Is Ernie/Ernest too closely associated with Sesame St to use as a baby name?

[yurbud]

Poll question: Is Ernie/Ernest too closely associated with Sesame St to use as a baby name?

My wife says the other association she has with it those Jim Varney commercials and movies like ERNEST GOES TO CAMP. I would like to name the baby Ernie to honor my 89 year old grandfather who helped raise me and has been the supportive hub of our family.

[styersc]

1. Have some guts and go with Erkel.

[yurbud]

2. jaleel? is that you?

[Blue State Blues]

3. Maybe use it as a middle name?

Ernest is a wonderful name. If you and your wife want to use it, and honor someone so important to your life and family, then do so.

Who knows, you might start a trend.

[yurbud]

4. ernie pyle, ernest hemingway, tennessee ernie ford...

[Swede]

5. One of my best friends name was Ernie.

I think there is nothing wrong with the name.

[armyowalgreens]

6. I absolutely cannot stand the name Ernest. And Ernie sounds too much like Burt and...

[jobycom]

7. Jim Varney was the coolest person to have ever lived. Name him Ernest just for that.

Just my opinion. But it's the right one.

Seriously, if you want to honor your grandfather, go for it. It's a noble purpose, and your child will be honored to learn the story behind his name. If you are really worried, make it a middle name, but I don't think that's necessary.

[soleiri]

8. Explain to her

The importance of being Ernest.

and be Earnest.

[yurbud]

10. that is a play that's almost impossible to screw up.

I've seen three different film versions, and liked them all.

[grace0418]

9. Old-fashioned names are back in vogue. I think Ernie is sweet!

Your grandfather sounds wonderful.

[yurbud]

11. Grace was my first choice for a girl's name!

[yurbud]

12. and oddly, our baby is due around April 18.

[grace0418]

15. Aww! Great birthday, only the best people have it.

:) Seriously though, April birthdays are nice. Not too close to the holidays when people are too busy and frazzled to celebrate (my husband has that problem, Dec. 16), not in the dead of winter or the worst of summer. The weather is often lovely and makes you feel very optimistic. At least that's how it was for me.

Do you know if you're having a girl or boy? It would be cool to know another Grace0418 was out there!

[wickerwoman]

13. I dated a great Ernest in college.

He was the coolest guy ever.

I think the kid would get some crap in kindergarten from the Sesame Street thing (if kids still watch it) but by the time they hit middle school it will mostly go away.

My parents almost named me Natasha and didn't because of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Now almost no one would make that association and I would have liked that name a lot better than the one I got. There's no way of predicting what associations any name will have five years from now.

I like to hope we live in a world where your child's peers will have no idea who Jim Varney is, anyway.

Plus, I love Oscar Wilde and my strongest association now is with The Importance of Being Earnest.

[Orsino]

14. Not at all, Verne. n/t

[gmoney]

16. If you want him to get beat up a lot, go for it.

Whatever happened to Thomas or David or William as a name?

[CBGLuthier]

17. It is my father's name. He hates it

Has gone by his middle name his whole life.

[yurbud]

23. thats funny-- its actually my grandfathers middle name

And he chose to go by it instead of William

[qb]

18. Ernie is an adorable baby name

And imagine the satisfaction of sternly saying "Ernest!" when the little tyke gets in trouble.

[EndersDame]

19. Ernest is a good strong name

[Pool Hall Ace]

20. I say go for Ernest / Ernie

I had to think for a minute how Jim Varney was associated with the name Ernest. And Sesame Street didn't hit the airwaves until I was seven years old, so I never watched it. But I am much more likely to associate the name with Ernest Hemingway, Ernest Borgnine, Tennessee Ernie Ford, or Ernie Kovacs.

I think the family connection is special, too! :D

And admittedly, I don't care for modern "McJaden" names that everyone seems to be saddling their children with. But of course, YMMV, and it's ultimately up to you and your wife. Good luck choosing! :hi:

[annabanana]

21. Ernie Kovacs was cute as hell!. . Go ahead!

(funniest TV show. . . EVAH!)

[frogmarch]

22. I think of Ernest Hemingway. Anyway,

I think naming your child after your wonderful grandfather is a fine tribute.