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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Dating a guy with an awful first name (light-hearted)

458 replies

whatsinanameanywayright · 03/07/2023 14:13

To be clear - this is a lighthearted thread - I know he can't help his name and I'm obviously going to carry on seeing this guy - we met on a dating app and I knew his name before matching with him.. but it's a very unsexy name.. really not a fan of it. Can't figure out a nickname that works either (he's told me a nickname his friends use too and I'm not a fan of that either) - although to be clear he has no idea I have any qualms with his name of course!

So for anyone else who's ever done this - I assume you just get used to the name after a while and it stops being so strange!?... Um.. right...!?

Feel free to guess his name/give me your worst names for a guy and if it would ever stop you from dating him?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
JobzaGoodun · 03/07/2023 15:14

Pronunciation and spelling can make all the difference though. I worked with a Bernard who was gorgeous, and Swiss, so it was more Bh-NAR and less Cribbin

Also Burt as in Burt Reynolds and Burt Lancaster seems rugged and manly, whereas Bert seems more binman.

LakeTiticaca · 03/07/2023 15:15

Outdamnspot23 · 03/07/2023 15:09

O h Barry! well.

I used to be at school with one and called him Barold, not sure that's much help.

Seconding the suggestion of eventually using "babe" 😂

One of my best friends is called Barry and I call him Barold 😅
He doesn't seem to mind although I don't really understand what is wrong with Barry , just a bit old fashioned, that's all 😉

HunkaMunkasslipper · 03/07/2023 15:17

Eustace.
Duane/Dwayne
Darren
Alphonse
Bart

RockandRoller · 03/07/2023 15:18

Clive or Walter...I've definitely had the ick just because of someone's name!

HunkaMunkasslipper · 03/07/2023 15:18

Sorry just seen your update.
Barry isn't that bad! I know a Barry, although he goes by Baz/Bazza 😅

NameTrouble · 03/07/2023 15:18

Barry isn't that bad imo but Baz is terrible.

I have a very strong reaction to many names. Some of them literally make me feel ill or anxious. I'm not sure if it's part of my autism. I don't think I could ever date a Frank(Worst name ever), Stephen/Steven, Elliot/Elliott or Jude because of how they make me feel. Some of those are family names but that doesn't seem to make them more tolerable for me.

ThePersistenceOfMammories · 03/07/2023 15:18

I’ve always hated the name Gavin.

mine, my sister and my best friends husband are all called Gavin 😂

Pemba · 03/07/2023 15:18

It's dated but not terrible. President Obama was known as Barry to his friends when he was younger, so if it's good enough for him ....

UndercoverCop · 03/07/2023 15:19

Barry has to be immediately followed by from
Eastenders, that's the bit I'd struggle with.
Give him a nickname (not Baz).

PimpMyFridge · 03/07/2023 15:19

Is it Pearl?
I knew a Pearl once - she was ace and suited her name.

Pinkbasketcase · 03/07/2023 15:19

Lol I get this. Always hated a name, and said I would never be with a guy with this name. However, I met a guy, didn't ask his name (weird I know) but got along with him, chats were great. He was a friend to someone close to me.
But I eventually got round to asking his name and it was the name I hated.. I laughed alot. After a while I made him aware I didn't like his name, which he felt was random! Yet, 18 years later, married 16years, kids and all. I'm crazy about him.

TrundleWheel76 · 03/07/2023 15:20

24Dogcuddler · 03/07/2023 14:26

Erm?…

Fr. Andy Riley,
Fr. Desmond Coyle,
Fr. George Byrne,
Fr. David Nicholson,
Fr. Declan Lynch,
Fr. Ken Sweeney,
Fr. Neil Hannon,
Fr. Keith Cullen,
Fr. Ciaran Donnelly,
Fr. Mick McEvoy,
Fr. Jack White,
Fr. Henry Bigbigging,
Fr. Hank Tree,
Fr. Hiroshima Twinkie
Fr. Stig Bubblecard,
Fr. Johnny Hellzapoppin’ ,
Fr. Luke Duke,
Fr. Billy Ferry,
Fr. Chewy Louie,
Fr. John Hoop,
Fr. Hairycake Linehan,
Fr. Rebulah Conundrum,
Fr. Peewee Stairmaster,
Fr. Jemima Racktool,
Fr. Jerry Twig,
Fr. Spodo Komodo,
Fr. Cannabranna Lammer.
Fr. Todd Unctious

😂 Mrs Doyle Father Ted

Just tell us Go on go on go on go on go on
(also Mrs Doyle)

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Bubblesdublin · 03/07/2023 15:20

Cyril

PimpMyFridge · 03/07/2023 15:20

GreatBigBoots · 03/07/2023 14:53

I feel for both of you. I have a very old fashioned name that is not a timeless classic or one that has become fashionable again. I have only ever met one person with my name that is any younger than my mum. Quite a few people have told me that when they met me (having been given my name beforehand) they were expecting a much older woman. I'm sure DH's colleagues have assumed (before they met me hopefully!) that he married someone at least 30 years older than him. My name is also one with no nice nicknames/shortenings and my middle name is equally badly dated. I would quite like to change it, but then I know I'd be forever referred to as 'her who used to be called Doreen*'

  • not my actually badly dated name but in the same area

Sorry Pearl was in response to this... Quote fail.

ChocChipHandbag · 03/07/2023 15:20

Barry fair enough you could forgive, not his fault, but he introduced HIMSELF as Baz? Normally if you don’t like a nickname meeting a new person is the perfect chance to use your choice of name.

You could try to think of Baz Luhrman I guess, he’s pretty cool and un-Barry-like.

Bananarepublic · 03/07/2023 15:21

Lloyd
Colin
Brian
Barry
Keith
Trevor
Wayne

All awful

Cantuserealname · 03/07/2023 15:21

At least it's not Hugo 😀

massiveclamps · 03/07/2023 15:21

LakeTiticaca · 03/07/2023 15:15

One of my best friends is called Barry and I call him Barold 😅
He doesn't seem to mind although I don't really understand what is wrong with Barry , just a bit old fashioned, that's all 😉

I had a friend called Barry years ago, and we all called him Barence!

He was a really nice chap, so the name Barry holds no fear for me. 😂
Clive, on the other hand... eww.

Highlighta · 03/07/2023 15:21

pleasestopmessagingme · 03/07/2023 15:05

Ralph is a name I've always hated. It reminds me of someone being sick or puke on the floor. I don't know why 🤷🏻‍♀️

That one is Hugh for me.

😀

TrundleWheel76 · 03/07/2023 15:22

I love Barence, that's brilliant 👏

ChocChipHandbag · 03/07/2023 15:23

24Dogcuddler · 03/07/2023 14:26

Erm?…

Fr. Andy Riley,
Fr. Desmond Coyle,
Fr. George Byrne,
Fr. David Nicholson,
Fr. Declan Lynch,
Fr. Ken Sweeney,
Fr. Neil Hannon,
Fr. Keith Cullen,
Fr. Ciaran Donnelly,
Fr. Mick McEvoy,
Fr. Jack White,
Fr. Henry Bigbigging,
Fr. Hank Tree,
Fr. Hiroshima Twinkie
Fr. Stig Bubblecard,
Fr. Johnny Hellzapoppin’ ,
Fr. Luke Duke,
Fr. Billy Ferry,
Fr. Chewy Louie,
Fr. John Hoop,
Fr. Hairycake Linehan,
Fr. Rebulah Conundrum,
Fr. Peewee Stairmaster,
Fr. Jemima Racktool,
Fr. Jerry Twig,
Fr. Spodo Komodo,
Fr. Cannabranna Lammer.
Fr. Todd Unctious

😂 Mrs Doyle Father Ted

Just tell us Go on go on go on go on go on
(also Mrs Doyle)

😂😂😂 I hope that was a copy and paste job and you didn’t re type the whole thing from memory! The writers must have had fun with that- I see Linehan makes an appearance. I wonder if they had cue cards up off camera for Pauline McGlynn.

NameTrouble · 03/07/2023 15:23

Ralph is a name I've always hated. It reminds me of someone being sick or puke on the floor. I don't know why

Ralph/Ralphing is a term for vomiting.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 03/07/2023 15:23

It could be worse. There are name websites which suggest that Barry makes a lovely choice for a girls' name Confused

How about if you extended it? Barrington? Bartholomew? Grin

WhereTheSuburbsMeetUttoxeter · 03/07/2023 15:24

heartofglass23 · 03/07/2023 14:44

I've felt like that over a Martin, a Wayne and a Derek.

🤣 In 30 years I've only ever dated a Martin or a Richard --- aaargh! Actually there was a Steve.

The Richard I remained friends with was adopted, when his Mum died (cow) she left the adoption papers and he was born a Martin, became a Richard !!!

I've given up.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 03/07/2023 15:25

@whatsinanameanywayright Barry's ok, nothing wrong with it! I hate Baz though! I once dated a Eugene. Now THAT is bloody awful!!!

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