Pretentious names?

'I think, as others have said, this says more about you than the parents who chose a lovely name for their daughter'

I think that is what people are saying, they would feel silly calling Ptolemy/Persephone in for tea. Not that Ptolemy or Persephone are silly people.

I don't see the big deal about finding a name too fancy-shmancy. It doesn't make you a bad person if you decide that you would never in a million years call your child Peregrine.

I have two DSs:
Aadvark, 3.5
Barnaby, 2.1

So I shall kepp my opinions well to myself

"I would feel ridiculous calling Persephone in for tea."

Really? I would love to call a little Sephie in for tea. I find Persephone a beautiful name and is it really that different from Isabella, Penelope or Florence (or any other girls name)?

I think, as others have said, this says more about you than the parents who chose a lovely name for their daughter (imo).

Eyeliner - kind of like girls named Malena or Candida?

DrFunkes do you have a Goneril? Or even a Bottom or an Elbow?

I tend to judge the parents for pretentious sounding names, when they're making the children stick out more and it does smack of "oh look at us aren't we clever". I also tend to judge very "chav" sounding names.

However, this is an instinctive reaction, I do overcome that and tell myself not to be so silly! I'd also never treat a child differently because of the names the parents lumber the kids with.

I really wanted a Percival, Cosmo or Lancelot.
Being from council house stock and living in a terribly non grand flat id feel like a bit of a plonker if I had. Still love the names just not very 'us'....so I did the common thing of naming ours after Shakespeare characters it's cultural Innit.

They're all perfectly nice names, but honestly I would feel ridiculous calling Persephone in for tea.

I live in a very diverse area, and as a childminder, I've heard every possible name, and each child has been a delight to look after!

It's a bit sad and insulting to judge a child by their name. I know traditionally you would find certain names within upper classes/royalty, but I would hope now in 2014, we are passed that.

As I've already said, if you like a name, use it. I'm pregnant with #1 and I can't wait to name s/he!

That shows how subjective these things are. I would have said Archie was much posher than Hugo

How sad that you'd find it so ridiculous if an Archie(bald) was friends with a little Hugo. Or a little Sephie or Bella! What sort of area do you live in? I hope you don't pass those views on to your children.

But Archie used to be posh too - I thought it still was!

There are lots of perfectly nice names that I wouldn't use as they'd sound ridiculous where I live - Persephone, Rupert, Arabella, Hugo. Great names for someone but can't imagine them kicking a football in the street with Archie and Liam

There are a lot of 'upper class' names that I've only heard of through reading them on here...Jocasta, Araminta(sp?), Ptolemy..

Literally have never heard of them (and am not entirely sure how to pronounce them)!

I don't think I've ever thought of a name as posh before, I'd judge that more by the accent of the person called it.

If I heard one of the names I mentioned above I would think posh but not sure if I would have before having read about them being posh. Sorry I'm a bit rambly there but hopefully you get my drift!

EyelinerQueen - I was beginning to think I was alone, in thinking that about Amelia (and the birth defect).

Then how come people don't name kids Hades or the names of villains in stories?

Because a story doesn't make a name?

I don't necessarily think any names are pretentious but I wouldn't use certain names like Ottilie, Rafferty etc as they don't reflect who we are, all names have connotations, I'd also be mindful of "chavvy" names even if I liked them

I think that about standard names too though expat. Look how popular Amelia is and it's a birth defect .

Anyway, I too would feel a right arse shouting after Ptolemy in the park. No chance. I like good old fashioned down to earth names. Nothing that'll make other folk snigger when they hear me calling it!

Persephone, too, kidnapped by The Lord of the Underworld and forced to spend three months of every year in the world of the dead just because she nibbled a few pomegranate seeds. WTF.

I never understood why anyone would want to name their child after a horrendously tragic figure. Jocasta poking out her eyes. Tristan, his mother loved his father far more than he loved her, he married her to avoid a fight with her brother and she died having Tristan, hence the name. Then he had a shitty life and died young. Why would you want your child called tap after that.

I was in big trouble a while ago for saying Persephone was too posh. Ptolemy the same. It just makes a statement.

I would feel like a chump calling after Ptolemy in the park.

See, I love Tristan, but not because it may or may not be 'posh'. I just love the sound - I just love beautiful names . I wonder why some of you have a problem with that and feel the need to 'judge' or call us or our kids' names pretentious.

Utah, on the other hand, is rather ugly, regardless if you find it posh or pretentious!

I find it very strange when people make judgements on others for their name choices.

It's a bit silly to me. I'm from a very English, working class, midlands based family. The names I love vary from traditional, modern, and plain made up!

If you love a name use it, and if you're worried about people being nasty, just don't tell them until baby arrives, their judgements will soon fly out the window when they see how beautiful the baby is! X