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Original poster

Is Tarquin a real name?

109 replies

littlepetit · 18/01/2022 16:25

I always hear ‘tarquin’ as a bit of a joke ‘posh’ name but thinking about it I have NEVER met or encountered a single tarquin or even heard of any friends-of-friends-of-friends called tarquin.

Is it actually a real given name or a myth?

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Calliopespa · 07/10/2026 18:47

Calliopespa · 07/10/2026 18:44

I think generations of children have studied this at school and asked themselves why they don't remember anything about the Sinjin character the teacher is discussing!😯

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I remember this when I was about 12. The teacher asked one girl a series of questions that involved him and in response to each one came a blank look or a "dunno."

Finally, when the teacher gave the answer the girl exclaimed "Oh, are you meaning Saint John?!"

Calliopespa · 07/10/2026 18:44

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 18/01/2022 22:49

I read a book that featured a St John when I was Very Young

Jane Eyre?

I think generations of children have studied this at school and asked themselves why they don't remember anything about the Sinjin character the teacher is discussing!😯

Calliopespa · 07/10/2026 16:45

SeaKingdom · 18/01/2022 16:42

I have known one in the Biblical sense.

Was he superbus?

Helenbelena · 07/10/2026 16:17

It’s as much a ‘real’ name as you s Tobias, Theodore or Tristan. It’s actually a very old name.

HugoThatway · 07/10/2026 15:22

Sockpile · 18/01/2022 16:40

According to this article no babies have been named Tarquin in the UK in the last 10 years.

That's not a reliable source. Tarquin is still in use. Baby name explorer

Srettel · 07/10/2026 15:12

There's a Saint Tarquin.

Helenbelena · 07/10/2026 14:37

I knew a Tarquin at Uni. He was actually a really nice and sporty guy.

I’ve not met any since. Other than baby Tarquin in The Gentlemen.

poopoolaroo62 · 07/10/2026 11:30

I came here because of baby Tarquin in The Gentlemen.

peaceinourtime · 20/03/2023 00:08

Sheridan from Keeping Up Appearance's 'Friend' who is mother seemed to love that her son had a 'friend' with a posh upper-class name.

caringcarer · 19/03/2023 14:17

I know an adult Tarquin, we call him Quinn and I did not realise his real name was Tarquin for a couple of years. I also know an adult Tristan. Both nice people and actually not too posh but both do have posh parents.

Riapia · 19/03/2023 14:09

Was Tarka the otter’s name Tarquin?

Tarka just a nickname.

Riverlee · 19/03/2023 14:06

There was a Tarquin in the town I grew up. He was a few years older than me. I remember the name because he went missing and was found by the local sports centre.

Phinneas will become more popular now, as Billy Eilish’s brother, also a singer and producer, is called Phinneas/Finneas.

In Schmigadoon, Alun Cummings plays Aloysius Menlove, the mayor. Aloysius deserves a revival (and just realised what his surname was - if you watch this you’ll get the joke).

Riverlee · 19/03/2023 14:00

TheShellBeach · 19/03/2023 13:34

I know a woman who went out with a bloke called Hereward.
A few months after they split up she started going out with another bloke - whose name was also Hereward.
I mean, what are the chances?

How are? My son was at school with a Hereward, aged around twenty two now.

AmberGer · 19/03/2023 13:56

Definitely a real name.
I have never met one but if I did, I'd imagine him to be late teens, dark floppy haired surfer from Australia with a goatee 😆

MyGrandmaLizzie · 19/03/2023 13:53

Went to school with a St John (double barrel surname too). He was quite posh but not as posh as the Viscount's son in the year above.
Doesn't use both parts of his surname now. He's late 50s.

AlwaysGinPlease · 19/03/2023 13:51

I worked with a Tarquin many years ago. He was a pompous twat.

TheShellBeach · 19/03/2023 13:43

I was at school with a Simeon, whose brothers were Pyramus and Tobias.

TheShellBeach · 19/03/2023 13:41

SertralineAndTherapy · 19/03/2023 13:37

Was that a wake-up call for her?

Show quote history

It took me a couple of minutes to work out what you were getting at there.
Grin

SertralineAndTherapy · 19/03/2023 13:37

TheShellBeach · 19/03/2023 13:34

I know a woman who went out with a bloke called Hereward.
A few months after they split up she started going out with another bloke - whose name was also Hereward.
I mean, what are the chances?

Was that a wake-up call for her?

TheShellBeach · 19/03/2023 13:34

I know a woman who went out with a bloke called Hereward.
A few months after they split up she started going out with another bloke - whose name was also Hereward.
I mean, what are the chances?

Inkypot · 19/03/2023 13:11

Sockpile · 18/01/2022 16:40

According to this article no babies have been named Tarquin in the UK in the last 10 years.

Perfect for the people who want an unusual unique name!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 19/03/2023 13:10

Tudor is a Welsh name, isn't it?

On the subject of unusual names, I once met a woman called Innogen. She was clearly utterly fed up with explaining why her parents had saddled her with a name that was going to be read/heard as Imogen nine times out of ten. I think the explanation was something to do with Imogen in Cymbeline being a mis-spelling of Innogen, which is a very old name. Fascinating, but tiresome for her.

Berlinlover · 19/03/2023 12:58

I worked with someone called Tudor years ago.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 19/03/2023 12:57

I know a Tarquin: very nice and very posh and very titled.

rattlinbog · 19/03/2023 12:56

@SertralineAndTherapy a good while ago!

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