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Baby names

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

Original poster

What's the Most Pretentious Name You've Ever Heard?

134 replies

closetoshore · 25/09/2009 18:30

After reading the other thread I thought it might be interesting to see and list the different names we all think are pretentious.

OP posts:
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heartonsleeve · 30/09/2009 13:51

Lockets - the St John in the Bible is St John the disciple, not John the Baptist

hellokitty123 · 30/09/2009 13:50

Neither had I, but when googling 'Crispian' surprisingly many real life Crispians come up .

Cortina, I agree about 'not forgetting' someone who has a less common name. But that can also be a good thing. We're currently having some work on our house done, and 3 out of the 5 builders are called Steve... now that is the downside of having a 'common' name - well, for me anyway, as I keep get them mixed up... .

yelpol · 30/09/2009 13:49

napoleon - a boy of about 4 yrs i know of. loveday - a little girl in a nursery class i taught...

Sourdough · 30/09/2009 13:48

Riley Jakk.

Why?

honeydew · 30/09/2009 13:40

saw one the other day I've not come across before-

Crispian.

simplesusan · 30/09/2009 09:05

I agree FimbleHobbs about dad's name junior it really makes me want to vomit.

FimbleHobbs · 30/09/2009 08:30

I always think names that a child has to live up to - or if not they look foolish - are unfair. Or names that limit a child/person.

Mainly things like Prince, Princess, Dad's name Junior. Or Floaty-Pretty-Fairygirl / Hero-Swaggering-Actionboy type of names.

I like unusual names, and plain common names (my DC have the latter) but I think they should leave scope for the child to be 'their own person'.

Cortina · 30/09/2009 08:22

I love Ptolomy and think many do but are too scared of what others think to go for it. It will sound like 'Tolemy' when spoken (I think) and I personally love that sound.

Wasn't there are character in The Children of Green Knowe with this name?

Hermione also great. Also like Hester.

lillypie · 30/09/2009 07:51

My friends DC's are called
Ptolomy Gerald and
Hermiome Rainbow followed by a double barrelled surname

I think that is pretty spectacular,but seems to suit them somehow.

Cortina · 30/09/2009 07:39

Horatio and Hereward the twins.

There was a Hereward on Location Location once and I've never forgotten .

Perhaps that's the problem with a more outlandish name if you do something you shouldn't you are in trouble as people can't forget or confuse you with anyone else?

Take note my friend Tuesday!

changer22 · 29/09/2009 22:52

Prometheus.

He was in a swimming lesson and the teacher just couldn't remember it so she called him 'little P'!

daisymaybe · 29/09/2009 21:42

Boudica. She likes to be called "Bo".

MaggieVirgoLeo · 29/09/2009 21:40

Is St John's Wood pronounced Singin wood??

MaggieVirgoLeo · 29/09/2009 21:38

Mopsyflopsy anything that is extremely unusual will attract comment.

I like unusual names fwiw, my children's names are unusual enough that if I named them both together people would certainly know it was me if they knew me.

The point I'm making is that you can't control how other people react.

If the vast majority of people choose 'normal' names then those same people will according to their taste (which they're also entitled to have) find some names too outlandish or too pretentious, or whatever label you want to attach.

What makes a name like Persephone attractive to the very people most likely to choose it is the fact that the vast majority of the population consider it unusable. That's part of its appeal.

Cortina · 29/09/2009 06:24

Delphi is actually uber posh possibly tinged with a bit of boho chic thinking of a couple I've heard of.

thumbwitch · 28/09/2009 22:52

at Cranky - one of my friends really knew an Andrew Peacock, AND he was called Drew! Evil parents...
I also know a Richard Head, used to know a John Thomas and know an Andrew Pratt.

lockets · 28/09/2009 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

thedolly · 28/09/2009 22:11

I beg to differ lockets, it is not pronounced 'Sinjin' in the Bible.

crankytwanky · 28/09/2009 22:01

I like lots of the names on this thread.
It does seem rather childish to anonymously snigger at peoples names.* There must be better ways to raise a giggle than to point and laugh at children named after Grandparents/Gods.

*Disclaimer; unless they are just badly thought out eg Drew Peacock. Gotta love that!

MadBadandCoveredinSequins · 28/09/2009 21:55

My own.

SardineQueen · 28/09/2009 21:55

I knew a st john once, in my head it was spelt singeon...

I only realised that it was actually st john when I read one of the bridget jones books

lockets · 28/09/2009 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ShinyAndNew · 28/09/2009 21:52

Prince probably, though that said it's growing on me.

He goes to dd1's school. She seems to think it is short for Principle????

thedolly · 28/09/2009 21:51

St John pronounced 'Sin gin'

mopsyflopsy · 28/09/2009 21:48

Oh, I see