Too try hard.

[Tillygetsit]

I'm sorry but I've gritted my teeth long enough! I've read 3 posts today where OPs have been told that the names they have chosen are too try hard. What does that mean? Surely we all try hard to find the perfect name. Does it mean pretentious and posters cant spell that?! Sorry to he goady but it's so irritating.

Not sure if I’ve seen the threads you’re referring to, but I think they mean pretentious or snobby ?

I take it to mean a name that is hard to live up to and if you don’t live up to it comes across silly.

For example naming ur child Rupert or Augustus when you live in a council house in Croydon

@klendraa Why does it matter if they live in a council house or a certain area? Classism is ride in the UK and the best way to stop it is to have people from all walks of life mingling and having things in common!

I think it means trying to something you're not.

‘Try hard’ gets used on here by Little Englanders who suffer from both xenophobia and tall poppy syndrome and think everyone should call their children George and Sophie. Anything else is Getting Above Yourself, and Having Notions.

George and Sophie are pretty much the only acceptable names between ‘try hard’ and the equally dreaded opposite pole, ‘chavvy’, for these posters.

I hate this too. My children probably have names that are seen as “try hard” by some but yes, we did try bloody hard to find something we both loved that we could actually picture on our child. I understand that “try hard” is just a euphemism for “pretentious”/“hipster wannabe”, but it’s pretty insulting already so the posters who say this might as well just own it!

For example naming ur child Rupert or Augustus when you live in a council house in Croydon

Why on earth should council house parents in Croydon be limited to certain names?

Rupert and Augustus are great classic names - well known, easy to spell and not overused.

I hate these narrow minded views. They only reinforce such old fashioned class attitudes!

I think it means that you can't possibly choose a normal, run of the mill name for your child because you and they are more unique than that and whilst George and Sophie might be ok for everyone else, your child deserves more.

I don't get this either. I also don't get why others assume that I'm 'pretending' to be something other than I am.. what if I simply love a name?!

I think it means that you can't possibly choose a normal, run of the mill name for your child because you and they are more unique than that and whilst George and Sophie might be ok for everyone else, your child deserves more that's it exactly!

you can't possibly choose a normal, run of the mill name for your child because you and they are more unique than that

But a name has NO impact on a person's uniqueness.

A name is meant to identify us as uniquely as possible! So the less common a name the better job it does at identifying us.

So I think we should all be encouraged to try hard to find an interesting name, a name that sounds good with our surname, a name that works in different languages etc etc!

I think it means that you can't possibly choose a normal, run of the mill name for your child because you and they are more unique than that and whilst George and Sophie might be ok for everyone else, your child deserves more

That's pretty much a perfect illustration of tall poppy syndrome. And it never seems to occur to this type of person that what constitutes a 'normal, run of the mill name' is highly culture-specific. Then again, I suspect it says a lot about their outlook and life experience.

I hate this notion that some names are too good for some children. As if living on a council estate means you can't ever be anything of note, and as if your name would actually matter if you cure Cancer.

So yanbu to find it annoying OP.

IT'S JUST A NAME

It works both ways though. I don't agree that the name "Augustus" is classic or "well-known" outside certain demographics. I've never met one, and suspect many people have never heard of the name. Except perhaps Augustus Gloop in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

But not being allowed Augustus because you're too common is pretty much just stating if you're poor you're thick. Maybe they adored Charlie and TCF or one of them is a history buff and thought Caesar was too far..
It's possible to be cultured and poor

I don't agree that the name "Augustus" is classic or "well-known" outside certain demographics. I've never met one, and suspect many people have never heard of the name. Except perhaps Augustus Gloop in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

What are you saying? That only people demonstrably from the demographic for whom Augustus is 'well-known' are allowed to use it? But people in council housing who have only come across it in a children's book should not use it, because it suggests aspirations above their class?

No, I was saying what I said.

I think try hard is names posters must know, by any reasonable logic, that the local population will struggle to pronounce/ spell. Prime example is gaelic names in England, particularly when those names are actually really dull and pedestrian in their own country ie Niamh, Grianne etc

I think the "try-hard" comments are about a poster's personal reaction to a name, just like all the other posts in this section. The baby names boards ask for people's own opinions and that's one of them.

Names on here get described as dull, downmarket, frilly, harsh, lovely, strong, weak, understated, try-hard, pretentious etc. because that is how they sound to one person, with their own background, whatever that may be. We all have our own tastes and influences and that isn't "wrong", just honest.

I think try hard is names posters must know, by any reasonable logic, that the local population will struggle to pronounce/ spell. Prime example is gaelic names in England, particularly when those names are actually really dull and pedestrian in their own country ie Niamh, Grianne etc

1. choosing a name from your heritage that is completely pedestrian- that’s the opposite of try hard.

2. Grianne isn’t a name.

3. Niamh is probably one of the most well known and used Irish names in England.

Yes apologies for the misspell- rather proves my point lol. And obviously the point was, it’s not from their culture

And yes 3) that doesn’t mean it isn’t try hard

rather proves my point lol.

No, it just proves you’re too lazy to check how to spell a name before you use it. Which backs up a point I haven’t made, (and won’t) but have noticed a lot.

People using a really popular name makes them try hard? right.

Yes it is try hard to use a name from a different language that you have no connection to. It’s the very definition of try hard