Arnold for a baby boy?

[mila457]

Is Arnold unusable, or is it kind of cool and cute? Arnold with the nickname Arnie?

We like Albert / Arthur type names, but can't use either of those.

Other possibilities are Bernard (Bernie) and Ernest (Ernie/Ern), but again, not sure if people would think any of these were a step too far with the "old man" thing.

Love it

Tony Blackburn’s dog

Love it. Great name

Hey Arnold

I think it is ready for a comeback.

I know a little Ernest/Ernie as well.

Rimmer. As in Red Dwarf.

Fantastic.

No, I think Arnold and Bernard are so far out they aren't going to be revived for a long time (they are a bit too comical sounding now imo).

Ernest is "old man" but also quite hipster cool (thanks to Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" and Ernest Hemingway) so is more useable, although nn Ernie is very Sesame Street to me.

You might also like retro/vintage Bertram (which has two cool nn's Bertie and Bram), Edmund, Edgar, Alfred, Abraham, Wilfred, Raymond and Leonard.

Bernard is a step too far at any time.

Arnold is ok, as is nn Arnie. Ernest Is probably on the up, but it’s too cottage core for me

It's not great, but it's better than Bernard or Ernest.

I think it’s wonderful!

Hasta la vista

I think it's a nice change from Alfie, Archie etc. I do think of Arnold Schwarzenegger but it wouldn't put me off.

Thanks for the responses everyone! It's nice to see that some other people also think Arnold might be useable.

I actually thought that out of those three names, Bernard/Bernie might be the most usable, because of it's closeness to the popular Barnaby/Barney/Bertie type names. But interesting to see that people don't agree with this haha

For Ernest, I flick back and forth in my head between Donald Glover's character in Atlanta (very cool), and like... an old English man from the 1930s cleaning windows or something.

Has anyone met any other little boys recently with cool "old man" type names, that made them reconsider the name?

I like it, but it is unusual. Depends what you are after. I think some people might not like it.

If you want a similar sound but more 'main stream', then I know an Aaron who gets Arnie. It is not a common name, but think it would be less marmite.

PS: my boy has an Irish old man name! I love it, but I do think it's marmite. It gets suggested on here fairly frequently and his shortening gets a lot of love on here too, but I definitely noticed some raised eyebrows among the naice older ladies at our church when we introduced him. One said "it's a name he will grow into"

Use it. It's ace.
I love Ernest too.

I like Ernie most although it always makes me think of Ernie the fastest milkman in the west.
Bernie might get you Bernie /feel the Bern associations

It definitely needs using more often! It doesn't shock or horrify but i know an adult one so I'm used to the name.
Ernest / Ernie is also great.

I don't see why it's any worse than the other names you mention that have come back into fashion. (None of which are my style, but obviously many of today's parents feel differently)

Goodness please don't name your poor child Arnold.

Awful. Reminds me of an old uncle I had. Or arnie. Neither are appealing.

Hey Arnold is definitely the first thing that springs to mind, but that's not a terrible thing, and thinking about it I think I quite like the name!

Sorry I think it's awful. Just so...uncool.

I don't get the hate for Arnold. It's not to my taste, but I put it firmly in the same bracket as Arthur, which is very popular.

I actually think Bernard is nicer than both - Bernie is cute on a young child and Bernie Sanders is quite popular.