Rufus, Felix or Leo - too posh?

[swiftfox]

We are expecting our first child, and cannot agree in a name from our shortlist above. I'm not British, and love the name Rufus, but my (British) husband thinks it's too posh (he also thinks kids would call him Rufus the Doofus). Similar with Felix... He's very concerned about the class-connotations of names and wants something that can transcend class barriers. I'm less bothered as I don't really see that!
Leo seems to be less class-specific, but worried it's too popular atm. Theo is also a possibility. I don't like particularly long names which would get shortened.

To me... Rufus is a cocker spaniel and the other two are cats!
We are struggling for names because that’s how my brain works 😂

I live on a council estate with a Felix...

None of them are posh. They are all popular

But why would popularity affect how posh or chav a name is ?

Hello I looove Rufus but my partner isn’t keen or it would be a contender for me too! Leo is also really nice and on our list. I’m not quite as much a fan of Felix but it’s nice. I don’t think any of them are too posh!

@stellarfox well clearly we both like the same names considering our similar usernames . Might be little Leos for both of us, though I'm still most keen on Rufus.

Good to hear that people know boys/men from all backgrounds with each of the names. In my home country no one would think a particular name is class-specific in the first place so it's been interesting to see that some names in the UK could be considered so

Leo especially isnt highclass imo. Felix I love, but i always think of it as a cats name too and Rufus is just not my cup of tea

The thing about bullying is that it doesn't really matter about the name - if you're going to get bullied they'll pick on something whether it be a name or bad skin or their trainers. Kids can be ruthless.

That said I don't like Felix, it's catfood to me.

Leo is nice, I prefer Leon though.

Love Leo & Felix, not so keen on Rufus.

I also love Dexter, but I was overruled on that one!

Good luck OP.

I love them all! They’re not prohibitively “posh” if you ask me.

Felix is probably my favourite, Leo gorgeous but slightly too popular, and Rufus is the edgiest/coolest (I love it but many won’t).

I do not know how posh they are but in my book Rufus is a dog, Felix is a cat and Leo is a nickname

If you're going down the animal thought process then not only is Rufus a dog, Felix a cat, but Leo is a lion.

Doesnt bother me though - my dd has a name that MN thinks is a dog's name

I love the name Rufus for either dog or child!

Names filter down the classes. I know a few privately educated Jasons but they are a bit older - probably born in the late 1950s/early 1960s. The Jasons born in the 1970s were more likely to be state educated.
Names like Hugo, Rufus and Sebastian or Arabella, Poppy and Imogen would have been posh 50 years ago but now are more commonplace.

Rufus is a dog’s name, Felix is a cat’s name and Leo is the very opposite of posh.

Leo is the current Lee IMO.
Shame cos both names are nice but familiarity breeds...
Back to names that used to be posh. Olivia, Amelia etc.
I shudder when I hear them now.

Leo definitely isn't posh, I know 3 all from working class families.

Felix & Rufus are both bloody awful. I definitely think Theo is the way to go if that's your short list

My brother is 24 and called Leo, he absolutely loves it and I think it's the best name! I think it's popular but not too common

I know 2 much older Leos - both extremely posh. Proper upper class. The only child Leo I know is just Middle I'd say. I heartily disagree with its the new new Lee!!!!! Not at all. Leo Tolstoy......Lee Tolstoy.... Nah!

I teach at a state comprehensive school and there are a couple of boys called Rufus, a couple called Felix and several Leos. I certainly wouldn't call them posh names - I think of posh as being something like Tarquin (although, from what I've read on here, genuinely posh people tend to have very traditional names). I love the names Felix and Leo, less keen on Rufus.

Leo is a beautiful and very classic name.

It’s very popular at the moment with everyone.

It’s been a top ten name in England, Scotland and Ireland recently and the number 1 name in France in 2021 and number 2 in 2022.

Lovely names often are popular for that very reason, so don’t let that put you off.

History wise, it’s a timeless Latin name and has been in use since Roman times, although it seems to be having a big resurgence at the moment.

@AletheiaVeritas why are you resurrecting a 3 year old thread

Rufus def posh
Felix is a little bit posh, and also a bit Irish (I don't know why, but the only Felixes I've ver met have been Irish). Leo is a gorgeous name and yes, a bit popular at the moment, but only because it's such a nice name! Max was the Leo of 10 years ago!! BTW my DH considered Alexander "too posh" when my DS was born!

I'm not keen on Rufus but I really like Felix and Leo. I don't think Felix is posh. I've heard Leo is a popular name but I personally only know one. Hope that helps.