Gransnet forums

Chat

Boris calls his baby wilfred

(147 Posts)
Roses Sat 02-May-20 14:50:04

It's probably a family name but I wonder how Wilfred will feel when he is older

Maybe it's not uncommon in the circles he will move in

Baggs Sat 02-May-20 17:40:48

Wilfred Owen, WW1 poet. Any more famous Wilfreds?

Calendargirl Sat 02-May-20 17:41:28

I think he’ll be Wilf.

SalsaQueen Sat 02-May-20 17:42:26

Named after the doctor who treated Boris for Covid-19. That's admirable.

There are lots of old-fashioned names making a comeback. My 2nd GD is Elyza. She's got George, Elsie, Olive, Martha and Bernard in her class.

SalsaQueen Sat 02-May-20 17:43:28

Oh, apparently the Wilfred was after Boris's grandad

Puzzler61 Sat 02-May-20 17:46:53

Hoped we’d see a photo - fine head of hair! I expected nothing less. Did anybody guess Wilfred? GN thread certainly went through a lot of names guessing.
I remember a Wilf at school (many moons ago). He was handsome, older than me, and much admired by many of the girls. Not met another one since but it’s bound to become popular now.

pollyperkins Sat 02-May-20 17:50:42

There was a scruffy boy with a runny nose and warty hand in my vlass at school. Not keen on tge name. But yes lots of Stanleys, Reggies, Minnies, Elsies etc sbout these days. Not to mention Archies, Rubies, Edies and Freddies which I used to think were old fashioined but am coming ti like.

welbeck Sat 02-May-20 18:41:27

well when i was young names like emma, emily, amelia, were of ancient people, from the victorian age. quite iterally.
i never heard of a child called that.
now they have been and gone, are probably the parents of all the wilfreds, stanleys, freddies, etc that some of you think of as old names.
it's all relative.
i like most proper names. but not so keen on made-up ones, or people trying to be clever, or different.
a name needs a pedigree, and a good one. wilfred is fine.

Grannyben Sat 02-May-20 18:49:17

In her message, Carrie said "my heart is full". I think that's just lovely, the joy a new baby can bring.

Daisymae Sat 02-May-20 18:52:19

It's a name that's in my family. Which is a tad ironic. Good old Uncle Wilf!

Kandinsky Sat 02-May-20 18:55:36

I think Wilf is lovely ?

GabriellaG54 Sat 02-May-20 19:01:19

I certainly wouldn't have dated anyone with an 'old' name like that. It's 'orrible.

JenniferEccles Sat 02-May-20 19:06:56

It takes a bit of getting used to but I prefer it to certain modern which, dare I say, indicate a certain ‘chavy’ background.

They were always going to chose a fairly classy name weren’t they?

One middle name is Nicholas, named after two doctors who Boris said saved his life.

What a lovely gesture.

Evoha16 Sat 02-May-20 19:12:56

Boris Johnson’s life was never in danger - A cheap self aggrandising stunt - which we’re injured to by now - but using a new born child - vile despicable ingrate ?

Callistemon Sat 02-May-20 19:15:06

The name of my favourite uncle who was also my Godfather.

And was blond but curly.

Callistemon Sat 02-May-20 19:15:41

Who are these vicious posters who suddenly appear?
Not regulars

Calendargirl Sat 02-May-20 19:19:44

I think you mean ‘inured’ not ‘injured’Evoha16

Calendargirl Sat 02-May-20 19:21:38

I think one of the late David Frost’s sons was also called Wilfred, if I remember rightly.

dontmindstayinghome Sat 02-May-20 19:22:13

I know of two babies being called 'Wilfie'. Horrible name in my view.
I've also heard of one child called Clarence. It just made me think of 'Clarence the cross-eyed lion' grin

Maggiemaybe Sat 02-May-20 19:22:59

It’s my DGS5’s name, and he was also named for two of his great-grandads. I love it (but then I’m biased). I prefer to think he’ll be more Wilfred Owen than Brambell or Pickles. smile

Callistemon Sat 02-May-20 19:28:27

I'm not so keen on Clarence and I thought Wilfred was so oldfashioned too but I've met a couple of little Wilfreds recently and like it.

rafichagran Sat 02-May-20 19:34:32

It's ok, not my favourite name but I dont hate it either. I like Will or Wilf.Evoho16 how is he using a new born baby? If it is because he gave the baby the middle name Nicholas after the 2 Doctors who treated him, I think you are wrong, I just think it is a nice gesture.

Maggiemaybe Sat 02-May-20 19:38:49

A traditional one too. My dad’s middle name was the surname of the doctor who saved him and his mum in childbirth.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 02-May-20 19:55:11

All our AC and GC have “proper names” as opposed to “modern trendy ones” Some may think they are old fashioned but they stand the test of time!

SirChenjin Sat 02-May-20 19:58:46

It’s a nice name - they obviously love it, which is all that matters. I think it was very good of them to remember the doctors (and all the staff) who looked after him by giving him Nicholas as a middle name.

Sussexborn Sat 02-May-20 20:00:11

Not a name that would have occurred to me! Nice thought to include the doctors though! He’ll probably curse the blonde mop when he’s a teenager.

The only other Wilf I knew was a golden retriever. He ran into a strangers house covered in mud and ruined their white carpet. Grabbed a duck from the village pond (it survived) and jumped into a strangers car again covered in mud. Let’s hope this little one is better behaved!