Classless names

[Pico2]

I noticed that someone said that Daniel was a classless name (could belong to anyone).

I don't want to start a bunfight, I know that every name should be classless, because we shouldn't be prejudiced. However I really like the idea of using a name that is perceived as classless. So what boys and girls names do you think are classless?

Going back to OP question, I'm sure every person knows of a Daniel, so that name can't be bracketed, in the same way that others can.

Very good point shovetty I had neglected to include Char from consideration. Poor thing gets called Scarlett more of often than not because her twin is Sophie and so if I realise half way through saying her name that I'm using the wrong one it becomes a hybrid!

My DC and I are in a lot of the lists, so I'm now feeling very classless.

Missingmum my DH is an Edward and if we have a DS he will be too (family tradition!).

andadietcoke - that's the same reason a school friend of mine once thought my 'real name' was Cathemma. It's Emma & DSis is Catherine. Mum got confused a couple of times while friend was visiting .

Totally irrelevant, but it's nice to see that my name and one of my DS's has been mentioned several times

Hmmm yes ACM88, you're quite right, there are probably quite a few people from different backgrounds named Henry, particularly among older generations, so maybe Henry isn't 'posh' either! It's actually quite tricky IMO to use royalty as an example of 'poshness' as, people of all backgrounds choose to name their DCs after royalty. Maybe not so much these days but historically. I know a lot of un-'posh' Williams born circa 1982.

Wasn't Catherine Parr named after Catherine of Aragon or something?

Haha Santa, I think Cathemma could catch on!

I wouldn't put Robert in the classless list. The Roberts (all Robs or Robbies) I know are all definitely working class. Although maybe that's just a regional variation?

The Robins are all posh, however.

How about Chris, Christine, Christopher?

bernice Robert- earl of Grantham . It's a classless name, but it's another which is 'given away' by the nicknames.

I'm so pleased to see the name I'm planning on (currently PG) appear on this thread. I think it's a great gift, having a name that fits in anywhere.

An older male friend of mine, from Glasgow, says that some posh Scottish men may have 'classless' traditional names but tend to choose rather self-conscious/ironic 'working class' nicknames. He says that nowadays, if he hears of a Rab or Tam or Jock or Jamie, he expects them to be accountants or lawyers or bankers or politicians, rather than steelworkers.

I do think, however, that certain names are genuinely classless. Robert, Thomas, William, Peter, Paul, John, James, Christopher, Donald and possibly Joseph don't necessarily trail class baggage behind them, and can belong to anyone.

Ooh good my name has been mentioned a couple of times. I won't be telling you what it is though

Ooh, I know a lot of little Edward's, about 6 of them, all under 5.

Classless names:
James
Christopher
Matthew
Luke
(I can think of men/boys with these names who are very posh "grandfather sits in the lords" types and very poor backgrounds)

Girls seem much harder to think of truly classless, in that I can easily imagine "prince Harry's new girlfriend xxxx" as well as "Jeremy Kyle guest xxxx"
Only ones I can think of are:
Sophie
Emily
Kate

After that, most of the girls names mentioned could be working class and middle class, or upper class and middle, but few seem to suit the whole range.

I'm like so classless!

I actually think that a lot of the names mentioned are rather mc including Charlotte, Emily, Christopher, Elizabeth, Alice etc. but it's of course completely subjective.

To me classless names include:
Harry
Ben
Leo
Peter
Michael
Samuel

Sarah
Anne

I agree that there are more male names that seem classless. I wonder why this is? I can't quite explain it but I wonder if it's about how women of various classes are perceived to represent acts in type of femaleness whereas blokes are just blokes.

Yes, I suppose the nick names make or break the classlessness.

Which side do you come down on then, Lottie Doubtie? Or are you a secret Char? ;)

Michael
Thomas
Oliver
Adam
Matthew
Benjamin
Andrew
Samuel

Sarah
Rebecca
Lucy
Anne/Anna
Sophie

Which side do you come down on then, Lottie Doubtie? Or are you a secret Char? ;)

I'm a fraud! My real name isn't Lottie/Charlotte, or in fact even close to it. I do however like Lottie a lot, but it is IMO the more MC NN. Although there are exceptions I knew an UMC 'Chaz' it was teenage rebellion, and you could almost see her parents wincing

I will fess up, I realised after posting my old bosses son is Edward known as Ed, also 2 of the names in my list are my children's and one is the name my 20 year old cousin wants for his son who is now 2weeks overdue! Hurry up :)
One of my boys names has come up a couple of times in this thread and it is a fab name, he loves it.

I looked on line and of 78 children in the year of his birth had it, his dt's name also in the list I saw 91 children across all the derivations of the spelling.

I have what I would consider a classless name and I have come a cross people from across the spectrum with it.

Daniel yes. Also Sarah, Jacob, Theo, Sophie, Harry,

Pleased to see mine and all my 3 brothers names on here! We are a classless family apparently.

I also know a reception aged Eddie btw.

sashh I think you might a few Etons called Harrison and Marcus though? I'm not incredibly sure tbh.
I think a lot of the more traditional names are classless as a PP has said, so Luke, James, Michael, Matthew... Charlotte, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Emma etc
However, I don't think people should judge a child/adult based on their name. I am sure there are many successful people named Tyler, Riley, Chantelle, Kyleisha etc as well as many unsuccessful 'Charles Adrian Bartholomews' and 'Rosemary Jane Margarets'

See, I think Harry, Ben and Leo are all posh, or at least upper-middle/Eton and Harrow type names.

What about Thomas?

Its also interesting that some names have different association in the UK than in other countries.

I knew lots of toddler and baby Edwards in Surrey when I lived there - would all be between 7 and 10 now. I taught lots of secondary aged Harrys, who would be in their very late teens and twenties by now, in a quite mixed intake Surrey school, and they were as likely to come from the MC estate or the council estate - we didn't have any uber posh kids though. I taught in a school in a deprived part of London befote that and there were also Harrys, bit not as many.