Is this posh?

[Silkyredpjs]

I’m trying to convince my partner to name the baby Amelie. But he thinks it’s too “posh”. Is it even? He says he’ll feel idiotic shouting out her name because he’s proud of his “working class” roots.

I have no idea what he’s talking about? Does he have a point? Are the “Amelie’s” that you know all posh?

I really want to use it!

OP, what names does your husband suggest?

It became popular because of the film ( brilliant film) so a lot of people associate it with the film.Hence the reason for it having a sudden surge in popularity.

We had this argument, but it was me who thought Amelie was pretentious. I still maintain Emily is the better name.

It’s also very down market here (Leeds).

There are loads and loads of tween/teenage Amelies (probably because of the film)

I don't see it as either unusual or posh

Out of your new list Gabriella is nice and I don’t hear that a lot. Liliana is getting quite common now but not top 10 level. I’m sorry but I really dislike Rosabella. It sounds like some sort of a woodland fairy or Disney character. Rosa is lovely. Bella is cute but not as one name.

Lilia is less frilly than Liliana and less common too but still pretty. A friend just named her daughter Èlara. She’s an astrophysicist and it’s one of the moons that orbit Jupiter. I’d never heard it but it’s pretty and unusual without being fussy.

Christabel was the name of Emmeline Pankhurst’s daughter...it’s both pretty and has strong, sensible working class roots that might suit you and DH?

Annabelle or Anabel is getting quite popular but might be something that suits both you and DH?

Partner likes standard names: Sophie, Katie, Ella

I told him I like more fancy names and he started saying Diana and Camilla!

Would it be weird if we called her Amelie but he pronounces it Emily? And I can call her Amelie?

Won’t that be confusing for her?

Would it be weird if we called her Amelie but he pronounces it Emily? And I can call her Amelie?

It would be very weird.

I know you really like the name, but if he doesn't then you can't use it. You need to write a list or use an app like Babyname, and see if there are any names you both like.

And confusing for nursery and school and grandparents. Find a name that is acceptable to you both.

I dislike the name and it is definitely on the rise around here. It is harsher sounding then Emily yet still too cutesy for me too. I can see how he could find it pretentious.

I do love the name Camilla though! I know it is more likely to be thought of as ‘posh’ but it kind of owns it rather than sounding pretentious.

This is an interesting part of darkgreener I haven’t looked at before.

Rosabella is dreadful, so not that, but if he likes Ella and you like more flouncy names can’t you pick something that ends in Ella and she can have that as a nickname?

Would it be weird if we called her Amelie but he pronounces it Emily? And I can call her Amelie?

Yes really weird. It also really wouldn’t be fair on your daughter to do that. Unfortunately this is something you need to compromise on and compromise in this situation is to find a different name which you both agree on.

Since most people in the UK spell it without the accent (Amélie) and pronounce Amelie to rhyme with family it doesn’t sound very posh to me.

Most of the people I consider well bred and sophisticated chose straightforward names, often with a family connection, like Catherine, Charlotte, Alice, Caroline, Elise, Lucy, Julia, Elizabeth, Sarah, Rosie and Sophie, Amelia, Chloe and Isabel/Isabelle. Some of the more creative names in my well-heeled village are Violet, Xanthe, Zara, Tamsin, Edwina, Lucinda, Theodora, Clara and Bronte.

Posh is as posh does - it’s not the name that makes a baby posh, it’s the family. So if your husband doesn’t feel posh, it won’t matter what you name the baby.

You can't use Amelie if baby's Dad doesn't like it. Especially if you will call her Amelie and he will call her Emily. It will be very confusing for her.

Gabriella is nice. Rosabella is a bit much, but Rosa on its own is lovely. What about some of the other Rose names - Rosalie, Rosanna, Rosalind etc? They're all known names but not common enough, or unusual enough, to have developed class associations (IMO anyway). Rosalie, for example could be Rosa, Rose or Rosie for short and these might appeal to your DH, whilst also being a bit longer and prettier for you?

What about Camilla with nickname Amelie?

I’m really trying here lol

@Silkyredpjs

What about Camilla with nickname Amelie?

I’m really trying here lol

Not sure if you're being serious or not. Just in case you are, then no, it would be weird and very confusing.

Forget the name Amelie. You need to try and find a name you both like.

@Silkyredpjs

What about Camilla with nickname Amelie?

I’m really trying here lol

No.

I think he was joking about Camilla anyway...

Ok back to the drawing board. Love Amelie still though...

I have an Amelie. She is almost 13. We're not posh. I've had lots of compliments over the years.
Don't hear it very often and I've worked in teaching, day nurseries and social care during my career.