Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Thoughts on the name Bernard?

67 replies

Dandani · 16/03/2020 08:14

Thoughts on the name Bernard? It's in the family and it's not one I've ever came across so I dont have much of an opinion but oh got it as a middle name from his grandfather and our other 2 kids both have names from the family in their names

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Cosyjimjamsforautumn · 16/03/2020 20:18

Bernard manning Confused

MargotMoon · 16/03/2020 20:16

Two of the coolest men in music (Sumner, Butler) are called Bernard.

I love it, personally. And the Blackadder/Nursey association makes it even better Smile

mogtheexcellent · 16/03/2020 20:14

I like it. You can use Nursie as a nickname (as in blackadder)

Apolloanddaphne · 16/03/2020 20:12

I love. It is a family name of ours and my now deceased DF's middle name. Lots of Bens in our family who are Bernard.

GordonBennett20 · 16/03/2020 20:12

I opened the thread and hated it but the more I read the responses the more its growing on me!

Reminds me of bernards watch!

Scarletoharaseyebrows · 16/03/2020 20:12

Don't be ridiculous Bernard. I'm not THAT desperate!

TheWordmeister · 16/03/2020 20:11

Nooo. It would be a terrible name for a child. Like Dennis or Colin.

I do love that book though..

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 16/03/2020 20:09

I have a relative called Bernie who's Australian, so in my head I always hear the name in his accent. It sounds a lot cooler that way than it does in my Yorkshire twang. I suppose it depends where you're from as to how well it'll work!

Dandani · 16/03/2020 20:09

I think I do like it more now hearing potential nicknames Grin

OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 16/03/2020 19:39

Bernie is cool. As is Bern.

RedDiamond · 16/03/2020 19:34

My favourite relative is named Bernard!

Jaguarana · 16/03/2020 19:27

I know a young Bernard who goes by Ben.

wibdib · 16/03/2020 16:35

I’m english and would pronounce it Bernrd like you - or even with an uhd sound at the end of it.

I think of BerNARD as being a very American spelling or maybe Hyacynth Bouquet ish.

Quite cute as a different family middle name but thanks to the dogs one that many people will have heard of.

SumAndSubstance · 16/03/2020 16:21

I've come across the surname pronounced BerNARD, but never the first name.

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 16/03/2020 14:35

It always makes me think of Nursie in Blackadder the Second. Oh, shut up, Bernard. I do actually quite like it, though, particularly shortened to Bernie.

Bezalelle · 16/03/2020 13:59

We had a neighbour named Bernard. My dad used to call him Barnyard.

Dandani · 16/03/2020 11:16

Well my husband is english and says it like BerNARD but I'm scottish and say it like Bernrd lol. I don't know if anyone can imagine how I am saying that but basically the same just not pronouncing the A lol. Some of these replies did make me laugh though "awful" and "no" haha. I did get the feeling it might not be so popular

OP posts:
HarrietM87 · 16/03/2020 10:57

@tiktoktik that’s right. And the Bernard in question is the MP Bernard Jenkin!

I think it’s quite a cool name, and Bernie is cute.

RoseMartha · 16/03/2020 10:37

Not keen but as family name would use as middle name

Isthistrueor · 16/03/2020 10:36

It would be ok as a middle name but I wouldn’t inflict it on a 21st century kid as a first name.

tiktoktik · 16/03/2020 10:17

Richard Curtis (I think it was him anyway!) had a girlfriend cheat on him with a Bernard. In most of his films there's a derogatory character caller Bernard.

AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 16/03/2020 10:14

Know that Richard Curtis makes a point of always naming a dopy character Bernard in all of his films.

MikeUniformMike · 16/03/2020 09:49

I know a nice Bernard in his 20s.

Atla · 16/03/2020 09:47

Quite like it! Bern for short?

Patch23042 · 16/03/2020 09:38

Due a revival! I also like the nicknames Bernie and Bern.

Swipe left for the next trending thread