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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Elliot - classless?

116 replies

barca123 · 03/03/2023 19:21

Do you think of Elliot as classless? And do you like it? Be kind -my brain is fried!

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AnnaDomini · 08/03/2023 08:49

You are comparing the names of successful mixed race politicians in the USA with a standard British name. They don't compare fairly, IMO, because of cultural differences between the two countries.

Reddahlias · 07/03/2023 15:03

Sorry I meant Barrack Blush

AnnaDomini · 07/03/2023 14:55

If you say so, @Reddahlias .
Obama is his surname not first name.

Reddahlias · 07/03/2023 14:18

AnnaDomini · 07/03/2023 09:02

@Reddahlias , yes, but wouldn't you be a bit surprised at a CEO or chimney sweep called Shadaunae-Leee or Thunder?

No not at all and Not more than meeting a president called Obama...or how about Condoleezza?

AnnaDomini · 07/03/2023 09:02

@Reddahlias , yes, but wouldn't you be a bit surprised at a CEO or chimney sweep called Shadaunae-Leee or Thunder?

liveforsummer · 05/03/2023 21:25

It's a nice name and I'd not associate it with any class. Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue with Henry but doesn't sound bad either

Highflow · 05/03/2023 21:20

Not from school friends no. We call him Els occasionally

Reddahlias · 05/03/2023 19:04

I think you can be a chimney sweep or CEO with any of those names and wouldn’t sound out of place.

Surely you can be a chimney sweep with ANY name? And become a CEO with ANY name..? Confused

HuggingtheHRT · 05/03/2023 18:43

Lovely name. Was on my shortlist...

Kranke · 05/03/2023 17:59

In my mind, Henry, Elliot, Jack are all similar names. I work in construction and there are a lot of the trades that have those names (loads of Henry and Jacks, only met two Elliots). I think you can be a chimney sweep or CEO with any of those names and wouldn’t sound out of place.

FakeBilly · 05/03/2023 17:51

purpledalmation · 04/03/2023 12:21

Ffs this is the 21st century. Why on earth are we talking about fucking class!

Because the OP asked whether Eliot was ‘classless’? I don’t know why people get so cross abouttalking about social class. The UK is still a very class-bound societ (I’m not originally from here), and just how ingrained that is very obvious on the baby names board. I agree it’s depressing social class consciousness still exists, but there’s no point in refusing to talk about it and hoping it will vanish.

Original poster
barca123 · 04/03/2023 12:45

purpledalmation · 04/03/2023 12:18

Best bloody name in the whole wide world.

:)

OP posts:
Comedycook · 04/03/2023 12:29

I'd also agree verging on the lower middle class side of things

purpledalmation · 04/03/2023 12:21

Ffs this is the 21st century. Why on earth are we talking about fucking class!

purpledalmation · 04/03/2023 12:18

Best bloody name in the whole wide world.

AnnaDomini · 04/03/2023 12:09

I think it's a cracker of a name.
'nn' potential - Beau or Beaudy, or even Den
Fits in with Jayden, Kayden, Brayden trend
Nod to poshness - Johnnie Boden
Less stuffy than Beauregard, Beauchamp, Beaumont, Beaufort...

What's not to like?

Original poster
barca123 · 04/03/2023 12:05

RosesAndHellebores · 04/03/2023 11:16

Elliott for me partners with:

Caspar
Felix
Milo
Giles
Tobin

rather than the classics such as: Edward, William, Henry, James, George, etc.

Agreed I think!

OP posts:
Original poster
barca123 · 04/03/2023 12:04

Yes I thought similar

OP posts:
AnnaDomini · 04/03/2023 11:49

Beauden!

MillicentMold · 04/03/2023 11:38

I know three Elliotts -

  1. In his early 20’s. Brother is Callum.
  2. Around 10. Brothers are Joseph and Sebastian
  3. Two year old. Baby brother is Beauden. Sister is Emily.
ZoyaTheDestroyer · 04/03/2023 11:22

Reddahlias · 04/03/2023 10:45

Absolutely. Folk don’t walk around declaring themselves to be working class or middle class (except on MN) the class system is very much alive and well and social mobility is at its lowest for many years.

OK, but why should names be restricted to certain 'classes'? If anything, it only reinforces the stereotypes.

I'm glad I'm not British (am from an EU country) so don't feel restricted by such class rules...

It’s correlative rather than causative and descriptive rather than prescriptive, but certain names are associated with certain demographics. It’s possible to deplore aspects of the class system whilst also not pretending that Ptolemy’s parents aren’t likely to be from a different demographic to Heaven-Leigh’s.

It’s not unique to the UK, either. Ask a French person for a list of names they consider BCBG, or an Australian for bogan names, or an American for trashy names, or a Milanese Italian for the southern ‘peasant’ names that they wouldn’t dream of using for their own child.

FourTeaFallOut · 04/03/2023 11:19

There were only 9 girls recorded with the name Elliot last year in the UK. If you know a few then that is quite the statistical anomaly.

RosesAndHellebores · 04/03/2023 11:16

Elliott for me partners with:

Caspar
Felix
Milo
Giles
Tobin

rather than the classics such as: Edward, William, Henry, James, George, etc.

AnnaDomini · 04/03/2023 11:14

@Reddahlias , OK, but why should names be restricted to certain 'classes'? If anything, it only reinforces the stereotypes.
Names are not restricted to certain classes, but names might be popular with certain types of people. Some names might seem too unusual for your area or friendship/acquaintance group. I think the stats say that older mothers tend to go for more conservative names, for example. e.g. A young mother might call her child Jackson or Jaxxon, an older might pick Jack.

I'm glad I'm not British (am from an EU country) so don't feel restricted by such class rules...
They're not rules as such, they're conventions or what actually happens.
Maybe your country has different rules, or maybe all the names are completely classic and classless.

RosesAndHellebores · 04/03/2023 11:13

Not many names start with the working class and get adopted upwards though: I don't know any middle/upper class men or boys called:

Wayne, Kelvin, Gary, Warren, Jayden, Jaxon, etc.

Similarly for women or girls:

Brenda, Doreen, Maureen, Sharon, Kim, Lorraine, Ellie-Mae.

There are classics across all boundaries that fall in and out of fashion.