Jayden

In 15 years, never had a Daniel, Peter or Victoria as a child's name in care proceedings.

Nor a Thomas, a Sophie, a Charlotte etc.

This may be due to fact that for a lot of the time I worked in inner London where there was considerably more diversity of population.

Had a lot of 'unique' names and a far amount of Jaydens/Kaidens etc.

And again, recognising and commenting on a fact that I have noticed, does not make me an apologist for the system that props up divisions between different groups of people, or think they are fantastic and should be encouraged. OR that I think everyone should aspire to be middle class.

But this is what I have seen. And clearly, I am not the only one who has the same reaction to the name.

I know a girl called Jayden too.

Is Jayden a boys name then? My dd has a lovely girl in her class with that name. I had never heard of it before

But I do think it is deeply sad and depressing that out of a list of ten names, I can tell you which ones are usually found in care proceedings and which ones never.

Daniel? Peter? Victoria? All quite MC names imo

Older Jaydens were probably the offspring of relatively unconventional parents, not of any particular class (but possibly star trek fans), but I think the popularity of the name has taken off since Britney Spears named one of her sons Jayden, so it has perhaps become associated with a certain kind of trashy celebrity style. And I agree that it will be very dated.

Of course not everyone fits the stereotype associated with their name, but people do have preconceptions which it might be easier not to have to deal with.

A friend of mine, my age (mid 40s), is called one of the Jayden-style names of the era, shall we say Tracey - but she could not be further from the stereotype (upper middle class family, brother went to Eton etc). However although she is British, neither of her parents were originally from the UK, so I wonder if they slightly misjudged the nuances of her name at the time. In any case I am pretty sure that if she were able to go back in time she would nudge her parents towards a different name choice.

I agree 'Jayden' does give one a picture in one's mind
I'm not saying it is accurate or fair but it is there

I am not saying anyone should be 'bothered' about appearing middle class.

But I do think it is deeply sad and depressing that out of a list of ten names, I can tell you which ones are usually found in care proceedings and which ones never.

I wish we as a species weren't so keen on putting ourselves into groups and judging one another. But it seems that we are and we do.

So when I am asked explicitly for my 'honest opinion' this is it. Funny how some people want to then leap to some quite startling conclusions.

Like the name Jayden think its cute.

And sorry, but I have NEVER met a middle class Jaidon, Jayden or Jaden.

All the middle class boys I have ever met over 40 years of my conscious existence have been called James, Thomas, Richard, Timothy, Oscar, William, Hugo etc, etc, etc.

Precisely

Yes indeed.

It is odd that I have had to say three or four times quite emphatically that because I believe something exists, doesn't mean I am waving pom pons and saying its all bloody marvellous.

I believe the more 'middle class' spelling is 'Jadon', which is a Biblical name.

This thread is strange. Anybody who reads 'Baby Names' threads knows that people do judge. Pointing this out is not the same as agreeing with it.

Agree with you Spero - emphatically

Holiday - the point is not that someone called Jayden can't be nice, middle class, the next US Secretary of State etc, etc.

The point i am making is that some people will judge him for being called Jayden. And judge him as someone lower down the socio-economic ladder than they are.

this isn't right, it isn't pretty and i wish it didn't happen. But I think it is naive to think it doesn't. So if the op had a choice, its something to think about. If she doesn't give a shit, then hurray.

But I suspect she is interested in what other people think because, er, she has asked a question on a public website frequented by many thousands if not millions of people.

I've got a Jayden.... Love the name ??

My son doesn't have a MC name. Because I'm not MC or pretending to be.
He does however behave as well as the MC children I nanny for and blend in at the stuck up toddler groups we frequent.
I do know a James and a Henry who make my son seem posh.

OP: would you consider Dewey or Hughie?

Sorry, couldn't resist

Go for Jaden/Jayden if you like the name

Dorsn't everyone's name date them?

The new trend for 'classic names' will be dating our dc in 15 or so years.

And some of the fancy new ones: Antigone, Persephone, Ptolomy. Classic in the classical sense, but they'll be the Clives/Franks/Deborahs of the future.

If we have another dc, they'll be called Aadvark, male or female.

er, out of curiosity, are these markers of Middleclassness?

Being a home-owner (but not too nice or tatty a home)?
Sending children to a small/medium size village school miles away rather than local big town school?
Sending children to Beavers & cubs?
Dressed & made up impeccably yet fashionably?
Choosing a homebirth & evangelising about how wonderful it was?
Breastfeeding?
Being a music teacher (secondary)?
Performing & recording live music (not grunge, more like easy listening)?
Home-edding because you find education system too target-driven & stifling of creativity?

I only mention those things because one of the Jaydens I know has parents who ticks those boxes. But still can't be a MC home, I guess...

If you really like J names how about Jordan, Jackson, Jonah, Jasper or Jonathan.

I have a Jayden (and a son with a K name, and son with one of the names HolidayCriminal cringes at!)

What can I say. I like the name. I liked the name 18 years ago when i first heard it (on Star Trek actually!) and 15 years ago when DS was born. He's a good lad, doing well at school. I hope he's left an impression on his teachers that Jayden's are good kids as he's one of the oldest ones around here.

I'm not bothered about the name dating him. My name dates me, as do most of my friends (endless Sarahs, Claires and Tracys) and so does DHs name. It's never bothered me, it's not something I've ever thought about.

EatShitJesus your Spanish cousin

I never seem to like J starting names (including my own!) And think that Louie is a lovely name and just that it doesnt sit right next to Jayden.

Are there any other names on your shortlist?