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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think names considered trashy 20 odd years ago could reemerge as classy name choices in the late 2020s?

110 replies

Rightsaysfred · 14/09/2026 09:44

I’m specifically thinking of Chantelle/chantal here which sounds very classy and a little French to my ears. Haven’t heard of any babies given the name in a good quarter of a century. I don’t think it would have the same associations if given to a baby now.

Same goes for names like Maddison and destiny

OP posts:
Original poster
Rightsaysfred · 14/09/2026 10:04

HolidayHideaway · 14/09/2026 09:59

Apparently Violet, a name I love, was seen as very naff by my mother’s generation. Thing was she knew elderly many ‘Vi’. I’ve never come across an 80 or 90 something Violet.

Yeah I can see this Tbf a100 odd years ago “vi” being the head lady at a brothel lol. Wouldn’t think that of any violet alive today though but now you mention it

OP posts:
AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 14/09/2026 10:03

I will look forward to a whole new generation of Chardonay's running around the place.

HolidayHideaway · 14/09/2026 09:59

Apparently Violet, a name I love, was seen as very naff by my mother’s generation. Thing was she knew elderly many ‘Vi’. I’ve never come across an 80 or 90 something Violet.

CurlewKate · 14/09/2026 09:57

Not much change in the names posh people use over the years. I suspect because posh people don’t have this odd fear of “top ten” names.

Katflapkit · 14/09/2026 09:55

I have one of the naffist names around, low rent and very common for my generation. It's a curse. I'm afraid I lack the hope, imagination and vision to see a time in the future when Maddison would ever become classy.

Katiesaidthat · 14/09/2026 09:51

Chantal was one of the names my mum liked in 74 when she had me. We live in Spain where "chandal" means track suit, so she dropped that one.
Names come and go in circles. So why not.

Original poster
Rightsaysfred · 14/09/2026 09:50

Octavia64 · 14/09/2026 09:47

Usually takes more than twenty years. Think more like 60

Chantelle was never really that popular though so I don’t think this is the same as the granny chic phenomenon. Chantelle was just routinely denounced as a terrible trashy name when it’s really not that bad. I doubt many people will remember the weird culture of the early 00s in years to come though

Oh and it’s not my name or the name of any of my children

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 14/09/2026 09:50

Not as long as there are people alive who remember them being chavy! These were the chav names of the millennial generation and we are only in our late 30s/early 40s. In the previous generation it was Sharon and Tracy and they still sound chavy now.

Octavia64 · 14/09/2026 09:47

Usually takes more than twenty years. Think more like 60

HolidayHideaway · 14/09/2026 09:46

Our great grandchildren will be Gary, Sharon, and Darren ;)