Lacey...

[chocochoco]

What do you think about the name Lacey? I think its really pretty... but have heard a few not so positive opinions on it! We already have a DD called Holly.

I disagree. I know those associations are arbitrary assumptions olga.

I do it's a shame when this name snobbery comes into play when discussing an unborn baby's name.

'think it's a shame', that should have read.

Love love love it!

And I would put Lucy into that category of being chosen by a large cross-section of parents, across a diverse socio-cultural field: it is not just a name chosen by the middle class.

Socio-cultural and socio-economic (the economic bit is really the most significant ad we're talking about assumptions to do with class/taste/distinction).

And, whilst Lacey isn't my favourite name and it might carry associations of 'chavvy' and/or 'pornstar' yikes, I really dislike these terms when talking about baby names I will say that it has that funky surname sound to it, whilst being definitely feminine.

Chavy made-up name I think. Sorry.

Re Molotov's crossed out bit: They're not "baby names". They are names. Names are not usually cast off when the bearer ceases to be a baby. And unfortunately some names do have undesirable associations.

If you call a child something like Lacey, you're inviting snobby people (like me, perhaps ) to judge them before they have even met them. That isn't a good thing when it comes to (eg) applying for jobs/university/whatever. Perhaps unfortunate, but true.

Good grief, I don't think someone with an outstanding academic record would be barred entrance to Oxbridge/Ivy League/whatever because she happened to be called Lacey.

Arrgghhh!

I know a Laicie Tulisa!

Not my cup of tea either.

I know a 22 year old American Lacey, she's very sweet if a little dizzy. But is ALWAYS happy.

My name rhymes with Lacey (Take away the 'L' and add 'St') and I have often had the racy put in front of it by friends. I know its also considered a very 'chav' name but I can honestly say I'd rather have a common name than a bloody cutesy old lady name!

This does however seen to go against the thinking of many MNers judging by some of these threads, if you like it go for it :)

True, Squoosh. But I think someone called Lacey would find it harder to achieve the outstanding academic record in the first place. Even teachers can have preconceptions based on children's names...

I know plenty of people with 'frightfully' working class names (the shame!) who've achieved much academic success in their lives. I don't think a mere name condemns someone to a lifetime of being an educational outcast.

Not all girls need to be called Beatrice or Florence.

Olga I think I understand your point in that "someone called Lacey would find it harder to achieve the outstanding academic record in the first place". Studies have been conducted (on Afro-American names) which concluded that societal institutions do jugde people based upon upon names; that DeShawn, for example, is more likely to come from a lower socio-economic background. I think this is a similar assumption being made about Lacey (without the racial connotations).

I don't think that a person's academic performance is solely down to their name, however. It's a lot more complex than that. As squoosh rightly says, names don't condemn, nor do they guarantee someone will be given a head-start.

And Worm, re. my crossed out bit in an earlier post: I did say that I dislike using such terminology for baby names because this is with reference to the OP's unborn baby. I have also indicated in the same post an awareness of the connotational value of names.

I don't get your point. We are discussing names, not babies, born or unborn.

Sorry, meant to add that DeShawn would be assumed to come from a lower socio-economic background and might be less likely to succeed academically because of his upbringing within that background.

It doesn't necessarily mean that DeShawn comes from such a background. Just like Beatrice, Persephone or Sholto don't necessarily come from middle/upper class backgrounds.

And of course teachers have preconceptions, but I'd yank my child as quick as you like out of a school if the idea was "Lacey is going to grow up as a chav who works in the adult film industry anyway. Whatever we've got to teach her will be lost. What's the point?"

Worm think I already clarified my point :)