Reactions to the name Merlin

[nijntje]

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!

Sorry, but it just sounds so pretentious. I can't imagine wanting to be near a kid called Merlin . However much I dislike the more plain names I'd honestly rather a Barry than a nerlin

Merlin.

Um, no. That's naff.

Great for just the right cat, though.

I agree wholeheartedly with 'Yeahbut'. Way too much potential for piss-taking at school. (My husband has vetoed even slightly out-of the-ordinary names on this basis. He says he remembers how cruel little boys can be!)

it's a name that will get a lot of teasing imho and that's not fair to your child.

WIZARDS!

(Only read thread title)

It's fine if you're intending to send your ds to Eton then Oxford. Not so fine if he'll be going to the local state. Cruel in fact. Don't underestimate the cruelty of British children.

I know one boy called merlin,he's only 2 so no piss taking yet.Also another with merlin as middle name.
Don't like it myself.

Sounds a bit too wizardy for me ;)

Go for it if you like it - yes it is unusual and makes British people think of the wizard. But I think that's great - what cooler person could you be named after? It would probably get shortened to Merle at school which is also nice. Kids will always find a reason to bully if they want to - better to give him a cool name than have something dull for fear of bullying.

No, please don't do that to your boy! Too embarrassing. He'll spend his life either having to live up to it or bitterly resenting it. It's a name that will always provoke a reaction.

I met/knew the most lovely Merlin ever at my mum's school. He was dreamy, but it was a bit of an alternative part of W Yorkshire - I don't think he was from the hippy commune...

Merlin the Happy Pig, anyone ?

dogs name

how about Thumbelina for a girl?

I thimk it is a really cool name. It is a proper old name, not like some of these made up names some people give their kids, or ones one they mispel a proper name to make itt more trendy(!)
I had it on my list of boys names, I think the worst thing you can do is a tell people what you are going to call your child before it is born, cos no matter what name you choose someone will alwawys say they hate it. Once its born it would tale a very rude person to tell you to your face !

I knew a kid called Merlin. Really nice kid, now in secondary school, and no teasing as far as I know....It was often shortened to Merle...Why not make him something different, no one will forgat him with that name..