Arthur - great or awful?

[Belgrano]

Canvassing for ideas on Arthur. It's a good strong name and I like it not being too popular. I can't work out if I actually like 'it' though. Is it horrendous or lovely? Can't help thinking it's v old fashioned and maybe a bit ugly as a word. But I'd love love my son to have a name that isn't ten a penny all through his growing up years and can't think of any others. It's a bit of a family name so works from that point of view too.

Other names we like are Sam and Oliver but they are SOOOO common (ie. there are millions of them).

Middle name could be Brian (family name) but Arthur Brian might be a bit unfair on the poor little thing. Thoughts??

[fruitstick]

I have one so obviously I'm biased. Everybody frowned initially but people have grown to like it,

And boodleboot, I do call him sixpence

[chatname]

There are 2 Arthurs in DS's nursery set (so out of about 15ish boys) aged around one.

[Ladyem]

Love it!!

[countesscaloriecounter]

It's my DS's middle name after his Great Grandad. At first I was a bit sceptical on having it but absolutely love it now.

[FruitynNutty]

Love it!
It's my DS2's middle name

[babybugs]

I LOVE Arthur, not sure about brian though!

[Heated]

Wonderful

[tvfriend]

There was a gorgeous Arthur on that BBC 'Oliver' programme- would be tempted myself solely for that reason!

[LaDiDaDi]

Yes I think that you need to add in something between Arthur and Brian.

Arthur James Brian

Arthur Philip Brian

Arthur Samuel Brian

[LaDiDaDi]

I love it too, on my list if this one is a DS but I do think it's about to shoot up the charts in popularity.

[stillstanding]

Arthur is lovely - so much nicer than Sam and Oliver which are very popular where I live. I love it although admit that I probably wouldn't be brave enough to go with it myself (the posh factor) but I would admire anyone who did! Go for it.

And don't worry about the middle name thing. We chose my father's name for DS's middle name even though it wouldn't have been something we would normally have gone for. For us it was far more important to honour my father and our thinking was that middle names are hardly ever used in any case.

[gladders]

i know 3 little Arthurs - ages 1,6 and 7

think it's a great name - traditional but not too too popular and a welcome rest from all the freddies and archies.

what was your dad's middle name? could that be used instead of Brian? agree with the other coments on here that the combination isn't good.... Did your dad have any nicknames or hobbies that could be used in some way?

[BakewellTarts]

Absolutely love Arthur and would have wanted it if I'd had a DS but as we've only got DD's won't get to use it...

[AtheneNoctua]

The only Arthur I can think of is of course the good little tory, Arthur Cameron.

Or there's Arthur Clenham from Little Dorrit. He was a nice chap.

And Brian is a nice name too. Not sure why people wouldn't like.

[Sazisi]

I love it

[boodleboot]

i love Arthur Smith so for that reason would say yes

i would be tempted to call him Arthur Sixpence tho.....but i am just mean....

[jellybeans]

When I heard it on a baby at first i thought it was awful (sorry) as it was an 'old mans name'. But as it is getting more popular it will probably seem OK.

[Bonneville]

My Dad is called Arthur and I dont know of any others.

[Belgrano]

thanks everyone.

Brian is my dear dad's name, who died about 6 weeks ago. Should have explained - nobody is pretending it's a nice name - TBH he didn't like it either! Neither do any of us but it was his name - and I do want to remember him in this naming since he so nearly got to meet his grandson (due in 4 wks). Interesting about alf a brain - hadn't thought of that. I guess I'll stick another name in between them if we do go for Brian middle.

Re. Arthur being common, I don't know more than one and that's fine for me!

Personally I was concerned about 'farty arty' in the playground but none of you have come up with that so maybe I'm being paranoid.

[mrsradders]

love arthur really nice and traditional but not brian i'm afraid sounds a bit old!!! sorry
xx

[Bucharest]

Flat cap and whippets.....sorry.

[magbags]

I don't like it at all (makes me think dirtly old man) and Brian makes it even worse imho. Sorry.

[Frasersmum123]

I love Arthur, but please dont saddle him with Brian.

[traceybath]

Its DS2's name and always gets a very positive reaction.

Certainly haven't noticed very many round my way. For us it was traditional, good for child and adult and not massively popular.

His middle name is Montgomery which i think goes very well with Arthur

[LittleWhiteWolf]

I love it. I think it is a strong, traditional name and I love that for boys (our choice should this one turn out to be a boy is Leonard). I'd happily use Arthur for my own son.

But I wouldnt call him Arthur Brian. I didnt immidiately think what PPs have (rightly) pointed out about Halfa Brain, but I just dont think they sit well together when said outloud. SOrry!