What do you think of Merlin?

[Chottie]

for a boy's first name?

I know an 8 year old Merlin. His parents are... odd, frankly. Nice enough if you live in Wales or are Welsh, but otherwise, no.

Love it. I like to take the "what would Bryan Ferry do" approach to naming boys.
Ditto Gawain (the only one of them I know is ultra cool, gorgeous, married to a pretty-much-supermodel).

I like it, don't think its weird or wrong, its a name. It just happens to be a name of a famous legend druid or wizard.

Names are suppose to identify people from each other, if you like it use it. If you introduce your child with confidence, they will not be embarrassed by their name, well that's my opinion.

It's one of my 'guilty pleasure' names (love the sound and am a bit of a mythology buff) but I still wouldn't do it. Would only vaguely consider it if I was positive that he would grow up to be a tortured but terribly handsome artist or poet type. I live in a very cosmopolitan area of London, where most names are pretty accepted, but Merlin would still raise a few eyebrows I think.

Doesn't Bryan Ferry have a Merlin, by the way?

Yes - just googled: sons are Otis - Isaac - Tara - Merlin. Pretty unsual selection there!

Also quite like bish's suggestion of Griffin.

Am not a fan either. Ask yourself if you were a boy would you like to be called Merlin?
I know I'd think of wizards.