Fraser, Calum or Duncan?

[Kate3200]

Howdy

I'm expecting my second child (another boy) in Sept and I'd be grateful for your thoughts on our current short list of names; Fraser, Calum & Duncan.

As a bit of background

• My hubby is Scottish and I'm from Yorkshire but we live in London
  

• Our older son is called Euan
  

• McG surname
  

Your thoughts please!

[Thumbwitch]

Fraser

Calum with one L might cause pronunciation issues outside of Scotland
Duncan is not that great. Not that bad either, but not great. F'rinstance, take Monarch of the Glen - Duncan in that was a bit slow, wasn't he. Sweet, but slow.
:)

[nooka]

I've a very good friend called Duncan, so I like the name :) However I don't think I'd pair it with Euan, as I think they sound too similar. I'd go for Fraser (which makes me think of Fraser Hines, who I also like).

[KristinaM]

Ooh I can't decide, they are all such great names

So unusual for a Mumsnet baby names thread

[Gugglebum]

I love Calum. It is on my list if we ever have another boy. But I have a Duncan, and he is the most feisty, bright, and hilarious kid, I am even more in love with the name now than when I gave it to him (he is 8 now).

[Montsti]

Fraser. Not keen on the others especially not Duncan.

[CalamitouslyWrong]

Why would there be pronunciation problems with Calum? IME you just get people spelling it wrong and making stupid (poorly informed) comments about how you should choose the 'proper' spelling .

[emummy]

Duncan is a great name and less common lots of Calums up here in Scotland, don't know about in London! Never really liked Fraser, it's more of a surname but it is popular. Good luck choosing

[thecageisfull]

Fraser. Not keen on Calum. Duncan has been ruined by the donuts.

[Thumbwitch]

Oh yes, just because it's outside your experience it is poorly informed, good one. back at you.

It's QUITE possible that ignorant people who don't know the name might pronounce it Caylum, actually. It would happen where I live.

[howcomes]

I like Calum best, Cal for short

[Buttercup27]

Calum but I'm biased as I have a Callum !

[MrsBungle]

Fraser. I also like Calum. I dislike Duncan.

[CalamitouslyWrong]

That's not what I meant thumb. Sorry. I meant the people I actually meet (including one of my DS's TAs) who make comments about the yooneek-ness of not having two Ls are poorly informed.

My experience is that the pronunciation isn't a problem. It might be in Australia I guess. That's why I asked.

[Thumbwitch]

Ah ok, sorry I got touchy then Calamitously, I thought you were calling me poorly informed.

It's quite likely here, yes. After all, some people have to call their child Jaykub so you know how to say it. (really truly, there is a child in DS1's football club who has that on the back of his shirt.)

[Sophronia]

Duncan, I also like Fraser. Don't like Calum.

[Theonlyoneiknow]

All great names!!

People might spell Calum - Callum but that's the only negative.

Hard choice, all fab

[ataposaurus]

I like Fraser best.

Calum is OK, though pretty common especially in Scotland. I do quite like Duncan, so don't think you can go wrong with any!

[ShovettyMcShovetty]

Duncan! I love it and wish I was Scottish so I could use it.

[ElizabethArdenGreenTea]

Duncan.

[Leeds2]

Prefer Fraser. Then Callum with two "l"s.

[ralinax294]

I love Fraser, not keen on Calum or Duncan

[DramaAlpaca]

Calum, but like it better spelled Callum.

[HollyBen]

Calum
Fraser
Duncan

In that order for me

[florascotia]

In 2013 in Scotland:

Callum was no 33 in the top 100 list of boys' names
Calum was no 65

Calum is the Gaelic spelling; Callum is the Anglicised version.

As I'm sure you know - but perhaps some others may not - Calum/Callum is a Scottish form of Colm, which is a Gaelic version of the Latin word Columba, which means 'Dove', which is a symbol of peace. St Columba is obviously the most famous person with this name; he is also known in Gaelic as Colmcille, which means 'dove of the Church'.

Malcolm (based on the Gaelic for 'servant/disciple of Columba') is another related English name.

[Strokethefurrywall]

Fraser. Biased as is DH's name. It's great!