Mumsnet Talk

So my seven year old keeps insisting it's a bad idea to call our next son Jarvis and it's beginning to get me worried. He says it's nerdy and not in a good way and that he'll get teased at school because of Iron Man.

I need a little more evidence than the opinion of one seven year old, before I even consider ditching one of my favourite names for this baby.

Could you do me a favour and ask your kids what they think? Would they think it's a bad name for a peer? I'd really appreciate it

Jarvis is the name of Iron Man's computer butler, so I know what he means by the nerdy reference. I love the name even being a fan of the films. Also as Jarvis in the film is wise, clever, funny and helps and man in an iron suit fly into the sky when has nerdy even been cooler?

Thanks for your input I haven't seen any of the movies or tv shows so perhaps that's some viewing I need to do if I'm to saddle a kid with a name doing the circles in popular culture. I think my son is too young to see the movie though? Would love to try to convince him

Ah no, not at all, I really appreciate you asking It's such a quandary to name a third boy and I'm doing all I can to get it right.

Kids have weird names all the time around here and something a little bit different is nothing I'm too afraid of, without signing the kid up for years of teasing of course. Jarvis Cocker is also who I think of, with a small nod to Ricky Gervais.

Our friend has a ds named Jarvis and he doesn't suffer iron man jibes. He is 7.

Ds (5) says he doesnt like Jarvis but that you should name him Blizzard (otherwise known as Jack Frost and is an Iron Man villain!) or Logan after Wolverine from X-men He also likes Robin (as in batman and) which is what he wanted to call dd2

I didn't realise Jarvis was a first name - I thought it was more of a surname. Even without seeing Iron Man I think it sounds a bit quirky.

Jarvis is an old guy butler in the comics, like Alfred in Batman. I would think of it as a surname tbh.

I just think of Jarvis Cocker. But in a good way

Jarvis Cocker is the only one I'd think of. Again in a good way! My hubby would never have it though - too jealous!

@KentuckyFriedChildren ah yes, I'm getting 'helpful' suggestions from my 7 year old too I can see why he thinks names like Logan, Kane, Michael are cool as they're exotic to him.

Jarvis became a surname from an ancient Germanic given name, so it does the rounds throughout history as both a given and last name. Whilst I don't like surnames as first names particularly (think Mackenzie), this one has enough cred as a given name for it not to rate as a problem for us.

I would think Jarvis Cocker too.

I like Jarvis but my partner's really good friends with one so I'm not allowed it!

Just to let you know as I'd feel awful not to say (just incase this bothers you...)

Round here the Jarvis Centre is where woman go to get their breasts screened and they go round schools giving sexual health talks and giving out condoms....

probably fine if you don't live in surrey though!!

https://www.breast-screening.surrey.nhs.uk/userhome.aspx

Thanks for that - it is useful as half my family live in the UK (Northants). I live in Australia

In the Comic Books, (the ones before the movies any way) Jarvis is Tony Strks butler first, then the Avengers. Think Jeeves of Jeeves and Wooster if you those skits.
Ubiquitous and indispensable. Also long suffering (Hey, YOU trying cleaning up after the Hulk)

persephoneplum- don't worry about it though unless they live in Surrey.. they are unlikely to have heard of it! Australia is definaely far enough away for no other kids or parents to think of it!

Just resurrecting this thread to ask for a few more of your children's opinions Any help is much appreciated

Kit and Jarvis are our frontrunners - brothers are Felix and Theodore.

I think as a stand-alone name it's fine but Kit seems to fit much better with Felix and Theodore.

I guess the focus isn't as much finging a name that is a perfect fit with the others, as finding a great name that both DH and I agree on.

It's freaking impossible! He only likes Wolfgang but concedes that Jarvis is workable. Which is amazing for him to say.

finding