To think this class-obsessed country uses DC's names to change theirs?

[GinDaddy]

I live in the South of England, I'm heading towards middle age, so this gives you some context before my OP, which is..

AIBU to think people are giving their DCs "posh" or "aspirational" names as status signifiers? (Which ironically immediately marks them out to me as such?)

I realise there's always been fashionable and unfashionable names since time immemorial. But what I'm talking about is the slew of names which I would previously only expect to hear on Made In Chelsea or Guy Pelly's guest list at Boujis.

Arabella. Annabelle. Isabelle. Amelia. Jasper. Oscar. Oliver (to be inevitably commuted immediately to Ollie in faux-braying tones). Hugo. Theo. Leo. Harry (not even bothering to use the proper Harold, just going straight to the diminutive because well, it sounds right).

It's just a bit odd really. People can and will call their child what they like, but why are so many folk (and it's always the same folk, the ones who are project managers, who love myWaitrose and head tilting, whose teeth chatter when grandparents offer DC a Kinder Surprise) enamoured with these names?

Can someone actually explain this to me? No one has ownership of names, but I cannot believe that some people aren't using this as some sort of social signifier. 15 years ago not everyone was called Ollie or Theo. I didn't know a load of Arabellas or Amelias, I knew a few but that was commensurate with the environment.

AIBU to think the popularity of these names comes from their associate social status?

Harry is common as MUCK

I could give my anecdata here but it would be a reflection on my surroundings and upbringing so not particularly helpful. That Freakonomics link was really interesting, I’m off to read more! Your post however OP, sounded mean spirited and snide in tone to me.

The idea that Biblical names never go out of fashion is rubbish.

Different biblical names become popular.

I didn’t know anyone called Noah, Eli, Elijah or Reuben when I was growing up but lots called Mark, Mathew, Luke and John.

The dynamic is a little different in Ireland.
Middle class people tend to use ancient names of Myths and Legends like, Niamh, Fionnuala, Oisin, Connor, etc. but that appears to be changing and MC kids are being calledItalian names...lots of Francesca, Sophia's...etc but I am open to correction by Irish Mumsnetters as I have not lived therein over 30 years.
Also, names tend to be less current, for example, you will meet Sarahs and Fionas of all ages.

It took us a week to agree on DD1s name and we finally chose one that has been mentioned on this thread ,but before it became very popular, Weeks later I remembered that I'd read a novel years before in which the heroine was at Oxford and had that name. It was DD2, who has a name that has been in use since at least the nineteenth century but has not been mentioned here, who went to Oxbridge.

You never get a working class Rupert

I was at school with a WC Walter.

Oh op you have touched on a nerve 😆

Of course names are used (by some) to distinguish themselves as being MC as clothes are, cars are and so on

Of course no one ever on MN would do this though there are plenty of threads on names that are spelt differently- code for well its all a bit common isn’t it

You only have to witness the faux horror at Net"Huns" coming over to the board, and infecting it with their kiss-flecked posts and poor spelling, to know that there are plenty of folk who want to demonstrably demarcate their class and position as quickly as possible

^ absolutely agree

I love the pretence if I have no idea what class is all about usually followed by my great great grandfather worked in the pits how could I possibly know

Erm, people have always chosen names according to their social status. It’s not a new thing.

It's clearly a goady post with the 'faux-braying tones' comment. Good for you that you know the best names to give a child but I'd have to wonder why you care so much about what other people call their kids and why.

@Beaniebeemer I know one! His dad fits stairlifts.

Harry is common as MUCK

Harry maybe but Henry isn't.

I think a lot most of people are missing the entire point the Op is making, either that or they're wondering if it might be them.

Choose whatever name you want for your child but at least own it if you're choosing it when all your family and friends are a bit 🤔 as to why your choosing a name that's not common in your social circle.

So much angst from people about a perfectly reasonable and actually very interesting question. I like sociology and anthropology by the way

I wouldn't call my kid John, Michael, Dave or Barry for similar reasons, to be fair OP.

I chose a name for my DS that wasn't common and also wasn't 'common', and also wasn't eyebrow raising.

Stella, Cosmo, Caliope, Clemence, Jaime etc were all the same as Hugo, Oliver, Oscar etc 30yrs ago.

Who gives a flying fuck? 🤷‍♀️

I chose my sons name because I also loved it and took in to account his future. His name will look bloody gorgeous written down, and will be memorable on a CV and at interview. For the right reasons. Not because it's a silly name, but because it looks and reads well, and will give a 'positive' impression amongst 53673 Albies and Alfie, Levi and Olivers.

I don’t think they’re particularly aspirational just middle class names, and often an indicator of mc taste. Which is fine. Some names are indicators of different class.

And not aspirational because the people above the mc are going with their own choices which shift quickly as others use them.

Actually, I'd like to take bets on OP being a journalist...

Choose whatever name you want for your child but at least own it if you're choosing it when all your family and friends are a bit 🤔 as to why your choosing a name that's not common in your social circle.

But the names the OP references are all very common indeed with many of them in the top 10

So where are these ‘social circles’?

Oh op you have touched on a nerve

It’s more confusion because the OP is at least ten years (probably more) out of date in her understanding of the social signification of the names referenced.

Also the snide undertone with regards to Waitrose shopping project managers. Which seems a very innocuous thing to be to me.

Zeroing in on project managers made me laugh (well in my mind only). I mean why them particularly.

Agree the names listed are not rare or special at all to be aspirational these days.

😁 yes it’s all so confusing

One just doesn’t quite get what the op could possibly be referring to

Would you like a gooseberry and cinnamon yogurt Fergus < amuses oneself

It’s more confusion because the OP is at least ten years (probably more) out of date in her understanding of the social signification of the names referenced.

Yes I think OP’s point would have been better made if they had used some names which are currently aspirational instead of names that might have been aspirational 30 years ago instead of those now common among people of all backgrounds, including some in the top 2!

Well I've got a kid called Jasper and an SUV.. so I'm obviously a dick!

Only if you park like a cunt at school pick up @imamearcat

FFS I'm not a journalist. Nothing that exciting. I said before - I work in finance and investment.

Why do posters insist "he/she must be a journalist" whenever someone comes up with a topic that actually resonates with folk?

I guess I'd better stick to "AIBU to ask if anyone's been to Center Parcs in off season- posting for traffic" because then I'll clearly be "real".

@GinDaddy What a load of old crap you spout.