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I like Barry but am having a hard time picture Barry on a baby or young boy.

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Side Note: I did meet a little girl once whose grandmother called her Bear and Berry - no ideas on the spellings or even if those were just nicknames.

I wouldn't use it myself, but I'd be happy to meet a little Barry. It's underused these days. I'd like to meet a little Gary as well.

Yeesh.

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Massive old man vibe for me. I hate to put my nose in here, but I must admit I know a vile, horrible 60+ man called Barry who hangs out with my dad's friends (much younger than him) and once called my younger sister a stupid s!ut, among other things, reduced her to tears and then made me look like the villain of the piece when I became apoplectic and verbally assaulted him. I hate, hate, hate this man, and this name has so been ruined for me. That said, I think I'd dislike it anyway.

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Alfred, Edward and Theodore are much better choices.

My brother's name is Barry (he's 12) and he's always hated it. Especially when people shorten it to Bazza (which is what sometmes happens here in Australia)

Aww, I like Barry. It has a pleasant and benign feel to it.

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It seems kind of dated but I'm not even sure with what generation or decade I would associate it with. It has an "old man" sense but not in a prohibitive way.

I think of actor Barry Watson, of "7th Heaven" and "Samantha Who?" fame.

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And that's a good association. ;)

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Although in his case, Barry is just a nickname for Barrett (his middle name).

Barry is associated with County Cork in Ireland, in the southern most part of the country. St. Finbarr comes from there, and Barry is from Finbarr. The surname Barry not uncommon. My mother is from that area and I spent every other summer there growing up.

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So for me the name Barry is sentimental and evocative of Irish history and culture. But I realize that's not what most people think of when they hear the name. So it might not be the easiest name to pull off in the real world.

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I had to stick my big nose in and let you know that there is at least one person out here that is rooting for your friend to use Barry one day. It warms my heart. :-)

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And now I'm off to fix a cup of Barry's Tea (trademark). :-P

I like the name Barry quite a bit and I do think it could work today. I know a Barry in his early 30s and he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He's given the name a good vibe for me. And it's kind of a cute name if you picture a toddler named Barry running around playing.

Barry sounds anything but distinguished to me! I have never seen the appeal in it at all. One of my mum's oldest friends has a son named Barry. He'd be in his 30s I guess (never met him) but it seems like an older man's name to me. Whenever I hear his name mentioned I always think, "why would someone choose Barry when there are hundreds of other names out there?" I picture someone a bit dim and not very successful when I hear the name Barry.

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I don't think it could work today, sorry. I'm not a fan of Theodore but I can see why people would like it. It sounds much more distinguished and intelligent. Personally I would choose Edward with the nn Ned or Alfred nn Alfie (much as I'm a little sick of all the Alfies in the UK now).

Awww I love Barry. It feels sort of familiar and cosy. And it reminds me of Barry Humphries (a good thing). Sometimes I struggle to see it as a full name and have been considering it as a nickname for Finbarr of late. Even though I like just Barry better. Hmmm.

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No, just Barry is nice. I think it could definitely work today. Fits in with the Harrys and Baileys sound-wise, and also comfortably in the grandpa name trend.

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As long as they never ever ever go by Bazza.

The first thing that I thought of when I saw Barry in your heading was about the fact that Barry is something that right-wing people like to call Barack Obama, along with Obummer, Oblunder, and 0bama. Barry is supposed to be an insult, although it's not so obviously an insult as the others. I guess it's insulting because he isn't really called Barry, so it seems impudent and too familiar.

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So that's a fairly new association and I'm sure that I'm the only one who has it. Otherwise, I like Barry. It's handsome. It's not used much now, so I think it would make a good choice for a child. I definitely think it could work today.

I went to school with a Barry. he was III but still Barry. Very nice kid, but sadly he was killed in a car wreck a few years ago. I like the name Barry, it doesn't really have a goofy-old-man vibe to me, not like Alfred does.

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I have to say that Barry is way better than Alfred. Alfie is just stupid, and I don't understand why it is so popular as a full name in the UK. (The same Brits who turn up their noses at "nicknames-as-given-names" like Tony or Bobby go into ecstasies over freaking Alfie.)

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Ted is a very nice, friendly nn for Theodore. It's a stretch as a nn for Edward, but I guess if Ted Kennedy could pull it off...

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Ned is pretty bad. And isn't the word ned a British slang term for a loser?

I really can't take Barry seriously! On TV, Barry is always a slightly bumbling older person who everyone else makes fun of - I don't see it like Alfie or Ted, which are old fashioned but somehow more dignified.

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It doesn't help that the only Barry I know of is "Barry from Eastenders"!

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