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.

Very interesting thread, and a real eye-opener about British culture, even moreso than the constant worrying and wondering about possible teasing and nicknames on the Baby Names section. This is a discussion that simply would not happen in the US.

hf,you have reminded me of something my nan once said.Her MIL,my great grandmother aways had servants and long after she had died my cousin was born and named Sarah Jane.I remember my nan saying that GGM wouldn't have approved of the name at all,as it was a 'maids name'.

Something which has always interested me are the names popular with African Americans,ie Taquanda,Latoyah ect.They are very individual and don't seem to be taken up by any other groups.I'd be interested to know if they are chosen because their parents consciously avoided 'white' names as a hangover from the days when slaves were not allowed to use traditional African names,but were given white Engish names instead.I'd love to know.

There is no way Leonora should be considered poncy.
It is a very old name from at least the 17thC.

It ticks all the right boxes for any DD born this century.

Sounds beautiful (say it out loud).
Simple to spell and easy to pronounce.

Graceful, elegant and with plenty of NN's.

It is recognized throughout all European countries.

The perfect name.

FuriousG- Glad I gave you an intersting memory!

I read an article which said that the 'below stairs' names of yesteryear become the middle class names of the day.

My mother sneers at Violet, Milly, Tilly, etc. I love Violet but her generation have memories of a decaying, aggressive 'Aunty Vi' or similar. (Hate V or Vi as shortenings).

So it is more than likely that today's 'chav names' will be tomorrow's Evies etc.

As far as 'African American names' go (and this is why this sort of conversation might not happen in the US) there are both ethnic and class factors involved.

Most of the names that would be identified as "African American", of the kind FuriousGeorge has in mind, would probably be the result of a parent wishing to give a child a first name that is unique -- plenty of caucasian Americans do this too, btw, but there is a line drawn, don't know exactly how, between 'unique' white names and 'unique' African American names, with very little crossover (one exception that springs to mind is Jaden type names for boys). Of course, plenty of African Americans do not choose such names, same for non-African Americans.

I don't think there's any conscious effort to avoid slave names and return to African roots, since most of the names readily identifiable as 'African American' are a mixture of Arabic, European and sub Saharan African names and name fragments. But maybe there's a consciousness of the randomness and arbitrary nature of the origins of African American surnames that results in a greater emphasis on the given names -- so perhaps there is a certain level of origin-consciousness.

mathanxiety-thankyou,I was really interested in what you had to say and you explain it very well.I get what you mean about the 'crossover names too.

I have a Lachlan and a Madison. I love Lachlan as I think it's a strong name but not too commonly used. Madison....I just love it. No other reason.

Lachlan and Madison aren't pretentious.

You never know, on this site someone may well find Lachlan and Madison pretentious .

I have a Lochlann and a Tabitha - I used to have a Mirrin. I don't think any of them are pretentious?

Names are pretentious when they are both very rare and have never been fashionable, in an attempt to find a name for a child that no-one else has. "Trying too hard" to be different is pretentious!

Was that a hint BonsoirAnna?

I think pretentious is when people try to be upper class about it. A bit Frasier Crane really.

I find 'Cosmo' (I think that's the name, it always crops up on here. It's something like that anyway) very pretentious. Though I know many on here like it.

I think I am definitely working class, as much as I subconsciously aspire otherwise.

Can foreigners get away with names that would otherwise be considered 'pretentious'? I mean, we don't belong in any 'class' ..

Also, names that are considered 'pretentious' in one country are considered very common in another.

A caustic-minded observer might raise an eyebrow at an unusual name, only to discover it was an old family name that went back centuries. I have a DD whose unusual name has been mentioned on this thread -- she was named after ancestors over several generations.

I am getting annoyed with all the name stuff on MN...just seen my own name used as an exammple of a Boden woman, whatever! It's kind of rude, and can only hurt feelings, so what is the point? I hate lots of names, for lots of reasons, but I don't go telling people.

I understand you're upset- my name and my DS's name have both been slaughtered on here before. But you are on a 'names' thread so you will see opinions on names.

I dont think it matters if you call your child a 'chav' or 'pretentious' name as long as you like it & i dont think the name you choose reflects on the parent(s) I had a Chardonnay 16 yrs ago(r.i.p) way before it bacame so called chavvy & i have a Baylee but i certainly am no chav or am i a snob. The children with these so called names can aspire to be wotever they want to be a name doesnt make the person