasing or not (no idea whether that would still happen today).

Which leaves us Eric. I don’t love it as it’s a bit retro for me, but neither do I dislike it either and I can’t imagine any problems or issues with it.

Nicholas and Gregory. Both good strong names that are underused in the UK. Wolf Hall reminded me what a good name Gregory is.

Eric - i know plenty of nice Erics
Nicholas - timeless, but quite common
Vincent - don't know many Vincents actually
Gregory - slightly dated. Greg for short particularly
Patrick - dated imo

I really like Eric, Nicholas and Patrick.

Kids don't tend to tease and then adds a name of one of my daughter's that must be teased. Thank you and the TS - better choose one that is not knickerless or Elsa or Alexa equivalent, as apparently the teasing exists

Love them all except Patrick.