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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Scarlett - Receiving Lots of Negative Comments

100 replies

katfai · 29/07/2011 15:27

Only name me and my other half have managed to agree on for our DD is Scarlett however receiving lots of negative comments which frankly seem a bit snobby to me ? that the name is common or even worse ?chavvy? . Is this true?

I don?t move in ?chav? circles I?m a 37 year old, professional who works in London and lives in a very affluent part of Hampshire. So have no idea about ?chav? names. I can?t imagine our daughter will be socially disadvantaged by calling her Scarlett but I obviously don?t want to put her in a position of social or professional disadvantage by choosing the wrong name. Or give her a name she grows to hate.

I know Scarlett is very popular at the moment but is it going to become the new Jade or Danielle of the 80?s or 90?s? If you are Jade or Danielle do you hate your name? I think it has been around too long to fall completely out of favour I?ve always liked it as it?s a little bit hippy-ish to me .

My OH seems completely unworried and wants to stick with it. Jokingly says where we live could do with a few chavs.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BulletWithAName · 31/07/2011 17:33

Quick, everyone, listen to sparkle12mar08, disregard all previous opinion and take this as your own!

sparkle12mar08 · 31/07/2011 17:34

Why thank you Bullet, very grateful to see you know your place in the new world order!

BulletWithAName · 31/07/2011 17:34

I do indeed

AlpinePony · 31/07/2011 17:36

I've never met a scarlett, am I posh? ;)

Lovely name and as someone else pointed out - she's always the heroine.

niccibabe · 31/07/2011 17:45

hmmm...I know 2 little girls called Scarlett - one the daughter of an outrageously loud evangelical minister - not sure how they got past the scarlet woman aspect?! The other is the daughter of a woman named Chelsea...so for me it goes in the Chelsea, Tiffany, Britney, Madison, Jade category. Both little girls have "look at meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" attitudes.

If you think there's a chance that your daughter will be any of shy, bookish, or gentle, maybe a softer-sounding name would suit better.

BulletWithAName · 31/07/2011 17:47

If you think there's a chance that your daughter will be any of shy, bookish, or gentle, maybe a softer-sounding name would suit better.

How would you ever have any chance of possibly knowing that?

DoctorX · 31/07/2011 17:48

Nonsense. This is a great name - go for it!

Debbie1234 · 31/07/2011 17:50

It's a lovely name. Stick with it x

niccibabe · 31/07/2011 18:30

Maybe one or both parents is already shy, bookish or gentle? It has been known for a child to take after a parent...

BulletWithAName · 31/07/2011 18:35

Yes, but it's also been known for them not to. So I think dismissing a name that you love on that basis is a bit silly IMO, not trying to be rude or cause an argument here btw!

ajaybaines · 31/07/2011 20:04

Why is it rude to say what I think of it? I just think of it as an ugly name - the OP hasn't even named her baby yet, it's not like I'm having a go at the name of her actual child.

InstantAtom · 31/07/2011 20:18

Agree ajaybaines, you haven't been rude.

Sometimes people feel they have to stop giving honest opinions once someone has said they have a son/daughter with that name. But that's not really fair on the OP who came on here for honest opinions good or bad.

BulletWithAName · 31/07/2011 20:24

Na, I don't think ajaybaines has been rude either, speaking as a mother of a Scarlett. If you don't like a name, you don't like it, that's fair enough!

ajaybaines · 31/07/2011 20:30

Thank you. I am sorry if I offended anyone though, esp any mothers of Scarlett's.

Like I say though, my DDs both have very girly, frilly names that would probably make some people on here heave. In fact - I am fairly sure that DD1s full name and DD2s nick name have been panned on here by the too popular/too cutesy brigade and it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

TheBolter · 31/07/2011 20:41

I know SIX Scarletts all of whom live locally - and I live in a v affluent, middle class area! Two of the Scarletts I mention are at private school...not that that has much bearing on 'chavviness'; I'm trying to illustrate my point that no, I don't think it's a 'chavvy' name. A popular name, yes, and one which will therefore be used by people regardless of 'social class.'

So you are as likely to hear it brayed in Waitrose as you are hollered in Asda. (If you really want to go down the general social stereotyping route of analysis!)

ShoutyHamster · 31/07/2011 21:20

It's a name that before very recently wasn't commonly used as a name much at all, really. Not made up, but kind of in the same camp as the surnames-used-as-first-names set. And it's rocketed in popularity in the last few years.

Those are usually major indicators for a name that's going to date really quickly, and one that goes from quirky to being perceived as naff (or, read 'chav' - horrid term).

It's a really pretty name, but I can see why you'd have doubts. It's definitely a very current name - go for something more classic perhaps? I think the Scarletts and McKenzies could well be the Karens, Sarahs and Debbies of the 2010s - not marked out by social class so much as just belonging very much to an era!

Bandwithering · 31/07/2011 22:13

It starts with SCAR. that is why I don't like it personally.

TillyIpswitch · 01/08/2011 02:05

I do think it is teetering very precariously. And agree that it is much more of a trend-based name, as opposed to a classic one - it will definitely date to the Naughties/Teenies, in the way that Karen, Claire and Joanne dates to my generation. None of these are bad names, just very much of an era, as ShoutyHamster says.

Original poster

katfai · 01/08/2011 10:17

Thank you for all the comments (both positive and negative). Will see if she looks like she can match up to the name when she's born. And if she doesn't we can spend 6 weeks arguing over alternative names.

A couple of friends already have Charlottes so that's definitely not an option (and the Iron Maiden song was Charlotte The Harlot).

OP posts:

Cheria · 01/08/2011 10:25

Natters my DD is a Charlotte and I have to stop myself from saying Charlotte the Harlot regularly (she's too young to understand but still...). I giggle to myself each time.

I love Scarlett, in fact DD would have been one but during my pregnancy I watched an interview with Scarlett Johannsen where she came across as a really spoilt diva so I was put off.

pawsnclaws · 01/08/2011 10:30

Well I like it, but I think it's starting to date a little - like Ruby.

I'm also very conscious of song names - we have a neighbour called Rosie and DH always hums Whole Lotta Rosie by ACDC when we see her - maybe not the most refined song to be reminded of!

gleechie · 01/08/2011 17:58

I think it's a beautiful name, know a lovely 6 year old Scarlett with possibly the most unchavvy parents you've ever met

tammy234 · 02/08/2011 11:31

Personally I don't like the Scar part of Scarlett, it sounds like a little scar, so I wouldn't use it. But I hate this ridiculous 'labelling' of names according to class, so I wouldn't worry about that. If YOU love the name, go for it. And be confident in your choice.

shoobidoo · 02/08/2011 16:40

I don't like the name much because it begins with the word scar - not a nice association imo. But no, I wouldn't see the name as 'chav' or 'posh' or whatever other category some mumsnetters like to use.

lastonetoleaveturnoutthelights · 03/08/2011 13:54

I kinda like it, it was on my name list for last child, but I don't think Scarlett O'Hara is a positive fictional character to be named after really.

She was weak willed, vain, spoilt; the daughter of a slave-owner and pro slavery.

The actress who played her in Gone With The Wind (Vivian Leigh?) was quite pretty, that's all.

Any other Scarlett's from literature?

Hmm, Vivian is also quite a strong ballsy name isn't it. Maybe an alternative there for you OP?

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