“Try hard”

[Orphlids]

I often see people on here describe names as “try hard”. What does this mean exactly? Thanks!

Names that you don’t hear every day like...

Hunter
Charles
Brielle
Drazon
Daxson

For me try hard names are those like Lennox, Beckett, Arlo, Reuben, Silas. I don't know but they just have that look for me.

For girls it'd probably be Athena, Guinevere, Billie, Primrose, Theodora.

It means trying too hard to be different/quirky/hipster. Eg Ozymandias, Ariadne etc.

For me it's Octavia

Sorry just my opinion and I know others will be different

I hate that term. Too try hard? How can you be sneered at for trying too hard to find your baby's name?

It’s at the opposite extreme from that other name term beloved of Mumsnetters — ‘chavvy’. There are a tiny, fluctuating number of acceptable names in between ‘try hard’ and ‘chavvy’, so the consensus is just to call all offspring Jack and Sophie.

@Tillygetsit Me too. Up there with 'grabby'. Urgh.

It's such a bloody adolescent expression, too. I think I last used it when I was about 12.

That you have tried hard to pick something a bit different.
Often the names end up being quite popular, so your little Ptolemy or Atticus or Aurelia or Juno ends up being one of several in his or her peer group.

*@What*syourflavour
totally agree about Octavia being try hard. On the flip side of a classic name. My mother would have called it nouveau riche

Thor, Julius, Arabella, etc. “Try hard” names are those that seem contrived rather than natural and are usually viewed with disdain. I will say that while I wouldn’t choose Octavia myself, Octavia Spencer totally pulls off that name because she has a commanding beauty, but it would be a wee bit sad or clunky on someone less impressive. On the other hand, we can’t all be named Elizabeth and Thomas or else the world would be less fun.

I encountered several kids called 'Julius' in London primary schools some years ago. It is - or was - a very popular choice in the Afro-Caribbean community. I didn't view them with disdain, nor think they were contriving to stand out 🙄

Must be regional, then! This is all subjective.

DH suggested "Hendrix" for our DS. That is try hard.

DH suggested "Hendrix" for our DS. That is try hard.

Is it? We used to have a hen called Hendrix, but that was in actual tribute to Jimi H.

I think it’ll be names that just feel a bit over the top - however one that has been mentioned on here is a name I love. A name is a just a name and we become our names in a sense. If there is a name that you like that someone has deemed as try hard, chances are that others will love it - as long as you love it and it’s not OTT totally ridiculous then go for it.

Charles is try-hard?

Having never heard the expression I thought Try Hard was the suggested baby’s name for a second!

@Chickydoo totally get your mother's response 🤣 Try hard names could also be known as "pretentious"...

A mum at DC's primary school had DSS called Armani and Gucci 🤢

Dear sons, not DSS, bloody autocorrect!!

[quote 8catsisnotunreasonable]@Chickydoo totally get your mother's response 🤣 Try hard names could also be known as "pretentious"...

A mum at DC's primary school had DSS called Armani and Gucci 🤢[/quote]
This can't be real life

I think it's when people select names to try and show how special and unique they think they are, but rather than going down the route of made up youneeek spellings, they select a name that they think will either make them sound oh so 'look at me' quirky, or it's a bit Hyacinth Bucket 'lady of the house'.

Which names make the list would probably very dependent on region and social circles too.

I think it's when people select names to try and show how special and unique they think they are

So, we should all just call our children George and Mia, because that way we're making it very plain we don't think we're in any way special, and our children won't stand out from the crowd, but can co-exist happily with all the other Georges and Mias, all giving the side-eye to little Julius?

StuntPond
Where did I say everyone should call their children George and side eye Julius? Or that parents shouln't think their children are special?

I was explaining what people mean by try hard names. People having opinions about names are having opinions about the parents, not the child.

Some people in life do think they are so much more unique and special than everyone else and love trying to draw attention to how unbelievably different they think they are. Some do it by trying to throw as many niche music references into conversation regardless of audience, others try to name their children in a way that says 'look, I'm not like you other parents'. Though I'm sure you'll now claim that finding 'look at me' behaviour annoying means that nobody should ever have an interest or do anything different ever and deliberately refuse to see the difference between 'look at me' behaviour and people having a range of interests and getting on with life.

If you like a name, use it. Don't be put off by snobbish people trying to sound clever by saying it's 'try hard'.