Apparently my sons have ‘naughty boy’ names…

[Perplexed0522]

A friend made a light hearted comment (supposedly) about my two children’s names last week and I am convinced she’s a MN member seeing as she used to the term ‘naughty boy name’.


My husband has got Scottish roots and before we TTC the plan was always that we would honour his history. He used to live in Scotland but moved to England to settle down with me and as all his family are still in Scotland we felt Scottish names would be a nod to them.


We had a son first and called him Arran (pronounced Arun) after one of the Isles and we joked that if our second child was a girl we would call her Skye.


Second child turned out to be another gorgeous boy so we called him Lewis, after one of the other Scottish Isles.

My friend is pregnant which is why we were taking about names and that’s when she said (with a giggle) that it was really brave of me to give both my sons names that are associated with being naughty. She laughed it off but it really hurt.

I’ve since come on here (we have been thinking about TTC number 3) and I have seen Lewis be labelled as a ‘naughty boy’s name ☹️

I know a child’s name doesn’t define them but I feel so guilty that I may have given both my boys a name that has negative associations ☹️

Has anyone else been in a similar boat and how did you move on from it?

[Luxa]

Tell her that your sons are good so they are 'good boy names'

[SisterAgatha]

My boy is named after one of the most famous of naughty boys. It’s commented on all the time but is a family name, we are used to it and laugh. He is challenging but what kid isn’t.

we sing this to him.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=oewVISY1Yhs

Sing it to your friend.

[Changechangychange]

Would never think Arran and Lewis were naughty boy names.

[SisterAgatha]

And I just checked that list and our boys name isn’t on it. It’s too vintage I think for a list like that.

It barely has any names… Wasn’t Lord Byron a naughty boy? Boris Johnson? Ebenezeer Good was naughty naughty very naughty. What a lame list.

[Toffeepancakes]

I’ve worked in childcare for years (in Scotland). Every Arran I have worked with has been lovely and I’ve had a mix of naughty Lewis’s and lovely Lewis’s (all quite lovely really). I’d actually put this down to Lewis being a popular name so there is more of them. (one I also love).

Your friend is just being daft!

[Skelligsfeathers]

She's talking rubbish. Ignore her.

[vroom321]

@SoupDragon

There is no such thing as a "naughty boy name".

it is just the personal associations people have with a name.

Exactly

[SamMil]

They're both lovely names 🙂 and I wouldn't associate either with being naughty!

[Luredbyapomegranate]

That's incredibly bitchy of her. Ignore and dump her.

And she's wrong anyway - neither Arran (which is nice and unusual and I suspect it might really take off soon for boys and girls as it's v similar to the overused Rowan), or Lewis (which is widely used), would fall into the category of what people call naughty boy names - it means things like Jayden and Tyler.

[RudsyFarmer]

The only names I’ve seen criticised on here are the K names like Kai and Kane etc. Lewis is definitely not a ‘naughty boy’ name.

[Redlocks28]

Your friend sounds like a bitch! I agree, certain names have become thought of as ‘naughty’ boys-Alfie/Archie in particular, plus the Jayden/Kaiden/Braedon/Hayden but not either of your boys’ names.

[Harrystylestutu]

I immediately thought you were going to say their names were similar to those pps mentioned. Never would consider your names naughty.

She sounds like Katie Hopkins slating baby names and saying "Paris, Brooklyn" I hate places for names" and Philip Schofield said "...Your daughters name is India "😂

[wonderstuff]

They are beautiful names, ignore your friend. I’ve been teaching 20 years and neither makes me think naughty. People are right it is often about class expectations but obviously actually bullocks, I think certain names become very popular so inevitably you get a mix of behaviours, it was interesting that article how many names flipped between lists. I hope teachers don’t often make judgments on first names, I have some conversations about new kids based on a familiar surname rather than first name (but do always, always start with expectations they will be lovely regardless).

[Emmelina]

Not the names I expected to see when I opened the post!

As another has said further up, a few names pop up in my head but it’s the association with particular children I’ve taught in the past. When I was NQT 18 years ago there was an absolute handful named Alisha in my class. Her behaviour and my lack of experience (the fault of neither of us!) meant I was filled with dread when I saw the same name (different child) a couple of years later. It’s not the name, it’s the individual child, their needs and personality, their upbringing etc etc.

[FourChimneys]

I know an incredibly intelligent and cultured Lewis, if that helps.

[wonderstuff]

@vroom321

Exactly

We did have a boy called Kayos one year. Obviously he didn’t pick his name but there was concern about nominative determinism.

[ChickPizz]

’Naughty boy’ names = nonsense and just barely concealed snobbery. Ignore it.

I’m always aghast when you get teachers on MN using this phrase. I work in education and my experience has been that there is absolutely no such thing, it’s a way to put down working class people… and anyone who judges children (or anyone!) by the name their parents gave them is a massive twat.

[TheYearOfSmallThings]

Your friend is wrong - neither of those names is a "naughty boy" name.

There definitely are names that are more likely to belong to unruly kids from rough homes. But even for those names 95% of the children who have that name will be lovely normal kids.

[Crikeyalmighty]

My son had a very naughty boy friend and his name was Oliver!! A name is just a name

[Threeboysandadog]

I wouldn’t associate Arran and Lewis with naughty boy names. They are good Scottish names. The only name I think of as a “naughty boy name” is Jordan. Each of my children had one in their year and they were all outrageously “naughty”. However, on reflection, I suspect they all had undiagnosed SN’s. I do know a lovely Jordan though.

[NotQuiteUsual]

They're not naughty names. The Arran's I've had were the quietly stubborn determined sort. The Skye's I've had are more varied, but generally a delight and very sweet. All the Lewis' I've taught were very gentle and focused.

Obviously names don't determine personalities, but some names definitely have connotations for me. Oscar is the name I look at and think uh oh usually. They're often full of beans and curiosity in equal measures which is a dangerous combination for my sanity.

[Ignoranceisbliss44]

My youngest has a classic "naughty boy name" according to the MCPB (Mumsnet Chavvy Police Brigade).
He doesn't fit their stereotypical views at all. Yes, he has his moments (don't they all!) but he is a an inspirational boy who has come through so much.
He can't speak due to his disability, but has a smile for everyone he meets.
His name is short and easy to say, meaning he recognised it from an early age.
It suits him perfectly.

[AnneElliott]

I don't think either of those names are traditionally 'naughty boy' names but then I've not met an Arran in real life so it's not a common one.

Just ignore what she said. It was incredibly insensitive to say such a thing to you. Mind you my friend gets told that regularly about her sons' name - he's called Jack. It seems to be something people feel free to say to the mothers!

[Ignoranceisbliss44]

And for all those who tell the OP her friend was a bitch to say her boys have chavvy/ naughty names, and then proceed to give their own list of names that they perceive to be chavvy/ naughty - well you are just as bad as the OP's friend.

OP's friend clearly upset OP, in the same way you have upset other mums with your own assumptions of our children's names.

I almost lost my son as a baby, and the fact he survived is a miracle in itself regardless of the name I chose for him.

[DillDanding]

I thought you were going to say a ‘K’ name like Kai, Kayden, Kyle…which are much sneered at on here.

your names are lovely.