To think it’s very sad certain professions are denied to some children

[continuallychargingmyphone]

I just didn’t know when I joined MN that if your name is not suitably middle class you are forced into a life of servitude in Asda or Tesco. No being a high court judge for you.

Or, aibu to think people are ridiculous and call your baby what you like?

I'm trying to make the leap between careers being denied to some dc and names; perhaps you could elaborate?

It’s true that being called Flopsy Mopsy will sound stupid whether you are a barrister or a nail technician and may well lose you clients as either.

I agree, it’s ridiculous!

My solicitor when I divorced was called Tyler (woman) and she was shit hot!

It is ridiculous. And snobby. And nasty.

I don't think it would be a barrier now. An unusual name would get you noticed and remembered, so you have to make sure it's for the right reasons.

Is that the law now? About time too. I hate being served by Tamara in McDonalds.

He’s right you know, if your surname is Twat the odds of you ever becoming a Heateacher or Doctor are pretty slim!

I doubt any careers would be closed to you nowadays.

But you can't blame people for doing a double-take if you choose something outlandish, or your own 'unique' spelling.

What absolute nonsense war

She ^ Sorry 😄. Or do we have to say ‘it’ nowadays....

So is your Op I’m afraid, hence the senseless reply.

My op is not nonsense. Unless you think that telling parents to choose a name they like is nonsense?

Professions aren’t being denied to anyone. But a person with a name that seems out of kilter with the job they are going for through may hit additional hurdles in appearing credible in the interviewer’s conscious or unconscious mind. And that can work both ways - too posh or too chavvy/flowery/made up

For that reason I looked to pick classic names that wouldn’t hinder them whether their ambition is indeed to be a high court judge or a dustman.

There are odd fashionable in names though - look at the Victorian era when children of poor parents named them Elizabeth and Edward as a way to give them better options.

Now they seem to name them unique names to make them stand out - when in fact these have become some how laughable.

There shouldn't be a name barrier to jobs, but some names do suggest a certain education and back ground.

Just means they have to try harder to be where they want to be I suppose!

I know DN struggled to find employment - then used her Uncles prestige address and it opened doors that living in a council estate didn't. Fair? Probably not - but perception and truth are very different.

What's made you ask?

Hyperbole of course. However, since the UK is still a deeply class-driven society, it would be a little naive to expect that if a name were chosen that was closely associated with a particular strata it wouldn't impact on the way others perceive them. Tarquin or Tracey...

No it's not good (IMHO), but I don't think it's ridiculous to consider this harsh reality in choosing a name either.

Call your baby wht you like. But be aware that people will judge. They shouldn't, but they will. And, seriously, no adult woman wants to be called Tinkerbelle-wherever she works.

There are quite a few studies about this sort of thing, e.g. several listed in thi sarticle: uk.businessinsider.com/how-your-name-affects-your-success-2015-8/

Some of the perceptions of specific names will change in future though as children from cohorts where different names are commoner, others routinely belong to older people, and there are more unusual names about.

So, what you are saying is that people will look at a job application and reject it - and bear in mind I am NOT talking about tinkerbelle or flopsy here but names that are perfectly inoffensive to most.

Which I do not think happens in the real world.

All down to class. Middle class parents are more likely to choose Alice, Samuel, Michael or Matilda, if you come across a Nevaeh-Skye, Chardonnay, Jaxsonn or Jaiden it's more likely that they come from a less well-off background.

People who don't understand this will persist in naming their children something "yoo-neek" with little thought about how other people perceive it. People who are too rich to care, or who like to see themselves as unconventional and boho call their kids Iolanthe, or Sprit, River, Rainbow.

Professions aren't denied to people just because they have certain names but if parents choose something that is deliberately unusual, odd, provocative or outlandish they have to accept that as a consequence there will be people who raise eyebrows. It's up to parents to make a judgment call about whether it's worth it.

I'm a lawyer and once had a trainee in my firm whose name was Siouxie Jae (first name pronounced Sukey). She despised it because it garnered so many comments and misspellings, and insisted on going by the name and spelling 'Sue'.

Is this a TAAT. It makes no sense to me.

I managed to name my Ds myself with no help from mn?

I don't think Apple Paltrow or Chicago West will ever need to worry about claiming JSA. Your chances are still very heavily rooted in your background. Names still do come into it - I've never come across a high court Judge called Maisy-Boo but I doubt Jamie Oliver's children will ever worry about their future careers.

I'm named after a capital city and though it does draw a comment or two I can't say it's ever had a negative impact on my career choices.

Personally I'd love to be called Tinkerbelle. You could call me Belle for short. But then I'd also like to be a Princess, and never have to work.

I think they are saying that certain names have a high correlation with other factors that tend to influence your life chances. Not that if you are called Kaylee-May any law firm would throw your cv in the bin without reading it.

Also when looking at job applications it's about fit - answering the telephone who would you prefer to represent your company?

Hello, ABC accountants, Penny speaking, how can I help?

or

Hello, ABC accountants, Sparkly-Princess speaking, how can I help?