Quentin or Hugo

[Annabelsmummie]

We're expecting a boy at the end of October and have managed to narrow our name choice down to our two current favourites: Quentin and Hugo.

Our dd is Annabel.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Both names make me think of old farts in those corduroy trousers that posh people wear I'm afraid.

There are not enough Aubreys in this world imo

Prefer Quentin or how about Quinn?

I am French, DH English. We have a 4 year old Hugo who is nothing as described and some comments are particularly offensive andcompletely out of proportion. I don;t agree with associating a name with a personality and even less with sexuality,
we never had any comments about his name being posh!
On our list of matching French-English names, we also had Felix.

I do like the name Hugo- if it sounds good with you surname then it should be fine.

I think the problem with these more unusual boys names is that in the UK other children might ridicule or bully them, but it will depend on where and what type of school your child attends.

I don't believe for one minute that a name makes you homosexual, but certain names do have overtones.

There was a famous very camp, gay English man called 'Quentin Crisp' who was quite notorious some years ago. Perhaps some people might still associate that name with him and consequently, homosexuality. Obviously, little children will not have heard of him but it's just a name that in UK society is often linked to this man.

On the other hand, you have Quentin Tarentino, the famous director, so it does depend on your viewpoint.

I think that traditional king's or saints names like Edward, Henry, William, Richard and James are still regraded in England as 'posh' names that most people like. Or perhaps something like Toby, Rupert, Oscar, Christian or Issac.

But as you have a European surname, then these names may not suit. Unfortunately, the class issue in the UK is alive and well, so I would advise not giving your son too unusual a name, that labels him.

St John is an odd one because as a name it is pronounced 'singen' or 'singon' not phonetically- 'St John' as you would read from the Bible.

Good luck with you choice.

I do like the name Hugo- if it sounds good with you surname then it should be fine.

I think the problem with these more unusual boys names is that in the UK other children might ridicule or bully them, but it will depend on where and what type of school your child attends.

I don't believe for one minute that a name makes you homosexual, but certain names do have overtones.

There was a famous very camp, gay English man called 'Quentin Crisp' who was quite notorious some years ago. Perhaps some people might still associate that name with him and consequently, homosexuality. Obviously, little children will not have heard of him but it's just a name that in UK society is often linked to this man.

On the other hand, you have Quentin Tarentino, the famous director, so it does depend on your viewpoint.

I think that traditional king's or saints names like Edward, Henry, William, Richard and James are still regraded in England as 'posh' names that most people like. Or perhaps something like Toby, Rupert, Oscar, Christian or Issac.

But as you have a European surname, then these names may not suit. Unfortunately, the class issue in the UK is alive and well, so I would advise not giving your son too unusual a name, that labels him.

St John is an odd one because as a name it is pronounced 'singen' or 'singon' not phonetically- 'St John' as you would read from the Bible.

Good luck with you choice.

annabelsmummie,

they are both nice nice.

to me, hugo sounds like quite a kind, gentle, easy-going type of person.

and quentin sounds like a bit more independent, forth right, type of person.

i know you havent asked for alternatives, but i as really like sebastian and think it sounds nice with annabel.

Just to add a little note that I went to an independent boys boarding school with only girls in the sixth form.

I never once met a Felix or a Giles and although I know names come in and out of fashion, the rich do tend to stay away from names are too unusual.

Most of the boys I knew had names like Nicholas, Jonathan, Christopher (Kit), Thomas (Tom), Edward, Timothy, James, William, Ralph, Edmund or Charles. They often had family names as middle names such as Mason or Frazer.

Names like Felix would still have been made fun of as it was not seen as masculine.

I like both Hugo and Quentin, but have a slight preference for Quentin (possibly because I associate it with a great friend).

With an increasig globalisation of the world (and therefore names), I think the old English class issues are fading a little. We're in London and the amount of different languages spoken and children's names in my ds's school is very large and varied. I wouldn't think that children would find a name teaseworthy just because it is 'unusual'.

Actually, Quentin Blake will be familiar to most kids, as will Quentin Tarantino, so I don't think that the name is 'unusual' at all. There are also several famous Hugos, so I can't see a problem there either.

And I agree that an earlier's poster's comment about a name making someone homosexual is ridicolous and quite offensive .

I like Hugo!
My DS is Archie - though our other choices / almosts were Freddie, Ted and Monty.

x

You guys!!! try a little sensitivity here! Poor Annabelsmummie is probably just as emotional and hormonal as everyone else on this board and some comments are a little harsh....
Annabelsmummie I think either of those names would work well with Annabel, they are both fairly unusual here in UK but Hugo is slightly more popular, especially recently. I think either would be lovely. I don't know any Hugo or Quentin's though - although I know a QUinten and we call him Quinn.
You could always wait and see what he looks like? What does Annabel think?

I love Hugo and think 'oogo' would sound cool in French too.

Hugo is also nice shorted to Hugh if they wanted to when a bit older.

I like both names and I don't agree that the class connotations are as strong as they used to be. We have a friend called Quentin, I don't think of him as being posh at all, he and his family are pretty middle class normal sort of folk. Anyway he gets called Quen or Q as well.

Go with the names you like, don't worry about the rest of the worlds' opionion, it would never do if we all thought the same would it?

Rufus
Edwin
Henry
Ramsay
Selwyn

My 2.5 year old is called Hugo. It took us a while to decide on it but it really suits him.

We get lots of people commenting on what a nice name it is.

I don't consider ourselves posh... just a good solid name that went with our surname.

DS1 (4 yrs today!) is called Faith.

Sorry... DD1 is called Faith!!!

Victor and Donald also have that urban chic like Hugo, and an Annabel and a Donald would be lovely.. I see the appeal of Hugo. Quentin just baffles me.

Donald can never be urban chic imo, they need a good kilt, some walking boots and dog for disappearing up mountains

Hugo is OK as long as there is no tendency for fatness in your family or any anatomical parts in your surname (you, know, Winterbottom etc). In which case it will be become Hugeo if you are 6...

I like lots of names on this thread, Sebastian is lovely ... what about Hector? Always makes me think of the husband in The Camomile Lawn!

Prefer Victor to Hector. Hector too much like heckling and tractor. Victor bit less self-consciously urbane right now too.

I understand the dilemma when you need to have an international name but I do think the class distinctions do continue in the UK.

I have just run most of these names mentioned by ds2 8 and only about two or three are evident in his school. (bog standard primary school in london).

Names like Charlie, George and Peter are fairly classless imo

Typical names in his school are Isaac, Alfie, Albert, George, Harry, Freddie, Daniel, Josh, Jack

The names you mention are def middle/upper class imo.

FWIW my dss have unusual but more gaelic names. Another trend is toward surnames as first names harrison, jackson, elliot.

Couple of french names I quite like are christophe and antoine.

Hugo is dh absolutely favourite boys name. However, have 5 girls so never got to use it. Had the youngest been a boy, would have definitely been Hugo.

Don't like either of the names, someone in my NCT class had a Hugo and she was a bit up herself so that has put me off the name.

Both monstrous and give kids a huge hurdle to get over before peopel even meet them
HATE hugo but do knwo a cute one.
generally vile.

i knwo OF a rl QUentin and everyone roflles when you mention him

I think Hugo is a gorgeous name. I can picture a chubby smiling baby with pink cheeks when I think of a Hugo. It sounds lovely with Annabel too

I'd use it!