Does my son have an awful name?

[tabithamay]

I’ve done a similar thread on Nameberry but wanted other people’s opinions. I have a 17-year-old DS who’s started his second year at college, and we chose Ernest Leopold as a first and middle, after my DH’s great-grandfather. Recently, he’s become very aware of it as people are telling him how ugly/old-fashioned/frumpy/strange it is. What do you think?

I like it, it's a classic name that means something to you.

I like it. Kids can be total dicks though and single anyone out for having a more unusual name. In a few years time he won't even remember their comments.

I really like it.

It’s old fashioned but that’s okay? Could he use Leo as a modern shortening if he likes it?

I think it’s great, but I’d probably shorten it to Ern or even Leo for daily use, both of which are nice (and fairly popular names?). Surely he dioesnt introduce himself as Ernest Leopold to everyone?

Does he get called Ernie? That’s not too bad. I don’t see why anyone needs to know his middle name, and he could always say Leo is his middle name if asked.

It’s a bit of a heavy name to carry and at 17 I can imagine he’s a bit self conscious but reckon he’ll love his name when he’s older.

What does he go by?

I love your names. They could be deceived as perhaps a little stuffy.

However if you attend a naice comp in a leafy suburb or a public school the name might fit in more. If your in a more mixed town then the name might stand out.

Kid will latch onto anything to tease though! I wouldn’t give it much headspace.

Yes, I can see that Ernest is hard for a 17 yo starting a new college.

Tell him to change his ‘everyday’ name to Leo.

This is exactly why children shouldn’t have to put up with being named after people. If the name is important to him, tell your DH to change his own name to Ernest.

And Ernie is such a crap Nn.

Whatever were you thinking?

Rude of people to comment but a teen named Ernest? Bound to happen.

Ernie is cute

Ernest isn't to my taste, but it a perfectly good name. Leopold is a fantastic name

What matters here is whether you DS likes his name, or whatever nn he goes by.

Old fashioned names are very trendy now. The middle name is irrelevant as will never get used anyway. I quite like it to be honest!

ernie might be cute for a baby[no it's not btw] but for a 17 yeear old lad? it's bloody awful and that's exactly the problem with all these daft names that are trendy at the moment-oh let's all call our babies the starngest most unique thing we can think of......

It would be a hard name for a teenage boy. Just because it means something to you will not stop the bullies descending.

it is old fashioned and could be a jacob rees mogg relation but I like it. lots of Nickname potential and he didn't have to introduce himself with the whole name.
I have an unusually spelt name that people inevitably comment on but I find it to be a good conversation starter and icebreaker as I take the Mick before someone else does iyswim.
my children have unusual/old fashioned/quirky/slightly wanky when said all together names 😂

It's a great name and Ernie is a great nick name aswell .

I think it’s a great name for a baby and a small child and a cracking name when you hit middle age. The difficulty is that it doesn’t work for a teenager / early twenties and he’s in the difficult phase where he’s grown out of his name and hasn’t grown back into it again.

Very regal - he'd be great as the next king of Prussia!

I like it though. If he hates it he can introduce himself with whatever name he likes when he starts uni/work. He can keep his legal name.

Ernie is cute.

Cute's only good until a child is about 5. Then it goes downhill fast.

What's the point of asking? You can't change it now!?

To be honest, I was expecting a much worse name than that when I clicked on this thread.

I think the problem is more the idiots who are making fun of him than the name.

If your DS doesn't like his name then he's old enough to choose a different one. Won't be long before he can do it by deed poll anyway.

He usually goes by Ernest or Ernie with others, but his identification card at school says ‘Ernest Leopold’, and since they have to wear it at all times, people notice it.

Ernie to me is the fastest milkman in the land. Ern is Eric and Ern.

I like it (especially shortened to Ernie)

He will stand out from all the Sams/Bens/Toms

I think it's a great name. But teens often might not like their names -part of their self-consciousness. Ernest is probably ahead of the curve, so will be unusual for boys his age, but there seem to be a few younger ones named it now. Can he nickname it? Nesto - from the Italian Ernesto - has a bit of swagger about it. Or Leo is great.

It's OK. Is probably called Ernie which is not a bad diminutive. However it has connotations of old uncles.

He can use Leopold - Leo - if he prefers it. That's lovely!