Is it that terrible?

[harriet465]

I was at the hairdressers yesterday and was asked what we was calling DS1, I said front runner is Franklin. The hairdresser genuinely looked at me like I had said the name Engelbert or something to that style.
Neighbour also said oh why not Francis or just Frank as Franklin is very surnamey.

Is the name really that bad? It is making me doubt the name choice

I think this is a good example of why you don't tell random people (or anyone) your name choice.

Fwiw I like Franklin.

I've seen a bunch of comments on here that say that it sounds American and so maybe that's why I think it sounds perfectly normal (I'm American). It's not my personal taste, but I wouldn't be confused or think twice if someone told me their name was Franklin. I don't know any Franklins, but it still wouldn't strike me as weird or anything like that.
Fun fact: there was a tv show about a cartoon turtle named Franklin when I was a kid. It was moderately popular here and had 6 seasons.
Even more fun fact: Franklin was voiced by Noah Reid (the guy who plays Patrick—David Rose's husband—on Schitt's Creek)

Well, I don't like it at all but it's not my baby!

Just call him what you want, no need for all the threads and all the angst. You love it, that's all that matters.

Nothing wrong with Franklin. Good strong name
Nothing wrong with Englebert either, Mrs Humperdinck obviously liked it 😉 🤣🤣

Absolutely fine

@MysticCT I know brothers called Bentley and Austin.

I think it's perfectly fine. It really pisses me off when people give their brutal opinions on a name you've chosen for your baby. What the hell does it have to do with them? It's just rude.

@DearMallorie
I actually like Austin but it sounds awful when paired with Bentley.

I love it... it sounds strong and elegant.

There is nothing wrong with it. I know of a baby Franklin, so it's not that unusual. Don't worry about other people's opinions - we all have our own ideas about names. However, some of us are polite enough not to criticise others' choices (and I certainly wouldn't take the slightest bit of notice of someone who was rude enough to comment/pull a face).

The name is quite unique and lovely! There are a series of books, we got the first when our daughter was born as one of the main characters is a girl named Luna who befriends a dragon called Franklin. Please make sure you check them out if you use the name.

www.amazon.co.uk/Franklins-Flying-Bookshop-Jen-Campbell/dp/050065171X/ref=asc_df_050065171X/?hvlocphy=1006826&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310871971371&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-553124631081&hvrand=10612659043631696940

Franklin is a good, strong name. There's nothing wrong with it!

I think it’s horrible sorry

I also think it's hideous, sorry. So ugly sounding.

I really don't like it but it's not a strikingly awful name so I'm not sure why your hairdresser was so taken aback.

It was one of my top names too. I love it. Don't tell anyone else names!!! Everyone loves to give their opinion unfortunately

I think it's every bit as bad as Englebert but if you like it go for it. It would be dull if we all liked the same names.

I really like it and have it on my list.
Hairdresser is rude.
Don't use Englebert!
Don't tell other people your name ideas beforehand!

I like it, a good, strong name.

The series Snowflake (which is American) the lead is ‘Franklin’.

Englebert is terrible imo!

I prefer francis but if you are american franklin makes more sense.

To be honest I think it’s in the same vein as englebert and I suspect he will be called Frank by many, I think if you like it it’s fine, but personally I’d not choose it. I’d smile and say it was lovely to your face though. It’s very rude to let people know when you think they’ve picked an awful name.

I am quite taken aback by the amount of dislike for Franklin here as it seems a perfectly normal name to me (unlike Englebert!) and I’m not American. I mean obviously a lot of people have strong views about this but to me it is like someone asking about Ryan, or Ethan, just normal names. I mean I can understand people not liking names - I don’t like the name Penelope - but I would never have thought there would be such a strong reaction against Franklin even being a name!

Puts me in mind of Frankenstein.

It's fine as a name. Nothing wrong with it.