Do these names have a stereotype?

[MildSpice]

We’ve mentioned Elijah and Malachi (with the mal-uh-kai pronunciation) as top considerations (because I like discussing names before baby is born), and my SIL immediately said that they’re ‘chav’ names. (I think it’s a bit rude to be snobbish about names in this way, but that’s not the main point of this thread.) I have never heard anything negative about Elijah or Malachi before and did not know that they had any stereotype. What do you think?

They're not "chav" names.. They're both lovely names.

I actually like them both. Choose what you like . Everyone always has to have an opinion but it's not important.
Everyone can't have the same taste or life would be boring.

Not chav names at all. I’d say maybe a bit religious but honestly I really like them

I’ve only ever heard Malachi on Irish people, so I’d probably assume an Irish background.
Elijah is a biblical name, heavily christian vibes to me.

I have seen someone (on the internet) say that Elijah (and Isaiah) is a mixed-race name. People are strange! If you like a name, use it.

Malachi and Elijah are Old Testament biblical names so I’d assume religious family, either devout Christian or Jewish. Malachy is old fashioned Irish name but spelled like that. Nothing chav about either IMO.

I believe the OP is referring to the biblical name Malachi rather than the Irish name Malachy.

I automatically thought vampire diaries, not a bad thing 😂 I like both names.

I think malloc i, which doesn't look right.

Not keen on either name. Too long and will be Eli and Mal.

Elijah- I think of a biblical, religious name but nice

Malachi- I think of a malady or illness. Maybe because: 'The word mal most commonly functions as a prefix meaning bad, wrong, or ill'.

They're not chav names to me. They are old testament names, like Noah, Seth, Adam, Daniel etc. Lovely, classic, traditional names. I know a young Malachi and he's really cool! It's not a very nice thing to say. Is your SIL envious of you?

Elijah isn’t chavvy.

These are church boy names, specifically black church boy names in my area. Lovely but probably weird if not religious at all.

I'm in the US and there names would make me think 'Carny or trailer park vibes.

You think Elijah Wood (Frodo!) has a trailer trash name?

Not at all. They sound like trendy modern names to me. I mean Noah is standard now.

Yes not chavvy but they're not very common names in the UK outside Jewish and/or devout Christian communities, perhaps in America they're more popular but all the Elijahs I know are Pentecostal or Baptist (aside from one who was named after Elijah Wood the actor who played Frodo in LOTR 😅which is a common association for people around in the early 2000s, probably not so much for today's kids) and all the Malachi's I know are Jewish. Not that they're such unusual names you'd be really surprised to meet an Elijah or a Malachi not from that kind of background, it's not like Hepzibah or Bezalel or Keran-happuch or something but nor as they quite as classless and neutral as say Thomas or Adam which are also old testament names but have gone into such common usage that you really can't guess anything about that person's age or background from their name - which may or may not be what you want OP.

I think chav names too, sorry - particularly Malachi

Yes, Say it a few times with a Southern drawl

It's the same name and the Malachi spelling is also widely used in Ireland (eg Malachi Mulligan).

Biblical names, I would just think you were a family that followed a particular faith - nothing more, nothing less.

Malachi Is very popular with the travelling community - absolutely nothing wrong with that but maybe that’s where your SIL is getting that connection from

I kind of agree with her re Malachi. Elijah I’d assume was quite churchy.

Elijah has definitely gained a stereotype in the US. It's considered "ghetto" now. It should be fine in the UK, though.

Rule 1 - NEVER discuss names with real life friends or family during pregnancy. When the baby is born, announce the name then. You won't get the negativity.