Working class names

Really interesting thread.
Those who say ‘working class don’t have working class names’ probably aren’t hearing the strong class association of the names. This country is obsessed with class & with names, far more than most other countries.

I’d like to see the class links broken personally as I think it’s very unfair for children to have such prominent labelling & evidence shows they get treated differently & offered fewer opportunities all through their lives. Not right at all!

The sorts of names that sound very much as though the background is not middle class - Tyler / Connor / Jayden / Maddison / McKenzie / anything hyphenated / anything with odd spellings / anything that’s not a name Archie / Alfie etc

I think a lot of names do have very strong class associations but others span the categories. For example I think an Emma could be of any background.

So if you want a class-less name then there are lots - but why shouldn’t you use Evangeline or Juliet? Yes they do sound very firmly middle/upper class but that’s unlikely to cause them any disadvantage in life is it? Sadly it’s the other way round for children in reality. I’d love to see the barriers broken down - maybe Meghan and Harry are leading the way!

I read somewhere once that the way to tell if a name is "posh" or not is to try it with Queen or King. If it just doesn't cut it as a plausible monarch then it's not posh.

Most WC people don't name their children 'chavvy' names because most people are WC.
We are the largest demographic so we have the largest variety of given names.
Stay away from try hard Ptolemy, Tarquin, Candida, Arabella et al and you will not call any attention to yourself or your DC

There aren’t any working class names. Only chavvy or respectable names. You don’t have to use a chavvy name just because you’re working class. Classic Biblical names are always a good choice because they’re so generic and used by everyone.

Sienna
Rio
Lillie
Poppy
Hugo

More WC children I know;
Ava
Jake
Thomas
Carly
Louis
Ebony
Anna
Charlotte
Jensen
Lenny
Callum
Lewis
Joseph
Orla
Millie
Petra
Domimic
Declan
Sadie
James
Padraig
Keiran
Shea
Charlie
Michael

Any name which rises too quickly in popularity can be considered not posh.

Sorry forgot to name my own WC children;
Eden
Sylvie
Reuben
Delilah
Raphael.
HTH

Jacob
Bobby
Olivia
Macey
Amelia
Aimee
Alexis
Cody
Taylor
Ellie
Mia
Jade
Jodie
Jaimee-Leigh
Jamie
Dylan
Mollie
Jack
Josh
Ben
Jaden
Gracie
Willow
Ivy
Robyn
Troy
Harmony
Evie

I am WC and have just named all of my friends' children, who are also WC. HTH.

Ruby Mae
Ella Mae
Rosie Mae
.....

Use whatever name you want people have an opinion on everything I would just ignore those sort of comments

Anyone should be able to call their kids whatever they want! A person's character, attitude or 'class' is not going to change because of their name!

Anything hyphenated is working class. Or for a girl ends in "ee" sound and for boys Jayden/Hayden/Aiden.

Jayden
Kayden
Kai
Mason
Demi-Leigh
Lexi-Mai
Shannay
Chardonnay

All of these are cliches but I’ve taught several of each (including 4 Chardonnays with various spellings and a Maison pronounced as Mason). I consider myself working class but don’t particularly like any of these names. But then I also hate Peter, Sebastian, Charlotte and Beatrice.

I think most names are fairly cross-class.

But there are certainly plenty of names that most people would automatically associate with either the middle or the upper classes. That doesn't mean those names don't ever cross the class divide - just that they're less likely to.

Most of us could write you a list of stereotypically working class names - but nobody will because it would be offensive and unnecessary.

I think some class-less names well used by everyone are:

Amy, Charlotte, Chloe, Daisy, Emma, Ellie, Evie, Grace, Hannah, Holly, Isabel, Jessica, Jasmine, Katie, Lily, Lucy, Matilda, Mia, Olivia, Phoebe, Poppy, Ruby, Rosie, Sophie, Sophia, Tilly, Zoe

Alfie, Archie, Ben, Charlie, Daniel, Ethan, Finn, Harry, Isaac, Joshua, Joseph, Jack, Lucas, Micah, Noah, Oscar, Owen, Oliver, Reuben, Sam, Thomas, William, Zach

Pick whatever names you like and screw anyone who casts weird aspersions about class over them! I love Juliet especially - would be one of my top choices but it doesn’t work at all well with my surname.

I think those fancy type middle/upper class are the names you see in The Telegraph birth notices - Humphrey, Cressida etc

I don't think Juliet or Evangeline are posh either. I know a really working class child called Patience which I'd also say was classic rather than posh.

I didn't say i wasn't working class Passthecherrycoke
That would just be my perception if I was to see a name spelt as described, just as I would expect an Araminta or Montgomery to be middle class

As long as you don’t pick a name and then try and make the spelling ‘original’. Something like Grace but spelled Grayce. It makes you look illiterate and dooms the child to a lifetime of having to spell out their name to everyone.

Your boys list is a lot more stereotypically working class then your girls list I think but I would just use the name you want

I think some names or more classic and some are middle class try hard, but it's a fine line. You have to think why you like the name and really be honest with yourself. If the answer is: "because it sounds posh," then probably best not to go for it.

Use a name you like OP. There are many many little boys called Archie, from working class families. Also Prince Harry and Meghans son.

Just pretend you’re middle class instead OP, that’s what most of MN does

I second this lol.