What are the upper classes calling their boys nowadays?

Maybe Falafel is a pet?

Isn't Benedictine an order of monks ( one of whom created the Benedictine drink) ?

SimonJT Benedictine is a drink. Benedicta is the feminine version of Benedict afaik.

Labna and Bimbi are totally normal names - just not English.

Labna is a variant spelling of Lubna, which is Arabic (obviously spelt and pronounced the same in Arabic, just different transliteration into roman script).

Bimbi is Indian, I’ve known two different middle aged male doctors with that first name.

I do agree that falafel is a bit unfortunate.

names tend to be rise in popularity initially through use by higher socioeconomic groups, and that the popularity then tends to ‘trickle’ down - hence the comment upthread about the non-posh Hugo and Sebastian

Ok, on that basis maybe these names could rise in popularity:

Hugo
Barnaby
Magnus
Quentin
Sebastian

Arabella
Antonia
Seraphina
Constance

It takes a certain degree of privilege to be able to claim that the class system is an outdated concept, or that it no longer exists. I assure you that the people who suffer most due to inequality in the UK are fully aware of the class system

^This. Very well put.

Well said

OP is perfectly correct - there’s a whole chapter in Freakonomics on names, which shows that names tend to be rise in popularity initially through use by higher socioeconomic groups, and that the popularity then tends to ‘trickle’ down - hence the comment upthread about the non-posh Hugo and Sebastian of one PP’s acquaintance. OP was trying to open a discussion on what might be the next wave of popular names, based on this rationale.

More broadly, however, of course there is a class system in the UK. Unfortunately on MN acknowledging the existence of a class system is conflated with believing that it is right. Wealth inequality is amongst the worst in Europe and social mobility is almost non-existent in some parts of the country.

It takes a certain degree of privilege to be able to claim that the class system is an outdated concept, or that it no longer exists. I assure you that the people who suffer most due to inequality in the UK are fully aware of the class system.

You're right about MM in the sense that I think the American concept of class doesnt quite fit with our own, but her dad had a very professional job and she reportedly had the very best education money could buy. Easily the equivalent of an upper MC british education. So not so sure where she fits in the spectrum of things. Never-the-less her traditional name works for her now considering where she is (and yes that is low and snobby)

I read Sophie went to an exclusive private school. Maybe I'm wrong

Sunflower 332 Carole Middleton moved up. Didn't she grow up in a council house or flat ? KingHenry'sCodpiece I don't think Sophie Rhys Jones was upper middle class. Meghan Markle isn't. I don't know about Mike Tindal, Autumn Phillips or Tim Lawerence.

Wow, Sessy, that's interesting. So how CAN someone move 'up' from the so called 'working class'?!

Going to university doesn’t ‘make’ any class, I went to university, even got a Masters fairly recently, and I most certainly would not consider myself to have climbed in class as a result. I’m still very completely working class, along with all my family. My great grandfather was a renowned consultant surgeon, he has a sea named after him. He’s still considered working class. Education has nothing to do with class.

But being poor doesn't make a person 'lower class'. Just as being rich makes you 'upper class'.

The whole concept is outdated and no longer relevant imo.

These Telegraph birth announcements are hilarious...I can’t work out if this one is era or not?

“
On 11th January 2019 to Katsiaryna (nee Kavalevich) and James, a daughter, Alexandra Eirene, sister to Minnie & Falafel, Labna & Bimbi and Othello & Ambrym.”

Falafel?? Laban? Bimbi?
I think I’ve seen it all now!

Surely Kate Middleton marrying Prince William, Meghan Markle marrying Prince Harry and Sophie Rhys Jones marrying Prince Edward threw a lot of the class thing out the window in Britain

Aren't they all very middle/upper middle class though?

None of them lived in a council house and went to the local comprehensive did they?. They have all benefited from a pretty exclusive education which enabled them to form networks and blend in the required circles to meet their future royal husbands.

When you're poor and struggling to afford a shop in Lidls, you know class is a very real thing and very aspirational for your children if not yourself, even whilst believing the concept is ethically shite. I find its very upper and MC people who go about denying class exists in a casual air of dismissal.

Aspiring for your children to cross classes you might decide on a name that fits in and facilitates access so to speak. Imagine if Sophie or Kate had been called Chardonnay or Chantal? Even Meghan received tuts over the less traditional spelling of her name.

I think that names like Sebastian and Arabella are now aspirational names for the working class.

Surely Kate Middleton marrying Prince William, Meghan Markle marrying Prince Harry and Sophie Rhys Jones marrying Prince Edward threw a lot of the class thing out the window in Britain ?

I love Allegra, Pandora, Constance, they're beautiful interesting names!

But I'm not 'posh' and certainly not trying to 'poshen up'

I like Digby and Marmaduke and Allegra was on our girls’ names list. Should I leave now?

Boys’ names:
Anything ending in o-
Jago, Sholto, Cosmo, Hugo

Girls’ names:
Vaguely out there names with classical roots -
Pandora, Calypso, Artemis

And some choose names because they make them sound posh. 🤷

those that aren't try to posh themselves up by going for more 'unusual' names.

I don't think that at all. I think most parents (me included) choose unusual names because they like them. Perhaps they've hated having a very popular name, perhaps they just like less popular names?

That's kind of the point Sunflower. The confidently posh use bog standard names, and those that aren't try to posh themselves up by going for more 'unusual' names.

In reply to a previous poster, i know a couple of adult Digbys and they are both lovely - one a very traditional old gent and the other in his early 30s and very much landed gentry. So not just for dogs! I do know a lot of dogs called Winston and Pearl, randomly

Of course it’s relevant - I look forward to the day it isn’t