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Baby names

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

Original poster

Does my son have an awful name?

231 replies

tabithamay · 15/11/2018 07:53

I’ve done a similar thread on Nameberry but wanted other people’s opinions. I have a 17-year-old DS who’s started his second year at college, and we chose Ernest Leopold as a first and middle, after my DH’s great-grandfather. Recently, he’s become very aware of it as people are telling him how ugly/old-fashioned/frumpy/strange it is. What do you think?

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GreatDuckCookery6211 · 18/11/2018 16:55

I think the OP was pulling our legs somehow.

puddlesplashing · 17/11/2018 21:14

Awful.

Shriek · 16/11/2018 01:47

10 pages for a name!!! Just wow!
Like Leopold, not really ernest for a college lad.
I think the 'Leo' idea might work well for him if he just calls himself that.

Horrible having the ridicule. Did he like his name till this?

wafflyversatile · 16/11/2018 01:34

It's a fabulous name for a character in a book set in the Crimean war. Less so for a 17 year old trying to seem cool in front of his new college mates.

Lickedthespoon · 16/11/2018 01:15

Some people on mumsnet are bloody horrible!!

Unicyclethief · 16/11/2018 01:06

Fab name! I have a weird as fuck name and hated it right through school because I was ripped the piss out of mercilessly. I bloody love it now as it is so unusual, strong and cool, just like your son’s name.

Smallhorse · 16/11/2018 01:03

Wow. Very cool name

NottonightJosepheen · 16/11/2018 00:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

vasmontenegro · 15/11/2018 23:46

We all know that Mumsnet allow your posts to be picked up by the press for their lazy journalism, but when you see it picked up SO quickly, it’s a bit sickening. (Angry)

GreenTulips · 15/11/2018 23:44

Doesn't matter what we think

What matters is what your son thinks

Ask him if he wants to change it and if he does let him. Help him chose a new name.

I think you are hurt that he doesn't like it.

I don't like my name either and haven't since I was young - still haven't changed my mind! So what people say 'he'll grow to like it later' is beyond me.

He thinks it's awful - it's his name - his choice

Girlking · 15/11/2018 23:34

For Gods sake ! Will you leave the woman alone ! It is a great name and it’s her sons name . What is the matter with you people ?

ShirazShirley86 · 15/11/2018 23:31

I hope OP really was his mother and not one of his peers on a wind up.

Smiler88 · 15/11/2018 23:26

It's a bit late now to worry about it, it has been his name 17 years!

BakedBeans47 · 15/11/2018 23:24

Poor lad, and shame on The Mirror 😡

Yep Bloody shameful.

Hope you’re OK OP x

biggidybon · 15/11/2018 23:16

I think it's a great name. A strong name which connects him to a treasured ancestor. He will learn to love it as he matures.

itisitis · 15/11/2018 21:45

@usertall im really not surprised the OP has disappeared - the Mirror have just shamed her sons name all over social media. By giving both his first and middle name, it pretty much narrows it down to make him easily identifiable by his peers. Poor lad, and shame on The Mirror 😡

Winona1 · 15/11/2018 21:14

Love that name!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/11/2018 19:54

user not user

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/11/2018 19:54

Not surprising user, as that incendiary rag the DM has picked this up, the twats.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/11/2018 19:53

Now I'm totally intrigued Merlotmummy.

I shall just have to wonder

Grin
usertall · 15/11/2018 19:52

Surprise surprise the OP has disappeared lol.

cptartapp · 15/11/2018 18:46

Don't like it at all I'm afraid. DH is saddled with a very dated generally disliked Christian name and a dreadful and unusual family name (we stopped after five generations) as his middle name. He was taunted all his life and still resents his parents for it.

bumblingbovine49 · 15/11/2018 18:14

Nesto is a common way to shorten the Italian version in Italy - Ernesto.
I think it is unusual but fine. DS has two middle names both Italian. I chose them to reflect some of his Italian heritage. His first and last name are very English so I wanted some Italian there.

RavenWings · 15/11/2018 18:00

Ah its a nice name OP. Definitely better than the usual Harry, Charlie, Oliver etc names. It has a bit of personality and family history to.

notpushyinterested · 15/11/2018 16:42

No it's not a classic.

Classics are names like thomas, george, alexander, matthew, james, john....names that you see in every single generation.

Names that were popular a long time ago like ernest or mabel are just the jayden of their generation which is why they are so jaring when thery start getting used again.