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Baby names

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

Original poster

What do you think?

80 replies

Teatreee · 07/09/2021 05:33

Baby boy due this month.
Set on the name Bernie ❤️

It’s classic, not too common but not a really “out there” name. What do you think?

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OhWhatsTheDifference · 07/09/2021 14:57

[quote Teatreee]@OhWhatsTheDifference the Gary’s from the 80s are all still alive and kicking 🤣[/quote]
Yeah but there are literally no baby Gary's either. Google it - Gary is becoming extinct. And Gary is a much nicer name than Bernard/Bernie.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 07/09/2021 14:55

I'm not usually so forthright but Bernie's terrible, sorry! Teddy is not my personal style either but at least it's very cute. Bernie makes me picture either a big, hairy, 50 plus bloke ("Bernie the Bear") or an Irish woman, again probably middle aged (Bernadette).

I'd expect the brother of a Teddy (if it's a given name rather than Edward/Theodore) to be named something equally sweetly vintage - like Albie, Bertie (not my fave but the T makes a difference over Bernie!), Bobby, Billy, Monty type names - "cute" rather than "That's my Uncle's name".

Original poster
Teatreee · 07/09/2021 14:53

@OhWhatsTheDifference the Gary’s from the 80s are all still alive and kicking 🤣

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OhWhatsTheDifference · 07/09/2021 14:44

Not any more there's not! That's the 80s you're thinking of.

Original poster
Teatreee · 07/09/2021 14:26

@Aquamarine1029

It's an awful name for a grown man, which your child will spend the vast majority of his life being.
Is it really though? I mean, there’s a fuck ton of Gary’s knocking about who are being taken seriously and still living their best life
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Aquamarine1029 · 07/09/2021 14:12

It's an awful name for a grown man, which your child will spend the vast majority of his life being.

OhWhatsTheDifference · 07/09/2021 14:11

Reggie is awful. You hear Reggie, you think Kray.

bringbackfonzi · 07/09/2021 14:09

Teatreee fair enough. You might develop a different nickname for him that isn't derived from Bernie.
As for the name itself by the way, I'm on the fence. Prefer Billy or Bobby - or maybe Reggie?

SilverConvention · 07/09/2021 13:20

I REALLY don't like oldie names but I'll make an exception for Bernie. I'd prefer Bernard on the BC though.

Burn Gorman is cool.

Cleverpolly3 · 07/09/2021 11:50

Bernie and Teddy sound like something you’d watch on Nickelodeon

Yardley42 · 07/09/2021 11:47

Cute! I like it.

Original poster
Teatreee · 07/09/2021 11:44

@bringbackfonzi like I said, each to their own! It’s not my own vibe, if I’m pregnant knowing I’m going to call the child X, then I’ll just call them that. I won’t call them Y on their birth certificate to then just call them X anyway, it isn’t something i would do but doesn’t mean it’s wrong or right. Just preference isn’t it. Despite the namesake, nicknames don’t always have to directly correlate with the name (can be surname, pet names, something completely unrelated) so if a “nickname” crops up once they’re here, it’ll just fall in 🥰

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Original poster
Teatreee · 07/09/2021 11:38

@TornadoTrinity

I don't like it. Too like burny! Just not a vibe I like, although I do like vintage names and old man type names.

Do you want alternative suggestions or have you made up your mind on this one?

That’s fair! Everyone associates things differently. Yeah totally made up on this one, was just happy to hear other people’s opinions!
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bringbackfonzi · 07/09/2021 10:48

Re the nickname point: if you are calling him Bernie as his full name, then he doesn't have a nickname. Why would you want to be unable to call your beloved child by an affectionate name, ie a name that's not the official, school-register, form-filling name that people who barely know him use? That's what I don't get about people using nicknames as full names. I like the act of calling someone something to say something about your relationship with that person.

MintyGreenDream · 07/09/2021 10:47

Prefer Bertie

OhWhatsTheDifference · 07/09/2021 10:39

[quote Teatreee]@irresistibleoverwhelm yeah, they’re not within the same “realm” so to speak but I can imagine saying Botha and while Teddy is quite a “cutesy” name I don’t think there are any others of that type that we’d like to use! Barney would be good but my OH won’t bite the bait 😂 we liked Bobby but we know of a few and we’ve been pipped to the post. I don’t want them lost in a sea of Bobby’s, I think if you meet a Bernie, you’ll remember a Bernie (hopefully in a positive light 🤣)[/quote]
I'll be honest, Bernie would be memorable because people would say it like 'oh my god, you'll never believe what they've named him' not in an 'awwww' type way.

TornadoTrinity · 07/09/2021 10:07

I don't like it. Too like burny! Just not a vibe I like, although I do like vintage names and old man type names.

Do you want alternative suggestions or have you made up your mind on this one?

Original poster
Teatreee · 07/09/2021 10:05

@HoldingTheDoor

So I won’t engage with you any further, have a good day

My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.

😂😂😂 I’m sorry. I mean they might come back and absolutely wipe me out verbally so don’t succumb to the disappointment just yet
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viques · 07/09/2021 10:04

Bernad or Bernaaaaard?

TenThousandSpoons · 07/09/2021 10:03

Bernie is cute for a baby but I wonder if he will like being Bernie as a teen and grown man. It goes well with Teddy though.

I do think of Bernie as a girls nickname though (I guess from Bernadette).

I prefer Bert/Bertie or Barney.

Original poster
Teatreee · 07/09/2021 10:03

@Travielkapelka same! I personally don’t understand it but everyone is different. I think if you’re planning on calling them a nickname all their life then just name them that, surely? Althouvh I’m not down for a fight this morning so if anyone else is triggered by this pls don’t @ me 🥲😂

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SeriouslyISuppose · 07/09/2021 10:02

It's joky/awful territory for me, as is Bernard. I'd class it with Malcolm, Brian and Nigel -- pompous elderly Tories puffing around the golf course with hypertension and a drink habit.

And other than Bernie Sanders, the other famous Bernies that come to mind are Bernie Madoff, Bernie Taupin, Bernie Ecclestone.

Constellationstation · 07/09/2021 10:01

I think using a full name officially and using a nickname is nice because it gives them options when they’re older. I’m not sure how seriously a Bernie would be taken at work for example, so I think Bernard shortened to Bernie would be better, although I’m not keen on either!

Original poster
Teatreee · 07/09/2021 10:00

@irresistibleoverwhelm absolutely, I tried with our first. Apparently it’s a bloody dogs name and he’s not budging 🥲😂

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Happenchance · 07/09/2021 09:55

I like it as a nickname for Bernard.

There's a risk that Bernie/Bernard could be given the nickname Bear because his brother's name is Teddy. I wouldn't use it for that reason.

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