'Trying-too-hard names' - should we really mind about them - or not?

[LadyThompson]

People get a bit narky about names which they see as upwardly mobile or trying-too-hard, I've noticed. Perhaps not everyone who wants to call their kids Edwin or Clarissa or Milo or Artemis (or whatever, not criticising these names, before you flame me) is trying to be determinedly pretentious. Or are they?

I've chosen a slightly poncetastic (but not ridiculous) name for my DD - not that I give a monkey's what anyone thinks, I just happen to love the name. Jane is a nice name imo (for instance) but I don't want to call my DD that or something like it, because I always wanted a more interesting name when I was a kid, and I know what that feels like.

So...what's the consensus?

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I have a 'more interesting' name and I love it. Some might think it poncey (there are a few meeja types around now with the name) but I don't give a toss....

Mind you as a small child I wanted to be called Clare

[Tortington]

i think its ridic.

[moondog]

What your call your kid says so much about yuo and your aspirations,foibles and petty vanities. That iswhat isso funny with the Milos and Romillys.

[Tortington]

its so common for "more interesting names"

the posher - poncier - more upwardly mobile the person - ordinary - not famous - the more ordinary and lovley the name

[beansprout]

How about "each to their own". How would that be?

[marymungoandmidge]

Go on ...what did you call yours then?

[RustyBear]

Well, I gave DD a name (18 years ago)that I thought was - well, not poncey, but unusual, just because I liked it.

I had completely missed the fact that a pop star had just called his daughter by that name & it's now far from unusual - in fact I have seen it described as 'chavvy' on here.

I still like it though...

[LadyThompson]

So Moondog, are you saying that unless you call your kid John or Jane, you are necessarily holding up all your 'foibles and petty vanities' on a platter? Hmmm...I think EVERY name is an expression of the parents' taste...even John and Jane! My DD's middle names will be after two of her grannies, and they are not that out of the ordinary tbh, but we'd still have used them even if they weren't. Probably.

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[swiftyknickers]

what a load of shit
My sons name suits him perfectly but may be poncey to some people. Doesn;t appear poncey on him

it's all about personalities and choice

[hellebores]

It's hard not to judge - sometimes you just get a feeling that some are trying to choose an aspirational name - and that is what makes me wince on here. Although I guess it says something (nasty) about me that i feel i can be an arbiter of class and make pronouncements about other people's taste - but they do ASK!

There's a few levels of trying too hard I think:

1. the 'totally unique nobody else in the school or anywhere is going to have this name'

1. the 'I think it's unique' but actually it's quite trendy and every other kid will be called this in a couple of years name

1. the 'actually i'm just going to use this because it IS a trendy name and don't care how 'now' it is'

[LadyThompson]

Why so cross Swiftyknickers? Cos I don't care what anyone's kids are called. I just proffer an opinion on here because people normally ask for one. Was just wondering why people get QUITE so riled by poncy names, more so than other names.

[TotalChaos]

couldn't give a flying feck

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[LadyThompson]

And what's wrong with being aspirational? Is it so wrong? Or should we know our place, like Baldrick in Blackadder

[BigBadMousey]

• Pruners - did you get your birthing ball OK?

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[LadyThompson]

Hijacks always make me laugh, they are like the equivalent of tumbleweed across the thread! Ah well, it was just a thought I had...

[cyteen]

I would say that people get equally aerated over 'chav' names as 'poncy' names, on this board at least. Middle class, middle way

[LadyThompson]

Yeah, you're probably right, Cyteen. Hyphenated first names seem to get a bit of a going over on the Baby Names threads these days.

[BigBadMousey]

Pruners - no rush, just wanted to make sure it arrived before I binned the proof of posting

[hellebores]

It's a good question Pruners - I have no way of judging whether a choice of name is unsuitably highly aspirational because I don't know who's asking - in RL it would be easier. I am just naturally snooty about names and love to give my not so humble opinion about it.

What's wrong with aspiring anyway you ask? As a socialist - I say there's nothing wrong with that - but high-fashion-conscious names are just infra dig to me. As I say - it does rather bring out the nasty side in me..

Also - are we not sometimes guilty these days of giving our children names which we think will somehow endow them with beauty, popularity, strength, style etc (modern values - shallow ones?) - this is what narks me most.

Maybe this is a reaction to all the ugly names our parents gave us?

[LadyThompson]

Hellebores - I think (going back to Roman times, maybe even before!) parents have always tried to give their kids names which will imbue them with the very things you suggest!

I think I have got a slight bee in my bonnet about aspiration - for instance, my Granny, who passed her 11+, wasn't allowed to go to grammar school as her parents thought she'd got ideas above her station so whenever people are mocked for this, I guess I always think - hmmmmm.....