Honest opinions please!

[mersmam]

We're having trouble with boy's names this time round... dh likes Francis but I'm not sure (have always preferred Frances for a girl). I like Reuben but dh isn't sure. We both like Bede - we'd like to have a saint's name and it goes well with our surname - but I'm not sure what the rest of the world will think! Honest opinions please - will he get beaten up in the playground??

Am going to contemplate all of this in the bath...

Oh - I do like Anselm too...

Bede is just pronounced 'Bede' (or I suppose 'Bead' but that makes it sound poncey!!) now am REALLY going in the bath...

I'm afraid it's a big no from me then.

The Benedict idea has given me food for thought... but do still REALLY like Reuben. We'll probably have Francis as a second name...

I fear Reuben is the only one who won't end up being teased.

Gilbert is dreadful imho. Gabriel is gorgeous.

janeite!?!?!?!?

how very dare you?!?!?

away now and get yourself the boxset of Anne of Green Gables this very instant to fully appreciate just how swoony Gilbert really is

Anselm, another name I love but couldn't use. Also Ninian.

Mersmam, that is fabulous that you got Turkish Delight as gifts for Edmund. I thought I would be the only person to do something like that

Have no idea if this bump is boy or girl, and won't find out till it's born.

Gilbert is very swoony in Anne of Green Gables, but I still don't like his name. Sorry.

How about Columba for a saint's name, or Patrick? Do you not like Aidan, I think it's a fine name.

Mind you, if you really like Reuben, I would go for it, I don't think it's going to go stratospheric in popularity, it's just a bit "in" right now. Reuben Francis is fabulous.

Love Gilbert!!!!

I'd know how to spell and say Bede because the local high school is called St Bedes. Which could explain why I have never taught a Bede.

I have taught lots of Reubens though and one Rueben and also a Rubin (kiwi accent and phonetic spelling for that one I think!)

Not taught a Francis but it's a name I would be comfortable singing hello to. (My music teacher version of the tesco test).

Frankie is quite common for a girl where I am but not a boy. DD's middle name is Frances. I like it.
Reuben is good, IMO, but it reminds me of the Kenny Rogers song, just don't give him the middle name James

I second Alban.

What about Sebastian?

feckin bede are you shittin me?

gilbert pmsl...

i like mervyn. no, not taking piss. i think mervyn is a super cool name

mervyn is a pervy name

my first imaginary grandchild....i was gonna push for mervyn.

merv the perv.

shit on a stick...sometimes we need others topoint out the obvious

thats ggirl

thanks* not thats.

mrsboring - I don't know if I'm having a boy or a girl either - I just have my girl's names all sorted and am struggling with boys... I agree that Gilbert might only be popular amongst those who have read the Anne books have consulted dh who will not consider Benedict and is now saying he won't have reuben but my current choice is Reuben Francis Bede (he doesn't need to tell anyone about the bede does he??) My ds and my dd2 both have three names because we couldn't narrow it down further. Actually, we also tagged an extra one on the end of dd2's name at her baptism so she has three legal names and four baptismal names... I'm sure they are going to resent us for it when we're older
To all you Bede haters out there - I bet if there was suddenly a famous actor called Bede Smith and an olympic athlete called bede Jones you'd all love it!!

I like Bede.

Benedict, no.
Francis, yuk. Though Frank is ok.
Not overly keen on Edmund, though Blackadder...

Mrs Boring - I do quite like Aidan and Patrick but just not QUITE enough... Also know quite a few Aidans so that's out!
Alban and Anselm are nice but really just about as weird as Bede - and not as nice in my opinion!

I also forget to mention that I quite like Atticus (Atticus Finch in 'To Kill a Mocking bird' and there is also an obscure st. Atticus) but most people I've mentioned it to like it about as much as Bede! Dh likes Austin (after his grandad) but I can't get rid of the Mike Myers images...

Glad you like Bede Umlellala - there are not many of us

I love Bede

and Francis/Frank

and Gil short for Gilbert

not so keen on Benedict though, purely becuse it would inevitably get shortened to Ben, which is OK but dull.

I love Edmund too, you have great taste in names imo.

How about Christopher shortened to Kit? I love this too.

I have a Bede, we love it, only met one other- in Daisy and Tom's on the King's Road!