My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Baby names

Barney or Barnaby (nn Barney)?

54 replies

PurpleFlower1983 · 28/03/2021 18:43

DH and I have been round the houses for boys names and are now seriously considering Barney, I know about the dinosaur, Rubble, Gumble, dog’s name etc. but for those of you who don’t mind the name, would you for for the name Barney on its own or Barnaby (nn Barney).

We already have DD2 who is Matilda nn Tilda.

OP posts:
Report
babynamelover · 28/03/2021 19:04

Definitely Barnaby or Barnabas 😁.

Report
HelloDulling · 28/03/2021 19:06

I like Barnaby. Barney is cute, but a bit teddy-bear-ish. Barnaby gives him options.

Report
CharlotteRose90 · 28/03/2021 19:08

My dogs called Barney so I actually love the name. Sorry but I think if you call him Barnaby he will get bullied for it. Years ago it would have been fine but not now things have changed.

Report
Blustered · 28/03/2021 19:08

Definitely Barnaby. Lovely name.

Report
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 28/03/2021 19:09

Barnaby is nice (nn Barney if you want). Barney sounds more cartoony/comical to me.

Report
Dinosauraddict · 28/03/2021 19:19

Barnaby is lovely!

Report
Thefaceofboe · 28/03/2021 19:22

We have decided on Barnaby if our baby is a boy :)

Report
PandaFluff · 28/03/2021 19:30

Barney

Report
PandaFluff · 28/03/2021 19:31

(Nn Barns)

Report
ProperVexed · 28/03/2021 19:43

I have a Barnaby but he has almost always been called Barney. He is now 23. Great name for a little chap, teenager and man. He has never been bullied because of his name and never had reference to a purple dinosaur. He has, however, met many dogs with the same name!
He loves his name and tells me that it is a good one for attracting young ladies!

Report
Violetlavenders · 28/03/2021 19:51

Barnaby!

Report
Flymetothestars · 28/03/2021 20:10

Barnaby! That way you get both options!
Love it and love Matilda too. You have great taste

Report
partyatthepalace · 28/03/2021 21:07

Barnaby or Barnabas nn Barney.

Good to have options. I like it.

Report
Drunkenmonkey · 28/03/2021 21:45

We had this same debate. In the end DH felt Barnaby was a bit too push and I was concerned Barney was a bit too comical/nicknamey, so we went with something else.
If I was choosing on my own I would have gone with Barnaby, I think it's a great name, but equally I think Barney would be fine too.

Report
PurpleFlower1983 · 28/03/2021 22:28

Thanks for the advice everyone! Food for thought! Smile

OP posts:
Report
Drunkenmonkey · 28/03/2021 22:41

Posh not push!

Report
IllNeverLetGoJack · 28/03/2021 22:51

I love Barnaby! I know one who is about 5yo and it's very cute. Barney is better as a shortening imo.

Report
PurpleFlower1983 · 29/03/2021 07:14

@Drunkenmonkey

We had this same debate. In the end DH felt Barnaby was a bit too push and I was concerned Barney was a bit too comical/nicknamey, so we went with something else.
If I was choosing on my own I would have gone with Barnaby, I think it's a great name, but equally I think Barney would be fine too.

We’re slightly worried about this too, DH sounds posh but in reality is a former actor who was taught it, I’m Northern so not posh at all! Grin
OP posts:
Report
PurpleFlower1983 · 29/03/2021 07:15

We feel like it’s a brave choice but not too out there just yet.

OP posts:
Report
AlwaysLatte · 29/03/2021 07:19

Barnaby is lovely. I'm not sure why a PP said he would get teased though.

Report
Drunkenmonkey · 29/03/2021 07:36

@PurpleFlower1983 my DH is Irish and he felt that Barnaby would sound ridiculous over there and all his family would laugh at it, I think maybe it comes across as quite posh English.
I think it's fine over here though, but possibly depends where he would go to school.
I would be a bit concerned about sending a Barnaby to an inner city state school, but a fairly middle class area would be fine. Just my opinion of course. It's a lovely name.

Report
PurpleFlower1983 · 29/03/2021 07:45

[quote Drunkenmonkey]@PurpleFlower1983 my DH is Irish and he felt that Barnaby would sound ridiculous over there and all his family would laugh at it, I think maybe it comes across as quite posh English.
I think it's fine over here though, but possibly depends where he would go to school.
I would be a bit concerned about sending a Barnaby to an inner city state school, but a fairly middle class area would be fine. Just my opinion of course. It's a lovely name.[/quote]
We live in the North in a town with a mixed catchment right now - middle/working class so would probably get away with it just about but definitely not posh!

OP posts:
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!

skeggycaggy · 29/03/2021 07:51

Barnaby is great.

I can’t imagine someone being bullied as posh for being called Barney. My kids are at school with such a wide variety of names, not much stands out these days!

Report
Chilldonaldchill · 29/03/2021 09:12

Barnaby.
I know a couple, neither of them posh, just standard middle class. Both go by Barney day to day.

Report
PurpleFlower1983 · 29/03/2021 19:31

We’re quite liking Barnaby so he has some options.

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

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