Old English Boy Name

growingournest · July 2016

My husband and I love Old English names for boys. We have 3 names we really like, but we're not sure if they are TOO uncommon sounding that others would think the child's name was odd. We live in a place where you hear a lot of the same names over and over. Our first son's name is Rowan. Which of these 3 names, or none, do you prefer? Callum (pronounced CAL-um), Carrick, or Calder?

bbiutmcph · July 2016

I guess Callum. Carrick and Calder are just toooo surnamey for me. Callum is more recognizable as a first name and has the potential of nn Cal.

Bringmemylongswordho · July 2016

I kinda like Carrick, but Callum is definitely used as a given name more. They're all pretty surnamey.

I admittedly thought thus was going to be more like Basil, Niles and the sort.

kmvisioli · July 2016

I'm with pp that I actually kind of like Carrick (I think it sounds best with Rowan), but Callum is a safer option if you are worried about it being too different. Garrett or Caleb may be good options for you; though not truly Old English they sound similar to your list.

SmrBrd2012 · July 2016

I'm not really a fan of any of them but I would choose Callum by default for reasons already mentioned. What about something like Cedric or Cecil?

penelope4612 · July 2016

Callum is the best of the 3 but also always reminds me of Gollum...

sagoon · July 2016

I definitely like Callum best. I was afraid when I clicked this that you were going to list names like Æthelred or Uhtred. Callum is good.

KRB22 · July 2016

I'm a fan of Callum. (I also really like Colm, which sounds similar but I think is more Irish).

I also like Carrick. I think either goes fine with Rowan.

jessielynn1 · July 2016

I like Carrick, but if your concerned about a name being too uncommon I'd go with Callum since it more well known.

saham07 · July 2016

Callum and Calder are names that are somewhat known these days. I know children with these names, I have never heard of Carrick before, it is okay.

kap1988 · July 2016

I actually like Calder, but that might be because I know one and think he's a nice guy. I do like Callum too though. I'm a fan of the nickname Cal.

CaboBride2015 · July 2016

bbiutmcph said:

I guess Callum. Carrick and Calder are just toooo surnamey for me. Callum is more recognizable as a first name and has the potential of nn Cal.

Agreed.

Mamabeagle · July 2016

I briefly dated a guy named Callum and tbh I still don't know how to pronounce the name...so be prepared for that. I really like pp suggestion of Colm.

ksteeb611 · July 2016

Carrick definitely
Niles good too

growingournest · July 2016

penelope4612 said:

Callum is the best of the 3 but also always reminds me of Gollum...

Oh gosh, we didn't even think of that!

kaswanson · August 2016

These names are not really my style, but my top choice of the three would be Calder.

MandyBeeSLP · August 2016

I prefer Carrick of your picks.

Flowr4246 · August 2016

Of your options, I like Callum best. i also really like Alistair for an Old English boy's name.

Gators&BoSox · August 2016

@Flowr4246 Allister is our #1 for a boy right now... its a bit more of an americanized spelling but it's the only one I've known and its not made-up so I'm ok with it

clmacneil · August 2016

kevinbandkendrak said:

My husband and I love Old English names for boys. We have 3 names we really like, but we're not sure if they are TOO uncommon sounding that others would think the child's name was odd. We live in a place where you hear a lot of the same names over and over. Our first son's name is Rowan. Which of these 3 names, or none, do you prefer? Callum (pronounced CAL-um), Carrick, or Calder?

I like Callum or Calder because of the "Cal" factor (good abbreviation)-- Carrick really doesn't offer that. But as an Medievalist and Early Modern scholar I have to call out the fact that these are not Old English but Early Modern (and potentially Middle) English names. Old English names are Anglo-Saxon which are very Germanic, things like Ulfric, Aethelred, Alfwald (potential there for Alfie at least).

Still lovely choices for your boys! We love Rowan ourselves for a girl (with an "e" though, my husband insists the "e" is more feminine) if I can get my husband off of the Gaelic first names!

Old English Boy Name

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