What makes a name (in your opinion) pretentious and why ?

[Stannie]

Just wondered really..

I think labelling something/someone pretentious is very dependant on where your own background/standing but as we all are only very loosely gathered into social groups/trends it's fairly impossible (IMO) to call a name in particular pretentious.. what might sound so to one person maybe a perfectly normal name to another..

What in your opinion makes a name fall into the dictionary meaning - which is "characterized by assumption of dignity or importance" - and why ?

For example I don't think Persephone (mentioned in another thread) is in any way pretentious but I went to school with a Mungo and I have a very, very unusual name which I love.

I've come to the conclusion that the age of the parents plays a huge part in determining if a child will have a so called pretentious name. I have noticed that parents who have their children in their 30's usually give them more unusual or trendy names. I know that this is a sweeping statement but it is something I have noticed in my own family circle. Interestingly enough the family members having children in their 20's are more conservative with their choices .For instance my DD's best friend had a baby boy yesterday and called him Jamie Allan. Allan is a family name.

Okay fair comment Maggiebeau - just why do I like Isobel/le and not Annabelle? Well I think it's that Annabelle just seems to me like an over-elaboration of Anna (which I love), and frankly a fairly recent one at that, whereas Isobel is a time-honoured name. Annabelle - and I've even looked it up now anorak-style and one board suggests a mishearing of the Hebrew(?) Amabel - but it me it's ooh no darling Anna isn't quite beeootiful enough so let's add 'belle' for that extra glitter and French-ness (only I've never met a French Annabelle). Bit like Tinkerbelle to me, stick em both on top of the Christmas tree...

Am sure I've read Annabella in Jane Austen or somewhere?

Same with Leonora - they were about in the 19th Century I think.

So not 'Tinkerbellesque' in that respect.

So maybe Annabelle is more pretensious?

I like Elodie (popular in France I think) surprised not more popular.

Lord Byron's mother was 'Annabella' there you go, just doing a bit of googling.

Two can google! His mother was Catherine Gordon. His wife was Anne Isabella - nick named Annabella (presumably by Byron himself - and let's face it - he was hardly unpretentious at times!).

So - tis made up. But maybe you just found the (pretentious) original. And indeed tis an elaboration of good old Isabell(a). Annabelle sounds even more made up IMO as has a French ending to an Italian/English 'a' on Anna.

And don't get me started on the Elodies and Aurelies. Yes yes I concede that they are authentic French names. But to my mind they are Barbie movie names - the kind of name my six year old DD would think is beeootiful.

(Look, in real life, like all MNers I am sweet, reasonable and complimentary on all things. If you told me your child was named Aurelie I would tell you how wonderful I thought it was. But if you want a MN honest injun opinion..

Goes away to become sweet reasonable self...

I think it depends on the family. If our baby is a girl it is likely that she will be called Annabel. Annabella is too pretensious for our family although I do know a little Annabella and it suits her and her family perfectly. I think the name Hermione is very pretty but again it is too posh for us and I think people would think we were trying too hard. I did suggest it to a friend when she was pregnant as I thought they could get away with it. We aren't posh enough to get away with a a name like Tarquin or Peregrine, Annabel or Alexander are as "posh" as we can get away with.

Pretentious even.

Elodie is beautiful! c'mon.

Bellissima I can see where you are coming from a little on Elodie, even though I quite like it.

Interesting re: Byron, but are you sure 'Annabella' does not exist in its own right?

Leonora certainly does (I wonder if it has European/Danish origins as I know several Danish friends who seem to favour it along with Elvira - which is Spanish isn't it)? I am getting confused now!

I think today anything goes, within reason

I have a good friend called Friday - now that's been a hard one to live up to! Although she carries it off very well (is pushing 40 now.

Of course, we called our PFB Chloe.

Well, I say Chloe, but it is actually spelt Fchloe. With the first 'f' silent, of course.

Great thread! I've just read it all after finding the link on the MN newsletter.

I have a v unusual name that none of you would have heard of before. I think girls get away with unusual names more than boys do.

When we are playing "pretentious posh make-believe" we call our son Tarquin and have been heard to apologise to him that the organic brie was out of stock at La Fromagerie so he will have to make do with non-organic (gasp!).

I love the names Kitty, Tilly, Freya as they're kinda old fashioned. I think the name Harriet is pretty posh. I also think Arthur, Alfie, Otto and Oscar are a bit "try hard". Sorry if I've offended anyone.

We have friends who named their little boy Edgar........ hmmm?

I quite like "sheepdog names" like Mack or Tex. It would make life so much easier rounding up the pack with a dog whistle.

Cortina - I never mentioned Leonora in the first place. If you want my opinion on it Leo = ok boy's name, Nora = not that nice girl's name, combination = a bit OTT. If I liked that sound I would go for Eleonor(e).

Do you mean do I know a 'real' Annabelle(a) in literature/history - other than Lady Made-up Byron - nope I don't think so, but stand to be corrected. Back to the top of the Chrimbo tree Annabelle - you are yet to be justified.

Own up to being a complete hypocrite on the Elodie/Aurelie coz I like Eloise, which must surely fall into the same sugar-coated camp. But you see the Damned recorded Eloise - so it appeals to my (rapidly fading) punk side.

As for Elvira - dunno whether its Danish but innit the MIL in Bewitched?? (The show that brought us Darren???)

I think Persephone is extremely pretentious. A lot of those Greek names are, to my ear.

Mungo just makes me howl with laughter. I hate those 'he's a real boy's boy' names - Woody, Sonny etc.

My wife wanted to call our daughter "Augusta" because she was born in August. I said I couldn't stand the idea of my child being named after a golf course.....

mrcerec

What about that young actor in 'Outnumbered'-Tyger Drew Honey?That is a really odd name imho whereas Persephone is well ok I suppose-a bit like Penelope with attitude

Annabel Lee [poem]

Mmmmm... Are "foreign" names all pretentious then?

Eleonora, Annabella, Enzo are all Italian names which are pretty "run of the mill" (not megapopular either but not pretentious). It may be the same with Antigone, Ariadne and Persephone in Greece. Is it the fact that British people adopt them without having an obvious connection that makes them pretentious?

My posh girls school 20+ years ago was full of names ending in an A or an 'e' sound.

Does that stll hold true? I think it might in the main!

I have a fondness for names like Pixie and Trixie, Honey and Kitty.

I do.

I also like Woody and Sonny.

My children have unusual but not weird names. I like rock star names. More on the Woody/Gene side than the Dwezil/Moonbeam though.

I find this subject really interesting and it was not until I started coming on forums that I realised just how contentious (sp) the whole thing was.

I am amazed at how strongly people feel about certain names, labeling them chavvy and vile or posh and ridiculous.

Maybe its because this is the internet and not RL? Although I have been asked lots of times 'have you got any names yet?' and when I reply I have been astounded at the rudeness!

Oh no you cant call it that! Oh cant I? Why because a friend's sister in law that I have only met once says I cant? Yeah right.

It is natural to have a instinctive reaction to a name. Its natural not to like or to like names too. Has naming your child ever been as complicated class-wise as it is now?

Were there common names and middle class names in the 20s or 30s?

Lots of names like Daisy, Evie, Ruby, Poppy, Rosie etc used to be associated with servants/maids!

Not really relevant to this thread but I can't forget someone on another names thread mentioning little Shiloh Pitt and spoonerisms.... (think about it!)

Re the Greek names - plenty of Greek names are normal in the UK, such as Chloe.. er.. Xanthe... must be others...