Aspirational middle class names

[freakonomics]

Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster!

I’ve been reading the baby name posts for a while and every now and again someone uses the phrase “aspirational middle class name”.

What does aspirational middle class mean?

Working class “aspiring” to be middle class?
Middle class “aspiring” to be upper middle?

Am totally lost...

And what are these aspirational middle class names??

Not meaning to offend anyone but genuinely interested...I’m really interested is socio-economics (as you can see from my username!).

Thanks in advance

I dunno really. Traditionally posh names like Hugo Lucas Oscar and Rupert live on council estates round here. I’m glad class doesn’t seem to impact so much on name choices anymore

It means nothing! It's a narrow minded view that some people in the UK seem to hold....!?

Means SFA. Call your child what you want within reason.

I have no idea.

Seems to be based on an outdated English class system. That certain names are reserved for certain classes? Ridiculous imo.

I think it just means people choosing a certain name because it sounds posh/more upper class than they think they really are? It's a bit silly really, social class doesn't mean anything nowadays in the way it did to people a century ago

I think it just means people choosing a certain name because it sounds posh/more upper class than they think they really are

How do you determine someone's 'poshness'

I always think it means "I'm not very confident and overly concerned that I am not projecting the image I would like to".

Names that are self-consciously given, in order to attempt to make the parents person seem to be something which they are not, only serve to magnify the issue they wish to conceal, imho.

Thanks everyone. So is it trying to sound “posher” than you are?

Though I agree, there are no longer any class determining baby names, and anything goes really .

I’ve read millions of threads and not come across that specific phrase - can you link / copy some context ?

I read the name threads all the time and that phrase hasn't leapt out at me. I've seen some names described as "poncy". Is there perhaps a Venn Diagram crossover between AMC and poncy (some of my children's names might find their way into the Venn Diagram so I am deliberately avoiding using examples)

Have seen that sort of thing said about names the poster considers a bit ‘try-hard’, and faux aristocratic, e.g. giving names like Ptolemy and Octavius.

I think they’re the sort of names that also often get called ‘wet’ on here. Like Rufus, Rupert, etc.

'Try hard' is what I don't get! I mean don't we all try hard to find a lovely name for our child? A name that we love, that sounds great with our surname, that works in different languages (in the case of different heritages), that isn't too popular/overused etc etc?!

I'd hate it if my parents hadn't tried hard!

been working with student housing in a naice university. There are a lot of Josephs and Jacks, Claires and Isobels. And a shitload of Alex's.

'Try hard' is what I don't get! I mean don't we all try hard to find a lovely name for our child?

There is 'try hard' and there is 'getting carried away'. I admit i was. I was very keen on Hadrian and a few other quite outlandish names Been told to give my head a wobble

Perception of names is often influenced by TV, media etc and you can't predict where that will go. The name Lauren took a beating when Catherine Tate got big with that character, same for Wayne or Kevin in the Harry Enfield show, or Sharon and Tracey in Viz etc. No-one names their children those names now. So I guess middle class aspiration is trying to pick a name that isn't associated with any of those negative stereotypes. There is some research that shows employers do discriminate against certain names, so I don't blame anyone for trying to get around that, but it is super classist.

I think the 'judgyness' also depends on where the parents are from, Continental European parents like can choose all sorts of long flouncy names without anyone accusing us of trying to be posh.

DS1 has a stereotypical 'posh' English name, chosen partly because its so easy to say in various languages.
DS2 will probably have similar.

There is some research that shows employers do discriminate against certain names, so I don't blame anyone for trying to get around that, but it is super classist.
I think that would be wanky spellings, or something obviously foreign.
TV show names come and go, most of them are normal names anyway.

attempt to make the parents person seem to be something which they are not
This is what I dint get. My child is a child, what exact am I trying to make them if they have a name that on here is considered "try hard"? I mean they'll be in a state school in a working class town. The teachers know the kind of families who go there. They'll possibly go to a uni but afaik they'll be judged by school and grades. They'll apply for jobs and hopefully be judged on qualifications and experience. Who am I actually meant to be trying to impress if I call my working class kid Theseus or Castiel?

Continental European parents like can choose all sorts of long flouncy names without anyone accusing us of trying to be posh.

Yay, i too love posh names and gave my son one. Glad that us non-Brits don't get judged

They'll apply for jobs and hopefully be judged on qualifications and experience. Who am I actually meant to be trying to impress if I call my working class kid Theseus or Castiel?
I don't know. Celebrity aspirations? Because "classy" people usually have traditional and boring names.

Eh? You think working class people name their kids so they can get onto Love Island or win X Factor???

all sorts of "special" are the names that celebrities would pick, not the middle classes

But who is aspiring to be a celebrity? Me or me for my kids? I'm confused. Should I mention on my Google box application that I've named my son Castiel or do I have to wait til he's old enough for The Vocie Kids or Masterchef Junior? I mean I can't possibly like the name more than I like Jayden or some other suitable name for my working class child

Only in the class obsessed uk would someone begin a thread asking this 😂