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Baby names

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

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Original poster

chavvy names

57 replies

saslou · 28/04/2010 23:01

Have read quite a few times on various threads of names being referred to as 'chavvy'. Just so I know, what names are considered chavvy and which ones are definitely not. Are there some names where people would disagree?

OP posts:

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Lora69 · 30/04/2010 11:27

Right, as no one is suggesting names I'll start. For me PERSONALLY names which I would avoid due to the potential 'chav' like connotations include:

Jaydon/Jayden/Jaiden or any of the variants.
Names 'made up', typically ending with the 'den/don/dyn' sound etc Kayden/Kaiden though this does not apply to all etc Aidan is in a different pool of names to me, but sometimes I change my mind and decide this is too 'chav' too so people names are a matter of taste both between people and even within the same person lol!

Others I dislike for the connotations;

Kayleigh
Keeley
Chantelle
Chardonnay
Mercedes
Armani (seriously now)
Taylor
Liberty
McKenzie
Destiny
Brooklyn
Michaela
Morgan
Kai
Jordon

But then there are others which I am sure many would disagree with me on but for some reason I feel are in similar category-
Chloe, Alexis, Ashley, Brooke, Kelly, Bailey, Mason etc

Just my honest opinion, I know we all have differing views

GibbonInARibbon · 30/04/2010 09:09

'Chavs exist, so whether the word is considered offensive or not is irrelevant. It might not be PC but when the word is used everyone knows who is being described.'

Good grief

diddl · 30/04/2010 09:07

Oops

It´s the person not the name-or whilst young the parents!

diddl · 30/04/2010 09:06

It´s the name not the person imo.

mintyfresh · 29/04/2010 20:46

I'm never really sure what 'chavvy' means but would agree that some names bring up certain associations with people. There are names I like, and names I don't like and would probably leave it at that!

I've seen threads on here asking 'Is this name too posh'......

GladioliBuckets · 29/04/2010 19:53

Why is 'chavvy' offensive and 'posh' not?

Original poster

saslou · 29/04/2010 16:17

I was - not in connection with this thread (I think Jesse is a great name), but for the fact that some people associate it with a negative expression and other people don't make that association at all. Some people said they wouldn't use the name if living in the north and I thought the regional distinction was interesting. I was aware of the saying (but am from the south so wasn't aware that it was assoc with the north), but I think of Jesse James and consider it a cool name. Anyway, I've waffled on but the comments in this section generally got me thinking (obv not enough cos I do get myself in trouble) about other types of name and how/why people distinguish.

OP posts:

mathanxiety · 29/04/2010 15:59

Are you thinking of Jesse?

Original poster

saslou · 29/04/2010 11:23

sophiesmummie - we should stop judging people partly on their names, but we probably wont.I think it is quite entrenched in how society is. When I mentioned about children being teased, I was thinking of a thread where both parents liked a name and the GPs said it had certain connotations associated with it, particularly in the north. I mentioned it to show that we do make associations with names. What was interesting in that thread was that because times have changed the associations also change and it seemed to be an assoc that older people would make more than younger ones.

OP posts:

GetOrfMoiLand · 29/04/2010 10:53

Whatever name you list and say ooh how chavvy, let's point and laugh, will have a mother on here who has called their child that.

Right let's play baby name bingo. Let's spot on this thread names which are described as

Chavvy
Chavtastic
Council
Common

sophiesmummie · 29/04/2010 10:50

Children do not tease other children based on whether some of us adults may find a certain name chavvy or posh. Honestly, children couldn't care less whether their classmates are called Jaydon, Jack or Julian.

It is us adults who place so much emphasis on having to label names. We should learn from our children and just judge people based on who they are!

Original poster

saslou · 29/04/2010 10:48

Fair enough booyhoo. That's probably the best approach. Some people like to canvass opinion though. I think that if I loved a name that the majority of people made a negative association with, I may well think twice about choosing it as I wouldn't want my child to get teased at school, for example. That's kind of why these sites exist and if there was a definitive list of names that the majority of people consider 'chavvy', then yes ,I would read it.I accept that this does not reflect well on me but I can't say I wouldn't be interested

OP posts:

booyhoo · 29/04/2010 10:21

names are such a personal thing that i really dont take anyone's (apart from OH) opinion on board when choosing.

Original poster

saslou · 29/04/2010 10:08

I don't consider it to be about 'anyone of working class origin'. Plenty of working class people are not chavs and yes I do have clear ideas about what I would consider to be 'chav'. I'm sure people could criticise aspects of my dress. So what? We all make judgements about each other, sometimes fairly, othertimes not. To pretend otherwise is pointless.

Wrt this topic, I have read lots of comments in this section where people talk about names and why they chose them, without actually telling us what the name is they are discussing. This leaves me with unsatisfied curiosity, so I asked. I am genuinely interested in names/regional differences in how names are viewed and how time alters perceptions and want to know. Fair enough, it was tactless to ask and, yes, sometimes by mouth (fingers) engages before my brain, but it is a fact that we make associations with the names we choose. it's why we ask people for their opinions on our choices

OP posts:

mrsruffallo · 29/04/2010 09:40

Really saslou?
Chav seems to be a widely used word for anyone of working class origin so it's not clear who you mean at all.
Seems like you have clear ideas on who is a chav and who isn't. I am sure that people could criticise aspects of your lifestyle/dress etc

Original poster

saslou · 29/04/2010 09:24

I love Tracy too and I think of it as glamourous. I think if people chose it for a baby today, that child growing up would not have the same associations made that a 30 something woman called Tracy has. Children growing up now haven't seen Birds of a Feather and are also less familiar with the 'Essex Girl' thing that was going on in the 80s/90s

OP posts:

bellissima · 29/04/2010 08:57

It just varies according to poster and over time. I have a cousin Tracy, named after the 'posh' character in High Society. I think the name Sharon sounds very pretty. I love the Damned's Elouise. All those names have been given the 'ch' appellation on here...

Original poster

saslou · 29/04/2010 00:33

I admit, I want to know. It's not for any sinister reason(I did say earlier that I had the thought and asked without properly thinking it through) but it is referred to on here, so when I saw it I was interested. Nothing more to it than that.

OP posts:

dannas · 29/04/2010 00:27

It's down to a person's personal experience isn't it?

If I met a few chavs named Bob then I may think that Bob is chavvy. Whereas my friend Janice may know some very un-chavvy Bobs so will think it not in the least bit chav.

It's all so obvious and so random!

booyhoo · 29/04/2010 00:07

that Op is soo obvious i am cringeing for you.

MrsRhettButler · 29/04/2010 00:07

hellbent

MrsRhettButler · 29/04/2010 00:06

well i disagree, people are not all clear on who is a chav if you ask me...

i also find it offensive and hate all this 'chavvy names' bs on the baby name threads

it also depends where you come from, i've heard cultural names being called chavvy on here! whoever said kings and queens of england were spot on

HellBent · 29/04/2010 00:05

I think I might start all my posts on MN with "who the fuck cares!" I said it as a joke on another thread but I think it is needed here

Original poster

saslou · 29/04/2010 00:00

Mrsruffallo - Chavs exist, so whether the word is considered offensive or not is irrelevant. It might not be PC but when the word is used everyone knows who is being described.

OP posts:

booyhoo · 28/04/2010 23:57

retract the question, quick before everyone sees.

oops too late- hard hats anyone?

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