Boys name Eric.... But

[Wd2b87]

So, I love the name Eric. We come to it as we wanted something different without being way out there. We like old fashioned names and really didn't want the typical boys name of days world.
Stupidly I have read threats now where people slate the name.
Is it really that bad, I mean the likes of Walter, Stanley, winston etc seem to be making the come back.
Or shall we just ignore people who slate it, and go with what we like
This is our first child so all very new.

It’s fine. I know a couple of little Erics actually, both around 3 now. It’s simple and easy to spell and pronounce. If you like it go for it, no name is to everyone’s taste. But there’s absolutely nothing offensive about the name Eric.

I think there's the issue that it could be taken the mickey out of at school, eric sounds like short for "erection". Sorry if that seems off but kids can be mean!!

I think it's a lovely name, simple and clean and classical, but not boring and done to death Harry and George, not sure why people would slate it.

I couldn't get caught up with the 'erection' association either. Yes children can be mean, but I think bullying is more about the child themselves, not a name being the cause of issues. A confident, popular kid will get away with any name, might not be 'right' but it's the way things are. Children, if they wish to, will find something to pick-on even with very normal names - Smelly Sarah for example.

Walter is lovely, it's worth reconsidering.

I know a 10 year old Stanley & Eric humans & doggy Winstons & Walters!

All pretty normal again, I think.

eric sounds like short for "erection". really?!?
I quite like it, so many old fashioned names are making a come back.

My BIL is called Eric and no one has ever called him erection... but I will now

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate the feedback

I think it’s quite nice, certainly completely inoffensive and better than many, many other names out there.

Absolutely love it. One of my favourite names.

Really not that 'out there' these days either. I actually don't know any but wouldn't raise an eyebrow. One of the main characters in Sex Education is called Eric and it makes me appreciate the name even more.

I like it. I only know one and it was unusual then but it suits him and makes him stand out from all the Jack and Harrys

It's simple and works in different countries. Might occasionally be spelt with a k but that's not awful.

Eric is the name of the bedwetting charity. I wouldn't be calling my child it.

I put Eric in the same name bracket as Malcolm and Colin.

Eric is a perfectly normal lovely name! Why would anyone slate it? Ok, you may not like it but to slate it, why? There were people here that wanted to name their boy Percival or Cecily- now that’s child abuse, but Eric is a standard/nice name. I would never come up with “erection” from Eric- that’s just ridiculous

My eldest is Eric so I’m biased but always had really positive comments and I love it, classic but not very common

I love this name! If you love it, please go for it :)

It’s one of those names that’s really grown on me in the last few years. It’s DH’s middle name and when we met in 2012 it sounded quite outdated but I think it’s rather sweet. I’m not personally a fan of the old man name trend as a rule but I’d make an exception for it.

What about

Neil
Malcolm
Kevin
Keith
Earl
Alan

It's great, one of my favourite names. It's one that's well-known and currently unusual. I'm surprised it isn't more popular, considering it fits with current name preferences in being a short, vintage name that begins with a vowel.

But then I also kind of like Malcolm, as mentioned (mocked?) by a pp, so what do I know

I know an Eric who is about 3 and 2 under 10s who have Eric for their middle name. I much prefer it to many of the other older man names that have come back into fashion.

I met a baby Keith the other day.

I'm sorry, but I really don't like any of those names

No, as "old man" names go, Eric is pretty cool. I think it benefits from that feisty Viking/cool European image (admittedly more so with the Erik spelling, but it still sounds the same). To me it has a different feel than Sidney, Stanley, Winston etc because of that.

There is no name everyone loves on baby name threads - I thought I would be okay with the nn Xan (as popular/classic Alexander would be on the BC) but lots of people on my thread hate it too . So I'd say go with your gut - baby name threads are very helpful but you will never please everyone (there are lots of names, even some very popular ones, that I dislike after all!). I would only say that if (almost) every person says it's a no go/would cause teasing, then maybe think twice - but Eric is fine.

Thanks wombforanotherone I love all those names.
Might use them as a middle name.

Elric as an alternative?