Page 2 | Are 5 syllable baby names pretentious?

hendaw · 2026-07-23T19:59:48+00:00

Ones that I am considering Cassiopeia Anastasia Alexandria Theodosia

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

TheignT · 25/07/2026 12:16

I have a four syllable name, always shortened. I didn't even get the classic mother using my full name if I was in trouble. I have a son and grandson with four letter two syllable names, both get called by longer versions. Started at school but eventually everyone used them. Another son gets called by a shortening of his surname, bit like surname Harris and he's called Harry. That hasnt spread beyond his friends as family use his name.

We give our kids names but we can't control what they do with them.

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 12:02

KeptWomanSummer · 25/07/2026 12:01

Thee-oh-doze-zyuh and An-uh-stays-zyuh to me so 4.

endings aren’t “zee-yuh” the way most people say it. More “zyuh”

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I'd say See-a.

KeptWomanSummer · 25/07/2026 12:01

hendaw · 23/07/2026 21:25

@PancakeCloud THE-OH-DOH-SEE-AH

ANN-AH-STAY-SEE-AH

Thee-oh-doze-zyuh and An-uh-stays-zyuh to me so 4.

endings aren’t “zee-yuh” the way most people say it. More “zyuh”

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 12:01

BunnyLake · 25/07/2026 11:56

I think it was meant to be lighthearted.

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We can only hope so ...

Tryanalogue · 25/07/2026 11:59

PancakeCloud · 23/07/2026 21:17

I would say Theodosia and Anastasia with four syllables

Dozy for short.

And Stasi, obviously.

BunnyLake · 25/07/2026 11:56

arlequin · 24/07/2026 00:12

I wouldn’t say these are simple names

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I think it was meant to be lighthearted.

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 11:31

PrincessOfPreschool · 25/07/2026 11:23

Ps. I voted the wrong way as I was answering the question in the OP title, not the question on the vote. I'm probably not the only one to have done that.

Don't worry, I got caught in that very same tangle too, but after a moment's reflection I THINK I got it right.

But I think you may need to take the votes with a bit of cautio OP.

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 11:30

Tryagain26 · 24/07/2026 14:02

It depends on the name . I
think Anastasia is fine the others on your list sound contrived to be longer
Why Alexandria and not Alexandra?
Why Theodosia and not Theodora
And Cassiopeia sounds pretentious

And to me Alexandria is a city really.

I don't like place names like Paris or Brooklyn - though I don't mind Florence, possibly because it isn't Firenze, which would be awful.

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 11:26

PrincessOfPreschool · 25/07/2026 11:19

This reminds of a recent conversation I had with DS2, who is taking Clarithromycin. I said he should name his first daughter after it.

😂I love all those long mycin names on pharmacy scripts. They always make me feel I can act sicker than I really am!

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 11:24

panfrydish · 24/07/2026 07:35

I can’t tell if this is a joke or not! 😆

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I know a couple of Maximilians who are simply never allowed to shorten it (though one does now as he is getting older), but Maximiliana never shortened is one step again!

It could get dangerous:"Max-i-meeee-leee-aaaah-naaaah!!! ... Oh dear I was going to warn her there was a cliff edge behind her. Alas, too late."

PrincessOfPreschool · 25/07/2026 11:23

Ps. I voted the wrong way as I was answering the question in the OP title, not the question on the vote. I'm probably not the only one to have done that.

PrincessOfPreschool · 25/07/2026 11:19

This reminds of a recent conversation I had with DS2, who is taking Clarithromycin. I said he should name his first daughter after it.

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 11:18

Runsaway · 24/07/2026 13:56

No, that’s the correct pronunciation. I know a few, and they’re pronounced like that. It’s Russian. The short form is often Nastya.

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Oh! If that really is the correct pronunciation, then I don't like it!

It reminds me of Bruce Forsyth "Nice to see ya; to see ya nice."

Calliopespa · 25/07/2026 11:11

Sherararara · 23/07/2026 21:21

Anaphylaxis is my favourite.

I like the Anna-Philaccis spelling.

No, Op, more seriously, I love long pretty names for girls.

I'm slightly less fond of Cassiopeia, mostly because of the associations, but another long one I like (4 syllables) is Georgiana.

I love Anastasia, but I prefer a 5 syllable pronunciation: Ann- a-sta-si-a, not Ann-a- Stayzh-a

SpringingOn · 25/07/2026 11:09

I don't think the syllables are relevant. I like
Cassiopeia and Anastasia but not Alexandria (I prefer Alexandra) or Theodosia (I prefer Theadora or Dorothea).

FlyingToniBoxes · 25/07/2026 10:55

AlbieJiggered · 25/07/2026 00:27

I don't.
I can't see the point of having a long name and then shortening it and I am not keen on the name Evangelina.

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You can't see the point? That's just a failure of cognition on your part though.

The point is obviously a combination of liking the long form and wanting the human being who will bare the name through their entire life, as baby, young child, older child, teen, young adult, mature adult and elderly person, to have options!

My children have shorter names but have still had affectionate nicknames at various points in their life, and as someone who has never especially liked my own name (which has no obvious shortening) I definitely see the point of a name that can be used in different ways - Mathilda, Matty, Matts, Tilly, Tilda being one example that gives lots of different styles of nickname, or Alexandra giving the child the option of Alex and Lexi.

AII41 · 25/07/2026 09:39

AlbieJiggered · 25/07/2026 00:27

I don't.
I can't see the point of having a long name and then shortening it and I am not keen on the name Evangelina.

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Well it's not up to you, is it! Your children can shorten their names as and when they please.

I am not keen on your kids' names but I would never be so rude as to say so. Oh oops.

AlbieJiggered · 25/07/2026 00:27

AII41 · 25/07/2026 00:16

I love long names - they can always shorten them.

A relative has an Evangelina - I think that is beautiful.

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I don't.
I can't see the point of having a long name and then shortening it and I am not keen on the name Evangelina.

AII41 · 25/07/2026 00:16

I love long names - they can always shorten them.

A relative has an Evangelina - I think that is beautiful.

drspouse · 24/07/2026 23:11

My DCs have ridiculously long names (9 and 8 letters, 4 syllables each). Wish we'd gone for Max and Amy but I have no room to talk so I said yes.

scrivette · 24/07/2026 23:08

I love long names but in my experience they will get shortened at school.
My suggestions would be Alexandrina.

Minasama · 24/07/2026 22:50

All of those are pretentious except Anastasia which is cheap.

Helenbelena · 24/07/2026 22:49

Crwysmam · 24/07/2026 22:43

My DS went to a private school where anything longer than 4 syllables was greeted by a group eye roll. The poshest children had the shortest names, those with difficult to remember multifaceted names were much more likely to have aspirational parents. There were 3 Georges and 4 Williams in DS’s year. The longest girls name was Henrietta who was always known as Hetty/Henny. By senior school the majority of the boys were known by nicknames that bore no relationship to any of their given names.

How is any of this relevant to the op?

Crwysmam · 24/07/2026 22:43

My DS went to a private school where anything longer than 4 syllables was greeted by a group eye roll. The poshest children had the shortest names, those with difficult to remember multifaceted names were much more likely to have aspirational parents. There were 3 Georges and 4 Williams in DS’s year. The longest girls name was Henrietta who was always known as Hetty/Henny. By senior school the majority of the boys were known by nicknames that bore no relationship to any of their given names.

AlbieJiggered · 24/07/2026 22:15

Theo DOS-y-a, not Theo DOS-y-s