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Original poster

Stuck for baby boy names, our favourite just got vito’d by my mother!

167 replies

Shop90 · 08/10/2025 01:10

We are due our first baby - a baby boy in mid November but we are really struggling with names.
The middle name is going to be George after my dad.

Our top name was Archer, but when I told my mum, she quite angrily said it wasn’t a real name and I should be using Archie, as Archer sounds stupid. So it has put a spanner in the works and now we regret telling her our front runner.

The rest of our list includes:
Wilf
Charlie
Otis
Hugo
Seb (Sebastian)
Tobie (Toby)

We don’t want anything too out there but also don’t want anything too common. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
Middle name George.
Surname starts with a W if that helps.

Thank you :)

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TiggerSnoozer · 08/10/2025 23:52

If you don't like Archie, don't go for Archer as he will be called that by some people (or choose it himself). But otherwise, don't let anyone put you off the name you love. It's unusual but I reckon it would grow on family members.
Sebastian is a good name too.
Dominic is in a similar vein.
And if you're looking for slightly more left field then I'm currently warming to Arlo as a name.

BeaLola · 09/10/2025 00:00

As others say your baby your name ...of course next time you see your Mum you could tell her you've taken her thoughts on board and are considering Norman or Balthazar but can't decide on which one ....

me24x · 09/10/2025 00:25

My mum didn’t like either of the choices I had for DD or DS and we went with names she didn’t like (yes both times!), because she had her chance to name her children, this was ours..She now says how she can’t imagine them being named anything different. Your baby, your choice. Your mum will adjust, I promise! I also ditto what a pp said about regretting not sticking with your choice, you really will

MsSmartShoes · 09/10/2025 00:26

tte best thing is not to talk about your name choices with anyone else.

ShesTheAlbatross · 09/10/2025 00:36

Oh honestly, just ignore your mother!

user1492757084 · 09/10/2025 03:03

Archibald George W
Alistair George W
Archer George W

Thepossibility · 09/10/2025 04:04

Archer George is a lovely name. I would think Archer sounds more like a name than Archie which sounds more like a nickname to me.
My tip is- stop discussing names with people. Choose the name you want and announce when the baby is here, that usually quietens the haters a lot. No name you discuss will be loved by everyone and it just takes the shine off your joy.
I finally learnt my lesson by baby no. 3.

needapokerface · 09/10/2025 04:24

What about Jaxon George it flows really well and sounds strong , or maybe its just my Scottish accent 😁

If you really love Archer use it, your mother had her chance of naming a baby when she had you, it's your turn now

sittingonabeach · 09/10/2025 05:04

I don’t particularly like Archer but it isn’t awful. Not sure it goes with George

Why the Tobie spelling. Your child wouldn’t thank you for that, having to spell it out and correcting people all the time

User0311 · 09/10/2025 05:05

Otis George would be beautiful I love both names

3luckystars · 09/10/2025 05:09

I hope you learned your lesson not to tell anyone your names.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 09/10/2025 05:09

I like Oberon / Obie

Snakebite61 · 09/10/2025 07:15

Shop90 · 08/10/2025 01:10

We are due our first baby - a baby boy in mid November but we are really struggling with names.
The middle name is going to be George after my dad.

Our top name was Archer, but when I told my mum, she quite angrily said it wasn’t a real name and I should be using Archie, as Archer sounds stupid. So it has put a spanner in the works and now we regret telling her our front runner.

The rest of our list includes:
Wilf
Charlie
Otis
Hugo
Seb (Sebastian)
Tobie (Toby)

We don’t want anything too out there but also don’t want anything too common. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
Middle name George.
Surname starts with a W if that helps.

Thank you :)

Charlie isn't too bad. I would instantly dismiss the rest. And she was right about Archer.

FlubandSlub · 09/10/2025 08:24

Shop90 · 08/10/2025 01:10

We are due our first baby - a baby boy in mid November but we are really struggling with names.
The middle name is going to be George after my dad.

Our top name was Archer, but when I told my mum, she quite angrily said it wasn’t a real name and I should be using Archie, as Archer sounds stupid. So it has put a spanner in the works and now we regret telling her our front runner.

The rest of our list includes:
Wilf
Charlie
Otis
Hugo
Seb (Sebastian)
Tobie (Toby)

We don’t want anything too out there but also don’t want anything too common. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
Middle name George.
Surname starts with a W if that helps.

Thank you :)

Archer sounds like a job title to me but it's your child your choice. I love Charlie for a boy. What about Arlo?

Menopausalyak · 09/10/2025 08:42

My DS is called Lee. My "darling"M pulled a face and said it sounded like wee!! It just made me more determined that that would be his name 😉😉

Eenameenadeeka · 09/10/2025 08:54

She doesn't get to veto it, so I'd still go with Archer, there's nothing wrong with the name. A similar sound could be Arthur, Arthur George sounds quite lovely. But I think you should go with Archer and just don't discuss it with her (or don't tell her whatever you pick until baby has arrived and is named)

AnEnglishCircedee · 09/10/2025 09:45

Shop90 · 08/10/2025 01:10

We are due our first baby - a baby boy in mid November but we are really struggling with names.
The middle name is going to be George after my dad.

Our top name was Archer, but when I told my mum, she quite angrily said it wasn’t a real name and I should be using Archie, as Archer sounds stupid. So it has put a spanner in the works and now we regret telling her our front runner.

The rest of our list includes:
Wilf
Charlie
Otis
Hugo
Seb (Sebastian)
Tobie (Toby)

We don’t want anything too out there but also don’t want anything too common. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
Middle name George.
Surname starts with a W if that helps.

Thank you :)

Hugo is my favourite. I’ve never been keen on occupational names , Archer , Mason etc

HRchatter · 09/10/2025 09:48

Househassles · 08/10/2025 18:59

Archer is certainly "a real name". Archie, arguably, is a diminutive - she'd sound a little less unreasonable if she were arguing it the other way around - e.g., use Archer, not Archie. But yeah: not her baby, not her veto. Regardless of what you decide - Archer or something else - stop talking to her about the subject.

How about Asher?

As in a brimful of Asher on the 45 ….

ImogenBrocklehurst · 09/10/2025 10:48

Got nothing to do with your mother. Your baby, your choice.

LilacReader · 09/10/2025 12:26

We purposely didn't tell anyone our names as I didn't want anyone to dismiss them before baby was born. My MIL told us after having one of our sons that she didn't like 'Oscar' when she first heard the name but after talking to a friend who said her daughter was going to call her baby that if she had a boy and a few others of her friends who loved it, she soon changed her tune. So, can only say, please don't tell ANYONE until it's too late!!

SorcererGaheris · 09/10/2025 12:36

I think if you really want Archer, then you should use it.

Personally, I don't think it goes very well with the middle name George, I think George Archer sounds better off the tongue, but that's just me.

I like Charlie the most from your list.

If you're determined to use a different name, then I'd suggest:

Arthur
Peter
Edmund
Robin
Julian
Douglas
Dennis

Go1we · 09/10/2025 20:26

My boy a friend called Acer which is lovely

dhfoody47 · 11/11/2025 09:20

Shop90 · 08/10/2025 01:10

We are due our first baby - a baby boy in mid November but we are really struggling with names.
The middle name is going to be George after my dad.

Our top name was Archer, but when I told my mum, she quite angrily said it wasn’t a real name and I should be using Archie, as Archer sounds stupid. So it has put a spanner in the works and now we regret telling her our front runner.

The rest of our list includes:
Wilf
Charlie
Otis
Hugo
Seb (Sebastian)
Tobie (Toby)

We don’t want anything too out there but also don’t want anything too common. Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated.
Middle name George.
Surname starts with a W if that helps.

Thank you :)

Love all your names, particularly Wlif 😊 your baby, your choice - my son is Harvey 💙

TheLivelyRose · 11/11/2025 10:57

Sebastian.

Seb is such a cool name.

EmotionallyWeird · 11/11/2025 22:33

Archer is not really my style but if anything could make me choose it, it would be someone telling me I couldn't. It is none of your mum's business what names you choose and I really hope you don't let her comment influence your decision. For what it's worth, I like Hugo and Charlie from your list - but I want you to choose Archer now, just to show you won't be pushed around.