Lyra classless or not?

[Babygruffalosmum]

My little girl is already called Lyra. I think it's beautiful. Just want to know whether people think it's one of those names that you can tell what social background they come from. So let me know what it makes you think. stupidly bloody read an article about teachers name stereotyping and got worried

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

Lyra - classless I think.

The one I know, her parents are fairly well off, both have good jobs, they have a nanny, both come from 'good' backgrounds. She's American, he's English. Little girl is now 3.

[GeorgianMumto5]

I wouldn't know if it's classless but it is a beautiful name - good choice! If I saw that name on a class list I'd think, 'How pretty! I wonder if her parents took it from Northern Lights? I guess they read...hmm...I wonder if Philip Pullman invented the name...?' See, this is why I don't achieve too much - too easily distracted.

It's a beautiful name. Good for you and little Lyra!

[DonderandBlitzen]

I would think Middle or Upper Class, but it wouldn't be out of place anywhere i don't think. It is indeed beautiful.

[FranglaisMadam]

Classless I think. Doesn't make me think 'chavs' but neither does it make me think Middle or Upper Class. Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum have a daughter called Lyra.

Was that article in the Daily Mail today? I read the same one I think.

[Babygruffalosmum]

Franglais-Yeah it was. Although I can see that some names do make you think certain things, sad but true. I was a bit shocked that teachers were acting upon those stereotypes prior to meeting children. Then I was a bit concerned because Lyra is an unusual name, I did first see it in Northern Lights then researched it and fell in love. I just wouldn't want her to experience prejudice because of it.

Thank you lovely people! I really do adore her name and she really suits it.

[FranglaisMadam]

That article was a load of b**cks in my opinion anyway, a lot of the names on there are not common at all - not exactly up there with the myriad of Alfies and Archies and Graces. Also put the teachers in a bad light in my opinion.

[Babygruffalosmum]

Most of the stuff in the daily mail is b**cks. It just irritated me, there was a teacher before who said something similar publicly and got highly criticised. You'd think if they thought a child was from a low social background or had 'stupid' parents that they'd be more inclined to give a bit more positive reinforcement and not just write out detention slips. Very immature, unfair and unkind in my opinion!

[havingastress]

I think awkward parents!

Lovely name, just awkward! Type of parents who give stress.

Sorry - you did ask!

[Babygruffalosmum]

havingastress- really? Are you a teacher?

[ClaraOswinOswald]

If I was the type of teacher to prejudge children based upon their names and I saw the name on a class list, I'd think it was a pretty name and that it belonged to someone petite, pretty and well behaved.

[delilah88]

Lovely name! I'd think she was v wanted by thoughtful parents who gave her a cool name.

[Zavi]

Apologies in advance - but you have invited opinion!

This is a Chav name. Why? because it's almost certainly a "made up" name and Chavs like nothing better than to make up their own names or re-arrange the spellings of existing names. Or better still, do both at once! e.g. Chelsey.

Chav: Chardonnay, Chelsey, Brianna, Tyler, Shannon, Coleen, Kayleigh, Shawna; Brogan, Morgan, Brody, Flynn, Tyler, Lee, Wayne, Shane, Ryan, Bradley

Non-Chav: Elizabeth, Catherine, Sophie, Laura, Christine;
Henry, James, Michael, Thomas, Oliver

Sorry but Lyra is a "made up" name. Never heard of it before. Sounds a bit like Lycra.

I would put it in the same sort of name category as Kayla or Kyra. Made up. Chavvy.

[delilah88]

That's not true. It's a literary name, albeit a new one, from Philip Pulman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

[CPtart]

I though Lycra too. A silly name IMO. Attention seeking parents springs to mind.

Sorry!

[DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved]

Wow! Seems to be split along the lines of 'have you read Philip Pullman or not'! I like fwiw

[ladymia]

@delilah88 literary names can be made up too .. think Renesmee ;)

[JoanByers]

I assumed it was a boy's name.

I also assumed it was Lycra.

[GirlOutNumbered]

As a teacher, I would think hmm, lovely name perhaps hippy parents. Chav would not spring to mind.

[ItsIcyOutsideIThinkINeedThorin]

I totally agree with Zavi's list of made-up chav names but I totally disagree that Lyra is one of those names! It's the name of a constellation - it's beautiful.

[Babygruffalosmum]

It's not a made up name, I promise! Although uncommon it has been around for a while. Admittedly I'd never heard of it until I read the Northern Lights trilogy but after looking it up found middle age women called Lyra saying how much they love it. My son is Henry and Lyra's middle name is Joan. And I personally dislike all the names you've deemed as 'chavvy'. I don't think to be considered as having a non-chavvy name necessarily means it needs to conform to the more standard common names you've listed. Surely there's room for a little originality in names without being written off as a chav?

[MordionAgenos]

The name 'Lyra' was not invented by Phillip Pullman. Lyra is the name of a constellation. It goes back to ancient Greek Myth.

Several of the names Zavi offers as examples of 'made up' names are in fact traditional names.

I presume Zavi was making a (crap) joke calling them all 'chavvy'.

[havingastress]

babygruff Yes. I have also taught a Lyra. Poor little girl used to get teased.

"Liar Liar Pants on fire"

These were eight year olds. Lyra = Liar, not hard to make a word connection!

Mind you, most kids will find something to pick on. If it isn't about a name, it's about hair colour etc.

Maybe this is why I have the notion of awkward parents Sadly had to deal with them a lot as the poor little girl had such a bad time of it. Couldn't help but think, well you named her Lyra! It was a bad class that year though (lots of Konnors, Kaydens, Jaydens, Jaycee's etc etc)

disclaimer - contrary to what the Daily Mail says, not all teachers judge based on names. We do tend to make our own assessments. Interestingly though, 90% of the time, gut instinct based on name is correct!

[Eskino]

It's from Greek mythology!! It's about as ancient a name as you can get!

[JoanByers]

Surely "Lyra Lyra pants on Fira?"

Has a better ring to it

[MordionAgenos]

@Eskino It seems that few people have the benefit of a classical education these days (or know much about astronomy). Now, I'd be much more comfortable judging people on those grounds than on the name their parents gave them. But that's just me.

OP - it's a beautiful name. It will make people who have read books smile. It will make people who know about astronomy smile. It doesn't sound funny, its lovely. Don't worry about it. If you find a teacher who thinks it's a problem suggest they reconsider their career.