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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Chloe- classic & traditional vs "chavvy"?!

83 replies

TurquoiseDress · 22/07/2018 13:50

Baby is due very soon, Chloe is one of several names that we really like and are trying to make a final decision very soon.

I have always thought of Chloe as being a solid, classic, traditional name...I've known a few over the years, they have always been well educated, generally great women.

One Chloe I still know is French, I love the way it is pronounced over in France.

Have been reading quite a few comments saying that the name Chloe has become "chavvy" (I really hate this word) and much more "common" in recent years.

What do others think of the name Chloe?
Do my observations above ring true?

It wouldn't stop us using the name but I am keen to find out why it seems to have chavvy connotations in recent years.

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LionAllMessy · 23/07/2018 18:11

It was number 1 from 1997–2002, so there will be an awful lot of 15-20 year olds called Chloe right now.

I don't think it's common, though. Just universally popular, much like Olivia is today. They have to be really, to be number 1 for so long,.

OlennasWimple · 23/07/2018 18:10

It's pretty, classic and a nice change from all the girls names that end in A that are so popular at the moment

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 23/07/2018 18:09

Chloe is pretty but was popular in the 90's, todays versions are Lexie, Sienna, Hallie, type thing.

TheDowagerCuntess · 23/07/2018 18:07

It is very sheep-like to characterise a name as 'dated' just because it was very popular in the 80s

What...?

How / why is it 'sheep-like' to categorise a name as dated ? Confused

If a name was especially popular at a certain point in time, and now isn't being used anywhere as much - it becomes associated with that era. Ergo, it becomes dated. That's just the way it is - it happens to names, clothes, hairstyles, decor, art, architecture, you name it.

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 23/07/2018 18:06

I like Chloe and despite it being in the top 10 for much of 90s/00s, I have met very few IRL

I wouldn't class it as 'chavvy' and the ones I have come across certainly don't fall into that category

I would put it in the same category as Emily/Sophie/Amy, in the sense that it's a 'classic' name but the majority with the name are under 35

MariaMadita · 23/07/2018 17:57

It's just really dated imo.

Tarlu · 23/07/2018 17:12

Any name that's popular is going to have been chosen by people at the lower end of the socio economic spectrum as well as those at the top of it.

I don't think it is a 'chav' name as it has been around forever, it's not like a new name that came out of nowhere. It's a proper name. I like it, use it, don't mess with the spelling. It's not chavvy at all. My child isn't called Chloe by the way! But her name has been described as both boring and too frilly on here so I think there is no jury more critical than mumsnet.

slovenlys · 23/07/2018 17:11

Be warned. Once she hits 16 she may start demanding Chloe handbags.

bridgetreilly · 23/07/2018 17:08

Chloe is fine. Khloe, obviously, is awful.

slovenlys · 23/07/2018 17:07

I think it's very nice.

Chloé the French way, Chloë the German (maybe) way or Chloe the English way. They are all lovely. And great meaning also. Certainly don't think it's chavvy.

All the Chloes I know are blonde, lovely and v smart actually!

MikeUniformMike · 23/07/2018 17:01

Pemba, it's the sheep like naming that leads to a name being dated.
How many Sarah, Claire, Louise and Rebecca babies do you know? Or Amanda, Debbie, Karen and Nicola? Or Susan, Linda, Gillian and Tracey?
Several of those are classical, saint or biblical names but they're just not trendy these days.

QueenOfMyWorld · 23/07/2018 16:10

My dniece 7 is called chloe,yes it's popular but still pretty imo

Pemba · 23/07/2018 16:09

It is very sheep-like to characterise a name as 'dated' just because it was very popular in the 80s, or 'chavvy' just because people from lower socio-economic groups liked it and used it, as well as everyone else. The horror!

A name that you could perhaps legitimately call chavvy would be something made up, with yoonique spelling. Amber-Blu or something like that. Chloe is a classic name with Greek origins, etc. I like it a lot, along with Zoe.

rainbowstardrops · 23/07/2018 16:05

It wouldn't occur to me that it's 'chavvy'. I can't actually think what's chavvy about it???
I think it's really pretty.
I work in a school and one Chloe has just left the junior school and another has just left the infant's so it's not overly common around here either.

user1494055864 · 23/07/2018 16:04

I think it's a beautiful, timeless name - although I did name my pet cat Chloe in the 90's Blush

dancingunicorns123 · 23/07/2018 16:00

Very chavvy in my area

Original poster
TurquoiseDress · 22/07/2018 20:41

Thanks for thoughts & opinions!

Interesting that there is an 80s/90s vibe about the name Chloe.

The other similar names mentioned- like Hannah, Sarah, Katie, Jessica- reminds me of the names I encountered at primary/secondary school back in the 90s!

It's funny, I've never ever thought of Chloe as a "chav" sort of name, I am just intrigued where it's all come from!

There are many other names I would put in that category before something like Chloe.

OP posts:
Srilli · 22/07/2018 19:00

I think it’s pretty. Not as boring as Hannah, Jessica, Katie, Sarah

LeeMiller · 22/07/2018 18:56

I think it's pretty and fairly classic.

Belindabauer · 22/07/2018 16:28

I don't see it as either classic or chavvy.

TempleOfBlooms · 22/07/2018 16:11

Lovely name but a little dated. A bit like Claire, Melanie, Louise, Emma or Katie. All lovely names but remind me of the 80s and 90s.

daisypond · 22/07/2018 16:07

Classic and rather high-end to me. The ones I know are in their early-mid 20s - all from somewhat rich backgrounds - all boarding and private school educated.

Plural · 22/07/2018 14:30

I wouldn't automatically think chavvy or dated but that probably because I know a Chloe who is 5

AtticaRose · 22/07/2018 14:28

I don't find it chavvy at all. I think it maybe peaked in the 80s-90s, and is now slightly less popular, but that's no bad thing.

It's a lovely name, with cool Ancient Greek roots! And like you, I've only known great Chloes.

MikeUniformMike · 22/07/2018 14:27

It is still very popular. It is a name that in the 1980s I'd only seen on a bottle of perfume, seemed very pretty. I now many Chloes and it seems a bit overused and not particularly classy.
It's still in the top 25 so there will be an awful lot of Chloes around.

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