Mercedes yay or nay?

[escorpion]

We live abroad, my husband is South American and here there would be no problem with this name. It´s on our shortlist for a girl. I just worry if we come back to the UK to live about how this name is seen. i.e. chav. Thoughts?

Thank you for all your comments especially Sunshine and Mintyy although you have different views they are both valid and definitely given me food for thought. It would be pronounces mer-said-es as we don´t pronounce the c as a th in South America. I think it is a beautiful name too, but just worried at the potential teasing. Thanks to all for replying.

*Sunshine" No one said what? The comment I made was self-explanatory, surely.

I don't think the "chav" comments here are mean--they are realistic. I'm aware that Mercedes is a traditional Spanish name, and "in and of itself" I think it's beautiful. But in the UK, unfortunately, a lot of people will put it in the same category as naming your child Chardonnay. It's a real shame, but I would avoid this name for that reason. How about Dolores?

I love Mercedes.

www.babynamespedia.com/end/f/es

Or one of these?

Dolores?! Bloody hell.

Thanks for the link NewStatesman

Love the name. Go for it

I think Mercedes is a beautiful name, and when said in a Spanish accent, it is perfect.

However, I know of two Mercedes - and all are from chavvy families. One even chose the name from the Hollyoaks character too .
I don't know if I would particularly deem it to be chavvy, if I didn't associate it with these people though. There was a similar thread a while back concerning the name "Nevaeh". I know three Nevaehs from very different backgrounds - one has a chav mum, one has a posh mum and one has a spiritual mum - so I don't really put it in a bracket.

Complicated. Mercedes Jones might be tricky to pull off, but Mercedes (insert Spanish surname) would come across much better. Mercy is a great mm.

aaaargh. Nn not mm

"I think Mercedes is a beautiful name, and when said in a Spanish accent, it is perfect."
Although, as pointed out, Spanish speakers in the Americas don't affect a lisp in their accent. It would be pronounced just like the car.
I like it, but I'm not in the UK so I'm not sure my opinion is valid for the purpose of this thread.

I used to know a boy whose last name was Benz and he always said that he intended to name his daughter Mercedes. He didn't, because he grew up. That would have been an uncalled for use of the name.

Portia has posh connotations, Mercedes not so

I really like it. Especially if you have Spanish speaking connections people wouldn't think twice about it. I teach a Mercedes, nn Mercy, which I also love.

Hi OP, I'm a Spanish lady myself, but wouldn't dream of naming my daughter Mercedes, even though it is a lovely name.

My reasoning for this is that although it isn't actually chavy, it'll be considered to be here as English people tend to frown about those types of names.
This probably stems from the fact that it fits in with the 'Chanèl, Armarni' group of names, and people would view it as such, although it's not the case.

I like it

I love it.

IF you came to live in the UK, she could just use one of the short forms (eg Mercy, Sadie) if you really think it's a problem.

Seems a shame to drop the idea on the basis that a few unspecified people, in a country she may never live in, might think the name chavvy.

I teach a Mercedes, nn Mercy. She has never to my knowledge been bullied or judged for her name. She is not 'chavvy'. However I would caution that people in th uk will pronounce it Mer -say- dees, not Mer- said-es, if that is likely to bother you.

FWIW, and I know nowt about Spanish names, one I do like is Pilar.