A Public Service Announcement: if you are middle-class and live in an area with a high proportion of Boden-wearers...

dexifehat LOL! Lovely middle class names IMO - no worries there - Loving Felicity.

Oh such angst. We just picked a name we liked, glad I hadn't read this sort of thing first! Dd's name is perfect, we think anyway!

We have Hattie,12 Dexter,5 and Felicity,2 are these unusual? I fucking hpoe so! I can't stand to hear my kids names uttered by the Froot Shoot,Sausage roll scavengers...

Amen to that Zozzle!

Getting back to the OP's original point, round here (up north) the typical MC names where I live are Olivia, Isabelle (and variants), Isabella, Alice, Ella, Matilda and Amelia. Lots of Lilys and Evies of all classes.

Yawn to the above (nice enough names but way too popular IMO).

I went for a classless name for my DD chosen primarily for its meaning (and yes I probably am what some demographic statistician would "define" as MC). My DD's name may have raised an eyebrow or two amongst my friends, most of which have daughters named as above. Most people don't seem to care what names mean anymore!

If you are bright and motivated you will get on in life career-wise regardless of your name.

cheese are you deliberately being obtuse?

There is a difference between discrimination and whether someone actually "gets ahead". A point that is actually covered in Freakonomics....

This thread is really confirming my view that I'd love my children to spend some part of their eduction abroad - because I really want them to realise that this UK class obsession is not shared by the rest of the world, and I want them to grow up more open-minded.

Take me with you CheeseandBunion, take me with you!!!

The word 'crap' is used by the MC. Have a good trip.

No Nancy, I didn't miss the point, I got it, I just happen to think you're wrong.

You said that if you want your child to get ahead in life calling them Ruby-Lou probably doesn't help. You also said they'd be discriminated against. I pointed out that if you want to quote Freakonomics it might be best to check what they actually say which is that calling your child Ruby-Lou has NO bearing on whether they might 'get ahead' in life or not.

Of course our children may be judged on their names, they'll also probably be judged on their weight, appearance, accent, dress sense, gender etc. There is a big difference between judged and discriminated against though which is the point I am trying to make.

To say you think Araminta is a name favoured by the upper classes is one thing. To say Esme won't be an MP and calling your child Ruby-Lou will hinder their future chances is total crap.

I'm off to America now to live with Randy, GorgeousX can send me a postcard there to confirm that my use of the word 'crap' has now demoted me to the working classes.

I do love the US of A!

LOL! You can be called anything in the States - even Barack!

In the States, you can be called Randy and people keep a straight face!

HMC - If you call your child an MC name then you are WITHOUT doubt MC!

Admittedly I was thinking more of Henrietta in this instance (plus GorgeousX just got on my tits so I wanted to type something pithy..)

HMC, you can't include Elizabeth in that. I've seen Elizabeths everywhere from Moss Side to Windsor.

Elizabeth is definitely one of those who knows where she's from names.

"The MC tend not to have such short names - more like Henrietta or Elizabeth."

Disagree - that would be one particular sub set of the middle classes (a very wide class stratum)namely the aspirational, wannabee subset with pretensions to grandeur...

It's daft to try and say that we don't judge a parent on the names they give their child. However, the vast majority of names give me no thoughts whatsoever on the type of mother who chose it.

Names such as Esme-She could be anyone who has come from anywhere.

I have worked in education and have just trained as a sw. I see dozens of childrens' names everyday and only a tiny minority bring out my judgy pant such as the memorable Jaydenarama.

But I'm judging the fact that they haven't thought about the impact of such a name on their child with regards teasing etc. Certainly not judging the child herself or thinking she can't possibly amount to anything.

cheese you spectacularly miss the point. Whilst name may not be a long term indicator of success - and not one person on this thread has suggested that you can't do something because of your name, despite assertions to the contrary - people are discriminated against because of their names which is the point made in Freakonomics and numerous additional.

Oh and Rachel no mumsnetter would ever criticise a name as "gay"

Cheese - are we reading the same thread?

Great post Cheese.

The fact is, people probably will make snap judgments on hearing a name, the same way they will make (probably subconscious) judgements about a whole host of things - it's what humans do; it's how we 'know' the world.

However is a very rare person indeed who sticks rigidly to their judgement or first impression, and who does not allow a wider knowledge of a person or situation, as well as common sense to ultimately filter through to provide a much clearer and more accurate overall picture.

Anyone who is even vaguely capable is not going to be held back in life because of their name. Condaleeza, anyone?

I never normally comment on these posts but I've got to speak up in defence of people like Laydee, Mamma and CharlieBoo. The nonsense that is spouted on threads like this makes my blood boil and frankly makes most of you sound like a bunch of class obsessed, self absorbed, bigots. No, it is not light hearted to say that because someone's daughter is called Esme she'll never be a CEO or amount to much in life, nor is it 'just good fun' to mock names because of the social background you believe it conjures up. Nancy, It's interesting that you choose to bring Freakonomics into this as they argue totally against the point you are trying to make. They conclude that name is no influence on a person's success and is purely a potential indicator of a person's social, economic and educational status. They point out that racism may play a part sadly in the way a name is perceived but let's not get into that lest any of you sound even more offensive than you do already. If education, economic status and opportunity are constant then an Ellie-Mae will do just as well as an Emma and if you think otherwise then the joke really is on you. I have no doubt if half of you had been on here 30 years ago you'd have told Tony he'd never amount to anything if he didn't call himself Anthony Blair and Cherie that if she ever wanted to fulfil her Barrister Dreams she'd better change her name back to Theresa.

FWIW I don't think this is the thread the OP intended it to be. I think she was making a point about name popularity more than class. The thread that it has become though reads like a playground at a bitchy girls' school full of mean, offensive bullies. Mumsnet can be an amazing place full of kind, supportive and generous members, sadly though it just doesn't always feel like that.

But custardo, what we are questioning is whether that 'opinion' is shared by people in real life too.

im of the opinion that if you come on hee asking for my opinion on a baby name thread, they by jeeves i will tell you.