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?

Totally ill advised post.

@schadenfreudepersonified lol I WISH I had a name as common as Sydney.

O no hate it how the press steal mumsnet posts!

No, it's not an awful name, it's a bloody awful name!

I love it. Classic. Ernie is great too.

Don't worry about his name now. He's had it for 17 years and I'm sure he suits it well. He's at an age where he probably wants to blend in and since he isn't named Tom/Sam/Harry etc, he's standing out. However, I'm sure he will soon embrace the uniqueness of his name.

Classic means consistently popular over the years and through the generations.

Ernest is not a classic.

No it's not a classic.

Classics are names like thomas, george, alexander, matthew, james, john....names that you see in every single generation.

Names that were popular a long time ago like ernest or mabel are just the jayden of their generation which is why they are so jaring when thery start getting used again.

Ah its a nice name OP. Definitely better than the usual Harry, Charlie, Oliver etc names. It has a bit of personality and family history to.

Nesto is a common way to shorten the Italian version in Italy - Ernesto.
I think it is unusual but fine. DS has two middle names both Italian. I chose them to reflect some of his Italian heritage. His first and last name are very English so I wanted some Italian there.

Don't like it at all I'm afraid. DH is saddled with a very dated generally disliked Christian name and a dreadful and unusual family name (we stopped after five generations) as his middle name. He was taunted all his life and still resents his parents for it.

Surprise surprise the OP has disappeared lol.

Now I'm totally intrigued Merlotmummy.

I shall just have to wonder

Not surprising user, as that incendiary rag the DM has picked this up, the twats.

user not user

Love that name!

@usertall im really not surprised the OP has disappeared - the Mirror have just shamed her sons name all over social media. By giving both his first and middle name, it pretty much narrows it down to make him easily identifiable by his peers. Poor lad, and shame on The Mirror 😡

I think it's a great name. A strong name which connects him to a treasured ancestor. He will learn to love it as he matures.

Poor lad, and shame on The Mirror 😡

Yep Bloody shameful.

Hope you’re OK OP x

It's a bit late now to worry about it, it has been his name 17 years!

I hope OP really was his mother and not one of his peers on a wind up.

For Gods sake ! Will you leave the woman alone ! It is a great name and it’s her sons name . What is the matter with you people ?

Doesn't matter what we think

What matters is what your son thinks

Ask him if he wants to change it and if he does let him. Help him chose a new name.

I think you are hurt that he doesn't like it.

I don't like my name either and haven't since I was young - still haven't changed my mind! So what people say 'he'll grow to like it later' is beyond me.

He thinks it's awful - it's his name - his choice

We all know that Mumsnet allow your posts to be picked up by the press for their lazy journalism, but when you see it picked up SO quickly, it’s a bit sickening. (Angry)

Wow. Very cool name