Mumsnet Talk

I really like the name India but worry that it may be perceived as a chavvy name...wdyt?

Is it chavvy? I've only met one (daughter of an ex-colleague) - they definitely weren't chavvy and I thought it was rather a cool name and it fitted them as the mother was pretty bohemian...

I love the name India - I don't think it's chivvy at all!

I love this - it was very nearly DD's name but I chickened out, due to a few raised eyebrows when we mentioned it was in the running. Rather than chavvy, I think it is quite a rah name really.

Love it. If we have a dd India will be up there in the top 3 names

Always loved India. Beautiful.

No.
It's the name of someone I'm close too, she's 17 & waiting until next year to change it.

Aside from the 'why are you called India when you are white?' questions
The constant 'paki', 'papadingding how's the corner shop?' etc meant she had to change secondary schools twice because she couldn't cope with it.
She's gone by her middle name since 14 (and she's in Central London so it's not as though there isn't diversity).

Similar but not as bad has happened to a white, blonde, blue eyed girl I know called China.

I think it's quite public schoolgirl actually! I know a couple - never occurred to me it would attract the kind of comments Gary mentions but I grew up in circles where it was quite a well-used name...

I love it but DH said it was too posh and pretentious

Oh Gary that is awful....that would make me worry. Madamgazelleismymum what do you mean by a rah name? so overall it's getting positive responses....yaaaaaay!

She means the same as I do by a public schoolgirl name!

I don't think it's chavvy, I just think it's a bit try-hard.

Too 'head girl' and pretentious for me.

Certainly not chavvy, rather a posh girls name actually but I love it.

Know a lovely girl called India who is a bright spark and is a gentle soul with ability to kick ass not hippy dippy, rah or chavvy. Honestly there are plenty of other things for bullies to pounce on aside from names more's the pity.

Adult ones are posh.

what about andrea? less predictable. fewer andreas than indias i bet

Unless you were actually born there, it isn't for me. It's a bit try too hard IMO.

What ripsishere said.

What is too try hard?

It's just a beautiful name!

Andrea is awful. Not comparable to India in any shape or form.

I'm not sure what people mean by too try hard surely you would want to "try hard" to pick a beautiful name for your child I would rather be too try hard than not bovered

sorry I hate to quote the urban dictionary but this is the definition ...

A person who puts a large amount of effort into achieving a certain image, or counter-image, to the point where it is obviously contrived. Rather than achieving an image through genuine personality, the try-hard consciously attempts to fit a certain style through deliberate imitation, forced style, or scripted behavior. That is to say, he/she is trying hard to create an image.

The fact that you asked if it was chavvy also added to me thinking this. I am sorry was just giving my opinion. Trust me my name choices have been shot down on here before too

But surely a lot of names are try hard then? Oscar, Hugo, Seraphina?

India is just a pretty girls name. Not try hard at all.

Oh yeah that's me all over [ throwing eyes up to heaven emoticon ] Well I still stand by what I said I would rather be too try hard than not bovered. Who wants a name for their child that may be perceived as chavvy or one that has negative connotations?? That is the responsible reasonable thing to do as your first act as a parent to your child. It's not about wanting to be perceived as "rah" etc as some people here have put it but trying to do the best thing for your child. As people will and do make assumptions about people based on a variety of things, names included. If people like to see that as being try hard then YES I AM TRY HARD!!!.....Rant over

Going to regret this I am sure but what makes anyone think someone choosing a certain name - any name - is attempting a phoney image or has certain aspirations? Doesn't that smack a little of sneering at a person "getting above their station"? I understand if people think, Oh yeah, look how they're trying to grab attention, eg by prefixing a name with, off the top of my head, Princess, but a name? Genuinely puzzled.