Pretentious names?

[Linguaphile]

When choosing a name, did you write off any for the pretension factor? As I am not English, the idea of a name sounding 'too posh' is new to me... I have my fair share of sociocultural connotations attached to names, but none of that particular variety. Just curious as to what names (if any) you would avoid because they sound pretentious?

Because a story doesn't make a name?

Then how come people don't name kids Hades or the names of villains in stories?

EyelinerQueen - I was beginning to think I was alone, in thinking that about Amelia (and the birth defect).

There are a lot of 'upper class' names that I've only heard of through reading them on here...Jocasta, Araminta(sp?), Ptolemy..

Literally have never heard of them (and am not entirely sure how to pronounce them)!

I don't think I've ever thought of a name as posh before, I'd judge that more by the accent of the person called it.

If I heard one of the names I mentioned above I would think posh but not sure if I would have before having read about them being posh. Sorry I'm a bit rambly there but hopefully you get my drift!

There are lots of perfectly nice names that I wouldn't use as they'd sound ridiculous where I live - Persephone, Rupert, Arabella, Hugo. Great names for someone but can't imagine them kicking a football in the street with Archie and Liam

But Archie used to be posh too - I thought it still was!

How sad that you'd find it so ridiculous if an Archie(bald) was friends with a little Hugo. Or a little Sephie or Bella! What sort of area do you live in? I hope you don't pass those views on to your children.

That shows how subjective these things are. I would have said Archie was much posher than Hugo

I live in a very diverse area, and as a childminder, I've heard every possible name, and each child has been a delight to look after!

It's a bit sad and insulting to judge a child by their name. I know traditionally you would find certain names within upper classes/royalty, but I would hope now in 2014, we are passed that.

As I've already said, if you like a name, use it. I'm pregnant with #1 and I can't wait to name s/he!

They're all perfectly nice names, but honestly I would feel ridiculous calling Persephone in for tea.

I really wanted a Percival, Cosmo or Lancelot.
Being from council house stock and living in a terribly non grand flat id feel like a bit of a plonker if I had. Still love the names just not very 'us'....so I did the common thing of naming ours after Shakespeare characters it's cultural Innit.

I tend to judge the parents for pretentious sounding names, when they're making the children stick out more and it does smack of "oh look at us aren't we clever". I also tend to judge very "chav" sounding names.

However, this is an instinctive reaction, I do overcome that and tell myself not to be so silly! I'd also never treat a child differently because of the names the parents lumber the kids with.

DrFunkes do you have a Goneril? Or even a Bottom or an Elbow?

Eyeliner - kind of like girls named Malena or Candida?

"I would feel ridiculous calling Persephone in for tea."

Really? I would love to call a little Sephie in for tea. I find Persephone a beautiful name and is it really that different from Isabella, Penelope or Florence (or any other girls name)?

I think, as others have said, this says more about you than the parents who chose a lovely name for their daughter (imo).

I have two DSs:
Aadvark, 3.5
Barnaby, 2.1

So I shall kepp my opinions well to myself

'I think, as others have said, this says more about you than the parents who chose a lovely name for their daughter'

I think that is what people are saying, they would feel silly calling Ptolemy/Persephone in for tea. Not that Ptolemy or Persephone are silly people.

I don't see the big deal about finding a name too fancy-shmancy. It doesn't make you a bad person if you decide that you would never in a million years call your child Peregrine.

One of the nursery mums told me DD1's name was very posh.

Ironically it is one that divides opionion on here with some calling it chavvy.

So my point is one man's posh name is abother oman's commoner.

squoosh, there is a big difference between not liking a name (perfectly acceptable, I dislike lots of names) and judging a child and labelling their parents as 'pretentious' simply because they don't share your taste!

But 'pretentious' exists and some people do exhibit their pretensions through the names they bestow on their children. Absolutely their choice of course but I would assume that a couple who named their son Peregrine definitely had pretensions to appear to be posh.

People are making a statement no matter what they call their child.
Call a son Thomas and you are saying 'I am classic and no nonsense'.
Call a son Sonny and you're saying 'I am modern and trendy name'

etc. etc.

Would you not make any assumptions about the parents of a Peregrine?

Well, certainly where we are in (Greater) London, most people are pretty open minded about names. We know kids from different countries, from different cultural backgrounds and also kids with names on this thread - nobody bats an eyelid. Perhaps in other parts of the UK people are less open minded and do feel the urge to make assumptions about peoples' names.

I honestly would not assume that parents choosing to name their child Arabella or Persephone (I even know an Antigone) do so because they want to 'pretent' something - they simply love the names.

I think it's a real cultural thing. It should not segregate the 'classes' because frankly classes shouldn't exist. I view 'class' in the same way I view racism. Deliberate biased or prejudice towards a person based on an assumption made of them before actually getting to know them.
But like cultural trends, names are influenced by what is considered 'fashionable' in social circles etc. so yes you will get a lot more Jayden's, Princess Jailani's, Chardonay's etc coming from different back grounds than the Francesca's, Tristan's & Beatrix's. You wouldn't see very many Caucasian Mohammed's, or Asian Becky's.
Does that mean we should assume that either of these groups of people have restricted capabilities or are less desirable? No way!
We are all capable of writing our own destinies no matter our back ground so therefore names are irrelevant. (Or should be!)
Interesting, but ultimately irrelevant.

Aardvark? You called your son after an anteater?

Quinto

Is your son really called Aardvark? I'm curious as to what would draw you to the name if so.