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Baby names

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

Original poster

Lenny or Leonard?

60 replies

NearlyThere91 · 03/02/2025 00:25

Please don't say if you hate the name/s. We love Lenny so much.

I think I'd like Leonard on the BC but my husband doesn't like Leonard at all. He wants pure Lenny, and he could go by 'Len' if he ever wanted to be particularly serious.

What do you think - Lenny or Leonard?

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HugoYorway · 04/02/2025 13:19

If you are only going to call him Lenny, register him as Lenny.
There are plenty of babies registered with names like Archie, Alfie, Teddy, Tommy, Freddie etc.
I really like Leonard, but you don't.

Calling him Leon nn Lenny seems ridiculous.

If comments on the name here caused you anxiety,maybe you could think of some different names you like.

Properdaebak · 04/02/2025 13:01

Lenny is of course the diminutive of Leonard, but if your DH objects to Leonard on the BC why not just put Lenny as your DCs official name? When would he use Leonard anyway, if your child is known as Lenny everywhere in life, with Len being the name that he would inevitably get by those who feel the need to shorten every name there is?
There's also the NN Leo, he could get that too of course.

Lyn348 · 03/02/2025 16:21

I'd go with Lennon or Leon NN Lenny. I'm with your DH on Leonard but i think Lenny is too informal to go on their BC.

RuthW · 03/02/2025 16:17

Leonard

BatchCookBabe · 03/02/2025 16:03

Neither. I would pick Leo.

Not a fan of Lenny (sorry!) Leonard is OK.

But Leo is the best. Smile

HugoYorway · 03/02/2025 15:59

Sir Lenny Henry is Lenford Lenworth

ThatsNotMyTeen · 03/02/2025 14:19

Lenny is so cute

I’d probably put Leonard on the BC to cover all bases

Whoarethoseguys · 03/02/2025 14:15

As someone suggested if your husband doesn't like Leonard would he consider Leon? I think Lenny would work as a nickname for that.

Catandsquirrel · 03/02/2025 14:06

Leonard

PreggersWithBaby2 · 03/02/2025 14:00

bluebunnys · 03/02/2025 13:35

Lennon or Lennard shorten to Lenny

Wouldn't Leonardo or Leonard not shorten to Leo?

Leonard is pronounced Len-ard

bluebunnys · 03/02/2025 13:35

Lennon or Lennard shorten to Lenny

Wouldn't Leonardo or Leonard not shorten to Leo?

mummysmagicmedicine · 03/02/2025 12:37

Lenny could be short for Lennox or Lennon

PreggersWithBaby2 · 03/02/2025 12:36

I would just use Lenny but if you are choosing a different name than the name you intend to actually call him just to put on a birthcert I'd go with Lennon over Leonard!

Lavalamping · 03/02/2025 09:00

I love Leonard nn Lenny.

bluebunnys · 03/02/2025 08:56

I don't like Leonard (Leo-nard?) but if you want Lenny, how about Lennard? Or Lennon?

Moreteaandchocolate · 03/02/2025 08:54

It’s a difficult one - I personally much prefer Lenny to Leonard, but I also take the point that Leonard gives options for him to choose later in life (e.g. maybe he’ll like the formality of Leonard for his CV or feel that Leo suits him more as a teen etc). However, it is a bit of a burden having a “formal” name that you dislike when you’re always known by the diminutive- e.g. I know a Charles nn Charlie who changed his name to Charlie by deed poll as an adult because he hated Charles so much.

I think times have changed and diminutives as first names are so commonplace that if I disliked the longer name I’d just pick the diminutive, personally - so that’s a very long-winded way of saying that my vote goes to Lenny!

shoopshoopdedoo · 03/02/2025 06:46

Leonard, nickname Lenny

Firsttimebabymummy · 03/02/2025 06:31

Leonard on BC

Eenameenadeeka · 03/02/2025 06:13

I know of a couple of babies names Lennon with the nickname Lenny.

Kingofthetyrantlizards · 03/02/2025 05:41

I love Leonard - in fact, that's the name we're going to give this one if the scans are right and he's a boy - but Leo for short.

I do agree with others that Lenny is lovely but could be too informal, so Leonard, or a variation of, would be good for the BC. Though I also think that lots of people are putting shorter versions on the BC now, so maybe that won't matter when your little one is older.

SlaveToAGoldenRetriever · 03/02/2025 04:17

Leonard. Far nicer + better nickname potential with Leo/Lennie. Lenny alone is too informal

Lellamir · 03/02/2025 02:38

Leonardo?
We knew a sweet little boy called Lionel, pronounced Lee-oh-nell. Is that any better?

FWIW, I put the nick-namey version of DS name on his birth certificate, and do wish I'd put the long version. We tend to call him the even shorter version, day to day, which is actually more formal than the version with the y on the end.I know it's a 'thing' on here, to put a longer, more formal name on the BC, but it's a thing I personally, like. Leonardo is the longest version I can come up with.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 03/02/2025 02:24

I would go with a longer version on the birth certificate but it doesn’t need to be Leonard if your husband doesn’t like it. I like the previous posters suggestion of Lennox or Lennon, both are good names.

Leonard could also be spelt Lennard

MumChp · 03/02/2025 02:00

Leonard.

username462025 · 03/02/2025 01:44

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