Bertie - Bertram

[Nightstar]

My husband and I had chosen this name. I'm a massive fan of PG Wodehouse (Bertie Wooster) but we made the mistake of telling the parents who pulled faces.

They suggested Robert, Albert or Gilbert, so that it could be shortened to something other than Bertie, but Bertie was the name we wanted. We even considered putting that on the birth certificate instead of Bertram so as to avoid him having any other name. But i am a traditionalist and wanted him to have a 'real' name and not a 'made up for convenience name'.

Since we stupidly told the parents, their reaction has made us question whether its the right name.

Any thoughts?

Please, please use Bertram. Its a fab name and very much underused. I only know one little Bertie and he is 4.

Ignore your parents once DS is here they will be thrilled anyway.

Whatever name you choose someone will pull their face.

Stick with the name you love and stick with MN for discussing choices.

Congratulations too.

Bertram is fab fab fab.

It was on our list for no 2, but she turned out to be a girl.
It is a fantastic name, really, really, lovely.

Go with your instinct - you loved the name, it doesn't matter what your parents think.

My uncle hates dd2's name - he thinks it is awful, and we shouldn't have used it.

It is a traditiona name - one he probably htinks of as an old ladies' name. He still maintains (nicely) we shoudl ahve used one of dd2's middle names (Caroline) as a first name. BUt hey ho - it wasn't his choice.

It is your baby, and you get to choose a name that you like for him.

the parents will come around, or use a nickname or something.

Bertram is much nicer than Robert or Gilbert (although I do like Albert).

Bertram is the perect name to give nn Bertie - Bram is also fab nn . The alternative nns for Robert, Albert or Gilbert are grim IMHO. DS might well appreciate having a choice of nn when he's older.

YOur / DHs parents have had their chance to name DC, it's your turn now. Ignore them and refuse to discuss names further with them.

Agree with Hetty, refuse to discuss it any further with them and if they push the issue tell them that after discussing it with DH you've settle on Adolf and won't be swayed

It's a dreadful name. Gilbert is no better. Robert is ok.

People were very about our name for similar reasons - although I wussed out and used the short form for his birth certificate which has already come to bite us on the bum as family put the incorrect full version on his Christmas presents.....

Stick to your guns, I can't imagine our little guy called anything else now.

Bertie Wooster is a fantastic character to be named for.

Immediately thought of Wooster.

If you call him this he will shoot out the womb going 'What ho!'.

True fact.

Gilbert is fabulous.

Not keen on Bertram at all, but if you like it, you should use it.

Robert/Albert = meh.

I immediately thought of Irene's Bertie in the Alexander McCall Smith Scotland Street novels - he's a 6 yo boy with an overbearing mother who forces him to attend psychotherapy, yoga and Italian lessons as well as wear raspberry corduroys.

The only other Bertie I know is my friend's dog.

It's probably almost exactly a century ago that my grandpa was called Bertram aka Bertie! So go for it

Go with it! Because you love it - as jilted said your parents will love him when he arrives and should love his name because it's his! And don't worry about Bertie from the Alexander McCall Smith books...that's who I thought of too but Bertie is actually a sweet, thoughtful boy who has an awful mother...so if anything it should put you off the name Irene not Bertie!!

My advice fwiw is go with the name you love - Bertie - and don't tell anyone else in RL!!

Bertram is fab. I had it on my list but DH vetoed

northernrose - take your point, but then for those that have read the novels, one would start to look at the mother, would they not?

Great name, really nice. Who says Bertie is the only nn for it either?

I have a cousin who thought one of the DDs has a horrible name and wasn't at all shy about saying it, but we've all survived.

Kate Bush's son is called Bertie. That would be good enough for me!

Your child, your choice. As others have said, once he is here then they will associate tge name with him and love it. Liking a name or not is often influenced by the people you know with it.

Btw, I associate the name with a small child now after an Internet forum mate named her child it. Before that i would have found it very old-fashioned and upper class.

My maternal grandfather was Bertram , unfortunately I never met him as he died before I arrived But I still thinks it's a great name

I love the name Bertie

Personally, I think it's hideous.

BUT

I wouldn't not use it because your parents don't like it.

It's your choice, not theirs. Just be aware that you are choosing a name that will make some people go and if you're happy for your son to live with that, then go for it.

singingcat, must remember to ask Bertie's Mum about that next time I see her

Thanks girls, that's quite reassuring.

Mrsvwoolf - I love the name Bram as well, what a good idea for another nn.

I've never heard of the AMS books, so it doesnt worry me.

LOL Singingcat, if he does come out saying 'what ho' then he'll fit right in ;-)

I would like all your opinions on how it stacks up to the rest on our list:

Leo
Edmund
Tyvian
Byron
Hugo
Jasper
Tristan
Ernest

I love Tristan

Please please please choose it over Bertram!

Like them all except Tyvian, Byron and Tristan. Don't know a Tyvian but have been put off Byron and Tristan.

All nice, but not as nice as Bertie

Leo bored with this
Edmund Like this
Tyvian Whaaa...?? No
Byron probably not
Hugo bored with this
Jasper bored with this
Tristan bored with this
Ernest Like this a lot. Ern is good. Ern has a character. Ern is cool.