In your opinion, can people with names like 'Posy', 'Kitty' or 'Dotty' be taken seriously?

Not to be a pedant, but the little girl's name is Dottie, not dotty.

it is not slating a name to point out its meaning.

I agree with those who say that diminutive frilly names will be quite the norm among this peer group when they grow up. There has always been a smattering of this type of name anyway - it's not like they are way out there. Some of the ones you mention sound perfectly serious and grown up to me (Kitty, Polly). I particularly dislike the suggestion of giving a totally different, stodgy birth certificate name and then calling the child a totally different sounding nickname. Margaret-Daisy -eh? Josephine-Posy - wot? I know that technically the one is derived from the other but if you like Daisy, just give the name Daisy! If the child doesn't like it they can go by another or develop their own nickname. FWIW my great grandmother was Helena, nn Nelly. My great-aunt was Nellie, nn Nan. So even shorter names can get their own nickname.

I personally prefer more grown-up sounding names but only if you are actually going to use them day to day, otherwise what's the point?

"Dottie to me suggests scatty, ditzy, eccentric and possibly outright mad."

"Saddling a poor child with Dottie?"

I'd say this is definitely the child's name being slated.

"You do realise you're talking about someone's actual child, no?"

Nope- wer're talking about that child's mother's choice of language!

It's easy to be downright nasty about someone else's child's name when you're an anonymous forum member.

You do realise you're talking about someone's actual child, no?

Brave? Saddling a poor child with Dottie? Wtf is brave about that? What's brave about any name choice for another person? Do you understand what the word brave means?

Dottie to me suggests scatty, ditzy, eccentric and possibly outright mad. Not the connotations I'd have wanted my daughter's name to have.

Your mum won't be treated by Dr Posy, she'll be treated by Dr Smith. And the burglary will be attended by PC Smith.

MPs are at great pains to be informal- Ed Balls, Tony Blair, call me Dave Cameron.

Personally I prefer a full name on the birth certificate, and I like traditional names, but I'm not naming your daughter. Go with what you like and maybe use someone else as a sounding board.

Or tell your mum you've decided on something outrageous so that Posy etc seem like a good option!

There's nothing brave about giving your child a name you really like.

If so, I was "brave" when naming DS with a name outside the top 100...then loads of other people copied me, and suddenly I did't look so brave any more. Still love the name though....

I actually think I was braver with my other DS, going for a traditional name knowing there would very likely be another in the same class, and never shortening it.

"Until then they just lap up all the comments and know that mummy was brave enough to give them names that stand out against the crowd of Jacks/Ellies/Rubys/Alfies"

Oh yes, incredibly "brave"!

i was given a diminutive name in the late '60s when it was less common to do this.
the only issue i ever have is that some people presumptuously call me by the name for which my name is a common nickname and teachers especially had trouble accepting that the long version didnt appear on my birth certificate and wasnt my name...

a slight annoyance in this regard but otherwise its been fine.

How sad that many people don't name their children the names they like just in case it's too twee - there is far too many baby name threads with 'I would have named ds/dd Luna/Ptolemy/Gaylord but not brave enough' wtf? I don't care if my children are lawyers/doctors/bin men/actors as long as they are happy and confident. All 3 of my children have not so common twee names - the last dd being a Dottie and I get so many lovely comments on all of their names. All 3 have 2 middle names and if they do become a doctor and feel they're not taken seriously because of their name (doubt that would ever happen as we live in the 21st century) then there's always deed poll. Until then they just lap up all the comments and know that mummy was brave enough to give them names that stand out against the crowd of Jacks/Ellies/Rubys/Alfies

LilBlondPessimist

The professions are increasingly dominated by people with well-off backgrounds. This is not a good thing, but it is a thing:
www.bris.ac.uk/cmpo/publications/other/socialmobility.pdf

I wouldn't do it because these little names will be very dating in a few years ..slightly Stronger names like Gillian, Caroline, Harriet will be the next wave.

So only 'the most privileged groups' will be applying to study law/medicine etc? Or graduate in these subjects and be applying for jobs/placements? Really?

My name is Fredi.

Ends with an -y sound but no one thinks I'm ditzy or unprofessional.

They think I'm a man

Who knew Mumsnet had so many Katie Hopkins supporters?

I think people on this thread are just being deliberately obtuse. These cutsey names, whether you like them or not (they're certainly not to my taste) on a baby in 2013 will be common or garden on an adult in 2033. They will not even garner a raised eyebrow.

If people listened to advice on MN they would only call their daughters Harriet or Elizabeth, both of which I think are quite unattractive names. However, I would not give a fig if a doctor treating me was called Harriet, Elizabeth, Posy or Peaches Honey Tallulah Glitter Blossom, the fact would remain they're a qualified doctor and presumably they know what they're doing.

Take the stick out of your arses people, the world has changed. The snidey comments on this thread are quite depressing.

It's late (or indeed early) Lil brain fail is understandable!

*two fucks, sorry, brain fail.

Well I'm just grateful that no one discriminated against my 'twee' name, and the people I deal with never seem to give to fucks either, they're either just appreciative of the help or are going to fucking despise me anyway whether my name was Elizabeth, phoebe or rainbow.

Funnily enough, the only 'adverse' reaction I've had in rl to my sons name is to ask if its his real name or a nn. It's only on mumsnet that its scoffed at so much