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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Names and (mis)behaviour

35 replies

mumoseven · 17/02/2017 17:10

In my experience I have found certain names reoccur when it comes to negative behaviour in school, especially with boys. Not sure I should blunder in and upset new mums, so I'll settle for outing the common names for naughty lads back in my day. Stephens were usually the worst, but Davids came close.

OP posts:

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manicinsomniac · 17/02/2017 20:44

I don't find this at all.

With more common names you are guaranteed to know children on all behaviours and personalities that are called them.

And with rarer names you don't get a representative sample.

My current nemeses in the classroom (is that the right plural?) are Sam, Ben, James and 2 quite unusual names that I won't mention. But I also teach absolutely delightful boys called Sam, Ben and James and have no other example of the other two names to compare these individuals to. So my current experience means nothing.

I can't think of any well used name where I have found the children to be always one way or the other.

TheLivingAsheth · 17/02/2017 20:49

The thing is there were shedloads of Steves and Daves back in the day so statistically speaking they are going to be more represented among the naughty children. Because there are more of them overall.

LarrytheCucumber · 17/02/2017 20:51

Joshua

ExpectoPatronummmm · 17/02/2017 20:53

Every David I knew was from a posh family and geeky at school.

The shits where Marks and weird names like Alvin, Noel, Ricky.

NapQueen · 17/02/2017 20:54

Ryan. Every teacher I know has said this name belongs to a student they know who is naughty.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 17/02/2017 20:54

Does it begin with a J...?

OnHold · 17/02/2017 20:56

What a stupid thread.

manicinsomniac · 17/02/2017 21:04

Of the names mentioned so far, including the ones I've mentioned:
Stephen - teach 1, he's lovely
David - don't know any atm, most recent one was an angel child
Sam - teach about 15. 3 are a nightmare, 4 are gorgeous and the rest fall somewhere in between.
Ben - teach 3. 1 very unpleasant, 2 delightful.
James - teach about 8. 1 is one of the most difficult children I've ever come across, 1 has his moments, the rest are lovely.
Joshua - teach 7. 1 can be difficult when he wants to be, 2 are completely angelic, the others are nice kids.
Mark - don't think I've ever taught one. Some very 'goody goody' Marks when I was at school myself though (which probably means they were lovely kids from an adult perspective!)
Have never known an Alvin, a Ricky or a Noel.
Ryan - never taught one. Lots in my year at school. I was frightened of about 2/3rds of them which might mean they were seen as naughty kids - but to be honest I was a bit of a wimp so not necessarily! The other 1/3 were fine.

I'm not seeing any patterns so far!

Batgrrrl · 17/02/2017 21:08

Waiting for my DS's name to be mentioned, it's always high up on the lists of 'naughty names' he has his naughty moments but is pretty much just an average kid behaviour wise.

LexieLulu · 17/02/2017 21:11

One of my teacher friends doesn't like J names as she's taught a lot of naughty J boys

WindwardCircle · 17/02/2017 21:12

Aren't approximately 50% of men between 35-60 called Steven or David?

OnHold · 17/02/2017 21:14

Your teacher friend needs to find a new job then.

LexieLulu · 17/02/2017 21:15

OnHold - she just didn't name her child a J name.

I have nothing against J names so please don't be blunt, I have J names in my family xx

reuset · 17/02/2017 21:22

Ex teacher here and no 'naughty' names. Get away with your goady thread, OP.

One of my teacher friends doesn't like J names as she's taught a lot of naughty J boys

How silly of her.

Yes, that sounds about right, Thelivingasheth!

minisoksmakehardwork · 17/02/2017 21:22

It's just down to how common a name is surely?

And if we start expecting these children to be troublemakers then the chances are they will live up to some, if not all, of the prophecy they have been tarred with. Eg you know a james who is a royal pain so you either expect that behaviour or you are more on top of that child to prevent it. Subsequent james' are then a reminder of that one, so you're unfairly more harsh on then as you're expecting poor behaviour. And possibly they then react to the unfairness by playing up to the character you assume them to be.

elephantoverthehill · 17/02/2017 21:27

Not a boy's name but I never taught a delightful student named 'Shannon'. Currently 'Jacob's have SEN. I teach in one school the UK, and only teach a small percentage of the students. Therefore my 'data' is completely irrelevant.

Puffinsareblackandwhite · 17/02/2017 21:37

I find this quite interesting, not goady at all. Interesting to see how representative my experiences as a secondary teacher are. YY to names with J being difficult - we had a week last term where all internally excluded pupils had names beginning with J. Josh is a lovely name but I do tend to associate it with trouble... IME Ryans are also difficult, but the Shannon I teach is a delight!

LexieLulu · 17/02/2017 21:41

My brother is called Ryan, he was a naughty kid if that's anything.

I love the name Ryan and Josh tho, but I love little mischievous cheeky little boys, maybe that's why I like them!

I agree with the comment on name popularity tho

Notrevealingmyidentity · 17/02/2017 21:42

I'm pretty sure it's to do with how common or popular a certain name is.
E.g. Names that relate to say a certain TV show might be popular in some places but not others therefore people might see those names associated with particular characteristics.

Notrevealingmyidentity · 17/02/2017 21:46

Is the J name Jayden by any chance ?

It's funny how people you know influence this as well or even just weird associations - I personally hate the name Louise as I associate it with snot. I have no idea why. I've only known one Louise and she wasn't particularly snotty.

mumoseven · 17/02/2017 21:49

Not trying to be goady! I have noticed that certain names at work tend to be attached to challenging children but didn't want to out them
True that we did have lots of Stevens in my school (in the late 60s)!

OP posts:

reuset · 17/02/2017 21:49

The thing is there were shedloads of Steves and Daves back in the day so statistically speaking they are going to be more represented among the naughty children. Because there are more of them overall.

Asheth's quote sums it up quite nicely.

Elephants, really not sure about listing children's names with SEN.

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elephantoverthehill · 17/02/2017 21:51

I think, but I am not entirely sure that I am correct, that more names begin with J than any other consonants.

mumoseven · 17/02/2017 21:53

My daughter's partner is a Ryan and he owns up to having been naughty at school.

OP posts:

reuset · 17/02/2017 21:53

Stephen was top 10 in the 50s/60s. Steven not far behind. Super popular! David similarly popular, more so even.

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