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Baby names

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

Original poster

Class neutral boy's names?

31 replies

jollygoodfun23 · 22/08/2018 14:17

I am 'posh' and my other half isn't. He is vetoing any names that he thinks will have a boy beaten up in Hull (where we live) which rules out the types of names most of my London friends have gone for, e.g. Monty, Peregrin, Hector. I don't like anything that sounds too ordinary and we both agree that creative spellings are out. The names we agree on are ones like Jack and Harry but they are so popular that there are bound to be at least 4 others in his class. Help! Inspiration needed :-)

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Original poster
jollygoodfun23 · 22/08/2018 21:33

Ok Hymers it is Wink

OP posts:
grafittiartist · 22/08/2018 19:28

Definitely do not call him Brian (from Hull)!
Hymers 😁

MargaretDribble · 22/08/2018 16:25

Oh so that's what you mean by posh. DD taught in Hull and East Riding and the students called her posh, but only because she said Barth and Parth.
I suggest you call your baby Hymer Wink

Original poster
jollygoodfun23 · 22/08/2018 16:22

Great points and comments all, thanks! OH is Hull born and bred - thinking about his 'beating up' comment now, I think it's probably just his way of saying that he doesn't like the types of names that my family and friends go for! And when I say I'm 'posh' I guess it's just because that's the way I'm used to being described up here (because I'm Southern and public school). Although I also work with children - one of my classes recently asked me "Miss, are you posh?"
"It depends on what you mean by 'posh'" I replied.
"Well do you live in Hull, or do you live in one of those fancy places like Beverley or Kirkella?"
"I live in Hull"
"Oh well, you're not posh then".
They're probably right Grin

OP posts:
Sessy19 · 22/08/2018 16:20

There’s no way Liam would be classed as class neutral!!

ivenoideawhatimdoing · 22/08/2018 16:06

Jack
George
Charlie
Harry
Tom
Jacob/Jake
Max
Archie
Elliot
Alex
Carl
James/Jimmy/Jamie
Robbie
Zach
Christopher
Nicholas
Daniel
Henry

SleepFreeZone · 22/08/2018 15:55

Jack is definitely popular so I think you’re right to avoid, however you might pick an unusual name and find there’s three others in the class. So personally I would just pick something you both like.

AsAProfessionalFekko · 22/08/2018 15:53

Well they did in my day (thanks mum and dad).

pipilangstrumpf · 22/08/2018 15:52

Also, what makes you 'posh' op? Confused

Genuine question btw because I can't see how that would matter..?

pipilangstrumpf · 22/08/2018 15:51

Do kids really get beaten up or teased for their names?

In my experience kids are pretty open minded and accepting.

The only names I've heard teased are silly names like Will -> Willy or Benedict-> Bendy Dick etc, but kids don't care about other aspects of names in my experience.

Quangot · 22/08/2018 15:45

George
Samuel
Nathaniel
Austin
Ethan
Aidan
Gregor
Alexander
Zachary
Eli
Lewis
Adam

CloudPop · 22/08/2018 15:42

Adam

MargaretDribble · 22/08/2018 15:42

Jonathan
James
Thomas
Michael
Samuel
Benjamin
Peter
William (Bill)

alohaberry · 22/08/2018 15:35

In my experience Hull is a really warm and tolerant place and this begins in childhood. I know three very down to earth kids from Hull, who have unusual (gorgeous!) French names and have never had any gip! That said, the name James transcends class and is timeless so go with that!

Racecardriver · 22/08/2018 15:28

There is no such thing as a class neutral unusual name. Stick to your standard James, John and whatnot. Richard is quite nice.

StoatofDisarray · 22/08/2018 15:25

As soon as he opens his mouth, people will assume his class, so it's a bit of a lost cause, IMO!

grafittiartist · 22/08/2018 15:23

Oh, and avoid Hannah/ Anna- no one has any idea which is which!!

grafittiartist · 22/08/2018 15:21

Hi op- also in Hull, also posh! No advice on the name, but I would strongly recommend shouting any possible names in your strongest Hull accent! I crossed a few of the list after this!
Would echo what your hand says- my kids friends have a whole range of names. Nothing typical or stereotyped. Good luck!

YourHandInMyHand · 22/08/2018 15:10

Grin At names that won't get him beaten up in Hull. I live in Hull too and honestly don't think I've ever known of anyone getting beaten up for their "posh" (or even just odd) name. Grin I agree though that there are currently a sea of Jacks and Harrys, along with Avas and Islas.

Names are SO hard though. I'm expecting too and cannot think of many at all that I actively love, and those I do have already been bagged by friends or family. I've also worked with children for the 17 years and so I tend to hear a child's name and picture a child I've worked with. Good luck!

Original poster
jollygoodfun23 · 22/08/2018 15:06

Wow! Did not expect so many replies so quickly. Thank you all! Haha LethalLola - knew someone would say that as I was writing but it's a useful shorthand. And thank you WingMirrorSpider - I expect I am getting far too hung up on popularity. Sensible royal names may well be the way forward (no Ethelreds then!)

OP posts:
LeeMiller · 22/08/2018 15:01

Frederick or Alfred Known as Fred(die)

FairfaxAikman · 22/08/2018 14:54

Andrew
Thomas
James
William

LeeMiller · 22/08/2018 14:46

Classic names like Biblical and royal names are often class neutral (the diminutives sometimes less so).

James
George
Joseph
Daniel
Henry
William
Edward
David
Johnathon/John
Samuel/Sam
Thomas
Christopher/Kit
Patrick
Max
Arthur
Albert
Zachary/Zacharius
Seth
Benjamin
Leo
Edmund
Victor
Rory
Francis/Frank
Barnaby/Barney
Dominic
Owen
Nathanial

AsAProfessionalFekko · 22/08/2018 14:43

Go for a (sensible) royal name then - George, Edward, Henry/Harry, John, William... Harthacanut probably won't work though.

orangeicecream · 22/08/2018 14:39

I wanted classless names. Here we're my lists...my kids' names are included:

Katie
Charlotte
Emma
Olivia
Emily

James
Zachary
Finley
William
Daniel

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