Are 5 syllable baby names pretentious?

[hendaw]

Ones that I am considering

Cassiopeia
Anastasia
Alexandria
Theodosia

They’re not pretentious IMO, but the only one I’m familiar with is Anastasia and that’s just because of the Romanovs.

Yes

Wind up?

I like them. Nice, stately names. Would certainly say them all with five syllables.

Why call them Ana, Alex etc if they can choose to use those names anyway? Give them options.

Not pretentious, but such a mouthful to shout across the playground.

Such a mouthful that you will inevitably end up with Cassie or Ana or Alex or Theo. If you like the shorter versions too then go for it.

that really is pretentious! Also makes it sound like Canestan cream oddly.

As someone with a 4 syllable first name and 3 syllable last name I would advise against a 5 syllable first name. 4 is plenty

Anastasia and Theodosia both have tragic associations with the most famous women who bore the names dying young and violently.

If you have greek heritage Alexandria isn't pretentious but if you don't Alexandra is less forced in an Anglo context. Cassiopeia is probably the best - Cassie.

They'll all be shortened by friends absolutely inevitably, that's the main thing with very long names. You cannot expect to control that beyond nursery - it'll be up to your child.

I'm assuming you're pronouncing "sia" on the end as see-yah? I would pronounce it as shah so your 5 syllables would be 4 to me.

But that’s not how it’s pronounced!

Could be more of an emphasis on the SEE-ya now I've said it a few times in my head (but certainly it has three short 'a' sounds first). I think parent is of Russian origin rather than being pretentious.

Says who? I've known a few Anastasias and they've all pronounced it "an-ah-stay-shah" .

I would cut back to Alexandra and go with that.

The rest are far too frilly.

How do you feel about the shortened versions op? That is what they are going to be called in reality

It isn't a baby name, it's the name of a human being who will be going out into the world.
Firstly to the shops, sitting in a trolley, where you will be telling old ladies that the tiny baby's name is (takes deep breath) Titusandronica, or whatever the choices were.
Just prepare yourself to hear, "gosh, that's a bit of a mouthful" or "gosh, that's a big name for such a wee girl" umpteen times a day.

I can’t tell if this is a joke or not! 😆

Same. I tried to get my husband to call our eldest that but he didn’t like it!

If you like the name go for it but they are definitely all pretentious! 🤣

I have an Apollonia and an Altagracia. No one minds except the mumsnutters, who insist that I should "just name them Polly and Gracie if you're ever going to shorten the names; I don't understand why people use a longer name on the birth certificate - it's mad!!"

Brilliant!

My kids have 4 syllables names which seems long enough.

But you couldn’t call them by these names - you would have to shorten them.

I actually know a Leopoldina.

And I know several Anastasias.

Simple? Blimey