India

[YouCantCallItIt]

I really like the name India but worry that it may be perceived as a chavvy name...wdyt?

[Bue]

I doubt the parents of India Wilkes had ever been to India

[blue2711]

My best friend's little girl is India Rose and I think it's a stunning name. Totally agree with the OP about this try hard nonsense. I definitely tried hard to give my two beautiful names that are outside the top 50. Nothing wrong with that surely. Big yes to India and no, you don't need to have been there.

[justhayley]

I just Love it. It was my fav name when I was pregnant (until I found out I was having a boy). I don't think DP would let me use it & I got a few raised eyebrows when I mentioned it but I think it's beautiful, especially if you put it with a classic English name. I think India Rose is quite popular, think it sounds really pretty though.

[YummyMummyFeelingFunny]

Lovely, Chris Hemsworth called his baby India Rose which is gorgeous.

[Beamur]

I know a teenage girl with this name, not at all chavvy, but a very bright and beautiful girl.

[PandaWatch]

But Florence is a very old latin name, not just the name of a city! Would you say you could only use the name Paris if you had been to the city?! India has been used as a given name dating back to the 1800s at least. I don't get the whole chavvy/you can only use it if you've been there thing.

[IWantMyBabyNow]

Yes, very nice!

[ClementineAndLilac]

Love it, it's a fantastic name.

[MummyInTraining]

Florence is well up in the top 100 baby names and I never hear people saying oh only if you visited Florence....it's a load of nonsense if you like the name go for it!

[Leeds2]

I think India is a lovely name, and the two I know (ages 18 and 7) are certainly not chavvy. I think there is a Lady India Hicks in the Royal Family.

I also know an Indianna.

[Snusmumriken]

It is hard to tell in advance if a new born will turn into a clumsy girl or an ugly baby!

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Next we'll be hearing clumsy girls can't be named Grace or ugly babies shouldn't be called Rose.

[Snusmumriken]

I have never understood why some people name their daughters India, where as other countries like Uzbekistan, South Africa and Hungary ( to name a few) never seem to have many fans.

[Ilovecheeseandlovinglife]

India is a lovely name but would only call your child India if you had visited the country and experienced it.
There was an India in my class at school who had only travelled as far as Plymouth.. Seems a bit try hard to me

[ripsishere]

I agree with Lynette 100%.

[MummyInTraining]

I love India it is a string contender for my next pregnancy if its a dd. I was thinking India Veronica Clementine, India Veronica Rose or India Veronica Pearl. Swoon!

[LynetteScavo]

I don't think it's chavvy or try hard, but I do think if you are going to call your DD India you should have at least been to India. Same with Florence, etc.

[YouCantCallItIt]

Donkey you make a good point. TenthMuse I would be slightly concerned for that reason also as I have no connection with the country at all. But I still love the name....

[TenthMuse]

Hmm... I used to love India, and still think it's pretty, but possibly a bit 'self-consciously exotic' (especially for someone like me who has no connection whatsoever with India!). I know someone who used it a few years ago who might be described as 'alternative chavvy' - a bit of a hippy drop-out type.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Going to regret this I am sure but what makes anyone think someone choosing a certain name - any name - is attempting a phoney image or has certain aspirations? Doesn't that smack a little of sneering at a person "getting above their station"? I understand if people think, Oh yeah, look how they're trying to grab attention, eg by prefixing a name with, off the top of my head, Princess, but a name? Genuinely puzzled.

[YouCantCallItIt]

Oh yeah that's me all over [ throwing eyes up to heaven emoticon ] Well I still stand by what I said I would rather be too try hard than not bovered. Who wants a name for their child that may be perceived as chavvy or one that has negative connotations?? That is the responsible reasonable thing to do as your first act as a parent to your child. It's not about wanting to be perceived as "rah" etc as some people here have put it but trying to do the best thing for your child. As people will and do make assumptions about people based on a variety of things, names included. If people like to see that as being try hard then YES I AM TRY HARD!!!.....Rant over

[ladymia]

sorry I hate to quote the urban dictionary but this is the definition ...


A person who puts a large amount of effort into achieving a certain image, or counter-image, to the point where it is obviously contrived. Rather than achieving an image through genuine personality, the try-hard consciously attempts to fit a certain style through deliberate imitation, forced style, or scripted behavior. That is to say, he/she is trying hard to create an image.

The fact that you asked if it was chavvy also added to me thinking this. I am sorry was just giving my opinion. Trust me my name choices have been shot down on here before too :)

[YouCantCallItIt]

I'm not sure what people mean by too try hard surely you would want to "try hard" to pick a beautiful name for your child I would rather be too try hard than not bovered