Talk

reminded me of James Herbert (author)!

Herbert was also my grandfathers name.
I don't like it
I agree with you that it sounds old mannish and I think if it gets shortened to Herbie he will get car nicknames, eg Beetle.
Jacob is much nicer.

FWIW my beloved grandfather was called Herbert but it never entered my head to inflict it on DS's ( sorry, I don't 'get' naming children after family members but I realise I'm in a minority).
Herbert would usually end up as Bert or Bertie in the UK. Bertie is rather popular in some circles

OTOH Jacob is lovely.Timeless.

I love Jacob. Herbert is not great. Perhaps you could think of having it as another middle name. Jacob James Herbert? Or perhaps just don't use Herbert.

I could be persuaded by Herbert. Although I do prefer Bert to Herbie (Herbie is a car, IMO)!. The only really issue to me, although it probably would make little difference, is that Herbert used to be a mild insult to people of my parents' generation (eg. He's a right Herbert!). But it's pretty much only as bad as people saying they felt like a proper Charlie and that's pretty ubiquitous atm.

i really like herbert! i bet jacob will be very popular (because of twilight) everyone will think you're a fan

Oooh, never considered it before but I like Herbie!

I honestly think with all the babies I have met since having DD with old man names like Alfie/Archie/Charlie/Arthur/Sidney/Hector etc, noone would bat an eyelid at Herbert or think it was old-fashioned, and I think Herbie is a really cool name.

I don't think anyone would think of the Beetle car surely, that film is ages old!

I love Herbert. It was my grandad's name and as a young girl (aged 7) I called my first gerbil Herbert - at the time I thought this a great compliment to him, not so sure he thought the same...

Ahh I never thought of the twilight reference! I've just always though of Jacob as a nice loyal sounding name.while we're on the subject ladies what do you think of ava jane or lilly jane for a girl?xxx

I know a Herbie. Hated it at first, but it's a grower. Quite like it now. Herbert conjures up images of 'snotty Herberts'.

Was exfil's name...old, old, old. Not nice imo. sorry.

I love love love it

then again I also love Hugo/sidney/hector and Gilbert

I think Herb and Herbie are great nns

Herbie is quite sweet but is it a grown man's name? I guess it could be shortened to Herb. Sounds like a jazz musician, quite good.

But not Herbert James. James Herbert is a horror novelist.

Awful ..baby Herbert is just wrong

I used to have a hamster called Herbert .

I love Herbie - ! I love any names just a little bit fringe. Find james a little bit ...dull (sorry!)

I actually like it -- it's very unusual.

I know a Jacob Hamish, which I think sounds better than Jacob James

how far on are you dinkytinky?

Don't mind Bertie but not Herbie

I know a baby Herbert.

Not for me, I must admit. Jacob I love.

If you go for the H, make it Herbie and say it's after Herbie Hancock. Now, he WAS cool. (Probably doesn't have much currency in the primary school playground, though.)

Or, if you really must commemorate grandad, how about Bert? Still not really to my taste, but probably cooler (in a revival-of-old-gents'-names kind of way) than Herbert.

I called my son Herbie, 2yrs old, and love it! I didnt want him to be one of 5 Jacks or Georges in his class, but still remains traditional and not made up or "trendy". Some names are so common now, if you call your child out in public lots of kids look up wondering if its them you are calling! My son is a cute cheeky chap who knows exactly what a VW Beetle looks like, and hey if hes known as the love bug when he is (much) older I would say theres a lot worse he could be known for!! I do not understand people who worry about what everyone else thinks, its their baby and you are never going to please every one, Why follow the sheep???