Names too 'posh' or 'toffy' for one of our family?

[Notyetamummy]

I have run our baby girl name suggestions by some of my family members and my Nana specifically thinks that the names that I like are 'too posh'.

To start with I don't agree. Also - who cares if a name is posh if we like it?

Our top girls names are:

Clara
Adeline
Elsa
Matilda
Elizabeth

What do you all think?

I don't think any of them are posh.

I think your names are classic/traditional, which indicates that you have some culture - not that you are posh!

I don't think that they are posh - it's not like I'd want to name a child Tarquin (no offence if anyone has a little Tarquin), so why does my Nana think they are posh?

Did they used to be posh names?

Definitely classic and traditional and not 'posh'.

I hate the thought that some names are seen as 'posh' but if I'm honest I guess there are some names that might invoke that kind of reaction in me. However, certainly not the names you are suggesting.

Elizabeth is a posh name? What do they want you to name your child, Lexi May?

Probably Bue. Recent family and friend additions are:

Lilly-May
Isla-Mai
Ellie-Faye
Katie-Lou
Summer
Paige

Dylan
Finn
Mason
Aiden
Josh
Bailey

These are all fine names just not my style. I really don't get the hyphenated name thing, but I also don't think that my name ideas are posh - just a different style.

The names you have in mind are classic and also Anglo-Germanic as opposed to the more recent additions to your extended family, which are trendy and a bit on the American side. There's a difference between posh and classic as far as I can make out -- 'posh' (or aspiring to be posh) to me would indicate names like Fenella or Arabella (apologies to mums of same).

FWIW, I prefer your choices by a long shot. They're gorgeous.

Want to add, I think your Nana's comment says more about the mores of the time she was brought up than about the names you have shortlisted. Maybe she grew up in a time when markers of class distinctions were very clear?

Not posh but lovely and classic. Not keen on Adeline but the others are gorgeous.

I think that there is a class element to Matilda -- how likely is that to make anyone's list of "chav" names?

Adaline (I prefer that spelling) is very old-fashioned. The others are quite ordinary, used by all sorts of people ime. I like Elsa best on your list, btw :).

I don't think any of them are posh but I've never really understood what people mean by 'too posh'.

Clara - My grandma's name. She was a charwoman and smoked a pipe.
Adeline - Wasn't that the girl from bread who wanted to be a model?
Elsa - Ordinary, sort of classless iykwim
Matilda - maids name, parlour maid though, not scullary maid but not lady's maid either.
Elizabeth - like Elsa, classless (as in transends class rather than has no class)

I like them all but I go along with your 'who cares' philosophy. Your nan got to name her babies what she wanted and now its your turn.

I don't think any of them are posh, but then older generations are going to view names differently.

Mind you, Elizabeth must be quite posh, as it's the queens name.

I'm not wild about Elsa or Adeline (sorry), but think the others are great.

You must choose the name you want; perhaps cling to whichever part of the family has the Aidan on your list: if your Nan/family can accept a classic 7th century saint's name, they can come round to yours.

Suggest when you decide you don't tell anyone till after the birth and make it clear the name is not up for debate.

My in-laws obsess about what the initials can be made to stand for, of course you can always make up an acronym for someone's initials, so long as it's not Billy Umbert Moses I couldn't care.

They're all lovely names, and not "too posh" at all.

Tell everyone else to stick their noses out, then blame it on pregnancy hormones and still use the name you want.

Fashions and notions of 'poshness' change. When I was at primary school in the 60s-70s, popular names were Alison, Susan, Tracy, Julie, Karen, Lynn.

I went to a private secondary school, and found myself among names like Sophie, Imogen, Isabel and Olivia, which seemed frightfully posh to me at the time. They are all now very popular names, while the primary names have pretty much disappeared.

I like traditional names myself, certainly don't think yours are unduly posh.

Just don't tell anyone! Everyone has an opinion on names and could put you right off one you love.
It was Aveline in Bread not Adeline.
Your list is classic and pretty.

This does, yet again, underline the fact that you should never, ever reveal your planned names to your family before the baby is born and irrevocably named.

They are lovely names - 3 out of 5 were on my list, and we are not posh!

Go with what you like, don't be swayed by others as you will regret it. Your names will be lovely at all ages in all eras.

I do not think any of those names are posh. I know a Matilda 'Tilly' who is very un-posh and I grew up with many-a common Elizabeth/Liz. As it happens, the Finn and Isla I know are quite posh.

Really doesn't matter anyway, and they're hardly Tarquin or Araminta.

These all sound very traditional English to me, not necessarily 'posh'.

Elizabeth is a very very old name.

Thanks for the support everyone.

We've decided that if any family members ask now we are going to tell them that our list is:

Tarquin for a boy

or:

Araminta
Fenella
Arabella

for girls

Any other ideas?

I'd pop Allegra and Ptolemy on there too ..that should give them something to think about

I think the names you have chosen are lovely! x