Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Clarence ?

63 replies

Kanji0 · 26/02/2021 01:12

Read this off a name list and husband now keen.

Nickname of Clark, or Lars, or Clarrie

Unsure whether it’s an underused classic or unheard of for a reason

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Calmondeck · 28/02/2021 07:01

I’m surprised by all of the hate! I love Clarence and all of your nicknames. Clancy is popular in Australia (due to the Banjo Patterson poem) - often gets Clance as a nn. Also think Lawrence, Lance, Vance, from previous suggestions are great.

whatausername · 28/02/2021 05:53

Unused for a reason! Also, Clark and Lars have nothing whatsoever to do with Clarence. It would just sound like you were indecisive and so were using two names at the same time. Anyway, NNs tend to evolve naturally, they are rather tricky to dictate (as much as we might wish we could).

Rockmehardplace · 28/02/2021 01:53

It’s ok if he is going straight to Eton but otherwise it is awful! Really like Clark tho or Laurence (nn Laurie)

CattyCactus · 28/02/2021 01:48

Clark, Lars, Laurence, Claude (you didn’t actually suggest some of these, I know) are all fine.
Clarence - no. Especially not with the nn Clarrie.

Thedogscollar · 28/02/2021 01:43

Sorry OP first thing that came to mind was Clarence the cross eyed lion. It's a generational thing.
Tbh though I do not like Clarence as a name.

Phoenixrising2020 · 27/02/2021 23:30

Clarence Clemons' youngest son was also called Clarence. He was more usually known as Nick.

jemillyp · 27/02/2021 23:20

Sorry OP, it's an awful name. So many gorgeous names out there, especially ones in this category of sort of refined/classy - it's just that Clarence is a bridge too far, I'd say it's unusual for a reason.. and not a good one. Sorry! Way too frilly.

scrivette · 27/02/2021 23:12

I love it. I know one who is about 8 called Clarrie.

OppsUpsSide · 27/02/2021 23:03

This is Clarence!

Have watched all the Clarence episodes multiple times with DS, I’d adopt Clarence if I could.

MonkeyNotOrgangrinder · 27/02/2021 23:01

The Clarence Public House

Gunpowder · 27/02/2021 23:00

LOVE IT! And yes to Clement too, and Clifford.

Firebird83 · 27/02/2021 22:58

I know a Clarence “Clarry”, I like Clark as well

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 27/02/2021 16:55

I love it! Clement as well.

VanillaAndOrange · 27/02/2021 16:53

Reminds me of two Dukes of Clarence; the first drowned in a butt of malmsey in Richard III and the second was suspected at one time of being Jack the Ripper.

William IV was also a DofC and he might be a slightly more positive role model.

However Clarence mostly reminds me of Clarence Clemons, and he positively rocked. I quite the name just as a collection of sounds too. I'm surprised it's not used more.

Twobrews · 26/02/2021 14:26

This is Clarence!

Clarence ?
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 26/02/2021 13:56

I think Clarence is one of those names you'd have to be incredibly hipster or very upper class to pull off, sorry - a bit like Eugene, Percival or Cecil. Fine if your child is confident, but not so great if he's not.

Similar but more popular/well known Laurence is more useable I think (and would be a more obvious BC name for Lars). Or just use Clark or Lars on their own - while they are uncommon in the UK, they are nice names imo.

PurBal · 26/02/2021 11:42

I like it. Reminds me of the angel in It's a Wonderful Life.

LeaveMyDamnJam · 26/02/2021 11:41

Is a name for dukes (and as a result, pubs) and lions.

user1493494961 · 26/02/2021 11:40

Clarence the cross-eyed lion here too.

3JsMa · 26/02/2021 11:40

Clarence/Lars is great.

OldRailer · 26/02/2021 11:39

I don't like it sorry.
Prefer Laurence/ Lance

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 26/02/2021 11:35

@katienana

There is a kids cartoon on Netflix called Clarence, it's very funny but I think it would put you off the name if you watched it
Very much this!
RedGoldAndGreene · 26/02/2021 11:34

Definitely not Clarrie as a nickname.

Clark(e) and Lars are much better names than Clarence but obviously don't use the former if your surname is Kent.

StressedTired · 26/02/2021 11:34

I love it! I think it's strong and elegant but sweet too. I don't understand all the hate for it here on a site that seems obsessed with Clementine (a fruit!) and Bear (an animal!). I like the nickname Clarrie but might also use Larry.

ThePricklySheep · 26/02/2021 11:29

I would think girl for Clarrie.