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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Theo, Freddie, Arlo or Conrad. What do you think?

29 replies

VanillaIce · 28/09/2009 15:50

Theo, Freddie, Arlo and Conrad are currently my fave options for naming my baby boy. Can I ask what people think? They all work with our surname and I would use John as a middle name, for family reasons.

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Hassled · 28/09/2009 15:56

Theo and Freddie are good. Arlo sounds made-up, and Conrad sounds a bit poncey.

tummytickler · 28/09/2009 16:25

I love Conrad.
Not to keen on Theo or Freddie as full names.
Arlo is nice, but i think it might 'do a Felix'

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 28/09/2009 16:30

I like Theo and Freddie the best.

Cortina · 28/09/2009 16:32

What's 'doing a felix' the mind bogggles!

Like Arlo (I knew a posh one and used to take the piss out of him - in an affectionate way -, asking if he was conceived in Harlow)!

Mind you Harlow is now fairly popular in American because of Jean! (Maybe because like my American friend Tinsley they are not familar with english towns)?

All that said I've always liked the name Arlo. The others are not interesting enough for me personally (but then I rather like Rhett so what do I know)!

Original poster
VanillaIce · 28/09/2009 16:42

Yes, please tell us what "doing a Felix" means!

OP posts:
NellyNoNorks · 28/09/2009 16:45

Yes, please tell!

Kayzr · 28/09/2009 18:11

Freddie and Theo are brilliant. DS1 is Freddie and DS2 was nearly Theo.

wheniwishuponastar · 28/09/2009 18:30

i like both arlo and conrad and i have known one of each in real life. The arlo i know is not at all poncey. But the Conrad is a bit now i think about it.
Freddie and Theo are fine, but you hear them much more.

CaptainNancy · 28/09/2009 18:33

Theo and Arlo were on my list, Freddie and Conrad were not. Depends on your surname of course too...

pointydoug · 28/09/2009 18:49

As in Arlo Guthrie? I know of a musician who's called her son that. Good sound, bit poncey.

Don;t like Thoe, Freddie or Conrad.

I like John.

MrsJohnDeere · 28/09/2009 18:56

Love Freddie
Theo ok
Not so keen on the others

janeite · 28/09/2009 19:00

Theo is nice. Theodore is even more lovely.

I don't like the others but especially Conrad, which I think sounds quite 'hard'.

FanjolinaJolie · 28/09/2009 19:17

Love love love Theo. Especially shortened to Teddy for nn. So sweet.

mopsyflopsy · 28/09/2009 21:27

From your list, I prefer Conrad - it's the most classic, timeless name that isn't too trendy.

My second and third choice would be Arlo and Frederick (Freddie).

Theo is very trendy and quite popular, so possibly less 'timeless' and there will be more of them around.

LittleMissWorryHead · 28/09/2009 22:30

Arlo.

Arlo.

Arlo.

Cortina · 29/09/2009 06:26

Natasha Kaplinsky's son is Arlo too. I know an Alexander known as Arlo which might be a way around it for the less adventurous.

Merle · 29/09/2009 06:34

I like them all. I think I'd go for Conrad, however. Short, straightforward, classic and underused.

chimchar · 29/09/2009 06:41

my late grampis middle name was conrad...he would be in his late 90s now, so it has stood the test of time well!

isn't jade goodys son freddie?

theo is good...i know one and he's fab!

my fave is arlo...its different and cool, but not too different iykwim.

diddl · 29/09/2009 07:49

Theo & Arlo.

Don´t like John with either of them, though.
Think Jonathan is better.

nooka · 29/09/2009 08:08

Conrad John sounds excellent.

Theodore and Fredrick/Alfred/Wilfred are good, and Theo and Freddie fine as nns (I'm a formal girl myself, and can't stand shortenings given as full names - especially when it's a diminutive like Freddie, fine for a little boy, not good for an adult).

Not so keen on Arlo, but not for any good reason really. John is an excellent middle name.

tummytickler · 29/09/2009 11:06

by 'doing a Felix' i meant become reasonably popular quite quickly in middle class areas.
I know tons of Felixs all under 7. I have noticed a few Arlo's being born inthe last 18 months or so, and none before that.

SouthernMeerkat · 29/09/2009 11:18

I have a Theodore, shortened to Theo. He's almost 6 and when we chose it, we had so many positive comments about how unusual it was.

Am gutted that my least favourite sport has produced a player that means there are now hundreds of them - or so it seems , but I do love the name.

Felix was on our list too, but DH vetoed it due to the cat connotations. I like Arlo, but not sure I'd be brave enough. And I know a Conrad and quite like it.....

Original poster
VanillaIce · 29/09/2009 11:59

I know what you mean, Nooka, I wouldn't give the child Freddie/Theo as their proper birth certificate name. It would obviously be Frederick/Theodore but I imagine we would never call him by the full version so was canvassing opinion on the name that the child would actually have day-to-day.

Tummytickler thanks for coming back to us on "doing a Felix" - I was wondering! Speaing of Felix, I have a friend of that name and he's just called his son Oscar - taking the pet references a little far if you ask me. What next, a daughter called Tabitha?

OP posts:
mopsyflopsy · 29/09/2009 12:15

Felix and Oscar - my dh vetoed both on the grounds of the 'Odd Couple', but even I wouldn't use them together.

littlemisslozza · 29/09/2009 12:27

We have a Freddie (Frederick on birth certificate), so obviously I'm going for that one! Only come across one other so far.
Second choice would be Theo, don't really like the other two, sorry.