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.

@SisterGabriel

Also Parker from Thunderbirds first name.

Sylvia Anderson denied this.

It immediately makes me think of entitled public school boys. If that's your thing....

God it’s ridiculous

Having the misfortune to share a train carriage with some of the entitled little shits that attend
St Aloysius' College
Independent school in Glasgow
I wouldn't do that to my child😜

It’s interesting that everyone has different opinions of this name depending on their lived cultural experience across the Irish Sea and The English Channel. In Ireland it’s a v old mans name - often used as a family name related to a Saint. It is an ancient Latin name used in many variations across many European countries as a first name and as a surname in parts of Africa. Where as in England it’s seen as ridiculous and snobby. Lot of ignorance on this thread verging on the offensive.

Lot of ignorance on this thread verging on the offensive.

Which comments are offensive? Names like Aloysius are polarising and people are going to be frank. I'm Irish and I hate it. That's okay.

@ESGdance

It’s interesting that everyone has different opinions of this name depending on their lived cultural experience across the Irish Sea and The English Channel. In Ireland it’s a v old mans name - often used as a family name related to a Saint. It is an ancient Latin name used in many variations across many European countries as a first name and as a surname in parts of Africa. Where as in England it’s seen as ridiculous and snobby. Lot of ignorance on this thread verging on the offensive.

But where you’re from does make a difference in naming choices and how people will judge it. I’ve known African children named things like Blessing & Happy. I did not judge them - if a British family called their child Happy I would think it was odd because it’s not really a used name in this part of the world.

I don't know what to make of it tbh. But I'd shorten it to ish for a nn which I think is more interesting and nicer than Ally/Ali/Al now I know how it's pronounced.

@Classica

Lot of ignorance on this thread verging on the offensive.

Which comments are offensive? Names like Aloysius are polarising and people are going to be frank. I'm Irish and I hate it. That's okay.

That’s fine to say YOU don’t like it / hate it but it’s not fine to say IT’S pompous and ridiculous - because it’s someone’s culture and heritage.

All names are linked to someone's culture and heritage. There are names that I think are pompous and ridiculous, such as Peregrine and St John. Other people might love those names and use them for their child.

I think with a name like Aloysius, Latin origin, pretty rare, not tied to one country, I don't think that someone saying 'that's a ridiculous name' is offensive. It's just an opinion. Saying 'all Italian names are ridiculous' would be offensive.

I like it

@ESGdance

It’s interesting that everyone has different opinions of this name depending on their lived cultural experience across the Irish Sea and The English Channel. In Ireland it’s a v old mans name - often used as a family name related to a Saint. It is an ancient Latin name used in many variations across many European countries as a first name and as a surname in parts of Africa. Where as in England it’s seen as ridiculous and snobby. Lot of ignorance on this thread verging on the offensive.

Definitely. I’m Irish, the name to me is really great, I haven’t a single point of reference for it being pretentious. It’s one of those “great” names, like Thaddeus…

I said this up thread and I’ve no idea why but I always hear these names in a CARK accent and I think of ingenious muster rugby playing men

I think I need to have more children just to use these names!

*Munster!

Love it. DH is boring though and vetoed it for this baby.

I quite like it, but it is a bit much! I’d feel a bit sorry for a little preschooler attempting to learn to spell it, but they aren’t preschoolers for long I suppose so I doubt he’d be scarred by that in the long run.

Five pages in and I'm still the only person who has actually used it!!

@ghislaine

Five pages in and I'm still the only person who has actually used it!!

That’s a badge of honour! Did you use it as a first name?

How I came across it… I was bouncing around a name… maybe it was Rupert … I can’t quite remember - anyway, the person I was speaking to said “look it’s not like you’re suggesting something mental like … Aloysius!” and I had an instant OH MY GOD I LOVE IT reaction.

But it was vetoed ☹️

It's a middle name. The first name was long agreed upon but we had real trouble getting any further. As the six week registration deadline was looming we were tossing up options when DH said "How about Aloysius?" and I thought "why the hell not?". and that was that. Bear in mind that some of his other (entirely serious) suggestions were Ludovic, Valentine and Tintin.

DH also vetoed Rupert for both sons, go figure.

Would love to hear from the OP @toastofthetown to see how this thread has influenced her opinion?

I really like it. But then I am Irish R.C. (although anything but devout!).

It took me a min to recognise it written down, but I have heard it a good few times. Maybe that is from going to mass, used to go every Sunday growing up, go seldom enough now.

I think once people learn how to say it then you should be fine. Spelling is another matter but sure once it's in the ball park who cares apart from official documents. I have this issue with my name, doesn't bother me personally.

@ESGdance

Would love to hear from the OP *@toastofthetown* to see how this thread has influenced her opinion?

The poncey/pretentious/try-hard aspect was a slight concern of mine when I posted and I think this has confirmed that for my personally the name is too far over that line to be usable for me. Several Jacob Rees Mogg comments did give me pause, because I wouldn't want to give a child a name that is so polarising and potentially political. The Catholic issue wasn't so strong as I expected, it seemed quite divided with some people feeling strongly Catholic vibes and others not mentioning it at all. So probably usable for a non religious family - but anticipate a few people assuming religious background.

I think it's a bit of a shame that lots of names (more so for boys than girls) are made "unusable" by pretentious labels though. My favourite name is Lysander and I would use that (if my husband would ever agree) but I think that shares a lot of the same pretentious concerns (maybe Lysander feels more usable to me because I like it more). I loved @Lesserspottedmama's post. Mumsnet in general is very conservative with names and I feel like if you want to look beyond Edward and George, it can feel quite off-putting here, with every name being branded too something in some way. I just wish that names weren't so socially charged - both pretentious and "chavvy" which is a descriptor I hate. Ultimately names are just sounds to identify people and Jayden works as well as Aloysius for that purpose. I'd like it if everyone felt able to freely pick from the pool of available names without having to worry what other people will assume about them because of it or 'high court judge' name tests or 'naughty boy lists'. That's an issue beyond Mumsnet though and definitely out the scope of a thread on Aloysius!

But back to Aloysius: still like the name. Wouldn't use it, but would love to see it get more use.

I’m Catholic and would assume you were too if I heard the name. Love it though!

@Caspianberg

The name Alois is very common where we live. Similar style, not as long. Pronounced kind of like ‘al-llyos’.

I know a Frenchman named Alois (also goes by the spelling Aloys) and he despises being mis-called Ah-lee-os (which I think is similar to how you've explained it?). It's Ah-lo-ees. Where abouts are you?

@Orarewedancer - it’s more a 2 syllable pronunciation here, maybe more like ‘ah -Lloys’ the lloys parts it like ‘Lloyd but s. Similar to ‘Alice’ pronounced with an o.

Ah, that makes sense! In fairness it's actually Aloïs but the UK seems to ignore punctuation in names in databases which doesn't help pronunciation (and most living here wouldn't know what it meant anyway).