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.

@ESGdance - I agree with your comment.

@toastofthetown - you're enabling the dynamic you have identified as a problem (i.e. pretentious/ etc) when you back away from using a name you love because of other people's poorly informed opinions.

Fear of the taste police keeps the system in place.

@mathanxiety

It's the middle name of thousands of Irish men who are now aged 80 and up. First name of hundreds.

I would know how to pronounce it, but I'm Irish and Catholic and also a fan of Elvis Costello.

Who knew !

Declan Patrick Aloysius Macmanus

Ignatius is easier to pronounce ?

www.irishtimes.com/culture/name-that-child-1.264902

Great article if you want a bit of background.

Pronounced Al-oh-ish-us
Apart from sounding like some sort of nasty medical thing to do with feet, I thought it was pronounced Al-oi-see-us, and presumably irritating numbers of people would also do the same?

[quote mathanxiety]@toastofthetown - you're enabling the dynamic you have identified as a problem (i.e. pretentious/ etc) when you back away from using a name you love because of other people's poorly informed opinions.

Fear of the taste police keeps the system in place.[/quote]
In a way, but I think that part of the reason I wouldn't use Aloysius is that I don't like it enough to counteract the pretentious comments (which is kind of in line with how much a care about popularity declines with how much I like a name). There are other names I love and would use which have been called pretentious on here which doesn't put me off. I think the other part of the problem is that naming a baby isn't the same as buying a car or where to go on holiday or deciding whether to have a hot tub in the garden - all of which will attract a lot of Mumsnet opinions on taste. A name is for someone else and is often the first piece of information that person gives about themselves and there is an advantage in that being slightly more value neutral than four Rees Mogg comments on the first page.

Reminds me of when Stanley Baxter did a Brideshead sketch back in the 80s. And 'doing something vicious with his Aloysius' literally enters my head whenever I hear that name. I loved Stanley Baxter (gets coat)

[quote Lockdownbear]@SwedishEdith do confirmation names get used beyond the confirmation, ie will the boys be regretting picking out there names later?[/quote]
Not usually and they are often a bit of fun. But I do know people have have used it when they weren't given a middle name.

The child would constantly be correcting people on their pronunciation and spelling. That's just not fair on them.

@BruiserWoods

Not uncommon in Ireland. They're usually in their 80s. I'm not a fan though.

Yes, not unusual here at all, but definitely at the older (and less reclaimed) end of ‘old man names’. See also Cornelius, and Florence (pronounced Flurrence and traditionally a male name, usually nicknamed Flor pronounced Flur, where I’m from).

If I wanted a name with hat vibe I’d probably go with Ignatius. Cooler saint than Aloysius, and Iggy is a cooler nickname.

Keep in mind the entrenched anti-Catholic feeling among a significant percentage of the UK if you head down this route, though.

[quote mathanxiety]@toastofthetown - you're enabling the dynamic you have identified as a problem (i.e. pretentious/ etc) when you back away from using a name you love because of other people's poorly informed opinions.

Fear of the taste police keeps the system in place.[/quote]
Hear hear.

There are things worth fighting the taste police with but not a child's name that THEY have to live with for their entire life.

Dropcloth
If I wanted a name with hat vibe I’d probably go with Ignatius. Cooler saint than Aloysius, and Iggy is a cooler nickname.
The league table of cool Roman Catholic saints...