Ptolemy???

[SpangleMaker]

Found out today we are having a boy

DH has suggested calling him Ptolemy... at first I thought he was joking but now the name's really growing on me and we're seriously considering using it. Trouble is, we're not mega posh & the kid will be going to a state school.

So what do you think? Acceptable in this age of weird names, or are we being mean to the poor child?

[gingerninja]

Personally I don't like it but if that's your choice then fair dos. Don't let an anonymous internet forum make the decision for you.

[tiredemma]

do you mean phlebotomy ?

[SantaKLAWs]

I wouldn't but that's because of the very annoying twit on that Restoration programme that used to be on, Ptolemy Dean I think he is.., OMG he set my nerves on edge.

Do you have any friends or family you can trust to ask? ie that won't rib you forever and will give you a serious answer. Cos they would know better if it would work for you

[eekareindeer]

Only Ptolemy I know is a chocolate labrador ...

[tiredemma]

How on earth do you pronounce it?

[SpangleMaker]

tiredemma not an association many school children will make!

gingerninja we won't make a final decision based on what people say on here, but I am interested to hear people's reactions!

Funnily enough, people I've mentioned it to who've never heard the name before and hear 'Tollemy' think it's lovely but those who know the spelling are more

[MadamAnt]

I think it's a shame not to go with the name you love, just because other people might not like it. FWIW DS has an unusual name, and he too will be state school educated. Some people are rude about it, and some people love it. You'll have to develop a fairly thick skin, as unsolicited negative opinions about your DC's name can sting a bit. But in the words of Edith Piaf, non je ne regrette rien.

[SpangleMaker]

MadamAnt agree totally, that's why I asked in a way, so I can develop the thick skin before he's born.

[needmorecoffee]

he'll be spelling it for ever and ever.

[SpangleMaker]

Santaklaws friends & family are likely to be the ones giving the negative opinions as most of them are more conventional than us.

[salvadory]

like it and also like Tol as a NN which may happen.

[NowICanSpellGeansaiNollaig]

I don't like it much.. If you want posh, do Hugo or Julius??

[mummydoc]

i absolutely ove it and would have used for dd2 if she had been a boy, we also considered Batholomew which has the derivitive Tolly ( apparently an old english name )

[LynetteScavo]

I think that fact that he will being going to a state school means you shouldn't go for it. He will be called Pertolemy.

[MrsSeanBean]

Much as I like unusual names, this one's a bit iffy.

[Swedes]

You will shorten his life by about 3 months. Because forever more he will have to spell out his name in full, to everyone he meets. Unless he gets so fed up that he changes it by deed poll to Peter.... now there's a classy name.

[MrsFogi]

First time I've heard the name and I think it's fabulous! Don't listen to anything on mn about names though, just go with your gut instinct and what you love. I still regret not calling dd2 Daphne after many, many mners said Noooooooooooo.

[storkycake]

it's not you that will have to develop a thick skin

[Fennel]

I think for Ptolemy, you'd have to consider a private school. We considered Inigo, I think the same applies. Though I'm very pro state schools, there are some names, I think, which aren't going to help children attending them.

[Lizzylou]

I love it.
It is an unusual, but classic name.
If you like it, go for it

[subtlemouse]

Do you know the fifties musical, Salad Days?
There's a song in it about Cleopatra with the lines

'They tried to make her marry
Her brother Ptolomy.
She said "I won't p-tolerate
Ptolomy to collar me.
I only sell to the highest bids."
Now she's hotting up the Pharoahs
In the pyramids!'

[SpangleMaker]

Thanks for your opinions everyone.

Storkycake - you're right the child would of course be far more affected than us (though we'll also come in for stick in the beginning) - whatever name we choose. That was the main reason for me posting, because while I am quite prepared to make a brave choice I'm aware that it's a choice I'm making for someone else. Having a quick survey on here is giving me an idea of what our son may face in RL... although he probably won't go around asking 'what do you think of my name?'

Interestingly, I think people can 'grow into' unusual names. My brother & I both have slighly unconventional names which caused my mum some stick and a bit of teasing at school, but nothing that ever upset us and we're both now glad we have names people remember.

[DoubleBluff]

I really like it. It is unusual, but not contrived.

[angel1976]

It's actress Gretchen Mol's little boy's name. She explains why they chose the name here. I wish I stuck to my guns and named DS Atticus!