To be surprised by the names of the “posh kids” at DDs school

[marilee]

Hi all, my DD just started primary 1. The catchment area for her new school is super mixed with all the nicest houses in the town but also 2 council areas so a real mix. We live in a council flat, I can’t say I’ve rubbed shoulders with the more middle class half of the town and I grew up in a firmly working class area so this is the first time in my life I’m properly mixing with this group (I know that’s awful but it’s just how life has been for me so far).

I don’t know why but I was expecting all the posh kids to have more extravagant names but almost every single one of them is just a very basic name (James, Harry, Anna, Clara, Emily, Emma etc.). While the names I’d normally have associated as being more “posh” are actually the names of the kids from my area (Rafferty, Arabella, Florence, Theodore).

AIBU to be shocked by this? Is this normal or a little regional quirk?

Owen is an anglicised version of an Irish name - Eoghan/Eoin.

I find it pretty frustrating that traditional Irish names are often branded as chav names on here. Kevin and Aidan are two more good examples.

I had a great aunt Flo too, who was not remotely posh. She was born around the turn of the last century. Names got fashionable across classes back then as well as now - my grandparents and great aunts (all working class) had the same first names as richer women of the time - Mary, Violet, Caroline etc.

Certainly Eoghan is the Irish equivalent, but I would have thought Owen was more often an anglicisation of the Welsh given name Owain?

Interestingly, in the context of this discussion, apparently it ultimately originates from Eugene/Eugenius, meaning "noble-born", so it seems to reflect a longstanding tendency for giving aspirational names to children!

@CasperGutman as you say they are the same name and the same point applies whether it’s consciously an anglicisation of the Welsh/Irish/Scottish versions or not.

Well, it just says a lot about the lingering ‘No blacks, dogs or Irish’ attitudes which certainly haven’t entirely gone away, in my experience of living in England for 25 years. A minority, obviously, but unpleasant in that you never know when it’s coming, or from whom.

True that they're basically the same name, and although the pronunciations are similar the spelling makes the link to Eugene/Eugenius much more apparent.

I must admit though, for whatever reason, I haven't noticed anything like the same prejudice against traditional Welsh names as against their Irish counterparts. Admittedly I don't frequent the "what shall I call my baby" threads on here, plus I live in Wales and attitudes in parts of England further from the borders may differ, but in my experience traditional Welsh names are generally seen as solid middle class options.

But that’s what’s happening surely? Parents picking names they like.
We are just discussing why parents like different names. Why are there no posh boys called Jayden?

I used to find it funny (tbf I was 20 at the time) that an ex had a posh, arty first name but his middle name was Trevor.

Was it pronounced Tray-vor?!

To be fair I don't know any ladies😆. I suspect there are some interestingly named ones out there though. Likewise, there are probably plenty of Afies, Archies, Jaydens etc in posh schools too.

Yes a few Alfies and Archies - though more Arthurs.

I have to concede there are no Jaydens that I have ever come across in the private system. Closest I've met is a Jago.

Jago is a name I used to think very much denoted someone from an upper middle class family.

Yes, agree with this.
The Irish name Eoin that pp mentioned is unrelated, though it sounds similar. Eoin is cognate with John. Eoghan or Owen is cognate with Eugene.

Love the name Richard. It was my dad’s. But none around under the age of 50. Surely ripe for revival?

I know two Hugos - one is the son of an infamous local football hooligan; the other is a Rottweiler!

I’m late 30s and loads in my generation - along with Andrew, David, Matt(hew), Chris(topher) - it’s one of the common 1980s/early 1990s names.

Not surprised at all. I'm from a small town in Europe and I see more flashy clothes, accessories and even prams (think: special edition Cybex with gold wings) when I visit than during the whole year in my SW London neighborhood.

Designer Brands were not really the done thing at my DC's Private school, friends with DC at both local States seemed under much more pressure to buy North Face Coats, Moncler etc
DD told me one boy came to school in a Gucci belt and had the piss taken out of him.
I suppose it depends on the school though

Boys being into designer brands is like having CHAV stamped on your forehead, as I understand it!