Barney or Barnaby (nn Barney)?

[PurpleFlower1983]

DH and I have been round the houses for boys names and are now seriously considering Barney, I know about the dinosaur, Rubble, Gumble, dog’s name etc. but for those of you who don’t mind the name, would you for for the name Barney on its own or Barnaby (nn Barney).

We already have DD2 who is Matilda nn Tilda.

Definitely Barnaby or Barnabas 😁.

I like Barnaby. Barney is cute, but a bit teddy-bear-ish. Barnaby gives him options.

My dogs called Barney so I actually love the name. Sorry but I think if you call him Barnaby he will get bullied for it. Years ago it would have been fine but not now things have changed.

Definitely Barnaby. Lovely name.

Barnaby is nice (nn Barney if you want). Barney sounds more cartoony/comical to me.

Barnaby is lovely!

We have decided on Barnaby if our baby is a boy :)

Barney

(Nn Barns)

I have a Barnaby but he has almost always been called Barney. He is now 23. Great name for a little chap, teenager and man. He has never been bullied because of his name and never had reference to a purple dinosaur. He has, however, met many dogs with the same name!
He loves his name and tells me that it is a good one for attracting young ladies!

Barnaby!

Barnaby! That way you get both options!
Love it and love Matilda too. You have great taste

Barnaby or Barnabas nn Barney.

Good to have options. I like it.

We had this same debate. In the end DH felt Barnaby was a bit too push and I was concerned Barney was a bit too comical/nicknamey, so we went with something else.
If I was choosing on my own I would have gone with Barnaby, I think it's a great name, but equally I think Barney would be fine too.

Thanks for the advice everyone! Food for thought!

Posh not push!

I love Barnaby! I know one who is about 5yo and it's very cute. Barney is better as a shortening imo.

@Drunkenmonkey

We had this same debate. In the end DH felt Barnaby was a bit too push and I was concerned Barney was a bit too comical/nicknamey, so we went with something else. If I was choosing on my own I would have gone with Barnaby, I think it's a great name, but equally I think Barney would be fine too.

We’re slightly worried about this too, DH sounds posh but in reality is a former actor who was taught it, I’m Northern so not posh at all!

We feel like it’s a brave choice but not too out there just yet.

Barnaby is lovely. I'm not sure why a PP said he would get teased though.

@PurpleFlower1983 my DH is Irish and he felt that Barnaby would sound ridiculous over there and all his family would laugh at it, I think maybe it comes across as quite posh English.
I think it's fine over here though, but possibly depends where he would go to school.
I would be a bit concerned about sending a Barnaby to an inner city state school, but a fairly middle class area would be fine. Just my opinion of course. It's a lovely name.

[quote Drunkenmonkey]@PurpleFlower1983 my DH is Irish and he felt that Barnaby would sound ridiculous over there and all his family would laugh at it, I think maybe it comes across as quite posh English.
I think it's fine over here though, but possibly depends where he would go to school.
I would be a bit concerned about sending a Barnaby to an inner city state school, but a fairly middle class area would be fine. Just my opinion of course. It's a lovely name.[/quote]
We live in the North in a town with a mixed catchment right now - middle/working class so would probably get away with it just about but definitely not posh!

Barnaby is great.

I can’t imagine someone being bullied as posh for being called Barney. My kids are at school with such a wide variety of names, not much stands out these days!

Barnaby.
I know a couple, neither of them posh, just standard middle class. Both go by Barney day to day.

We’re quite liking Barnaby so he has some options.