What exactly do people mean when they say a name is 'trying too hard'?

I think it means trying to hard to be the sort of name that really catches people's attention for any number of reasons. Nurse Bernard has outlined a few It's a put down but a subtle one. But a name that is "trying too hard" will not also be the sort of name dismissed as "chavvy,"

A bit like people telling me my Dc names were "artistic", or " a bit out there " until they see me and realise I am foreign and then it is suddenly o.k.

Excellent post NurseBernard

Ds2's nn is trying too hard according to a recent thread. It actually came about as it was the only part of his name Ds1 could say.

Each to their own, i wouldn't judge anybody for their name.

Clearly people don't mean 'trying too hard to name their child'...

That's not what 'trying too hard' means. Of course everyone tries hard to give their child the best name.

It's not a phrase I would use often but I take it to mean 'trying too hard to...

• give off a certain impression
• give off a cerain vibe
• impress
• aspire
• appear a certain way that may be at odds with who they actually are

This is not an exhaustive list. It's subtle, basically.

Bluestocking - yes of course, i completely forgot.

We're quite "inventive" with names ourselves but that one knocked me for six!

Yes most people try "hard" to find something unique and special for our precious offspring but sometimes in trying to find the "unique" you veer to far away into the side of bizarre.

Some names are not bizarre but have a certain stamp on it usually to do with family background or culture and unless your family come with that stamp then it just doesnt "fit" eg there are certain names in england that seem to belong to the upper classes or lower classes ( this is just from what i've heard and other observations), or imagine a non asian family naming their DD "Aishwarya", now "Maya" may go down well very nicely but the former just doesn't.

I'd say it was choosing a name that says more about the parents' aspirations/desire to be cool or edgy than it does about the practicality of living with that name.

I think they mean trying too hard to get attention.

I find baby naming so odd. Just give the child a name, stop agonising over it.

What oreo said.
BTW, Gunznroses, Heavenly Hiraani Tigerlily is part of the Geldof family now, but she's the late Michael Hutchence's daughter with Paula Yates, who was arguably the finest exponent of "trying too hard" with children's names.

I think people who don't like a particular name say this just to be nasty!!

Of course your going to try hard when picking out your child's name....you are giving a human being a title that they will carry for the rest of their life. I would be worried if someone did not try hard!

I don't get it either

Trying too hard: to sound posh?
Trying too hard: to sound cool?
Trying too hard: to be yooneek?
Trying too hard: to be different?
Trying too hard: to find a lovely name for your child?

Huh?

What oreocrumbs said.

I would hope that all parents try hard to find a lovely, ideally not already overused, name for their child!

"Tiger Lily Heavenly Hiraani"

It isn't something I would say myself, but when I hear/read others saying it I always take it to mean that the parents are trying too hard to be something, be it more 'posh' or more 'zany'.

Good question, I've been wondering the same thing myself. I assumed it meant someone was trying so hard not to give their child a popular name that they end up going for a name that no one can pronounce/spell/etc. (Not judging, as my DC's name could beclassed as all of those things)

I don't know, to cool, too posh?

I don't use the term but I've noticed that other people do when referring to very unusual names. Often they are the names that are preferred by more middle/upper class types but sometimes not.