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Baby names

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

Original poster

Bernadette

63 replies

barbalala · 27/11/2011 14:18

DP put this name forward for our next DD. He's foreign (non-English speaking country) and had a close family member with this name. Not sure how to react to his name choice Hmm.
I personally don't think we would do the LO a favour if we named her Bernadette...
Also, can't think of suitable nicknames other than Bernie, which I don't find particularly cute.
Please help, (how) should I persuade DH to drop it?

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purplebridgett · 27/11/2011 18:32

I like Bernadette (love the song Bernadette by the Four Tops and went to school with a Bernadette so it doesn't seem old-fashioned to me) but am not keen on Bernie. What about Betsy for a nickname?

I think it's good for kids of dual heritage to have names that reflect their cultural background. My ex was Albanian and if we'd ever've had kids I think I'd have given them Albanian names to help keep their link with that side of their family strong. Are there any other Hungarian names you like? I've just tried to think of some but all I came up with was Zsa Zsa!

PollyMorfic · 27/11/2011 18:15

Gosh, there's a name I haven't heard suggested for an extremely long time. I know loads of lovely Bernadettes in their 40s (most generally called Bernie for short), but I honestly don't think there are many or any Bernadettes under the age of about 35 in the UK.

I suspect the name was going out of fashion anyway along with Carmel, Dymphna and Fidelma, but the Bernadette Devlin connection will have helped it on its way. I suspect that your dh has no idea at all of the associations it has for many people in the UK: not only would people assume you were very Catholic indeed, but they might well think that you had Irish Republican connections of some kind. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing in itself, but assuming you want a child to be able to create her own identity for herself as she grows up, then personally I would steer clear of names that are heavily associated with particular ethnic, social or religious groups. And Bernadette definitely is.

I quite like the name myself, as it happens, but I wouldn't use it for the reasons above. Apart from the political/religious associations it's quite old-fashioned but not old-fashioned enough to be ready for a revival -- it's of the same vintage as Carol, Karen and Brenda.

Original poster
barbalala · 27/11/2011 18:10

thanks marjolaine, will look up the song Smile

Fingers crossed I can convince him.

Now I need first names that'll work both in the UK and on the continent and go well with the middle name Bernadette Hmm

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missmiss · 27/11/2011 18:10

Reminds me of frumpy middle-aged Irish women with bad perms.

marjolaine · 27/11/2011 18:01

Don't really like the name much but somewhat positive (?) associations for the name are the song Bernadette by the Four Tops (lyrics) and there's a character called Bernadette on The Big Bang Theory.

Bernadette as middle name is a much better idea though!

MitziKinsky · 27/11/2011 18:00

You definitely need a two syllable name. Wink

Original poster
barbalala · 27/11/2011 17:58

Mitzi - other two DC are called Abel and Caitlin, so I hope you're right.

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Original poster
barbalala · 27/11/2011 17:49

HOTE - wow maybe I CAN play the religious card after all as they're not THAT catholic.

I suppose having it as a middle name would be alright, however, will have to come up with a really short first name and the ones I tend to like are mostly three syllables.

MNP - other two DC are not named after anyone we know, but ultimately I don't have a problem with that as long as it's not the in-laws.

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Popbiscuit · 27/11/2011 17:49

I like it because of Bernadette in Circle of Friends (Maeve Binchy).

MitziKinsky · 27/11/2011 17:46

Funnily enough I have never met a Sister Bernadette.

But then I don't live in Ireland.

Floggingmolly · 27/11/2011 17:18

It's a nun's name. Sorry.

MildlyNarkyPuffin · 27/11/2011 17:16

Bernadette is a lot nicer than Bernice. I wouldn't be keen though.

Have you named your DC after family members? Is there precedent? Otherwise you could say you don't like the naming after thing and give Bernadette as a middle name and let her have a first name of her own.

MitziKinsky · 27/11/2011 17:13

I don't like Bernice...and the Grandpa in Thomas and the Magic Railroad is called Bernice, which I always found strange.

MitziKinsky · 27/11/2011 17:12

barbalala, Bernadette sooo doesn't go with your other DCs names (what ever they are!)

Original poster
barbalala · 27/11/2011 17:12

sad

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CupOfGoodCheer · 27/11/2011 17:11

Has anyone suggested Bernice?

Original poster
barbalala · 27/11/2011 17:10

Mitzi - LOL

the said truth is i have seen it mispelled as Burnadette before Shock

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HerdOfTinyElephants · 27/11/2011 17:10

It's very VERY Catholic. Probably about the only name I can think of offhand where I would completely assume that the bearer came from a very actively Catholic family and would be astonished to discover that she didn't. I've known some lovely Bernadettes, so I have good associations with the name, but it's an unusual choice for a baby these days.

Just tell him that, sorry, with the greatest respect to his family member you really don't like it so it is not going to be your baby's first name. Would you compromise on having it in a middle name slot?

NewsClippings · 27/11/2011 17:10

Blush Oops, sorry all - I was reading the baby names site too fast! However Lourdes is still a name connected to Bernadette, which was what I was aiming to find

PercyFilth · 27/11/2011 17:07

Klara, eh? How about Claire or Clarissa?

Original poster
barbalala · 27/11/2011 17:06

Percy - he is Hungarian.

I think I'll just have to say it doesn't go with other DC' names, surely that must count.

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MitziKinsky · 27/11/2011 17:04

What do you call a woman who throws all her bills on the fire?

Bernadette.

Boom boom.

NewsClippings, what are you on about? Grin

Bernadette is very Irish Catholic, and is likely to be shortened to Berni or Detti.

Original poster
barbalala · 27/11/2011 17:02

Good tips NewsC - unfortunately, Lourdes would never work in his native language Sad

With re to middle name yes Klara, but that's his mother's name too, wouldn't like to name my DC after MIL.

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PercyFilth · 27/11/2011 17:00

What about Lourdes (she became St Bernadette later)

She was known as Bernadette Soubirous, but I think her given name was Marie-Bernarde and Bernadette was a pet name.

Don't suppose your husband's French, is he?

CupOfGoodCheer · 27/11/2011 16:57

"What about Lourdes (she became St Bernadette later)?"

No "she" didn't!! St. Bernadette was FROM Lourdes!!