Bernard??

[spottypyjamas]

Opinions on the name Bernard please? Pronounced BERNerd
Nickname Bernie whilst they are younger.
Love old fashioned names.
Thank u

Definitely not my taste so it's a no from me.

I like it, I've been reading the book Not Now Bernard most days for about 2 years, It was also a fave of mine as a child. I think the name is charming.

It's unusual enough not to be common but is still a name everyone will have heard of, can pronounce and spell.

I actually think it's great. It is not common and not used. It will come back, and I was waiting for it to be re-invented. I live abroad and the alternative Bernardo is used a lot here, it has become a very popular name re-established name. Old names like Alfred, Vincent, Sidney etc are all really popular names now. I think it would be nice to break that with an alternative but normal name. There's also Herbert and Hector.

Hmmm. I always hear it in the voice of Rowan Atkinson in Bernard and the Genie. I probably wouldn't.

Ha over and above. That's my husbands favourite film randomly.

I quite like this. It's my BIL's name but he pronounces it the French way (I think), Berr- NARD.

Like

Nursey in blackadder or mike and Bernie winters (I'm old)

Neither are great associations for me

I like it, but can't quite shift the image of Nursie from Blackadder.

Snap!

Dc2 (13) has best friends Berni and Arnold. It made us smile at first but now they are just names

I love it. Annie-Rose's first word.
I know some lovely older Bernards.

Reminds me of Bernard Sumner from New Order.

A good thing.

Makes me think of the guy in Four Weddings who turns out to be surprisingly good in the sack.

But I do like it!

God no. Awful. (Sorry!)

ITV are playing Blue Monday OP! It's a sign!

Bernard is my sons middle name my DH wanted to use it for his first name (it's a family name) I refused. It seems very 'old man's name' to, me my now teenage son does not like it and would never use it in preference to his given first name.

I'm not sure the world is ready for the reinvention of Bernard just yet.

I like it

Hate it, sorry.

Don't like it.
Also don't like nn Ber or Bernie.

If you like 'older' names how about Rufus or Douglas?

It's a big no from me - lots of reasons.

Say the name and hear it simply as a sound, without any word associations (IYSWIM). How does it sound?

Big no from me.

Sorry

Not a fan, I'm afraid, even if I have known several lovely people with that name. I'd also wonder if a Bernard/Bernie born in 2016 was named after Bernie Sanders, which may or may not be a favorable association for you.

For me, Bernie is definitely a woman's name - I still struggle with Sanders!

Leonard seems to have a similar vibe but not quite as frumpy, if you'd like an alternative suggestion.