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

I like the name Leonard but no one else here does

39 replies

westonsuperMARE · 15/04/2010 10:32

I just did a MN search on the name Leonard and everyone is horrid about it on the babynames board. I think it's lovely - we're planning to call our baby Leonard if it's a boy with Leo or Lenny for short. Is this really awful? So many people on here have shouted it down when it comes up as a suggestion. I think Leonardo sounds silly if no Italian heritage and Leo on its own seems a bit short.

Would I be a cruel mother to do this to a baby?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
birdofthenorth · 19/04/2010 14:09

I LOVE it esp with nn Lenny

RabbitAndCo · 19/04/2010 13:10

Love it love it love it. I was going to have Leonard if we'd had a boy.

BessieBoots · 19/04/2010 13:04

Leonard Cohen is the coolest. It is an excellent name.

StepSideways · 19/04/2010 13:02

Lovely name, quirky..

Original poster
westonsuperMARE · 19/04/2010 13:01

thank you all - really helpful. I think we will go for it. Just wanted to check there wasn't universal derision!

OP posts:
BakewellTarts · 17/04/2010 21:10

I love Leonard...my beloved Grandad was Frank Leonard and I always thought I might use it for a name if I had a DS (have 2 lovely DDs and my family is complete so won't get to use it now). Go for it!

Magaly · 17/04/2010 21:02

I like it. I like Leo or Lenny more though.

Leopold is a bit cooler.

MamaLazarou · 17/04/2010 16:11

Why do you care what people on here think?

Skegness · 17/04/2010 09:49

Agree with spawnchorus.

PuppyMonkey · 17/04/2010 09:46

I think it's awful sorry. Best to be honest about these thing

helyg · 17/04/2010 09:45

I went to school with a Leonard, he must be about 32 now. He was called Len for short. I always thought it was a lovely name.

debaronz · 17/04/2010 09:43

I would put it in the same category as Bernard.

SpawnChorus · 17/04/2010 09:26

Two words: Leonard Cohen

ergo Leonard is an incredibly cool name.

cece · 17/04/2010 09:25

I love Lenny!

WishYouWereMine · 17/04/2010 09:19

I kinda like it!
There was an episode of the Big Bang Theory though where Leonard said that he hated his name.. because it had 'nerd' in it! He wanted to be called Angelo.. because it had angel' and 'jello' in it! Is that something you would consider OP?

Merle · 17/04/2010 08:25

I like it.

If it was me I would not be discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm from other people, quite the reverse.

It is not a wacky name. It is a good, solid name which doesn't happen to be fashionable at the moment. It shortens really well. Ie works in other European countries ( I always like that). It ticks all the boxes in terms of being an astrophysicist(sp?) and/or and artist and/or a bloke in the pub. What more could you ask for in a name?

Ineedsomesleep · 17/04/2010 08:15

Its not a name I would choose, but that is the point of choosing baby names you choose names that you like.

When my DD was born my own Mum said "well, I suppose you can't choose what they name your Grandchildren". Think that summed up what whe thought of it. She has now started calling DD by her middle name.

Don't name your child to please other people, if you like it then use it.

franke · 17/04/2010 06:32

Seems to be quite popular here in Germany, usually spelled Lennard. If you like it, go for it. I don't think it would be a cruel choice.

AussieSim · 17/04/2010 04:58

I love Leonard in Big Bang Theory - but the creator probably gave the character the name because it sounds geeky/nerdy. I had Leon on my shortlist for DC2. DC2 now has a Leo in his class which is nice. But I once owned a dog called Lenny

Go for it!

ChippingIn · 17/04/2010 04:48

It's definitely not one I'd choose - but it's no worse than Stanley, Albert, Douglas etc....

If you like it, then go with it!

Isentthatbox · 15/04/2010 22:47

A boy named Leon - should have said that - you're not psychic!!

Isentthatbox · 15/04/2010 22:46

I know it shouldn't influence me but a boy in ds's class has just been expelled for throwing a chair at a pregnant teacher

Put me off the name for life

Leonard is nice tho!

LittlePushka · 15/04/2010 22:24

I love Leon though!

Shaz10 · 15/04/2010 22:16

Lenny, I love the name! The best Simpsons character, apart from maybe Moe. Ooh, you should call him Moe!

tasmaniandevilchaser · 15/04/2010 22:14

Another vote for Leon, though I love Lenny.

Swipe left for the next trending thread