To have never heard of the name Ptolemy, until I joined mumsnet?

[Nooneelseisallowedafergus]

Had you?

Actually I think Heike has a short E sound on the end, not A or Eee.

The only Ptolemy I know is the offspring of a teenager who lives on a very rough estate.

Yes I had.

I had heard of the name but didn't study any Egyptian history at all beyond primary school- just British history, mostly medicine/welfare/NHS and WWI/II.
I went to an all-girls grammar... Realistically you can't cover all eras and peoples.

Reminds me of something to do with phlegm too

Yes, I knew one. Guess he must be about 9 now.

I don't like it though

lovelyladuree you prob don't know as much about anatomy and neurophysiology as me. Everyone has their own areas of interest and expertise. I take it yours is looking down on people. Ptolemy off.

I'd heard the name before.

I'd much rather be thought under-educated by a stranger's standards than downright rude.

Yes - ptolemy the tortoise in Beatrix Potter's Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher. But I cant believe I got into my 40s withput knowing you dont pronounce the P!
Very illuminating thread!

How can someone use uneducated as a put down? I'm not stupid but I'm probably fairly uneducated. That's my schools fault not mine.

Everyone knows the stuff they need to know to get by in life. People arent "ignorant" or uneducated, they just know different stuff from you. I've never needed to know how to pronounce Ptolemy or who the greart Ptolemies of ancient history were. You live and learn!

Ptolemy Dean is the resident restoration architect at Westminster Abbey.
I know a three year old Ptolemy too (nn Tolly) he is in dgs nursery school class.

GreatCongas - really? You hold your school responsible for your current level of education? Amazing. Or maybe you've just only left school, would be a reasonable assertion if that's the case.

My level of formal education is pathetic and my qualifications are nil (well, a handful of GCSEs), but I'm not uneducated. My education is my own responsibility, as is yours. There are books, radio(4), the internet and life in general.

Cozy9 pronounced tolemy.

holy hell I clicked this thinking people on MN were naming their child Ptolemy.

Oh, Tarquin, Ptolemy! Time for supper!

(yes, I'd heard of Ptolemy before MN )

Yes. But I am a saddo that ready history books for fun.

How can someone uneducated as a put down? I'm not
I would divide my knowledge as having been learned 40% from my parents 40% from reading 5 % from schools and 15% from other sources such as friends and mn.
I also said I had heard of Ptolemy from a book but we didn't do classics at school.
Yes I do blame school for a lot. I went to school for over half my life and they were woeful in their teaching. It is difficult to entirely self educate so yes I do place a large amount of blame on them.

Sorry weird copy paste thing going on

Yes I know one and of one.

I do like a poncetastic name tbf but can't stand Ptolemy. I think it looks ugly and sound ugly.

I always say ' Plotemy ' in my mind.

Yes I had but only because I have always been fascinated with Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra and Nerifetti.

DH teaches a Ptolemy. He is velly velly posh. DH has this joke that he loves to say to the poor kid - "Ptolemy! You're trouble with a capital P!" It's ridiculous but it makes us both roar with laughter. He swears the kids don't even get it

I had heard of before MN. I'm a bit of history nerd.

I honestly cannot believe that people are naming their sons Ptolemy. Perhaps not knowing the vile historical connatations is playing a part in that.

A boy at my son's school called hieronymous. Poor child. He used to ask the other boys to call him Hero.

I'm not keen on pretentious names. Not the child's fault but is their burden.

I'd heard of it because I know one. He's a cool little lad.

I thought you might like to know that an exhibition I am putting together now has a piece called "Ptolemy" thanks to MN!

There was a piece that was a last minute addition from the principle artist and she didnt know what to call it. It was a life study of a man and she said "What should I call him?" I said "Ptolemy!" because I had read this thread last night and she loved it and that is now his name!