Do you think baby names say a lot about the parents?

[RomyMadison]

I think names do, the names my parents picked says a lot about them and it's spot on!

My Dad called me Joy and he's a miserable old git. So no.

It's inevitable that the name choose says something about the choosers. Sometimes the thing being said is shouted a bit louder i.e. Spike, Ptoelmy etc. but even if you choose Thomas or Mary you are making a statement. That statement may be 'I want my child to have a nice ordinary name' or if they choose Alfie or Lily they are saying 'I like ultra current names'.

Of course your tastes are going to reflect not only the clothes you wear, the books your read but also what names you like. Thankfully we have different tastes - life would be dull if we all chose the same names!

But I don't think it 'says' anthing about the parents.

No, I don't think it says anything other about my parents than that they wanted the best for me and that included choosing a name that a) sounded good with my surname, b) wasn't already used by lots of others and c) works well in other languages (as we have family abroad).

Why do peope (in the UK) feel that by choosing a name you love you're necessarily making a 'statement'? You're just choosing a name that reflects your tastes and that (hopefully) goes well with your surname.

Yes of course! It's most parents' biggest branding opportunity ever!

But reflecting your tastes is a statement. You mightn't be a making a BIG statement, but a statement nonetheless.

I think its interesting just by a name alone you can probably guess a lot about the family, it's cute.

I would think that most parents choose names for their kids that sound good with their surname, aren't overused and they like the sound of. Yes, we all have different tastes and some of us are more influenced by fashion, but I don't think we need to read to much into the parents.

squoosh, but what 'statement' am I making by choosing names for my kids that (in my case) are lovely (in my opinion ), sound great with our very short surname, sound good in German and are relatively unpopular at the moment (only used about 40 i.e. 12 times last year)?

You've just given you own statement!

And, my son's name is often described as 'posh' (on mumsnet) but in fact it is a top 10 name in France, well known in Germany and we are not in the slightest posh . So, I wouldn't read too much into a name.

Does it begin with an H and end with an O?

Yes of course it does, it's the biggest personal statement you might ever make and it will last decades after you've gone (hopefully.) Eg people who don't like to be centre of attention might be more inclined to choose Top50 names.

Well you've just said it yourself. You sought out less popular Germanic names instead of choosing wildly popular ones.

The fact that you know the statistics pertaining to how often your chosen names were used tells me that you don't want ultra popular names.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with a statement, just that it's inevitable.

No, Bonsoir, it begins with a Q . Maybe it was in the top 10 in France a couple of years ago.

Quentin?

Yes .

A statement is something which gives precise, unarguable information, such as a bank statement.

Names are not a "statement" (horrible fashion jargon) because everyone who hears the name will form different opinions/assumptions about it. And many of these assumptions could be wrong.

If you can't infer anything specific and definite from something (as with names, clothes, favourite colour) then it's not a "statement".

The vanity of getting to name someone is a big part of the thrill of having kids. That's why so many people curse themselves for having used their favourite name on the puppy they got before having kids. It's a big shout out to the world what you think is good taste.

Maybe the parents as a couple but not as I individuals. I have 4 children and only the eldest would have his name if it had been solely down to me and even then it's because it was my brothers name so as much my parents taste.

Yes, I do. I think that very often we project who we think/hope our children will be with names, and more often than not we unconsciously parent them to be that child iykwim.
For example- My older sister has a one-off, wacky hippy name. It would sound wrong for a high-court judge. She is an extrovert and now makes her living from music.
I have a softer, more average name. I am an introvert and tend to shy away from being the centre of attention.
So either my parents knew what we were going to be like from the second we were born and named us thus, or they had formed opinions about how they expected us to be, and named and treated us accordingly. :)