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?

mine are all named after patron saints. Fashionable and unfashionable.

Katie Hopkins, is this where you get your kicks these days?

“Blokey” isn’t the right word but you know - change their accents a bit, pretend to know about the football etc when they don’t have the foggiest.

I am amazed that some people on here don’t think class is a thing in this country anymore. It’s a huge thing, and I don’t see that changing.

Did I tell you to get off the thread?

Our dog has the most interesting name in our family. We did a lot of research before changing it from his original, which related to birth place. He was only a pup, so no issues. He’s now named after one of our favourite historical locations, his name is complicated to spell, but only has two syllables, so easy to yell. Plus it provides a good talking point when folks ask what he’s called. Long established pedigree breed, much beloved by aristo’s hell bent on killing things. We like taking the piss out of such folks......

Lots of people saying that they just chose a name ‘because they liked it’. The thing is, you don’t choose a name in a vacuum. What you like about a name is for the most part it’s cultural resonance. The sound the name makes is only a very small element. Lots of names have similar sounds but a very different feel purely because of the way the name is used and connotations it has.

I am not English so I don't get the class obsession myself.

But when I told my father what my eldest child was to be called, he was horrified because he thought it sounded a bit, well, 'bold'. (Translation: he thought it was the polar opposite of aspirational). Ironically it is a name that has been mentioned on this thread as being boringly traditional, middle class, aspirational etc.

I actually told you to carry on, twice. Sneering is so fashionable these days, you'll fit right in

"a particular type of person"

Stealth I get where that comment is coming from. That particular type of person will do anything to climb often at the expense of their own family.

As I said above, and it was me that said I could see through my neighbour with her faux voice, mountains of 'stuff' and the children's names. She is that type of person. I wish she'd just be herself really because she can be quite lovely to chat to sometimes.

Anyway I think I'm veering off topic slightly.

I don't know, maybe. I really wouldn't say names like Isabelle, Harry, Leo and Oliver are middle class though. They've been popular since I was at school and remain popular where I now teach - both normal comprehensives with a mix of students. Most of the middle class kids go to grammar or private schools in my catchment area so I'd say these names are popular across classes and have been for a long time.

Why do folk put so much emphasis on the name being a disadvantage

Because it is. Like it or not people will look at someone’s name on a form and make judgments about them. They will think differently about Fifi Trixibelle, Ptolemy and Wayne.
They shouldn’t, we all know that, but they do.

@GinDaddy Wjat do you mean by mentality?
Research and my own eyes show that some names are a disadvantage.

Anyone remember the show with Chardonnay in?
They were footballers wife's?

No idea why people are getting so worked up by this discussion. Can only assume the op has hit a very raw nerve.

I like a lot of those names because they are characters in books I read when I was younger. I don't think the class thing holds true at all.

It was the tee

The thing is, OP, people do make judgements based on first names. Perhaps people just don't want to saddle their child with a name that may count against them in later life, so they go for popular, pleasant, neutral names that will serve them well as adults.

Teeth chattering thing that really made me laugh
Arhh mning and cooking. Not a good mix

Names are more an indicator of age than social status!

I personally can’t bear snobbery. That may be why posters are ‘worked up’ @Francina670.

@Francina670

I have hit a raw nerve, and am getting abuse because of it.

@Villanomme

Yes - this is exactly what I meant! It’s just a great shame really

@Francina670

Agree

Forgot to add, all my children's names are on your list. We are probably considered a solidly "middle class" family and chose the names to fit in at most places.

@mummmy2017 that was literally just called Footballer's Wives what a show!