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Baby names

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Original poster

Shakespearean names... too poncey?

43 replies

Musidora · 25/08/2015 14:50

I really like these Shakespearean names for future DD, but are they, well... too poncey? Interested in people's opinions.

  • Lavinia
  • Marina
  • Ophelia
  • Octavia
  • Cressida
  • Cassandra
  • Viola
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HackerFucker22 · 30/08/2015 11:24

I have a Shakespearean named DD and one of my current favourite girls names is also a Shakespearean name.

Original poster
Musidora · 30/08/2015 11:16

reuset - I already know that I like them, so don't feel that they're too poncey 'for me'. I was wondering what impression they would give to others. I know that's not the most important thing when choosing a name but it is a consideration. This has been helpful, thanks all!

OP posts:
reuset · 30/08/2015 02:10

Actually, I think if you have to ask, or feel you have to ask, then they probably are.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 29/08/2015 22:10

My uncle was an English Lit teacher. Each of his 4 children had a Shakespearean name. Including a Benedick...

Squooshed · 29/08/2015 22:06

Rodney Trotter has ruined the name Cassandra sadly.

Allthatnonsense · 29/08/2015 21:44

Girls names yes, most are beautiful. Boys names are tricky, I overheard parents calling to"Lysander" at the weekend. He didn't suit his name, it sounded very try-hard and made me cringe inside.

horsewalksintoabar · 29/08/2015 17:42

Not at all! I always wanted to name a daughter Ophelia, but DH wouldn't 'ave it! Grin It is one of my favourite names. And for a boy Orlando.

reuset · 29/08/2015 17:37
  • normal as in mainstream
reuset · 29/08/2015 17:37

Cassandra is pretty normal. But as to 'are they too poncey for you?' I simply wouldn't know as I don't know anything about you.

SniffsAndSneezes · 29/08/2015 17:28

I love Ophelia, got it earmarked for potential future DD2, Hamlet nut job associations and 'feel ya' jokes be damned!

Sgtmajormummy · 27/08/2015 08:20

I could imagine a lady lawyer choosing Portia for her daughter. Now THAT would be poncey... Grin

NinjaLeprechaun · 27/08/2015 08:14

If you want a "Shakespearean" boy name, you could always just go with William. I'm also personally a bit partial to Orlando.

I like Cassandra best of the names in your OP.

howtorebuild · 27/08/2015 00:11

Cassandra was never believed.

EcclefechanTart · 27/08/2015 00:06

What about Perdita? I like that too.

Original poster
Musidora · 27/08/2015 00:00

Ooh thanks all! Think I may be leaning towards Cressida/Octavia... and for a boy will have to persuade DP to think outside of Shakespeare! (I like Sebastian think there may be quite a lot of them over the next few years.)

OP posts:
LibrariesGaveUsP0wer · 26/08/2015 13:53

I don't like Marina - too many boat jokes. And Cassandra is still Only Fools and Horses or mythology for me. The others are lovely.

Cornberry · 26/08/2015 09:57

Ophelia is beautiful. Was on my shortlist.

StevieJo · 26/08/2015 04:26

I love Shakespearean names, my favourite from your list is Cassandra, as for boys names I have Othello, Octavius and Romeo on my middle name list. Henry, Lysander and Sebastian are other suggestions.

Northernlurker · 25/08/2015 23:23

Benedict and Sebastian are the best of the boy's names I think. Girls have a lot more possibilities. Mind you we all laughed mightily didn't we when Posh and Becks went for Romeo and that's almost grown on me now.

Ladypug · 25/08/2015 22:28

How about Jessica? It's a bit more classic than the others but I think Shakespeare invented it in Merchant of Venice

RainbowInACloud · 25/08/2015 19:48

Sorry- I realise that message was super difficult to read. I was struggling with the punctuation buttons on the phone.

RainbowInACloud · 25/08/2015 19:47

My name is Cressida and I LOVE it! Although people always pronounce it cress seed a rather than cress i da it means 'infidelity' from the Shakespeare days and originally 'golden hair' from the Greek and Chaucer days (I think- happy to be corrected if I'm wrong)
I'm neither btw- have black hair and definitely faithful!

Bogburglar99 · 25/08/2015 19:47

Boys names tricky aren't they - I don't think the comedy men have the appeal of the heroines, and the tragedies are more complex (agree baby Othello or Hamlet sounds a bit odd!)

Benedict (regularised spelling!) would be a temptation. Ferdinand? Sebastian?

Florizel? I have a soft spot for that, probably a good job DH didn't Smile

Berowne?

ALickAndAPromise · 25/08/2015 19:43

If I thought we could have pulled it off, I've always loved Hero (Much Ado).

ClusterFuckUp · 25/08/2015 19:41

I love Cressida
I know an Octavia and I just think skoda Blush