Page 13 | To be surprised by the names of the “posh kids” at DDs school

marilee · 2025-08-31T01:55:44+00:00

Hi all, my DD just started primary 1. The catchment area for her new school is super mixed with all the nicest houses in the town but also 2 council areas so a real mix. We live in a council flat, I can’t say I’ve rubbed shoulders with the more middle class half of the town and I grew up in a firmly working class area so this is the first time in my life I’m properly mixing with this group (I know that’s awful but it’s just how life has been for me so far). I don’t know why but I was expecting all the posh kids to have more extravagant names but almost every single one of them is just a very basic name (James, Harry, Anna, Clara, Emily, Emma etc.). While the names I’d normally have associated as being more “posh” are actually the names of the kids from my area (Rafferty, Arabella, Florence, Theodore). AIBU to be shocked by this? Is this normal or a little regional quirk?

teaandmarmalade · 31/08/2025 07:58

Goatinthegarden · 31/08/2025 07:52

I work in a school with about 250 pupils and there are hardly any duplicated names. We are in a large city and have lots of children with parents from all over the world.

I don’t think you can predict much about a child, or their family background, from a name.

No (and yes,)

Posts like this do sort of miss the mark a bit. Are we really saying Aisha and Mohammed are going to be evangelical Christians? They aren’t, are they?

Now I agree I can’t tell whether Aisha and Mohammed are good at my subject or not, how well behaved they are, how studious, but we can still make largely correct inferences about sex, religion and sometimes yes background. That isn’t a bad thing.

Scalextricks · 31/08/2025 07:58

ShineLuceeeee · 31/08/2025 04:42

I have found this:

The genuinely posh people don't go for overly fancy names but traditional older names (eg James - lovely name btw)
The nouveau riche/upwardly mobile go for names that are OTT posh (eg Atticus, Hugo)
More working class tend to go for names that were normal posh but then have gone out of fashion (Arabella is a perfect eg)

Yes this. All the Hectors and Ophelia's etc I know are the children of people who are frantically trying to climb the social ladder

AgnesX · 31/08/2025 07:57

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 31/08/2025 04:49

I think some names we are given as children, can be loaded with meaning, expectation and even fantasy by our parents

Also names follow music,fashion, films, celebs etc and soon sink without trace.
They are also a way, for so called posth people to reinvent themselves and their children

I live in a bit of an arty, farty area full.of would me media types, wokes and the upwardly mobile..Very cash strapped but really prentious and they only buy cheese from the Deli or Cheese Monger.

We also have many original local residents, everyday people who have been here for years.

I include.myself in this last group.

So we have a bit of fun and assign mythological names to a family we know. The Queen is Persphone or Percyfone and her husband Dionysus or Den.

Two kids names Harmonia an Icarus.
Or Mona and Russ.

We are still.working on names for their cat and dog.

A name is a name is a name.

But try and give a child a name people can easily pronounce. Makes life easy for everyone.

They're good names for cats 😁

IllBeLookingAtTheMoon · 31/08/2025 07:57

Wishingplenty · 31/08/2025 07:15

I agree that posh kids can be snobby, but at the very worst they will just ignore, or perhaps some name calling without causing physical pain. They do bully different to working class kids, but the threat of physical harm is more real in the working class. Both forms of bullying is horrible, but let's not pretend the rough working class are capable of a lot worst with often the parents joining in.

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😁
It's 100% deffopants true. If you offend a working class kid, they'll get their mam and dad and the whole family will wrestle you and put your bits in a bacon slicer. If you offend a posh kid, they'll say, "I say, come, that's not so dusty, what" and perhaps give you a disparaging glance through their monocle.

ItsnotnearlyChristmas · 31/08/2025 07:56

Interesting about very posh names being the simple ones. Never thought about it. Kings of England do indeed have a very small pool of names.

I work with boys from working class backgrounds in the main. There are names I don’t hear in middle class or posher circles. Kai and Ty for instance. Lots of Codies/Kodies. Used to be all Tyler’s. Not everyone wants a MC name for their children.

teaandmarmalade · 31/08/2025 07:55

I do find the social aspect of names really, really interesting. It’s hard to discuss on here though because people get very snappy and defensive.

In general though it is funny to think that Iris, Edith and Winnie would have their days again. I can’t imagine newborns called Shirley, Jean or Maureen but I know it will come!

PollyBell · 31/08/2025 07:54

Goatinthegarden · 31/08/2025 07:52

I work in a school with about 250 pupils and there are hardly any duplicated names. We are in a large city and have lots of children with parents from all over the world.

I don’t think you can predict much about a child, or their family background, from a name.

I would say you can tell a lot about a person who pigeon holes people with certain names

BrickBiscuit · 31/08/2025 07:53

Money talks, but wealth whispers. Chavs shout.

Goatinthegarden · 31/08/2025 07:52

I work in a school with about 250 pupils and there are hardly any duplicated names. We are in a large city and have lots of children with parents from all over the world.

I don’t think you can predict much about a child, or their family background, from a name.

CurlewKate · 31/08/2025 07:49

Wishingplenty · 31/08/2025 07:15

I agree that posh kids can be snobby, but at the very worst they will just ignore, or perhaps some name calling without causing physical pain. They do bully different to working class kids, but the threat of physical harm is more real in the working class. Both forms of bullying is horrible, but let's not pretend the rough working class are capable of a lot worst with often the parents joining in.

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That’s up there with the worst things I’ve ever read on Mumsnet. Real “quiet bit out loud” stuff…..

KimHwn · 31/08/2025 07:44

Wishingplenty · 31/08/2025 07:15

I agree that posh kids can be snobby, but at the very worst they will just ignore, or perhaps some name calling without causing physical pain. They do bully different to working class kids, but the threat of physical harm is more real in the working class. Both forms of bullying is horrible, but let's not pretend the rough working class are capable of a lot worst with often the parents joining in.

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This is an INSANE comment.

bumbaloo · 31/08/2025 07:42

MaggieBsBoat · 31/08/2025 04:35

The latter names you’ve mentioned are firmly posh, whatever the hell that means.

It‘s clearly a brilliant thing that your children are mixing with kids from other classes though, maybe this will reflect well on their education. Are your kids named working class names then?

I don’t think so. I think in the previous generation ( people now in their 60s plus) posh people were arabella, tarquin etc) but since then these names have gone out of favour and the upper middle classes have gone far more established. James, Henry, Emily, Alice etc.

ResusciAnnie · 31/08/2025 07:41

Thepeopleversuswork · 31/08/2025 07:06

Genuinely “posh” or upper/upper middle people tend to avoid names which are fussy, flash or fashionable. The names you have listed are much more likely to be chosen by aspirational working class people.

Upper/upper middle people tend to hate anything that makes it look like you’re trying.

I think you probably know this already though?

The family that live in the local stately home have a kid called Boudicca (and about 5 other kids with non-plain names).

We live in an area with lots of very ‘posh’ people and they’re certainly not all called James and Alice. There are also a lot of council houses and their kids aren’t all called Jayden either. I do agree with what PP said about the social climbers though - a lot of Ariellas, Sebastians, Clementines, Digbys in that group.

5128gap · 31/08/2025 07:41

Wishingplenty · 31/08/2025 07:15

I agree that posh kids can be snobby, but at the very worst they will just ignore, or perhaps some name calling without causing physical pain. They do bully different to working class kids, but the threat of physical harm is more real in the working class. Both forms of bullying is horrible, but let's not pretend the rough working class are capable of a lot worst with often the parents joining in.

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Yes. While the middle classes are taking their children to dance classes, we working class take them cage fighting. This is why we are instantly recognisable, even when we try to disguise our inferiority by calling our children Maude and Thomas. Our jagged scars, broken noses and huge fists give us away.

Whatatodo79 · 31/08/2025 07:38

Posh people give their kids names that aren't going to sound silly when they are prime minister.

CinnamonCinnabar · 31/08/2025 07:38

Bournetilly · 31/08/2025 07:20

Arabella is the opposite of posh.

How do you know which kids live in which area? They have only just started school.

The only Arabella I know is highly qualified and in a very well paid profession- don't know the family but I'd be surprised if they weren't also well off.

I know several little girls called Ruby living in a very expensive area of town - some at private, some at state school. I can't comment on the family class, but I know their houses will be worth nearly a million (in Scotland not London).

Massive range of names at local private school - 'old fashioned' names seem very popular recently (Esme, Theodore, Eugene) - but private school locally is more international than state so many kids born elsewhere or first gen immigrant (well off) parents

dogcatkitten · 31/08/2025 07:37

It was always traditional for names to pass down through families (my father's family had James's back as far as I can trace 1790s and my brother is also James, maybe the 'posh' continue that trend more, but pretty irrelevant really. If you are happy with your children's names that's all that matters. (btw My family is in no way posh, the James's in the past were pretty much all miners).

doglover90 · 31/08/2025 07:36

Cathkidson36 · 31/08/2025 07:29

I know what you mean and ignore the catty comments, the true 'old money' type names do seem to be more 'simple' names like James. Look at Louis, Charlotte, George.

Yes but I don't think you can use those children as a barometer - if you're high up in the line of succession, there is pressure to reuse old names of former monarchs etc. Some of the minor royals' names are far more frilly - Ernest, Sienna (although of course she is half Italian), August, Eugenie.

BlueJuniper94 · 31/08/2025 07:36

CherrieTomaties · 31/08/2025 03:00

Why are you even labelling names as “basic”
or “posh”?

Please don’t pass this mindset down to your children.

Why not?

MontyStrikesAgain · 31/08/2025 07:36

Kuretake · 31/08/2025 06:54

Why don't you just start a thread saying you'd like to have a bitch about the tragic thick working class trying to be aspirational but getting it wrong as usual? It's so obvious that's what this thread is.

Like fuck are you "surprised".

Agreed.

Queenofplants · 31/08/2025 07:32

Anything extravagant or "different" tends to be an indicator that the parents are working class or new money. The middle classes will name their children something classic and unassuming; there is no need for them to try and stand out through a name. I'm assuming these are also state school kids so surely they are unlikely to be too "posh" in the traditional sense?

Cathkidson36 · 31/08/2025 07:29

I know what you mean and ignore the catty comments, the true 'old money' type names do seem to be more 'simple' names like James. Look at Louis, Charlotte, George.

Iocainepowder · 31/08/2025 07:28

SoOriginal · 31/08/2025 07:11

My kids are James and Anna and this thread just made me laugh out loud!! 😆 thanks OP.

Lovely names!

MontyStrikesAgain · 31/08/2025 07:27

ChelseaDetective · 31/08/2025 03:41

All the names you’ve listed sound posh to me 🤷🏻‍♀️

And for some reason I don’t think you’re working class or live in a council flat.

And for some reason I don’t think you’re working class or live in a council flat.

Funny you should say that - I read the OP and thought the same thing too.

LessOfThis · 31/08/2025 07:26

charlieandjenna · 31/08/2025 07:21

I work with a real social class mix of people from living pay day to pay day in council homes right through to very well off living in very expensive homes ect. I find that the nicest most down to earth are the people at each end of the social spectrum and the people in the middle are the ones who feel they have something to prove. Of course I am generalising and mean no offence to anyone 😱
Just speaking from my own experience

Agreed. And the worst people are those who grew up middle class but want to claim working class hardship eg “I went to a bog standard comp” but they also did ballet and played the harp and had tutors and parents who went to Oxbridge, skiing holidays, and lived in big detached houses with large gardens etc etc.