My grandmother told me she always wished she was named [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] and hinted at using it for an honor name for her. Her name is [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] but I’ve only ever known her as [name_f]Betty[/name_f]. [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] is honestly something I’m not sure about? What’s your opinion on the name?
Personally, [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] isn’t really my style so I don’t really like it as a first name, but I think it could make a great middle name to honor your mom!
I actually [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Beryl[/name_f]. Got lots of negative feedback on it a while ago, though. People say that it sounds too close to ‘barrel’ and that it sounds horrid.
I would love to see [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] make a comeback. I particularly like the nn [name_u]Berry[/name_u], which could also work for [name_f]Berenice[/name_f].
Oh my god this post gave me vivid flashbacks of 9th grade gym class. There was a girl named [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] who went by “[name_m]Bear[/name_m]” until one day a kid from sophomore class knocked into her and said “geez no wonder they called you [name_f]Beryl[/name_f], you’re big as a barrel” and from that point on everyone (and I mean everyone, even some of the teachers) called her “Big Barrel”.
I even remember the rhyme everyone said when she entered the room. “Big as a barrel big bear is a’ comin’, when you hear that thumpin’, ya better start runnin’” Poor girl. She goes by “[name_f]Betty[/name_f]” now to this day.
And because of that experience, knowing how awful some kids can be, I really do not recommend naming your child [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] because I promise you this, she [name_m]WILL[/name_m] be bullied for her name. There is no “might be”. She [name_m]WILL[/name_m].
If you understand that and you’re okay with knowing that she’ll be teased and you still want to name her [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] then no one can stop you. Some parents think it might help build character if a kid is teased for their name. I however, think it’s extremely cruel to name a child something that can easily be made fun of (I was bullied as well for my name until I started going by a different one) from my own personal experience- I grew up loathing my parents for choosing such a horrible name.
I recommend maybe using it more as a middle name option but I’d honestly just try to honor your grandmother with a similar name and or meaning.
[b](Edit: oh my god! I just realized that she goes by the same name as your grandmother! Beryl wanted to be Betty and Betty wants to be Beryl)
Edit n. 2: I actually love Meryl if you’d be up for it. Ever heard of Meryl Streep? That could be a subtle honor to Beryl. Berenice is nice as well.
(Edit n. 3: I actually just checked up on the Beryl I knew and I asked her to give me her opinion on her name, consider this insider information! She actually now goes by Beryl again! She said that while the bullying was traumatizing for her- it taught her how to handle people like that. She says she wears her name with pride now and that she’s never going to let anyone make her feel less than 100% and that she’s certainly never going to let anyone make her feel like she needs to change her name just to make other people happy, again.)[/b]
I’m sorry, I really don’t like it. If you feel strongly about using it I would put it in the middle, but I think even [name_f]Betty[/name_f] could be cute as a middle name.
I don’t like it at all.
I think [name_f]Berenice[/name_f] is appealing though, for an alternative.
In my opinion, [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] isn’t a very pretty name.
I don’t really care for the sound of [name_f]Beryl[/name_f], but [name_f]Meryl[/name_f] is alright
I like [name_u]Berry[/name_u] or [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] for a middle more than I do [name_f]Beryl[/name_f]. [name_f]Meryl[/name_f] is also nice. [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] does just sound like barrel in English. Does she have a middle name you could use instead?
Personally, I don’t [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] it, but I do like it. My style definitely leans towards “old lady names” though so I can understand why others don’t like it. The nicknames [name_m]Bear[/name_m] and [name_u]Berry[/name_u] are both adorable. I do prefer [name_f]Meryl[/name_f] though, I think.
I’m not a huge fan tbh. It reminds me of Benadryl for whatever reason…and obviously beryllium.
I agree it sounds like Barrel. I sympathize with the poster who talked about “big barrel”. That’s awful. Bullying is real, it is disgusting. That being said, I have known a boy named [name_u]June[/name_u] who never was bullied. And I’ve known [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] who have… I think generally kids are bullied for reasons beyond their name. I personally wouldn’t let the resemblance of Barrel sway me from the name. What WOULD sway me I [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] and [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] over [name_f]Beryl[/name_f]. The other thing that would make me inclined to say no for you, is you don’t seem to love it. You should love your child’s name, even in the circumstance of honoring someone important to you. If you don’t love [name_f]Beryl[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f] or any of the [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] variants, I would slide it to the middle name spot and go with something you like.
I agree it sounds like Barrel. I sympathize with the poster who talked about “big barrel”. That’s awful. Bullying is real, it is disgusting. That being said, I have known a boy named [name_u]June[/name_u] who never was bullied. And I’ve known [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] who have… I think generally kids are bullied for reasons beyond their name. I personally wouldn’t let the resemblance of Barrel sway me from the name. I actually think of Barrel, and could see it on a cute western cowgirl type. I definitely think it’s usable, just not my favourite. What WOULD sway me is the fact I like [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] and [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f] over [name_f]Beryl[/name_f]. The other thing that would make me inclined to say no for you, is you don’t seem to love it. You should love your child’s name, even in the circumstance of honoring someone important to you. If you don’t love [name_f]Beryl[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f] or any of the [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] variants, I would slide it to the middle name spot and go with something you like.
It’s interesting that she wishes that was her name–what a difference in generational tastes! I wonder what her associations with it are. I recently heard it while rewatching Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u]–it’s the cook’s first name.
I want to like it as I tend to love clunky, ‘old lady’ names but the sound just doesn’t appeal to me. You could use it as a middle name? But I like [name_f]Bernice[/name_f], [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f], or [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] better.
Best if used as a middle name, otherwise it’s a [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] of laughs.
It is an old lady’s name that is definitely not ready for a comeback, and probably won’t ever be. The only [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] I know is in her 90s and is my brother-in-law’s great nana. She is as crazy as they come!
I think middle names are the perfect place to honour, with such names as [name_f]Beryl[/name_f]. Also, [name_f]Beryl[/name_f] and barrel don’t sound alike to me. BEH-ril and BAH-rel.
I have always loved Beryl as a name, and I think it’s a wonderful honor name. I agree that teasing is possible, but teasing is possible over literally any name, common or extremely rare, and I definitely do not think it is a certainty nor do I think it is cruel to give your child this name. (Screwy Louie! Peeping Tom! Loser Lucy! Fatty Patty! These are all names I’ve heard kids called in the schoolyard.) Bullying is a serious problem, and as someone who has experienced it in droves, I am sympathetic to one of the previous posters, but I think it’s cruel to insinuate that it’s irresponsible or mean to give your child this name if you like it, or that it’s partially your responsibility for bullying if you give your child this name. To me, Beryl is quirky, strong, vintage and has fantastic namesakes. It’s also a gem name, which lends it brightness.
Thanks for all the info! That’s awesome that she goes by that again 
I never thought about the nn [name_u]Berry[/name_u]! I really like it!