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Original poster

Theo - Posh, Common or somewhere in between?

37 replies

PassthePercyPigs · 07/04/2010 17:49

I love the name Theo and we're thinking of it for DC1 if it's a boy. I want something classic but fairly unusual... what do you think, mumsnetters?

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lockets · 07/04/2010 17:59

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Jamieandhismagictorch · 07/04/2010 18:51

I'd say fairly posh, myself. But not "Jasper" posh

thedollshouse · 07/04/2010 18:56

I love the name Theo, 5 years ago I would have said it was posh, now I would say it was somewhere inbetween but because of the popularity of the Footballer Theo Walcott it seems to be moving downwards iyswim. I wouldn't let that put you off though it is a ver nice name and Theo Walcott is a lovely chap not your typical footballer type.

muminthemiddle · 07/04/2010 19:00

I would say it is an inbetween name.

oldandmiserable · 07/04/2010 19:14

The ones I've met are common. It's kind of a 'Josh' type name.

I don't think it's ever been posh.

suwoo · 07/04/2010 19:22

Just a normal name IMO. A lovely one.

NorkyButNice · 07/04/2010 19:24

Mine is neither common nor posh

All the ones I'd met previously were on the posh side though it has to be said - definitely middle class.

Haven't met any others in the 3 nurseries he's attended so I think it depends what area you live in. I'd put it in the same category as Oscar or Sebastian on the poshness front - so not Tarquin-esque!

brightyoungthing · 07/04/2010 19:24

I love it. It's not as posh as it used to be and def not common. I can imagine a Theo to be a very confident successful young man, go for it

sassysass · 07/04/2010 19:29

Definitely not posh and not in the same catagory as Sebastian! I'd say it's in the same catagory as Dylan. Very average - used by the working and middle classes.

lockets · 07/04/2010 20:00

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PanicMode · 07/04/2010 20:16

I have a Theodore nn Theo - chosen 6 years ago last week, and we're both privately educated professionals - round here I know a couple of other Theos - all PLU/smart people.

BUT, I do think that the Theo Walcott connection means that it's moving into the mainstream - I'd never use the word 'common' or 'posh' anyway and perhaps becoming more popular - if you combine Theo and Theodores from last years list, it's now 44th - when we chose it, it was 145th on the list or something. We probably wouldn't choose it now, even though I think it's a gorgeous name.

FWIW, we also have a Rufus and are considering Jasper for DC4

CantSupinate · 07/04/2010 20:21

I think of it as upper-middle to posh.
Deffo Theo Walcott connection will make it much more mainstream, though.

stillenacht · 07/04/2010 20:22

Love it

gegs73 · 07/04/2010 20:26

I think its quite a middle class name but very nice. I only know one.

Fourleaf · 07/04/2010 20:46

FWIW I have never liked the meaning of the name Theo without the 'dore' much. It just means God! On another note I think it's a bit odd how preoccupied many people are with the class status of a name- a child's name is not going to determine (or even influence) their social standing, so why does it matter so much? I know OP may not have meant 'common' in that sense, but just a thought.

Missus84 · 07/04/2010 20:49

Neither posh nor common - mainstream though I think. It's just outside the top 50 boys names for last year.

morningpaper · 07/04/2010 20:50

My friend's dog is called Theo

It seems posh for a dog

Angela82 · 07/04/2010 20:53

I'd say it's quite 'in-between' too although I agree with Fourleaf's comment. It depends on your son's character in future years as to whether people would think of him being a 'posh' Theo or a 'not so posh' Theo

BettyButterknife · 07/04/2010 20:53

I don't think it's either, but I do think it's on the up. IMO, it's the new Jack.

Lymond · 07/04/2010 20:58

Very popular around here. I have a 20 year old relative called Theo - it was very unusual at the time. Now I know a 7 year old Theo(dore) whose parents are very posh, and several Theo's aged between newborn and 4 whose parents are very normal.

HerHonesty · 07/04/2010 21:09

wouldn say it was either. becoming very common.

twosofar · 08/04/2010 08:04

Anyone who is in their 30's or 40's and called Theo is probably super posh.

It is now a really popular "normal" mainstream name which I bet will have shot up the Top 50 by the end of this year.

Kind of reminds me of Darcey for a girl... Darcey Bussell is pretty posh, but the name is now fairly ubiquitous

Bucharest · 08/04/2010 08:15

Common. (in every sense)

I agree with Twosofar, any older Theos are very posh.

foxyD · 08/04/2010 08:17

Absolutely agree with Twosofar , it's another name that was posh but has been adopted by so many people now it's become common.

Original poster
PassthePercyPigs · 08/04/2010 14:00

Thanks for all the replies ladies... it's the Theo Walcott connection which is putting me off slightly - especially if he scores a goal at the world cup - there'll be loads of them! Food for thought, there definitely. Why is it that boys names seem so much harder to choose than girls?

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