to think that all these darling Jocastas are mythical?

[manicinsomniac]

Seriously, does anybody actually know a Jocasta?

I know it's the go-to 'mock the middle classes' earnest yummy mummy name on mn but I'm not convinced they're really around.

It only appears of one of the ONS name lists from 2006-2012 (there were 3 Jocastas born in 2007) which means there have to be fewer than 20 little Jocastas walking around the UK.

Does anybody know where the reference to 'little Jocasta' came from? Did it start from a specific thread? I know of other seriously posh names which actually do get used each year (if not very frequently) eg Araminta, Antigone, Persephone.

I feel a connection to Greece, because I'm half Greek. Beyond that, if you're not massively into your history, the connection is a bit tenuous IMO. The ancient Greek (and Roman) names have spread around the globe and made their own local forms, which you could use for ease.

I guess, I don't get why you would feel more if a connection with Greece than with your own cultural heritage (even if it has some elements that originate, in mostly different forms, to Ancient Mediterranean countries). But, I guess, you can feel differently about what you want the famiky names to reflect/mean (assume you care about meaning).

How does it work over there MrsK? Do you say 'I am going to call the baby this' then everyone says 'what a crap name'? Or is it a bit better than that?

I must have a lurk one day.

But i do think of ancient Greece and Rome as my own cultural heritage. So i think of these names as normal to me. I studied Art History and DH did Archeology, so i do concede we are geeks when it comes to this stuff. I love the descriptions of the names too, 'the prophet of doom' 'the freer of men' etc It just sounds so robust and 'big' to me. I can't really explain it. I'm odd i suppose

Oh god, yes, I don't usually get involved in name discussions. People get so defensive. I never say to anyone IRL what I really think about a (IMO awful) name they want to use, although I might give an opinion between two potential names. It's a very personal decision..

Basically Sparkling, but much much worse . you say i'm thinking of x and people say 'i think this is child cruelty and you should have your children taken away from you' 'you don't love your kids you are just a pretentious cunt' 'you do realise they will be chavs who never amount to anything if you lumber them with that monstrosity' 'why are you even having children'

MrsK, like I said, in your case I understand it, as it us your life's work/interest, rather than a "ooh, I do like Medea-what a pretty name" kind of thing.

MrsK. I did think that may be the case. I think it's where trolls go to add a few comments before they start their trolly thread, so that it's not an 'interesting first post' IYKWIM.

I have a "protector/defender" of men. He's onky 4, though, so we will see whether nomen est omen in his case.

At tge moment he should be called "the one who hates to lose in tombolas (and cries about it for ages)".

I like the name Rowan but iirc it means 'little red one' and just doesn't 'go' with our colouring (unless you count the red faced temper tantrums DS has). So i wouldn't use it.

I used to work with lots of African women and i love their descriptive names - 'God is great Oluwatosin' or similar. just so wonderful and expressive.

I don't think i'd like a name to be too realistic tho, i mean there has to be some romance and glamour, 'frequent throat infections and likes to sleep a lot' doesn't really have the punch 'goddess of the hunt' has does it?

I love unusual names. I live in what used to be a hot-spot for them, but I think there's been a bit of a backlash recently. I've met an awful lot of babies recently called Sarah, Tom or similar.

Shame because I really used to love hearing names like Aeneas, Bede, Ginevre etc being screamed at rapidly departing toddlers across the park.

I don't like seeing children laughing over a child's name en masse-no.
In my experience they're not laughing at the name that's being mispronounced, they're laughing at the person who doesn't know how to pronounce it.

I grew up down the block from a family whose last name was Benz. Their cousin insisted that his daughter would be Mercedes. Hopefully he actually didn't, because that would be cruel.

I do know a wee boy named Octavian, which I think is a fantastic name. Then again, I grew up with kids called names like Trees and Dawnstar and other hippie things.

But I've never met a Jocasta. Thank goodness. I had quite the classical education and to be honest most of these names were utterly ruined for me by the myths and plays they originate from.

Ah, no, I guess not. They need to be aspirational, but in a sort of realistic way..

• his future daughter, I should say. He was about 12 at the time.

Oh, and I also knew siblings named Zeus and Magnolia. Which I always liked.

Although I do like the name Lysistrata. That would be massively inappropriate to name a child, wouldn't it?

I think you had to be there Ninja. Nobody was laughing at the bloke presenting the awards, believe me.

Oh, is Xanthe posh too? I have 2 month old Xanthe. I also have a Savannah. Is that weird?

On the baby names board Savannah is denounced as 'chavvy' (eugh, awful word), Jessica (my DD2) as too popular and dull and now I have completed my trio of sins with a 'posh' name

I didn't really mean to mock any names though, I feel kind of bad. Not sure it's any better to have a go at one 'type' of namers than another. Sorry to anyone offended!

We share our last name with a famous actor. We nearly called DS his first name, as well (that was his nickname while I was pregnant), as a middle name, but decided not to be silly about something that he will have to live with and endure. I'm glad we had some sense left in our badly sleep-deprived brains..

I knew a girl called Ninja.

Its probably doubtful I'll have any more but my list of names is Jocasta, Ophelia, Cosima, Octavia, Ptolemy, Tristan, Lysander.

I don't think anyone is offended Manic. I've enjoyed the discussion in a light hearted way. I think on MN the more 'chavvy' (hate that too) names have now got a lot of supporters (usually MrsDV and Usual pop up and give a good go at anyone nasty enough to say something awful about a childs 'common' name) but the more 'posh' end are still pretty much fair game i think, which is a shame. As nasty comments are hurtful whatever they are and inverted snobbery is just as bad.

I'll tell you what poster has dc with the most awesome names 'sockreturningpixie'. She has about 6 dc and every single one has a name that (as one used to say in ones younger days) rocks the house that rocks the party!

I guess I'm just intrigued about how different the naming process is for everyone.. I never think my way's the only way to do it, but want to hear the reasoning/thought process others use, to (potentially) better understand the choices they make.