Bernard? Completely bonkers or pleasingly retro?

[doggus]

I love it and so does dh.

What do you think? Would it go with a 'posh' double barrelled surname....

[FairyArmadillo]

I like it, but not the way it's usually pronounced in Britain- Ber-nerd. Prefer Ber-NARD.

[otchayaniye]

I like Bernard. But prefer Bruno (it's the only 'o' ending male name I can stomach)

[Sinople]

I really like it.
My husband's nn is bernard (not sure why) and I love it!!! I usually shorten it to Bern. Not sure if id use it for future children... maybe?? but i do know i love saying it and think it's a lovely name for my partner.....

[hightrees]

True. OP how about it? Richie quite a good nn.

[SloganLogan]

Why not? Richard is an underused classic...

[hightrees]

Hmmm, Richard. OK, maybe not.

[hightrees]

Oh yeh Cameron - why did I think the Verve? Now what was he called? That's the name you want OP. It's fate. Off to google.

[stleger]

Dh has a relation called Bernard, who is known as Barney. I only know that he is called Bernard because someone else named a baby after him.

[Camerondiazepam]

Bernard Butler was in Suede, and possibly the coolest Bernard of recent years.

[borderslass]

God please don't my brother is a Bernard and is the biggest idiot to walk the planet.

[JulyOrAugustThatIsTheQuestion]

Me likey!!! :)

[PorkChopSter]

I'd do it just so I could say "not now Bernard"

[CandiceMariePratt]

I really like it, Bernie is cute

[hulabula]

I like Bernard. Classic and cool. And not overused as so many others. Bernie is a cute nickname.

[hightrees]

But what about that gorgeous Bernard Butler in the Verve? That's who I think of. Cool name, OP.

[redexpat]

I think of 4 weddings and a funeral when Lydia is bridesmaid and is disappointed by the lack of sex, and ends up snogging Bernard, coming up for air and saying 'BERNARD!' and then more snogging.

[doggus]

Hmmm and am also thinking about brandy barrels and St Bernards.

[doggus]

I'd bloody forgotten about Blackadder. You've RUINED it now!! Stamps foot and sulks.

[Georgimama]

"ooh, it's real cat!"

[Trinaluce]

Plebs at the bottom, toffs at the top, and me in the middle making a fat pile of cash out of both of them

[Georgimama]

The Blackadder series 3 election episode is an absolute classic on the workings of democracy too:

"I smeared my opponents, bribed the electorate, I don't see what more a reasonable politician could have done" and the classic "we paid for this seat, and it's a damned cheek we should have to fight for it as well".

[Trinaluce]

Yes Minister (and Prime Minister) was played A LOT on Watch/Gold (one of the two) in the run up to the last election. Made it very difficult to take any of it seriously

On that note, I love the name Humphrey too :)

[smartyparts]

Bernard is a nerd's name, he is about 48 and lives with his mum

[meditrina]

And Bernard was Sir Humphrey's underling in Yes Minster (a programme which should be repeated, prime time, in the 6 ms before every general election).

So perhaps it should be a name honoured for being at the heart of British comedy?

[Georgimama]

Yes, absolutely true old article here