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

1 2

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

Baby names

Evan or Hal?

40 replies

TheBish · 11/04/2010 22:14

Struggling to come up with a name for baby number 2. Evan has just come to us but don't know any in our bit of London. Is it really popular and what do people think?

OP posts:

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Zoidberg · 13/04/2010 20:15

Hal is fab, the one Hal (grown up) I know of said he loved his name too. We would have if we'd had a DS. As well as in Shakespeare, Hal is a character in a David Foster Wallace novel and DP is a massive fan of his. Also Hal Hartley cool director. We did make a lot of "open the pod bay doors Hal" remarks to ourselves but even with that in mind, loved it. I did think maybe Harrison on birth cert tho, swayed by that notion that one should have something "proper".

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mummyofexcitedprincesses · 13/04/2010 23:57

Oooh I like Harrison as a 'long' version.

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Merle · 14/04/2010 09:19

I like them both.

I think if you want to go for Hal then it should be Henry on the birth cert, with Hal as a nickname. I can't help remembering that Henry V was called Hal when he was a prince - he spent all his time mucking around and no one thought he would amount to any thing. Then came the Battle of Agincourt and the rest is history...

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Lovethesea · 14/04/2010 09:55

Evan I think of Evan Almighty film - which I liked but the name wouldn't be my choice.

Hal I think of as a nn and quite american for some reason ....? Childhood books with a US character Hal I think have done it.

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Sakura · 14/04/2010 10:06

Well my baby is called Evan, so obviously that one...
OTOH I don't want an Evan boom!

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henry37 · 14/04/2010 10:07

Evan

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Sakura · 14/04/2010 10:08

I went for it because of the Welsh cultural heritage- in case that helps...

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Sakura · 14/04/2010 10:28

LOL henry.

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Jamieandhismagictorch · 14/04/2010 17:57

I have a 9 year old Evan (London). There's one other of a similar age round here.

It is still my favourite name. Chosen because of the Welsh connection.

Evan Davis is pretty cool, IMO

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Jamieandhismagictorch · 14/04/2010 17:59

Yes, Sakura I don't want it to become too popular either. Every other DC has got DS2s name - and I chose that because it was uncommon then!

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scottishmummy · 14/04/2010 22:14

i like evan

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 14/04/2010 22:26

I have an Evan.

It seems to be increasingly popular around here (South Wales)

Hal sounds like you've forgotton a bit - it's great as a nn, but not as a name per se imo.

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jenduff · 15/04/2010 00:41

I know the most gorgeous Evan - looks like a young Harry Potter - not sure about Hal other than as a nn

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ButterPie · 15/04/2010 00:56

JenDuff - I'm looking for you on chat!

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AussieSim · 15/04/2010 01:21

HAL is a fictional computer in Arthur C Clarke's Space Odyssey and it is EVIL. Definitely Evan.