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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can someone explain the term ‘try hard’ in the context of baby names.

207 replies

Redcst · 08/12/2025 10:17

As the title says. I’m reading the threads and someone always uses the term ‘try hard’ to give their opinion on a name. I genuinely don’t know what this means?

it seems to be a derogatory term or even a euphemism?

I get if you love, like, dislike a name. I also appreciate names considered classics or historically posh etc but try hard I just don’t understand.

just curious

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NuffSaidSam · 08/12/2025 10:39

DappledThings · 08/12/2025 10:25

I don't think it's that at all. I think of it as people making up names or searching for something terribly unusual because heaven forfend their child ends up in the top 100 or even 500 of names used that year.

It's not about the perceived class of anyone choosing a particular name but whether that name just sounds like it's making a point rather than just being a normal name.

E.g. James for a girl.

Show quote history

I think it's this.

It's 'trying hard' to find a quirky/unusual/one of a kind
name rather than just going with what you love.

I'd say try hard names are often:

  • Not traditionally names, but just words/objects/animals
  • Have a 'creative' or 'unique' spelling
  • Being used for the opposite sex that it would normally be associated with (James for a girl is a good example).
  • Made-up, often two names smooshed together.
  • Taken from a culture that the parents have no part of.
Nosleepforthismum · 08/12/2025 10:37

I understand “try hard” to mean normal names that parents try to make unique by butchering the spelling. Like Zakk or Jaxxon.

drspouse · 08/12/2025 10:31

I agree it's someone trying to be ever so unusual.
For example Jack is a very common and lovely name used by all sectors of society. Nobody would say someone using it was "try-hard".
Sebastian is possibly a bit more unusual and more common with "middle class" families but nobody would say a single mum shop worker was "try hard" for using it.

Aisha is also a common and lovely name but has specific cultural connections. If your family were not Asian/Arabic it would be an unusual choice but nothing specifically try-hard about it.

However Guillaume for a family with no French connections at all would be "try-hard" I'd say because you're trying to find something unique AND with a "moving up culturally" vibe where Aisha doesn't have that "moving up" vibe.

Peoplemakemedespair · 08/12/2025 10:27

Redcst · 08/12/2025 10:17

As the title says. I’m reading the threads and someone always uses the term ‘try hard’ to give their opinion on a name. I genuinely don’t know what this means?

it seems to be a derogatory term or even a euphemism?

I get if you love, like, dislike a name. I also appreciate names considered classics or historically posh etc but try hard I just don’t understand.

just curious

Cant say I’d know, I got the complete opposite. I named my little boy Sonny after his father and grand father, and got a total of 4 pages of pure vitriol saying I didn’t put any effort in at all and it’s not even a name? Eg ‘YES HES YOUR SON BUT WHATS HIS NAME’??? 😂😂😂😂 weird on here

DappledThings · 08/12/2025 10:25

Kuretake · 08/12/2025 10:19

They mean poor/ common people who have the absolute audacity to have airs and graces beyond their station. The people using this phrase in the context of baby names are arseholes.

I don't think it's that at all. I think of it as people making up names or searching for something terribly unusual because heaven forfend their child ends up in the top 100 or even 500 of names used that year.

It's not about the perceived class of anyone choosing a particular name but whether that name just sounds like it's making a point rather than just being a normal name.

E.g. James for a girl.

Original poster
Redcst · 08/12/2025 10:23

Kuretake · 08/12/2025 10:19

They mean poor/ common people who have the absolute audacity to have airs and graces beyond their station. The people using this phrase in the context of baby names are arseholes.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 brilliant. As I thought ….its derogatory.
my baby girls name has been described as try hard once or twice and others on here called it tacky. It’s a funny forum I genuinely struggle with people who are so sensitive about baby names.

OP posts:
Kuretake · 08/12/2025 10:19

They mean poor/ common people who have the absolute audacity to have airs and graces beyond their station. The people using this phrase in the context of baby names are arseholes.