Ernest - am I completely crazy?!

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone,

In my search for our unnamed two week old son, I came across the name [name_m]Ernest[/name_m]. I’m surprised by how much it has stayed with me; I can’t seem to get it out of my head. I think it could really work alongside the name of our daughter, A D E L A I D E and son,
E D M U N D.

But … I can’t work out if I love it because of its literary ties, its enviable history and its effortless retro-cool and clunky sounds or if it’s just a dusty old man’s name that’s a little harsh sounding and maybe too much for a little boy to carry??

I think it could be one of those love/hate names. If I’m being honest I’m actually too scared to bring it up with my husband in case he’ll fall off his chair or roll on the floor laughing …

What do you all think? [name_m]Will[/name_m] it ever escape its dated ‘[name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_m]Street[/name_m]’ association? Can it bypass the nickname [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] (which I’m not too fond of)? Could it be the cause of future teasing?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one :slight_smile:

Thanks! xx

I really like [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] and it fits well with your children’s names! I’m in the retro-cool camp and actually think the ‘est’ balances out the harshness of the ‘ern’. I’m not sure how avoidable [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] is–though I think that’s cute too! If your other kiddos don’t have nicknames, maybe [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] not having a nickname will be easier.

Absolutely not crazy! I also loooove [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] and have done since I met a little boy with the name (he has very trendy [name_u]London[/name_u] parents, I will say, although its statistically doing pretty well. Well within the 300s in the UK and rising). Definitely a great choice and perfectly ready for its comeback.

Never would have thought of the [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_m]Street[/name_m] link, but I actually think it’s such a big source of nostalgia people won’t particularly see it in a negative light even if they do make the connection. It’s a classic and very old name anyway. [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_m]Street[/name_m] only adds to the retro charm if it has any impact at all I believe.

I really like [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] just as much, if not more, than I like [name_m]Evander[/name_m] with your kids names. Is [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] an option by the way? He seems immediately tied to both of those names for me (they’re all choices I’m trying to persuade my SO into myself lol, so maybe its just that. But I think they all have such a cozy, ancient and newly modern quality).

I adore [name_m]Ernest[/name_m]! It definitely ages well imo… nn [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] or [name_m]Ern[/name_m].

I dont think it’s too much for a little boy, it’s very handsome, and playfully quirky.

Kids are teased for all reasons, I wouldn’t worry about the name…and besides, alot of people nowadays are choosing vintage names for their kids, it’s becoming the norm again.

I like [name_m]Ernest[/name_m]! Literary, unexpected but light and similar in sounds to things like [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_u]Elliott[/name_u] and [name_u]Everest[/name_u]!

I like it and I think it goes well with your older kids’ names. Congrats on your son!

[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] is wonderful, I like it a lot. [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] isn’t inevitable either.

I love [name_m]Ernest[/name_m], and I think it sounds lovely next to [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] and [name_m]Edmund[/name_m]!

I think [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] is incredibly handsome and old-fashioned in the best way, and it works great with his siblings’ names. I never watched [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_m]Street[/name_m] but isn’t the character in that called [name_m]Ernie[/name_m], and not [name_m]Ernest[/name_m]?
Speaking of [name_m]Ernie[/name_m], I unfortunately wouldn’t use [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] if you hate [name_m]Ernie[/name_m]. You don’t have to call him that at home, but it’s very likely that his friends or even siblings would call him [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] sometimes.

I adore the name [name_m]Ernest[/name_m]! I feel like it’s a perfect fit with your elder children’s names, and it fits in stylishly with the current vintage name trend.

This is my dad’s name. The biggest issue he’s ever really faced with it in all his fifty years is probably people spelling it ‘[name_m]Earnest[/name_m].’ Half of his side of the family still spells it wrong.

As for nicknames, his sisters sometimes call him [name_u]Bird[/name_u] Nest and my mom might call him [name_m]Ern[/name_m] on occasion. (Both of which might be objectively WORSE than [name_m]Ernie[/name_m].) I feel like [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] might be a little bit unavoidable, though, unless you’ve somehow found a way for people to not call your other son [name_m]Eddie[/name_m].

It sounds great with your older kids names. First nn I thought of was [name_m]Ned[/name_m].

I think [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] goes really well with your children’s names! It’s a vintage name with a beautiful meaning that is ready for a reboot. I will say that I am not brave enough to use it, but it would be worth mentioning to your husband! I definitely don’t think the [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_m]Street[/name_m] connection is too strong.

[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], and [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] sound perfect together! I think [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] is due for a comeback too; it doesn’t feel too old man to me either. I also don’t immediately think of [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_m]Street[/name_m] when I hear [name_m]Ernest[/name_m], my first thought is of [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] [name_m]Hemingway[/name_m]. If people were to call him [name_m]Ernie[/name_m], that would make me think of SS, but otherwise I don’t. I believe if you tell people his name is [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] and just [name_m]Ernest[/name_m], they’ll be less likely to call him [name_m]Ernie[/name_m]. Or, if you offer a different nickname he could be called; my first thought was that ‘Ness’ would be super cute. But it could also depend on if your other kids go by nicknames; if they go by [name_f]Addie[/name_f] and [name_m]Eddie[/name_m], there’s a good chance [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] will be the first nickname people gravitate to because of the ‘ie’ ending. Whereas if their nicknames are less matchy, like [name_f]Ada[/name_f] and [name_m]Ed[/name_m], then Ness could fit right in!