Aloysius

[toastofthetown]

What are your thoughts on the name Aloysius? I'm not sure if it's more expected in a devout Catholic family rather than a non-religious household. I think Ally would be cute nickname, and makes the name more accessible as it fits in with the more popular Alexander and Alastair.

Awful. Pretentious. Definitely Rees-mogg.

But perhaps that’s what you’re looking for?

I don't think these days you'll get too many people with the Brideshead reference.
But it will be a pain for your son to spell out all the time. Ali is great though and I do like the name.

People who aren't familiar with it will be absolutely baffled by both spelling and pronounciation. People who are familiar with it (apart from a few Catholics) will think of Sebastian's teddy bear. Personally I wouldn't.

Very Catholic sounding name, as previously pointed out name of the Private Catholic secondary in Glasgow.

I wouldn't use it just to shorten it, that's pointless, it's not an easy name to spell so why land the kid a lifetime of spelling it out if you aren't going to really use it.

Very Brideshead.
Aloysius, ursine star of the original Brideshead TV series, used to be on display at Castle Howard. I may once have made a special visit to see him.
I wouldn't call a real child Aloysius.

My Grandad (born in Southern Ireland) always claimed that this was one of his middle names, but could never spell it, so it became a family joke.

When he died, my DM sent off to Galway to get his birth certificate, and there it was in black and white. He always said it sounded like sneezes.

I would secretly wonder whether the parents lacked the time or energy to keep reading their A-Z of baby names.

Loyola and teddy bear are what I think of immediately.
I would very much expect bearer of name to be catholic

Aloysius is pretentious/suspicious/atrocious.
It lends itself to rhyming and inevitably mocking and teasing.

Ignore my Loyola thought. That’s Ignatius.

Quite common in my family, along with Gerald, Hugh and Cornelius……

Teddy from Brideshead. I find it a bit ‘much’ really.

@Lesserspottedmama

Oh I love it! Marvellous name. I dread to think how many pregnant women come away from this site feeling resigned to having to stick to Oliver/Joshua/Charlie etc just in case any other slightly more interesting name is branded as ‘pretentious’. There is not a single name you can call a child that Mumsnet doesn’t consider to be either pretentious, common, dated or twee - every name falls into one of those categories, every name.

Except James 😂

No although I find it a lot of name I like Jackson and Kai which according to a lot of mumsnetters would sadly force my sons into a bmx living Burberry wearing life of chavvy crime. They would inevitably end up starring in benefits Britain life on the dole in prison, because of my choice to give them a name that thousands of other boys also have.

So in the spirit of it, and agreeing with this poster - if you like it go for it.

Awful

@yodaforpresident

Quite common in my family, along with Gerald, Hugh and Cornelius……

Same here - grandad was Cornelius - gave it to my son as a middle name he loves it - uses it professionally (creative industry).

The old ladies were blessed with Immaculata, Attracta, Dymphna, Gloria, Magella, Marcella, Delores…..

Deeply Catholic/ Brideshead. If that's what you are after, go for it, though personally Sebastian (or Louis or even Augustine) sound better to me. I was once chatting to a nanny in Waitrose who revealed her infant charge was called Algernon. My jaw hit the floor - it's one thing on paper and another associated with a tiny human. I have the same feeling about Aloysius.

For the person above, who mentioned that All ee see us pronounciation, I have heard this too. I wonder if it is American.

@AlexanderArnold

Deeply Catholic/ Brideshead. If that's what you are after, go for it, though personally Sebastian (or Louis or even Augustine) sound better to me. I was once chatting to a nanny in Waitrose who revealed her infant charge was called Algernon. My jaw hit the floor - it's one thing on paper and another associated with a tiny human. I have the same feeling about Aloysius.

For the person above, who mentioned that All ee see us pronounciation, I have heard this too. I wonder if it is American.

Flowers for Algernon is my all time favourite book. I never thought about Algernon being a real name people actually used, a mix of it being written in the 60's and Algernon being a mouse it never registered.

Aloysius is the long Latin name for Louis

My first thought was Rees-Mog. He may not have one, but he definitely could. So therefore my feelings are that it is a pompous, pretentious, elitist name.

It's a name I absolutely love saying, love love love it but definitely not brave enough to ever use. Back in the 60's a male family member was sent off to register the lastet sons birth. It was decided he wasn't going to have a middle name. Dad went to the pub on the way, had one too many to drink, came home and announced he had registered the baby with Aloysius as his middle name, the wife was not happy!! 😂 😂 It became a joke in the family, he doesn't like admitting his full name!! And yes they were Catholic

Aloysius is delicious! Aloysius books

Famous Aloysiuses (Aloysii?) include Mr Snuffleupagus.

@Stevearnottsbeard that's funny, other than the Saint I have never heard anyone actually use it.

@Parsley1234

Please meet Aloycious Stanley Flyte nn Teddy

I adore him. When does he go up to Oxford?

Its growing on me! Ally is a great nn

Erm, just googled Rees-Mogg’s chikdren’s names Tom Wentworth, was he named after a prison?