'Chavvy' name.

I don't find Caleb remotely naff. Biblical sounds Shakespearean (I know it's not but was thinking of Caliban I think).

Not chavvy where I live. Prefer rafferty though anyway, it was on my list too.

I don't think Caleb is chavvy. Not that common around here - only know one and he's 11. On the other hand I think Rafferty is very 'try hard' - parents think they're being original but it is definitely getting popular.

I love Caleb and it's a name I would have chosen had me dds been boys.

I think it's really classy and I don't know any calebs.

Caleb is a good name. Where I am Rafferty would be more chavvy.

I don't know any Calebs (north) so has no connotations for me sounds a perfectly reasonable name, obviously biblical.

Rafferty sounds very posh to me.

Awandinmypocket I meant traveller

I love Caleb and don't know any Calebs, I wouldn't say it was chavvy but every name can be totally different for people. Some names are lovely but I hate them as I was bullied by people of that name, I loved the name Ruby till I came across a devil child with that name, same with others, lovely names but vile children lol x

My Rafferty is sat next to me right now. It suits him perfectly and we don't know any others. I think there were maybe 100 boys given that name the year he was born so it's uncommon without being unheard of. We chose it for deeply personal reasons but when I found the name meaning is 'the one who will prosper' I loved it even more.

Name preferences are personal. Calling names insulting or derogatory words like chav is just senseless. We just don't all like the same things, doesn't make anyone else's choice wrong or less valid than our own. I'd far rather my kids have a name that isn't universally loved but own that name by being a kind person, than be an unkind person with a name some faceless people on the internet consider to be acceptable.

OP, choose what you like, over time your child will just 'be' that name and you won't be able to imagine them called anything else regardless of whether it's a name that particularly suits whatever social class you nominally belong to.

So what if a tiny minority of people think it's a 'chavvy' name? They're snobby idiots, no?

I think cohen is a bizarre choice for an intelligent woman but I don't think that should stop her.

I only know non- chavvy Caleb as long as you don't stick a K in front of it, then it's lovely.

Caleb sounds ok to me, not keen on Rafferty, think of Baker Street sax solo

Naming a child is such a personal thing, whether 'posh' or 'chavvy' it's up to you and what you like not what other people think! My children have names that I like not what other people thought of them. My nephew is Kayden and I DO NOT think this is 'Chavvy' it's a lovely name for a beautiful boy... I suppose what I'm getting at is go with your gut and not what other people think if you like a name go for it it's up to you

I think Rafferty and Caleb are both lovely names. Any perceived connotations could change completely by the time your DS grows up anyway. Look what Viz did to Sharon and Tracey.

Interesting to learn about Cohen, I've known people with the surname but never heard it used as a forename.

Rafferty and Caleb are both not my cup of tea.

Please don't use the term ' chavvy'. It can be very offensive to some people.
You might not have used it in your op but you certainly put it in the title.

Did you mean to come across as someone who looks down your nose at the Irish?

Apologies if it sounded like that. It was early.

Surname as first names aren't posh, I was just defining its origin, no offence intended.

DressedCrab
Did you mean to come across as someone who looks down your nose at the Irish?

Do you like Hugo? I've got a Hugo and we thought it might split people and some would love it and others not but every single person we know/meet absolutely loves it!! Never had such positive responses to a name. The positivity took us by surprise as he's child number 3.

Can I just say...."chavvy" names come and go. Caleb is a Hebrew biblical name that has stood the test of time over thousands of years.
Elijah, Jude, Caleb, Kora, Joshua, Rueben etc have all stood the test of time.

Caleb is much nicer than Rafferty, which is a made up celebrity name. No one would be using it if Jude Law hadn't.

Much much prefer Caleb to Rafferty. It will be on my list if we have another boy. Really wouldn't care if people thought it was 'chavvy' (seriously are only William and Edward allowed now?!) as i know it's not but if you're worried about what people think then best not to go for it I guess.

Incidently I know a lot of middle class evangelical Christian types and it's very popular in those circles.