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Baby names

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

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Original poster

How bad is the name Eugene?

109 replies

chinyu · 08/10/2026 10:29

Pregnant with my second, first boy. My daughter also has a traditionally “old lady” name. Husband and I have fought for months over boy names and this one is in our top three.

I know people find it nerdy but I find it cute. Just how bad is it? I can take it. 😆😩 I fear I’m not going to be able to name this kid until he’s earthside.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Firsttimebabymummy · 08/10/2026 19:44

I like it! Due a boy soon too (this isn't on my list though). I think of walking dead / tangled. Not in a bad way.

DemBonesDemBones · 08/10/2026 16:31

I absolutely love it, it was on my list but unfortunately Tangled came out when I was pregnant so I couldn’t! You totally could now! Gene as a nickname is gorgeous.

Pieceofpurplesky · 08/10/2026 16:30

Walking Dead.
it's not a strong sounding name

HugoThatway · 08/10/2026 16:29

Eugene in Grease
Princess Eugenie
Eugenics

Three reasons why not to use it.
(I've nothing against Princess Eugenie but not keen on the name)

Marmite27 · 08/10/2026 16:11

I know one in his late 30’s/early 40’s and one who’s 11. It doesn’t stand out as unusual to me.

Both Catholic, as I think about it, but different demographics/countries.

momtoboys · 08/10/2026 16:09

I like it!

CloudyWithAChanceOfCustard · 08/10/2026 16:02

Would entirely depend on the child/man…they’d have to be able to carry it really well.

I actually don’t hate it, because I know a brilliantly cool older man with this name. It would be different, I suspect, if my only frame of reference were the Eugene from Grease.

Shouldgivethisup · 08/10/2026 15:59

Have you heard ‘Careful with that axe, Eugene’. By Pink Floyd. Give it a spin and then decide

Mydogisagentleman · 08/10/2026 15:54

Urine

FKAT · 08/10/2026 15:45

I have a Gene who is handsome, cool and has lots of friends. I wouldn't have called him Eugene.

Has racist connotations... much loved in the early part of the 20th century for the 'eugenics' / 'master race' vibe

Absolute hogwash. For a start, most famous 20th century Eu/Genes are Jewish (Gene Simmons, son of a Holocaust survivor springs to mind, as does Eugene Levy and Gene Wilder.)

LancashireButterPie · 08/10/2026 15:18

Doesn't Liam Gallagher/Nicole Appleton have a son called Gene?

BlackCatBea · 08/10/2026 14:32

It’s a bit geeky but then again my first thought was Flynn Ryder from Tangled and he’s far from geeky.

EffortlessDiscussion · 08/10/2026 14:26

dnadiscoveryquery · 08/10/2026 10:40

I’m GenX so it just reminds me of Eugene from Grease (who was solidy picked on for being a geek)

Me too

PHASEONE10841 · 08/10/2026 14:24

Has racist connotations... much loved in the early part of the 20th century for the 'eugenics' / 'master race' vibe. See also apartheid South Africa with Eugene Terreblanche.

Imming · 08/10/2026 14:22

It just seemed to be the default name for nerds in US pop culture for a while -- the first one that comes to mind is Eugene the squeaky-voiced nerd in Grease, who is continually teased and pranked by the T-Birds, has his trousers pulled down at the pep rally, and gets a pie in the face.