What are the upper classes calling their boys nowadays?

[seeingdots]

So apparently naming trends in the UK often follow a step behind the upper classes. This may or may not be true, I don't know, but if so what does that mean for the next crop of popular names that will replace Jack, Oliver etc at the top of the lists? I don't know many 'upper class' people but those I do have only really used classic names like George and William.

Do you think there's truth in that idea and if so what's due a surge in popularity over the next decade?

Disclaimer: I'm expecting a boy but just posting for fun/interest. I'm neither desperate to make my little one sound posh nor to be on the leading edge of a new trend!

But being poor doesn't make a person 'lower class'. Just as being rich makes you 'upper class'.

The whole concept is outdated and no longer relevant imo.

Going to university doesn’t ‘make’ any class, I went to university, even got a Masters fairly recently, and I most certainly would not consider myself to have climbed in class as a result. I’m still very completely working class, along with all my family. My great grandfather was a renowned consultant surgeon, he has a sea named after him. He’s still considered working class. Education has nothing to do with class.

Wow, Sessy, that's interesting. So how CAN someone move 'up' from the so called 'working class'?!

Sunflower 332 Carole Middleton moved up. Didn't she grow up in a council house or flat ? KingHenry'sCodpiece I don't think Sophie Rhys Jones was upper middle class. Meghan Markle isn't. I don't know about Mike Tindal, Autumn Phillips or Tim Lawerence.

You're right about MM in the sense that I think the American concept of class doesnt quite fit with our own, but her dad had a very professional job and she reportedly had the very best education money could buy. Easily the equivalent of an upper MC british education. So not so sure where she fits in the spectrum of things. Never-the-less her traditional name works for her now considering where she is (and yes that is low and snobby)

I read Sophie went to an exclusive private school. Maybe I'm wrong

OP is perfectly correct - there’s a whole chapter in Freakonomics on names, which shows that names tend to be rise in popularity initially through use by higher socioeconomic groups, and that the popularity then tends to ‘trickle’ down - hence the comment upthread about the non-posh Hugo and Sebastian of one PP’s acquaintance. OP was trying to open a discussion on what might be the next wave of popular names, based on this rationale.

More broadly, however, of course there is a class system in the UK. Unfortunately on MN acknowledging the existence of a class system is conflated with believing that it is right. Wealth inequality is amongst the worst in Europe and social mobility is almost non-existent in some parts of the country.

It takes a certain degree of privilege to be able to claim that the class system is an outdated concept, or that it no longer exists. I assure you that the people who suffer most due to inequality in the UK are fully aware of the class system.

Well said

It takes a certain degree of privilege to be able to claim that the class system is an outdated concept, or that it no longer exists. I assure you that the people who suffer most due to inequality in the UK are fully aware of the class system

^This. Very well put.

names tend to be rise in popularity initially through use by higher socioeconomic groups, and that the popularity then tends to ‘trickle’ down - hence the comment upthread about the non-posh Hugo and Sebastian

Ok, on that basis maybe these names could rise in popularity:

Hugo
Barnaby
Magnus
Quentin
Sebastian

Arabella
Antonia
Seraphina
Constance

Labna and Bimbi are totally normal names - just not English.

Labna is a variant spelling of Lubna, which is Arabic (obviously spelt and pronounced the same in Arabic, just different transliteration into roman script).

Bimbi is Indian, I’ve known two different middle aged male doctors with that first name.

I do agree that falafel is a bit unfortunate.

SimonJT Benedictine is a drink. Benedicta is the feminine version of Benedict afaik.

Isn't Benedictine an order of monks ( one of whom created the Benedictine drink) ?

Maybe Falafel is a pet?

Are there any guesses what Meghan and Harry will be calling their child.

Labna I believe can also mean yoghurt in Arabic. I think it’s a type of mezza with cucumber.

They must be pet names and they may have not wanted to reveal their children’s true names.

Calling your child Benedictine is a bit like calling them Buckfast.

@sunflower332 Having wealth opens doors to private education or different career paths but why would I need to change classes?? I’m perfectly happy with identifying as working class, I have no aspiration to be considered otherwise.

I’m certainly not suggesting that social mobility isn’t a thing, because if that’s important to you-to move out of the ‘working class’-then that’s what you should aspire to.

My parents were landowners, I went to boarding school, I live in a Council house.

Interesting. Is that by choice or necessity littlemeitslyn? And did your parents have fairly traditional names?

@ThanksItHasPockets that's interesting to hear that there's evidence supporting the theory. I wonder to what extent the upper vs upper middle class is currently the major source of trendsetting. I get the feeling a lot of these names like Hugo, Sebastian and the classical greek ones that seem to be gaining in popularity are trickling down from the metropolitan upper middle type social groups.

Freakonomics focuses on the USA. I’d love to see comparable analysis for the U.K. I think there has definitely been a trend over the last ten(ish) years of diminutive forms of very traditional names becoming popular without using the full form - Archie, Charlie, Freddie, Alfie etc.

Kate's definitely upper class, Meghan probably lower class, Sophie's something in the middle given she did go to private but her father I believe was a tyre salesman!'

I don't think class comes into names anymore. Both my DD's have what would be described as pretentious names (although nothing Ludwick scale) and I grew up on a council estate with a single mum who received tax credits. And I know others who are working class and have given their dc what was once considered names for upper class.

And as mentioned above, upper class giving their children what would probably be considered as lower class name, see Savannah in the Royal family.

They are all upper class since they married, Catherine and Sophie were both of middle class families (upper middle), and Meghan came from a different class system, but sounds approximately middle class too.

Wasn't Kate on tv with family tree, I'm sure it was wc miners, certainly not upper class.
I have nothing against her though and think she's very attractive.

@RomanyQueen1, what a funny thing to say!! Her attractiveness has nothing to do with whether she’s working class or not! 😂😂😂