Gilbert

[Tassiemouse]

We have a baby boy on the way and really like the name Gilbert, however upon googling we found there were some negative connections here in the U.K. with the name. Apparently a 'green gilbert' it is slang for spitting snot that started in the '50's and there was a snotty green '80's alien children's T.V. character called Gilbert. We'd not heard of either, but just wondering how many people on here actually have? Is it likely to be widespread knowledge and would a little Gilbert be forever tagged with these yucky connections?

@notacooldad I think it's an unusual name in most places. Was the reason the workers thought it funny, because of any of the above lovely connections or simply because its unusual
Nobody mentioned the connections, they just thought it was a weird name but not in a good way. Even the guy himself didn't like it.
The young people that we work really took the piss out of him behind his back.

We work with multi agency teams and the people are froma very diverse background so we come across a lot of names. I can honestly say this is the only one that has been universally mocked by young people, parents and other professionals.

My POV is it's unusual and not one I would chose for my child but it's not that bad. The funny thing is that quite a few of these professionals have a mate called Gilly ( small town syndrome where everyone of a certain age knows everyone inthat age bracket!!h

My point of view would be that it might be ok, but why risk it?

I wouldn't want to saddle my children with names that will probably get them made fun of just because I like them.

There are plenty of names in the world for you to choose from that you can pretty much guarantee have no possibility of your child being mocked for, so why take the chance?

They are the ones that have to carry it for the rest of their lives, not you.

@BluthsFrozenBananas Ha yes one we were afraid of after our Gilbert googling turned up snotty green alien pics! Most people on here fortunately don't seem to have heard of him though? We hadn't. So I guess only ppl of a certain age and hopefully not smg passed down to the present generation! @MarthaArthur Yes not seen the film. Good or bad connections for Gilbert? Hadn't heard of the Artists but they serm very interesting upon Googling! @spookytime Ah glad you love it too 😊 I think Gil's quite a cool nickname. I suppose potentially fishy, but somehow doesn't sound like that!

Aussiemouse we went for Daniel Jesse in the end. (Gilbert and Jesse were my favourites, but husband less keen). I adore Gilbert and also have no idea why it’s not more popular.

Love Gilbie.

@BigusBumus Yep hubby did mention Rugby balls... I guess it depends if he's into Rugby or not!? Glad you think it might be cool! @notacooldad Thanks for your insights. I wouldn't have thought Gilbert would be a name to be bullied more than lots of other names? Perhaps the chap added to it by being uncomfortable with it? True @PatriarchyPersonified. But then you can get bullied for anything, even kids with perfectly ordinary names get picked on for something else or their more normal names turned into smg horrible. So many names have bullying potential if you really think about it! We have struggled on the Boy Name front. Not many we really like at all, and also don't want him to have the same name as 10 other boys in his class at school, only distinguished by their last names! However, perhaps that's preferable to being picked on for having a too unusual name...

@sydonie1 Good name! Glad you do - I'm not sure why either, if not the snotty things I first mentioned. I guess it just hasn't caught on yet...@Sugarpiehoneyeye Yes we do too! So cute 😊

Like Gilbert Grissom from CSI. I think it's a lovely name.

notacooldad Thanks for your insights. I wouldn't have thought Gilbert would be a name to be bullied more than lots of other names? Perhaps the chap added to it by being uncomfortable with it?
I'm not sure, I think he got it in first about his name because he had years of sniggering. Also the guy isn't originally from the UK. He is from Ghana. Maybe it's a regular name over there I don't know.
The funny thing is we have senior professionals with names that are perceived ( and I hate this word but just quoting MN, ) ''chavvy' such as Tyrone, Wayne, Chantelle, Kayleigh etc and nobody says anything.

In my opinion they are just names that their parents liked!

I like Gil and Gilbert. I know one child called this and I think it is stylish and ahead of the curve but not made up or outlandish. Good connotations as far as I am concerned ,easy to spell etc. Good choice. I can't see it as a cause for bullying; the variety of names for this generation is huge so kids won't get bullied for having an unusual name quite as frequently. Of course some get bullied anyway .

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and insights on the name 'Gilbert.' @BeefyCakes Glad you think it's a lovely name - I don't know that particular Gilbert. Excellent thoughts @yikesanotherbooboo and glad you like Gil and Gilbert. It is true about there being a much wider variety of names for this generation. I know little boys/babies with names ranging from Avery to Elijah and from Finbar to Cyril and Opie!

Mr Gilbert (The Inbetweeners) is who I think of