Wilfred

[mrsrvc]

?We've a while yet until we need to decide but my current favourite name is Wilfred.
Any opinions?

I have a 2 year old Wilfred. He gets called Wilfie or Wilf and it suits him down to the ground. My parents raised their eyebrows at first but obviously now he couldn't be called anything else.

I thought that I would have a much more negative response in RL but everyone always says how fabulous it is. We live in London so frankly there's plenty more weird and wonderful out there. Kids don't care, 20-40 somethings think it's great, old people comment how they haven't heard it since they were at school and it makes them happy to hear it again.

The only negativity I hear is on here... mainly from people who like the safety net of a James or Thomas or who are on a totally different wavelength with names like Kai and Kaden. Horses for courses

If you like it, then don't be put off!

twosofar - you can get away with a lot more here in London. I have a very unusual name myself but no-one bats an eyelid here - whereas in Essex, at the time I was growing up ......

I think its really, really awful. Sorry.

Like Edward and George though.

Jamie, I've just read your previous post - my elder son is Stanley...God I'm such a statistic!!

You are right re London. I grew up in the north and my sister's name (Annabel) was considered terribly flamboyant at the time (70's)...but guess what, everyone got used to it.

Second coming I love your sister's boys names.

Mrsrvc - i suppose it depends on whether you care if there are dozens of other kids with the same name?

^twosofar6 - not a statistic, just cool

at JamieTorch x

I've known a couple of baby Wilfreds recently.

I remember when I was a teenager and one of my teachers named her son Noah I pulled a face to myself and thought "Ugh, old man's name". Within a decade it was a perfectly standard name that I wouldn't have thought twice about (I think Noah Wyle being on ER helped) and today it's been a solidly top-50 name for the last five years.

I think with Wilfred you're picking up on a name that's just a little way that same curve, which is why there are such polarised reactions at the moment.

I know a couple of Wilfreds, 5 and 1 years. it is OK, but I dont really like 'fred' names.

I do LOVE Walter though!

I know of 4 little Wilfreds. Three of them are in Brighton and one London.

I agree with the PP that in a few years it will be much more popular and no one will bat an eyelid at it.

One of the Wilfreds I know has a 7 year old brother called Archie and that received a similar reaction 7 years ago.

Barbarella - I am in the Brighton area too - must be more popular here!

Hi I was going to start a thread with this name too- it has really grown on me over the course of my pregnancy, MIL suggested it as dh's grandpas were called Wilfred and Herbert.

What do you think of Herbert (not to hijack you post tho just wondered?)

Think its great as there are lots of nn possibilities Will, Wilf, Wilfie, Fred, Freddie etc or Herbie, Bert, Bertie. Had lots of & reactions so far to the couple of people i mentioned them too

too to.

I'm not keen on it at all, even though I like retro names.

tummytickler, does the 1 year old Wilfred you know have a big brother called Archie?

No, he has a big sister!

Feedthebeast - we toook 3 names into the delivery room with us when i had ds, one of which was Herbert. We didn't use it, but i still love it and the nn Herb!

I love it and I think people are definitely right about the London thing. I live in the north west and love 'old man/lady' names too and get nothing but negative reactions to anything I come up with (e.g. Edgar, Florence, Betty). I also agree that whilst people might be when they first hear it, once he grows into it, no one will bat an eyelid.

Maybe I need to stop mentioning the names I like outloud in RL?

I really think you are right twosofar.
Wilfred is a lovely name, lots of character.
I have an Edward and I liked the name because I could call him Ned/Neddy. It suits him too.
I live in Cardiff and names like Sidney, Hugo and Stanley aren't that common either.So it might be a London thing. If you like it go for it.

Wilfred is chavtastic

Wilfred is lovely, I would have had a Wilf if I had a boy.

Are you having a laugh usualsuspect? Are you mistaking Wilfred for Jayden???? . I can't see Wilfred ever becoming chavvy.

Seems the standard response on baby names ..just going with the flow..Meant pretentious really

love it

Ah, you were being ironic.