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Reactions to the name Merlin

116 replies

nijntje · 06/09/2006 18:37

Hi
I would love to get some honest reactions to the name Merlin ...
I'm not British or living in the UK right now, but my boyfriend's British. We'd like to find a name that works well in English and Dutch. My boyfriend loves Merlin, but I 'm not sure how strange it sounds to British ears ...
Please let me know what you all think.
Thanks!

OP posts:
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southeastastra · 06/09/2006 18:38

honestly no it's a bit silly.

zippitippitoes · 06/09/2006 18:38

to me it sounds quite new Age!

hana · 06/09/2006 18:39

Merlin - not a big fan. Am inclined to say Merlin the Magician....
there must be some other boys names that work equally well in Dutch/English?
someone will be along with more help!

Californifrau · 06/09/2006 18:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iota · 06/09/2006 18:40

I had a cat called Merlin

Twiglett · 06/09/2006 18:41

I would PMSL

FrannyandZooey · 06/09/2006 18:41

I know a woman called Merlin and I think her name is so cool and suits her perfectly.

I am a rather unsure for a boy - it does seem a bit Gandalfy, doesn't it? However I do like unusual names, there are certainly worse ones you could pick.

Twiglett · 06/09/2006 18:41

There was a Merlin character on Casualty once .. didn't he shag his own sister??

southeastastra · 06/09/2006 18:41

it reminds me of this

Carmenere · 06/09/2006 18:42

I knew a really sweet boy called Merlin, but it is a bit of a heavy handle to go through life with imo

SSSandy · 06/09/2006 18:45

I'm not a big fan of fanciful names ,in particular for boys but I actually find Merlin ok. Everyone will immediately think of King Arthur of course. Not sure I like the initial "Mer" "er" sound too much though.

MrsApronstrings · 06/09/2006 18:46

I also had a cat named merlin

beckybrastraps · 06/09/2006 18:46

If I had a Merlin on my class list I would giggle. Sorry.

MrsApronstrings · 06/09/2006 18:46

not meant to put you off - i do after all have a son named felix!!!

Twiglett · 06/09/2006 18:47

at mrsapronstrings .. that's v. funny

Blandmum · 06/09/2006 18:48

It would sound very silly to my ears. Like becky, having a merlin on the regester would test my ability to stiffle a giggle. They kids would just laugh.

YeahBut · 06/09/2006 18:52

Hmmmmm, I think the piss-take possibilities for a name like Merlin are enormous.
Lots of more traditional names work well in Dutch and English (we're British but living in Den Haag atm). Ds was born in January and we've called him Alexander - lots of approval both in Holland and the UK. Also Tom, Robert, Oscar etc. Or are they a bit conservative for you?

donnie · 06/09/2006 18:52

I like Merlin but it is quite eccentric and amusing IMO. However it is far better than a lot of the vile chavvy names which proliferate these days!! At least Merlin is resonant of Arthurian legends.

trinityrhino · 06/09/2006 18:53

merlin just makes me think of wizards, sorry

zippitippitoes · 06/09/2006 18:54

it seems to be a popular name for scientific companies so perhaps not completely silly

LiliLaTigresse · 06/09/2006 18:55

I'd say no to Merlin
friends have a lovely dog called Merlin and someone thought the dog was in fact called Vermin
so definitely no.....

PinkTulips · 06/09/2006 19:04

peter
jan
aaron
adam
marc
martin

theres tonnes more that would work in both languages! merlin is definitely a bit odd... go for it if your really love it but if your unsure i wouldn't tbh.

theres loads of dutch names here theres tonnes that would work in holland and britain

(i was born in holland by the way, left when i was five though)

MrsApronstrings · 06/09/2006 19:06

where will you mainly be living - a dutch name could be nicely different if you were going back to uk - unusual names picked for a genuine reason - like being half dutch are the best imho

aprilmeadow · 06/09/2006 19:27

I think it is very sweet. There are far more 'silly' names out there!!

Coriander73 · 07/09/2006 22:28

NOOOO.....think of him at school...

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