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

Florence is actually a lot more classic than Sienna (and is quite a rare example of a place name that has been used quite traditionally).

I know posh people with all those names except Rafferty, and the little Rafferty I know is from more of an arty family than a posh one.

Generally speaking, I think the only names that aren't used by "posh" people are the place or surname variety (Mason, Maddox, Dexter, Carter, Paris, Brooklyn etc) or the sorts of names that are more modern ( including the yooniques) like Charlene, Kayden etc.

A Chardonnay is extremely unlikely but Bodhi has potential, it’s in the top 100 used names for boys in the UK. Granted only just.

Chardonnay was always a joke name wasn’t it, from Footballers Wives rather than actually used in real life and then had a very brief spike in popularity thereafter. The majority of Chardonnay’s are in their early 20’s now so have been through school and long since left.

'they only buy cheese from the Deli or Cheese Monger'

What on earth is the problem with this, @SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess? Would you prefer small shopkeepers to go out of business?

As an aside, my dog is Arabella Fishcake (well, it’s actually Princess Arabella Fishcake).

My then three year old insisted on it.

We shorten it to Bella.

But you should have heard the laughter at the vet when my children insisted she was registered under her “full” name.

Yes and apparently the queen wasn't amused

Im council trash. Low income, 4 kids.

My brothers are called James and Thomas.

My children are Elizabeth, Alexander, James and Timothy. All quite 'posh' names, apparently.

I couldn't be any less posh if I tried.

My best friend, who is 'posh', has a Blake, Connor and Alfie.

Sounds made up not least because no teacher is going to come across a Chardonnay or bhodi- they’re a 45 year olds idea of tacky names. No teacher in 2025 is teaching a Chardonnay

I don't agree it's either out of fashion or lower class. It's not 'trendy', but that's good. The only Arabella (Arabelle) I've known was achingly cool, plus I associate it with the 'Arabella and Mortimer' stories. Great name IMO.

My DD is Arabella! Out of fashion! Wow ! Chosen by lower classes !

I have an aunt called Arabella and loved it so much I used it with DD!

Oooh, we have 4 of those names in our immediate family (well 5 if I count Harry the cat!). Must be posh! (We really aren't 🤣)

This thread has made me guffaw thinking of that absolute mouthpiece Katie Hopkins who did an interview years ago with Philip and Holly and said people who name their kids after places are nothing more than chavs.

Her own daughter is called India.

Well that's pretty awful! Making presumptions about a child before even meeting them based on their name.

@Gallowayan You can spot someone who is named Siena after the place because it only has one “n” in it.

Ok then whatever you say 🙄

A crumb of class

🤣🤣

I think anyone who chooses a name for a child based on their preconceptions of what class its associated with is a fool.

Fashions change with the generations so a name which has some class associations in one era will feel radically different in the next. When I was in my teens the name Sharon was always thought to be the height of naff, nowadays its considered quite exotic and I have always thought its a really pretty name so I'd never have had any problem naming a child Sharon.

The only absolute fail-safe names if you're worried about class are the classic ones (John, James, Catherine, Emily), but your child could be stuck with a name they don't like because you wanted to keep up with the Jones's. Surely better to give a child a potentially odd name which has emotional significance to you and your family than to give them a vanilla name in order to avoid offending people who you consider your social "betters".

I any case, genuine classnessness comes from not really giving a shit about what people think and if you like a name and can style it out, you should go for it.

I thought it was a disease carried by rabbits.

Funny actually, I only know one Annabelle. Her mum is definitely a ‘desperate to be lady of the manor type’. I never thought anything of it before, but, yes! It’s true, at least in this instance. Bit cringe really.

I have recently had a baby and she’s one of the names you mention having their day again. My grandmother comments often “never thought I’d see a baby one” because to her those names are “old lady” names. Which is quite funny because she is now an old lady herself, but more the Shirley/Patricia/Barbara/Pamela generation.

I expect I can look forward to grandchildren called Beverley and Gordon, based on how names cycle back!

Surely you realise the nuance between what you’re saying and what’s happening on this thread?!

Just to add the Irish form of the now obselete first name was Rabhartach. Rafferty is an anglicised spelling/pronunciation of the surname form of the name.

If I, an American, wrote a novel in which British characters acted like some of the people on this thread, it would probably be rejected on the grounds that I was using outdated, over-the-top stereotypes of snobby, class-obsessed Brits. “Oh, my, Harriet, look at all the silly little commoners with their upper-class pretensions! Imagine being so déclassé as to name one’s baby Arabella! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Oh, I simply must tell Lady Snobbington when I see her later at Ascot!”

Re the name Bear.

Mum from gypsy family, both young parents, rough area.

So names really tell us nothing.

No it’s not used as a first name here in Ireland. Just looked up the stats and there are no records for it.

Judging others is essential - would my dc be safe in this nursery, do I trust the staff, is this a nice looking restaurant I want to go to, do I want to spend time with these people, do I trust this trader to do work in my home. All of it is judgments made in seconds. What people wear, their name, their background (which can be demonstrated in many ways) are all what is humans put together and categorise people. It’s important.