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?

You can think what you like, but first names are an absolutely huge marker of parental education and social class. And people do use these as a short cut to make judgements. Whether you agree or not that this should be the case, it is...

So what people are saying is that it isn’t the name itself but the person who chose the name who will ruin their child’s chances of being a high court judge.

Years ago I worked for a lovely man called Andrew Dick. In work in school. His door plaque actually said Mr A. DICK HEAD TEACHER.

Oh and he didn't get the kids taken out of him as he always got in there first and pointed it out to the kids. Great guy.

I don’t see the names of people when I shortlist. I do see that people with very ‘modern’ or ‘ common’ names often grow into them. A Kyle or Conor is generally more likely to exhibit behaviours of lower classes (however much we dislike the notion of class, it still exists) than a Hugo, Ranulph or Edmund. This is likely to impact on expectations and achievements and consequently careers. I’m more likely to appoint someone who is traditionally dressed in a well cut suit and tie, who has no visible tattoos, who doesn’t smoke, who makes eye contact and who doesn’t say “like” at the end of sentences.

"Which I do not think happens in the real world."
Have you read a book called Freakonomics?

What are behaviours or lower classes

do tell

No Bert

But I am looking into adoption

Best make sure I change that chavvy name, sure enough.

My kids went to the local playgroup in a rural and deprived part of Cornwall. There were two little boys always brought by their Dad. They were called Tarquin and Peregrine. I was puzzled (nosy) and asked him if they were family names. He said no, but they had chosen them to give the boys a better chance in life.

I think location will be more of a factor than your name.

If you live in a urban area you won't be told about traditionally countryside jobs such as gamekeeper

If you live in a poor area you will unlikely be told how to become a barrister

If you live in a rich area you will be unlikely to be told how to become a car mechanic

It's not just social class though it's also race. It's all interlinked with assumptions.

A dear friend has a lovely classical Zambian name, hardly surprising since he has dual British and Zambian nationality. He got no job interviews - for civil engineering work - after graduating from university until he submitted identical applications to the same companies under an anglicised name.

Just awful.

I saw a doctor recently who had a very chavvy name so I don't think it's necessarily true. Don't want to say what it was because it will identify them.

Yes, one of my school friends went on to successfully complete a degree in medicine. His name was Dean. So I am just not getting the ‘your application will be thrown in the bin.’

Yes read Freakonomics. It might be wrong, but it happens. You can help your kid to avoid the pitfalls, or change the system from the inside I guess.

And apart from anything else, it is deeply tedious to have to explain and spell your name every single time you tell anyone. I have 3 step nieces and nephews who insisted on changing their genuinely unique names on going to secondary school for that very reason. They weren't bullied or teased, just bored!

OP, are you worried the name you've given will hold you child back? There is evidence that interviewers look at applications differently after seeing the name - although the studies I've seen tend to be about names that indicate the race of the applicant. The UK is still a place that puts a lot of emphasis on social class (even if it's less overt now) but calling your DD "Alice" or something won't magically guarantee her a job either.

Call your baby wht you like. But be aware that people will judge. They shouldn't, but they will.

^This

I don't think it's denied to anyone. But I'm NGL, I wouldn't hire a solicitor called Chardonnay or Chantal ...

It’s not the name - it’s the parenting behaviours of those who choose the names that make a difference. Call your baby Elizabeth, go to library story time and borrow lots of lovely books to read together, explore the world with them, set clear boundaries and support carefully chosen schools in driving achievements. This child is likely to be more successful than Kayleigh-Mai who sits in her pushchair whilst her mother plays on her phone, who spends a lot of time in front of television in a smoke filled house, who has no routine, who is then allowed to be feral playing on local estate instead of doing parent led enrichment activities. It’s not about the name!

That’s true of plenty of bands Bert.

And I don’t think Jayden, Kai, Maisie and Kacie are hard to spell.

Names, not bands sorry. Stupid phone.

"I saw a doctor recently who had a very chavvy name so I don't think it's necessarily true. Don't want to say what it was because it will identify them." Of course it isnMt necessarily true. But does the fact that it's so identifying not make you wonder?

No, it’s about the snobby attitudes cherry.

Victoria, Daniel, Peter. All nice middle class names aren’t they?

I think that it is very sad that you like the thought of child labour! I wouldn't want to see children in work regardless or whether it is in Asda or Slaughter May

Daniel isn't very middle class BTW.