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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.

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Aposterhasnoname · 08/10/2026 11:10

Awful, sorry

OffTheMap · 08/10/2026 11:12

No

Not unless you move in circles where young friends will be called Ptolemy and Julian

To me it sounds very wet and posh

And ugly to say.

I have a good friend called Eugene who is neither wet nor posh, love him, don’t really think about it because it’s just his name but when I do think about it I don’t like his name.

Tryagain26 · 08/10/2026 11:14

You are not going to find a name that everyone likes.
It's not offensive. I think of it as a name more popular in the USA than in the UK but I have heard worse. If you like it use it.

Blackandyellow65 · 08/10/2026 11:17

Anyone remember the bgt man? Hi my name is eugene.. 🤣🤣

How bad is the name Eugene?
OttersOnAPlane · 08/10/2026 11:19

Eugene is a pasty-faced socially awkward kid who gets bullied. He interrupts when adults are talking to correct them, and is widely disliked. His clothes smell musty, like they were forgotten in the washing machine for too long.

Don't saddle a baby with that.

Flynn Rider is the only acceptable Eugene, and he's animated.

Maia77 · 08/10/2026 11:41

The name Eugene makes me think of an American high court judge, or sth like that.

cartagenagina · 08/10/2026 11:43

Gene is nice.

Eugene is weedy.

LilyBunch25 · 08/10/2026 11:54

I immediately think Walking Dead but am probably in the minority.

PissTakePeg · 08/10/2026 12:09

Makes me think of Gene Kelly, which is always a happy thought. I used to work with a Eugene who went by Euge for short, but that might not work in every accent.

I'm not mad about the name but if you are, that's all the matters.

FrogAndToadTogether · 08/10/2026 12:15

Seeing the name written down made “eugenics” pop into my head…

Not a name I would choose!

SkySoaring · 08/10/2026 12:16

Careful with that axe, Eugene!

Hellzbellz25 · 08/10/2026 12:18

Gene yes, Eugene just no

ginasevern · 08/10/2026 12:21

Yes, I really like it. I especially like Gene for short. I've known several Eugenes and they've all been of Irish descent. They were also rugged and handsome! It's in a class of its own really. Not common and not "old man".

PumpkinWanker · 08/10/2026 12:22

Awful

Mistachio · 08/10/2026 12:23

It’s heinous.

Scarlettpixie · 08/10/2026 12:24

LilyBunch25 · 08/10/2026 11:54

I immediately think Walking Dead but am probably in the minority.

Me too!

Joolsin · 08/10/2026 12:24

It's giving me doddery retired Irish priest vibes. A truly awful name. Gene is cool, though.

Escapingafter50years · 08/10/2026 13:04

I've known a Eugene for years. Don't know if he was overweight as a child but he got nicknamed "Huge" and still gets called that by a lot of people - and answers to it!

Freshrain · 08/10/2026 14:12

How bad is the name Eugene?

Very.
Pasty faced, friendless, weak, nerd from affluent background.

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.

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.

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

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.

LancashireButterPie · 08/10/2026 15:18

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

FKAT · 08/10/2026 15:45

I have a Gene who is handsome, cool and has lots of friends. Grin 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.)