My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Baby names

Bernard??

29 replies

spottypyjamas · 20/06/2016 18:49

Opinions on the name Bernard please? Pronounced BERNerd
Nickname Bernie whilst they are younger.
Love old fashioned names.
Thank u Smile

OP posts:
Report
Vixxfacee · 20/06/2016 18:49

Definitely not my taste so it's a no from me.

Report
oldjacksscrote · 20/06/2016 18:54

I like it, I've been reading the book Not Now Bernard most days for about 2 years, It was also a fave of mine as a child. I think the name is charming.

It's unusual enough not to be common but is still a name everyone will have heard of, can pronounce and spell.

Report
dizzyfucker · 20/06/2016 18:55

I actually think it's great. It is not common and not used. It will come back, and I was waiting for it to be re-invented. I live abroad and the alternative Bernardo is used a lot here, it has become a very popular name re-established name. Old names like Alfred, Vincent, Sidney etc are all really popular names now. I think it would be nice to break that with an alternative but normal name. There's also Herbert and Hector.

Report
OverAndAbove · 20/06/2016 18:56

Hmmm. I always hear it in the voice of Rowan Atkinson in Bernard and the Genie. I probably wouldn't.

Report
spottypyjamas · 20/06/2016 19:23

Ha over and above. That's my husbands favourite film randomly.

OP posts:
Report
Katelocks · 20/06/2016 19:30

I quite like this. It's my BIL's name but he pronounces it the French way (I think), Berr- NARD.

Report
SleepyRoo · 20/06/2016 21:44

Like

Report
Costacoffeeplease · 20/06/2016 21:46

Nursey in blackadder or mike and Bernie winters (I'm old)

Neither are great associations for me

Report
AuntieStella · 20/06/2016 21:47

I like it, but can't quite shift the image of Nursie from Blackadder.

Report
Costacoffeeplease · 20/06/2016 21:47

Snap!

Report
ThornyBird · 20/06/2016 21:48

Dc2 (13) has best friends Berni and Arnold. It made us smile at first but now they are just names Smile

Report
Sleeperandthespindle · 20/06/2016 21:48

I love it. Annie-Rose's first word.
I know some lovely older Bernards.

Report
2ManySweets · 20/06/2016 21:48

Reminds me of Bernard Sumner from New Order.

A good thing.

Report
MotheringShites · 20/06/2016 21:50

Makes me think of the guy in Four Weddings who turns out to be surprisingly good in the sack.

Report
MotheringShites · 20/06/2016 21:50

But I do like it!

Report
KoalaDownUnder · 20/06/2016 21:51

God no. Awful. (Sorry!)

Report
2ManySweets · 20/06/2016 21:53

ITV are playing Blue Monday OP! It's a sign!

Report
itmustbemyage · 20/06/2016 21:54

Bernard is my sons middle name my DH wanted to use it for his first name (it's a family name) I refused. It seems very 'old man's name' to, me my now teenage son does not like it and would never use it in preference to his given first name.

Report
FlossiesFurCoat · 20/06/2016 22:30

I'm not sure the world is ready for the reinvention of Bernard just yet.

Report
Sophronia · 20/06/2016 23:42

I like it

Report
DramaAlpaca · 21/06/2016 00:31

Hate it, sorry.

Report
Lilacpink40 · 21/06/2016 00:36

Don't like it.
Also don't like nn Ber or Bernie.

If you like 'older' names how about Rufus or Douglas?

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Mapless · 21/06/2016 00:38

It's a big no from me - lots of reasons.

Say the name and hear it simply as a sound, without any word associations (IYSWIM). How does it sound?

Report
OrangesandLemonsNow · 21/06/2016 00:51

Big no from me.

Sorry

Report
sycamore54321 · 21/06/2016 01:33

Not a fan, I'm afraid, even if I have known several lovely people with that name. I'd also wonder if a Bernard/Bernie born in 2016 was named after Bernie Sanders, which may or may not be a favorable association for you.

For me, Bernie is definitely a woman's name - I still struggle with Sanders!

Leonard seems to have a similar vibe but not quite as frumpy, if you'd like an alternative suggestion.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.