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Baby names

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Original poster

What's happened to boys' names?

84 replies

maxnhobnobs · 12/03/2022 12:08

Last night I was at a high school reunion with friends I've not seen for about 20 years. Most already have kids (I'm expecting my 1st, have prioristised career over settling down lol).
Hearing the names of some of their sons made me feel really out of touch with the times: Kayden, Jayden, Kai, Kian, Storm. They were suggesting names for my DS (due in May) but I said I've already picked a name I'm happy with. One friend was like 'Jordan-Jayden', another was like 'Kayden-Kai'. I feel like a snob but they all sounds like names from benefits Britain. Friends were saying my choice (Ben) is too boring. Is it really?

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Deadringer · 14/03/2022 16:03

Isn't Ben short for Benefits? Wink

MissNothing1991 · 14/03/2022 15:57

I'm not surprised you've disappeared OP. didn't quite go how you planned?

Nikolaus · 14/03/2022 09:19

YANBU to call your son Ben but TANBU to call their sons Kayden.

YABU to be so snobby about these names.

PinkNails1 · 14/03/2022 09:12

I think Ben is an incredibly boring name. However, I’m not keen on the Jenson/Jackson/Mason/Kayden trend either.

demoness · 14/03/2022 08:56

What's happened to boys' names? Back in the day, many (if not most) boys were named after family members. This ensured names like John and Robert remained popular. Nowadays, there isn't same pressure to name boys after their Dad/Grandpa so boys' names are driven more by fashion than tradition (as has been the case for girls' names for some time). That opened the floodgates for names like Jayden (a previously unknown name that was made familiar by several celebrity babies) and Kayden (which is much of the same).

Personally, I like Benjamin but I'm not a fan of Ben as a standalone name. And I think your friends must have been pulling your leg if they were actually suggesting Jordan-Jayden.

Baaaa · 14/03/2022 06:35

@Londoncallingtothefarawaytowns

They are trash names. They are. I love Ben. My son has a hard to spell, but traditional name and everyone complains about it which does my head in, as he'll likely be a school with a bunch of made up or made up spelling names.
That's such a nasty comment. People need to check their prejudice and stop judging people by their names. They didn't choose their name.
DoucheCanoe · 13/03/2022 16:55

This sounds like it could be the sequel to Romy and Michelle's highschool reunion - are you really SO insecure that you need to try and make yourself look better to a bunch of people that you probably haven't spoken more than a friendly greeting to in 20 years?

They like their names, you like yours, does it really matter what either of you think of each others?

A name doesn't shape a child, the parents attitude does. I'd be more concerned about sorting that if I were you

Londoncallingtothefarawaytowns · 13/03/2022 16:37

They are trash names. They are.
I love Ben.
My son has a hard to spell, but traditional name and everyone complains about it which does my head in, as he'll likely be a school with a bunch of made up or made up spelling names.

Phormiumjester · 13/03/2022 16:36

@Snowbell99

How is Kai not acceptable? It's an old German and Scandinavian name with lots of history. People who think it's made up are maybe not very knowledgeable about other cultures? Would anyone say this about Ragnar? These are such old names.
I think Wayne Rooney is to blame for that. The name catapulted into the stratosphere after he used it. And won itself a MN "chav badge"
merryhouse · 13/03/2022 16:33

One friend was like 'Jordan-Jayden', another was like 'Kayden-Kai'

anyone else suspect these friends caught on to OP's attitude and were winding her up?

Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 11:42

How is Kai not acceptable? It's an old German and Scandinavian name with lots of history. People who think it's made up are maybe not very knowledgeable about other cultures? Would anyone say this about Ragnar? These are such old names.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 13/03/2022 10:45

I think the USA has different 'rules' for names though? So Kai and all the surnames-as-first-names are much more acceptable over there? That's how it looks from the outside anyway?

MissNothing1991 · 13/03/2022 10:29

He also has X and Y nowadays

ThrobbingToothacheOfTheMind · 12/03/2022 22:02

@WlNDMlLL

I would put money on the fact you could plot the popularity of Jayden, Kayden etc against declining incomes. I understand the 'benefits Britain' comment isn't very pleasant but I don't think there is any doubt that these names are associated with a certain type of person, and those people, amongst many other things, don't have high incomes. That is not to say many people on a low income don't choose completely different names, nor is it to say there is anything wrong with such names. But schools in deprived areas vs middle income areas have very different name trends.
Elon Musk has a son called Kai. I don't think he's got a low income.
Lilacsparkles · 12/03/2022 21:01

Ben is fine. But the benefits Britain comment is horrible. I’ve taught some wonderful little boys with the names that you have mentioned. Honestly just don’t tell anyone your baby’s name until he’s born and everyone will say oh how lovely.

FoxyFoxyLoxy · 12/03/2022 20:55

@mumofEandE

IME

Naughtiest boys:
Kayden,Jayden,Reilly and any first names with hyphens / apostrophes
Naughty:
Kai, Kian
Cheeky (rather than naughty):
Callum, Charlie, Teddy, Connor, Freddie, Eddie, Alfie, Harry (Archie could be in this group or one above)
Nice boys:
Ben, Matthew, Daniel, Euan

IDK any Storms

This is 100% accurate IME (4 schools, 20 years)Grin

This has made me laugh - 13 year old DS is a Euan, and his two best friends are Matthew (was Matty, now trying to change it to Matt as it's more cool and teenage) and Daniel.
Lilaclavenders · 12/03/2022 19:55

I think it's a wind up thread! The op's first ever post Hmm

HoneyItIsntGoodLuck · 12/03/2022 19:40

Nice one, OP. You’re not really worried about calling your DS Ben, are you?

I wonder how long it will take you to come back to your thread.

WlNDMlLL · 12/03/2022 19:36

@Lilaclavenders

I would put money on the fact you could plot the popularity of Jayden, Kayden etc against declining incomes.

Yes, but why is that in any way a negative factor?

Well it's not.
Newuser82 · 12/03/2022 19:16

I don't like those type of names either 🙈. I do think it conjures up a certain type of child (naughty). I know this is hugely judgemental and based on a very small group of kids. Ben is a lovely name.

ChrissyPlummer · 12/03/2022 19:05

Okayden Hmm

solbunny · 12/03/2022 19:02

Nicknames as first names never strike me as particularly tasteful to be honest.

The benefits Britain comment wasn't very classy either.

Moyny · 12/03/2022 18:55

@user1493494961

I don't believe there was a high school reunion, call your child Ben if you want to, nobody cares.
Grin

What about the imaginary school reunion we've sometimes gone to in our heads, where the former queen bees are now haggard crones with poorly-spelled facial tattoos and dandruff, while we waltz in in Miu Miu, glowing and transmogrified from the spotty nerd we were, casually holding a copy of our third bestseller under one arm and Brad Pitt under the other? Grin

Does that not count?

DinaofCloud9 · 12/03/2022 17:53

Well Jayden is a terrible name imo but I'm not a fan of Ben either. There was a right bully in DS2's class called Ben and it put off the name. I've also known a few naughty Matthews.

Give your child the name you want and let others do the same.

user1493494961 · 12/03/2022 17:50

I don't believe there was a high school reunion, call your child Ben if you want to, nobody cares.

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