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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

A divided household - what do you think of Ernest?

58 replies

helpivegottogivebirth · 01/03/2009 08:24

Or Ernie for short?

Husband likes it, I'm okay with it, the grandparents think it is forcing a lifetime of teasing on him. What do you think?

Other boys names we have thought of are Robert (Bert or Bertie for short). Er... that's it really - a bit unispired for the boys.

Girls are easy - Tabitha, Nancy or Marina.

We have a few months left so just testing the waters really.

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Bubbaluv · 02/03/2009 14:15

If you end up having 2 boys your could have Bert and Ernie - very Seasame Street!
Robert is an excellent, strong, masculine name, but Bert reminds me of a middle aged man with a moustache and tight shorts. Rob/Robbie much better!
Ernest/Ernie is really really bad I'm afraid.

dittany · 02/03/2009 14:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rebecca41 · 02/03/2009 14:33

I'm not keen on Ernie - makes me think of Bennie Hill singing about the "fastest milkman in the west"!

Not too sure about Marina either. There's a type of contraceptive coil called Mirena, sounds a bit similar to me!

The other names sound fine though. I like Tabitha.

KC11 · 02/03/2009 15:12

I don't like Ernest at all. Go with Robert (it's my dad's name). What about Harry or George? Family members have recently called their offpsring: Jude, Noah, Shea, Eleanor, Maria and Eva. I like all of those. Remember to write down all the variations with the baby's surname and then do just the initials you want to make sure they don't end up called P. Ennis !!!!

maretta · 02/03/2009 15:20

I'm not crazy about Robert but I think Bertie is lovely. I'm very surprised it's considered craziness by some.

TheApprentice · 02/03/2009 16:39

Dh wanted ds2 to be Ernest after his grandad. I actually like it but thought it was too old fashioned and not one of the "comeback" names iyswim. So we compromised and ds2 has Ernest as his middle name.

KerryMumbles · 02/03/2009 16:44

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ZZZen · 02/03/2009 16:57

What's this Ernie and Bert thing? Shades of Sesame Street?

I think Ernest is ok, wouldn't be my first choice, Ernie is bad though

Original poster
helpivegottogivebirth · 02/03/2009 18:19

Thank you for all your sound advice! I hav just read them out to my husband and we both had a good chuckle at the comments. Ernest is off I think!

OP posts:
Podrick · 02/03/2009 19:04

Aww shame!
You are probably only slightly fashion forward and the revival of Ernest will follow in the next year or two...

After all who would have predicted the massive revival of scullery maid names for girls?

purpleduck · 02/03/2009 19:13

ernest

ZZZen · 02/03/2009 19:31

what are scullery maid names then?

MaryBS · 02/03/2009 19:32

LOL @ Bert & Ernie!

I much prefer Robert, but then I'm biased, having a Robert myself.

GrimmaTheNome · 02/03/2009 19:38

Robert is a great name... your DS then has choice of Bertie, Bob, Robbie, Rob to suit his character, if he wants to abbreviate.

Ernest I'm afraid is forever associated with Ernie Wise and Ernie the milkman... and Ernie the random number generator (maybe its a bit of a generational thing, I'm 48 so may be nearer the GPs than you!)

janeite · 02/03/2009 19:39

I like the homage to Wilde but fear that it would be shortened to Ernie, which is simply horrible.

Bert/Bertie = also not great imho.

jemart · 02/03/2009 20:03

Bert and Ernie are muppets.
Child will be crucified in the playground, please don't do it.

MaryBS · 02/03/2009 20:04

Bertie makes me think of Bertie Wooster, actually. Or Penelope Keith's dog in "To the Manor Born"

Podrick · 03/03/2009 17:37

Scullery maid names are Edie, Evie, Molly etc

cory · 03/03/2009 20:27

Well, obviously you cannot overestimate the importance of being Ernest.

rusmum · 03/03/2009 21:22

love it love it love it- but then it is my dads and grandads name- precicely the reason dh wouldnt let me have it!!

sassy · 03/03/2009 21:27

Victorian slang for a gay man - did you know that? Hence the end of The Play - "I'm Ernest!" "No I'm Ernest!" - the very homosexual Oscar Wilde laying his cards on the table.

Not a name I would choose (not for that reason BTW)

ARAG · 03/03/2009 21:41

I prefer Robert

Rehtom · 03/03/2009 21:46

I know an Ernest / Ernie and he loathes it.
As do I. Really, really don't like Robert either. In fact I think I prefer Ernie.
What really odd names for boys your thinking of. And girls, really don't like Tabitha, or Tabs, or Marina. Nancy however - now you're talking. Great name.

pigsney · 15/03/2009 17:20

Hi!
I am delighted to read all the messages from people who can't stand the name Ernest. My 16 months old is called Ernest and I was worried it would become fashionable and be the new 'Alfie' or 'Oscar' or any of the other unbearably common 'trendy' names. Interestingly, amongst my friends and acquaintances, all the ones who loved our choice of name were the more cultured, whereas the ones who expressed either amusement or disdain were the less educated or the most 'boring' in terms of tastes.

Best of luck with your choice of name! :-)

FairLadyRantALot · 15/03/2009 17:32

Ernie or Bert...do you like Sesame street a lot then?

Anyway, Ernest isn't a nice name at all, imvho and Robert...well tis o.k. and could be Rob and Bob/Bobbie , rather than Bertie