Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
lockets · 07/04/2010 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

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

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

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?

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread