I know most of you won't like this name, but that doesn't matter. What I need to know is...

[allhailtheaubergine]

... are there any reasons I can't use it?

Any negative references or unfortunate initial sequence that I didn't notice. That sort of thing.

The name is Gilbert.

Middle names probably Merle Thomas (though the Thomas is undecided).

Surname - short and fairly usual.

Gilbert is a great name. I think of Anne of the Green Gables. Can't think of any negative associations. I too thought Merle was a girl's name.

Merle,spelled that way,is a boy name to me. It makes me think of cowboys,and the country singer Merle Haggard. Actually I think there are a few male country singers named Merle.

What would you use instead of Thomas TummyTickler? I am undecided about Thomas.

1st son has [old man name] [unusual name] [traditional name] [surname] and Gilbert Merle Thomas [surname] sort of goes well with that.

I don't like it at all, really dislike the nn Bert/Bertie but can't see any negative references that could be made.
Well done you've found your name!
:)

Gorgeous, please do this or I'll need another baby to call it

Is Merle spelt right?

Gil...veeeeeery cool :)

I have a friend called gill, which is nice but it's short for gilleathain. Not too sure about gilbert.

Alternatives to Thomas...

Gilbert Merle Gordon

Gilbert Merle John

Gilbert Merle Richard

Gilbert Merle Geoffrey

Gilbert Merle.. umm....

(For surname you can use Bing. It's not Bing but it works the same)

Love it.

I loved it when Anne (of Green Gables) would call Gilbert Gil! Great nn.

poor-boy

Makes me think of Gil Scott Heron i.e. Sub Zero Cool

I think it's a fab name - I associate it with Anne's husband in Anne of Green Gables; my first crush

Gilbert is a bloody brilliant name.

As you asked...

When I hear the name Gilbert I think of Gilbert O'Sullivan. (Not Gilbert and Sullivan, though. Funny that.) Also "Gilbert the Guinea Pig" comes to mind. Where did I get that from I wonder? Tales of the Riverbank perhaps. If so then those two seventies throwbacks of mine need hardly worry you.

I always thought of Merl as being the man's name and Merle the womans. <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=merle+oberon&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1024&bih=649&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=QaoTZmJj0Ubg6M:&imgrefurl=www.tvguide.com/celebrities/merle-oberon/165844&docid=rRGWgP-K-3I-aM&w=218&h=150&ei=Dh52Tqa7BJC48gOH_ISVBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=550&page=1&tbnh=119&tbnw=172&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=120&ty=75" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Merle Oberon being a famous old movie star. But old is once again the word here.

I guess I am giving you the responses you will get from the old ladies at the bus stop.

I think Gilbert is definitely coming back into fashion.

Any name had teasing potential, and equally someone can be cool with any name. The most popular boy at my school was called Basil.

Anyone see The Morgana Show?

I really like Gilbert, makes me come over all Anne of Green Gables

(but argh at Gilbert O Sullivan- I bet you can tell what my name is LMAO- bloody scary wrods to that song 'n all)

(Also nice to see Merle, I had a teacher called Merle once, he was an isnpiration, lovely man)

Ex-bf was called that. so for that reason I would not use it!

I was waiting for someone else to say this, but since they havent, I suppose I will have to! Where I was brought up, gilberts were bogies up your nose! I just checked on peevish.co.uk if this was still so - and they eloquently put it as a "small ball of nasal mucus" - so its not just me then. Mr Gherkins very politely told me only yesterday I was a bit gilberty (sorry, just finished having a cold) so it was his way of saying I needed to blow my nose please. So I suppose it depends what circles you move in, but where I came from you wouldnt call your son Gilbert.

You see, that's exactly the sort of thing I was checking for DottyG. I have never heard this. Is it just a private family expression, or a known thing? What circles do you move in? Where in the country are bogies gilberts? I need all the information to hand (as it were).