Has anyone ever actually been bullied for having a chavvy name?

[Manfredine]

Nothing outlandish or double barreled but a name that nonetheless comes up in all the chav name lists. A lot is made online about names being chavvy but has having such a name ever actually affected anyone irl?

example being Chantelle not princess-Rosie-Leigh

AIBU to think it’s more about the parents and worrying about how they’ll be perceived for choosing a certain name?

I’m talking normal names like destiny ,Chantelle ,Danielle etc here not incorrectly spelled double barreled names

Respectfully, you sound quite confused, OP. If you grew up MC, why did MC people tease you for your 'posh' name -- are you saying that MC people thought it was an UC name? There's not much distinction between MC and UC names in general, which is why it's puzzling. Surely if your parents had given you a name associated with WC origins, you'd have been likely to have attracted teasing for the opposite reason?

Names 'don't have to reflect what class you're in', no, but they are often social class markers. Use Destiny if you want to, obviously, but you are absolutely giving your child a name with social class connotations.

Like it or not, those are primarily names associated with the WC.

Why are you so focused on the effect the name might have on your child during a few childhood years, and not on the effect throughout their adult life?

I assume as you’re really young you haven’t really got the life experience yet to have learnt how people can be perceived and treated when they’re adults based on their name.

Yep, I would still have been as bullied as I was if I'd been called Chantelle. I was bullied relentlessly for my looks, for being 'different' (although I wasn't, I was just different from the bullies).

My name is upper class not middle class, it’s also ridiculously old fashioned not sure what my parents were thinking. I probably would have been able to pull it off if I’d been a normal temperament kid, but I was aloof and weird so apparently that made me “posh”.

And on the other hand if I’d had a less posh name maybe I would of been able to get away with acting posh

My school friend Denise was always called Denephew. It totally eroded her confidence over many years. Even the teachers were doing it (1980's).

The people doing it never thought of themselves as bullies but it was bullying.

My name is upper class not middle class,
I can't think of any 'upper class' names.

@Manfredine , Destiny seems to be the opposite of upper class but also dated.

@OSTMusTisNT , the 'nise' in Denise isn't the same as 'niece'.

I’m not going to put my name on here not only is it incredibly posh it’s also pretty niche and this could get outing.

but if you want Herbert, Persephone, Percival are some examples.

I can’t remember any of the Chelsea’s or Chantelle’s getting shit for their names in school. Just to make it clear I’m talking normal but “chavvy” names here not double barrelled or stupid. Is there any actual downside to a chavvy name for the child or is all the internet discussions rooted around parents wanting to come across as not chavvy themselves?

I can think of almost no names exclusively used by the UC. And surely if you were an 'aloof, weird' kid, that was what made you a likely target, not being called Venetia or whatever?

I mean, given that you don't seem to have noticed that Destiny codes as very working-class, is it just possible that you over-estimate the UC-ness of your own name?

How can destiny code as very working class when I’m middle class and was considering it and I can’t be the only one but you also believe there are no names exclusive to the upper class?
My name was mocked and I think if I’d had a different name I probably would of just been ignored

I feel like people have already said this repeatedly in the thread, but yes, there is potentially a downside to the child if they, in the future, want to enter a profession where names and first impressions are still held to matter.

Some professions such as law and areas of finance are very client-focused and depend on being able to sell yourself. If your name attracts particularly strong assumptions you may find yourself at something of a disadvantage. Is it good or fair that these things happen? No, but these prejudices still exist.

Having said all that OP it feels pretty obvious that you have your heart set on naming your child Destiny and nothing anybody says is going to change your mind. And you know what, that's totally fine, just crack on, you don't need the blessing of Mumsnet. If at some point in the distant future your daughter feels her name is a disadvantage she can change it, or go by a middle name.

Me too. It’s really offensive. What is it supposed to conjure exactly? Lads in tracksuit bottoms? Unemployed people? Girls in leggings? People who live on council estates?

Why are poor people the only disadvantaged group that people feel it’s acceptable to take the piss out of?

I hadn't thought of Venetia.
I think when I was young they had names like Camilla, Melissa, Tamara, Miranda, Arabella etc but they weren't exclusively UC.
There was a Miranda at school and her family wasn't UC.

Destiny doesn't quite code as working class IMO.

@Catterbat , chavvy isn't synonymous with poor.

I’m not taking the piss out of anyone and I’m not sure what the point in comments like this are howd you expect me to ask the question I want to to ask without using that word

“"Chav" is a derogatory British slang term for a subcultural stereotype of young, lower-class people often associated with antisocial behavior, specific branded sportswear, and baseball caps
. Used pejoratively to imply low intelligence or criminality, it is considered a classist term, with "chavette" referring to females.”

Maybe consider what it is you’re really asking.

It does not mention anything about poor people.

It clearly says ‘lower class’. It’s a classist term, are you really saying otherwise?

Yeah so I’m trying to see if my daughter’s name will be an inconvenience or not I don’t really care about your definitions or if I’m being PC or not. Sorry

But she'll be Destiny, not you. People who hear her name will make assumptions about her background, whether they're justified or not.

And then they’ll meet someone who is (most likely going to be) nothing like what they expected so does it matter

🙄

@Manfredine , your name being 'upper class' mattered to you, so it's quite likely your DD will mind having a name that people will have an opinion on.

Why do you like the name? Is it the sound or the meaning?

Plus your definition mentions antisocial behaviour don’t think I’ve ever heard it used as an insult at someone just because they’re poor