Curious why Joseph is decidedly unaristocratic

[janiejones5446]

We have pretty much decided on the name Joseph for our upcoming baby. And not that it's a bad thing (in fact, I like it), but on inspection, it seems that not a single current or presumptive duke, marquess, or earl has this name, which surprises me given its status as one of the enduring classics. Just curious as to why this is, and perhaps if anyone has any insights on this name and it's social history in general.

Again, we've pretty much settled on the name, so this is more out of curiosity than anything. TIA.

I don't think Andrew is a catholic name, it is Scottish but I would put it more on Protestant side of that split.
St Andrew is the patron st of Scotland.

I'd see Benedict as quite a posh catholic name.

I'd see Benedict as quite a posh catholic name

Nah. I’m Catholic. Benedict is a priest’s name. The shortening Ben is hugely popular.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

It is a great name. I live in hope that it will soon be the first name of the US President. I don't rate Biden as a candidate but anything would be better than another four years of Trump.

Agreed. Interestingly (or perhaps not), Biden would be the only US president or vice president to be named Joseph... probably for the same reasons it's absent from the UK ruling class, though I had thought JFK broke down the Catholic wall in the US in the 60s.

Not just Catholic.

My English non conformist family used it and it was quite in fashion in those circles.

Again though the anti aristocratic side of English society.

It is my favourite boys name.

Stalin wasn't keen on the upper classes....

One of our sons is named a European version of Joseph, and DH's family were pleased as to them it's both very Christian and on the posh side. He's from a very Catholic country.

Ilovestickers they are exactly the names my family used: Hannah, Joseph etc. There were some virtue names too, Happy being my favourite!

Benedict Cumberbatch is quite posh. Old Etonian. It's a name that would be picked by quite middle class people in England for a baby now. Ditto Dominic. Leo and Joseph are popular names for boys but not considered lower class.

Sorry Harrow not Eton

A famous English Joseph is Joseph Priestley who discovered oxygen.

A notable example of an 18th century Non-Conformist.

Old Testament names are rarely used for the royal family because they point to either Jewish or nonconformist backgrounds, and the royal family/ traditional aristocracy is neither. There will be some exceptions - Elizabeth for one. But names can be used if they use the anglicised form of a Jewish names, eg James instead of Jacob. Old Testament names come out if a completely different naming tradition and are not “traditional classics” in that sense. American names are different because the country was populated by nonconformists early on, so OT names like Joshua etc are more traditional there. You probably don’t even get very mainstream, but OT, names like Daniel in the royal family.

It's a traditional classic for some of us..

Elizabeth is in the New Testament! Luke is the only book to mention her.

We have a Joseph. I love it. It never gets shortened to Joe as we just say politely "It's Joseph, not Joe".
Round here, Jamie is a more upper class option. Lots of posh Jamie's in Scotland

I like Josaph it was on my short list. But the this ruins it. "Hi my name is Joe and I work in a button factory......."

I do recall seeing a at least a few each of David, Michael, Benjamin, and Simons among the dukes et al, as well. There was one Jake but no Jacob.

David was the given name of Edward VIII. He decided to use Edward when he ascended to the throne. There have been Scottish kings called David but no English or UK kings as yet.

My favourite boys' name, jointly with James. Sadly, not my husband's favourites so we didn't use either name for our son. He didn't get his first choice either, to be fair.

@CaptainMyCaptain - no his real name was Joseph Merrick. It was misreported / mistaken to be John and it stuck in the film.

I have a son called Joseph and one of the things I like about the name is that, thanks to Jesus's (step?) dad it does have connotations of being solidly, salt-of-the-earthly non-elite. How could an aristo name their child after someone who set aside his personal dynastic honour to take care of God's wild oats?
I guess that, on the other side, there is the Old Testament Joseph with his fancy coat and eventual nouveau riche success in Egypt. But, on balance, Joseph is still the name of a horny-handed son of toil, a skilled worker.

I think it would be considered a Catholic name

It is interesting.

I also think of Oliver - a classic name that wouldn’t be used in the RF.. presumably because of Cromwell (and for the same reason, also not nearly as popular in Ireland as in the U.K. I think?)

Do you think William and Kate just “know” which names they can and can’t use or do you think they need to run ideas by courtiers first?

[quote iklboo]@CaptainMyCaptain - no his real name was Joseph Merrick. It was misreported / mistaken to be John and it stuck in the film. [/quote]
Also Wikipedia, I checked, but I'll take your word for it.