What's happened to boys' names?

Those are names that will date. Ben will never date. It will always be a classic name.

In my experience Ben’s are true good guys. Never known a nasty Ben. Good solid chaps.

My boy choice names were Harry, Rupert and Toby.

I can't see that anything has happened to boys' names. Looking at the current top 10 they're all very safe and middle of the road names.

1. Noah
2. Oliver
3. George
4. Leo
5. Theo
6. Arthur
7. Freddie
8. Harry
9. Charlie

You've picked a name you're happy with and presumably they're happy with their kids' names. Don't see the need for the 'benefits Britain' comment. Maybe stop watching trash TV that encourages you to mock the poor?

Oh I have two of those - Kian and Jayden...both in their 20's now....I've never been on benefits and neither of them are naughty (well no more naughty than any other child called any other name tbh)

Names are like anything else, music, clothes, they go in and out of fashion. Wouldn’t it would be boring if we all had the same taste? It sounds like they were just making conversation about names as you’re pregnant. By the way your comment about “benefits Britain” does make you sound like a snob, very condescending. I prefer Benjamin as a full names to Ben but there you go it’s just differing tastes and opinions which makes the world go round.

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)

Ben is a great name. Totally classic and classless. I don’t see a need to have a full name on a BC if you don’t intend to use it. Ben works for all ages, all jobs and in all walks of life

Your son is going to be a lot better off being called Ben. You aren’t behind with the times, if you look at popular baby names many are traditional. There’s just a social gap between you and your school mates because you’ve followed different paths

I don't like nicknames as full names so Ben doesn't work for me. You are saying the names remind you of Benefits Britain but to be honest I don't think Ben sounds particularly upper class either. Not that I care about these things.

I would put Benjamin, Benedict or Bennett on the birth certificate but that's a personal preference.

Yes, I find it boring. I know so many Bens. Some are Ben, some Benjamin. I also know a Benedict and a Bennett. But I also find Jayden and Kayden boring (and dislike the look of them, Jaden and Caden would already be a million times better).

Kai is actually a classic name in many countries. Pronounced KY. It is more classic to me than just Ben.

Kian is an anglicisation of Cian, I guess? I dislike the K version but Cian is more classic than Ben to me as well.

I dislike Storm but at least it doesn't look super trendy (no Ys!) so I think it's okay.

Ben peaked at #21 in England/Wales in 2002 so most Bens are in their 20s now. It is fine, really. But I'd really prefer a full form.

I don't like any of those names at all. I suppose I like "boring" classic boys names: Ben, Sam, Tom, Edward, Joseph, William etc. Actually at my children's school no one has the names you list above - they all have fairly normal names.