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Original poster

Naming a house <hangs head>

50 replies

FluffyCubs · 12/09/2015 07:07

we've seen a house that we want to put an offer in....are house names irredeemeeaaably naff? (YES, but I don't care)....

I would bother normally, but it's already got a very ugly name and I really want to change it - how do I go about it? And what to avoid? What makes a name naff?

OP posts:

Furchester · 12/09/2015 07:12

I think you can either just change it or stop using the current name. Assuming it has a number as well, then just use that. Maybe more complicated if there's no number.

I think place names aren't naff as long as you don't call it Balmoral or Graceland or anything. We picked a village we used to live which is on the other side of the country, but it's very neutral-sounding and means something like tree on a hill (not exactly that but to give you the gist)

Furchester · 12/09/2015 07:14

Oh and I would avoid puns or anything that sounds like a Spanish resort :o

Our precious houses were named after a mountain, a tree and a bird. Not by us but they were all ok

Furchester · 12/09/2015 07:15

Ffs previous not precious!!

Mindexplode · 12/09/2015 07:22

I'm planning on naming my new house as its only got a number and I've always wanted a house with a name

Dh shot down gallifrey, Riverdale and ankh-morpork

It's getting a name based on its surrounding

MrsFrancisUnderwear · 12/09/2015 07:31

Call it Benidorm. Everyone will remember it. (I just saw one for sale called that)

Furchester · 12/09/2015 07:35

mind I can't imagine why your DH didn't go with those :)

How about Tatooine?

rhapsodyinblues · 12/09/2015 07:37

I think it's naff if you have a number, but essential if you don't. We renamed our house, as I didn't like the one it had when we bought it. It's quite easy to do and means that the official record is changed, so no post goes astray!

msrisotto · 12/09/2015 07:45

www.royalmail.com/delivery/mail-advice/postcodes-addresses-explained&quot%3B&gt%3B#3400062

The post office says We do not name or number properties or streets. This is the responsibility of the naming and numbering authority (usually called the Highways or Engineers Department) at your local council. You??ll need to make your request to them in writing along with a few alternatives in case your first choice already exists.

If your property is officially numbered you can??t swap the number for a name but you can use a name in addition to the number.

flowery · 12/09/2015 07:50

If you wouldn't bother normally, just use the number. Our house has a name. It's quite an old house and it is possible that the name has some kind of significance but it hasn't occurred to us to use it. We just use the perfectly serviceable number!

Original poster

FluffyCubs · 12/09/2015 07:51

How do you do it, Rhapsody? Post office form?

OP posts:

Mrsmorton · 12/09/2015 07:58

Your local council will have a form. Costs £50 where I live.

cressetmama · 13/09/2015 09:26

Names can definitely be naff. Our house was called Tranquillity, until we moved in. Vendors then changed the name of their new house from Anfield (understandably) to Chardonnay, arguably worse IMHO but entirely in character. This was long ago, when Chardonnay was only a grape variety!

And if you don't bother with the change of name, then the Highways department and the postman will catch up in a couple of years.

MrsJamin · 13/09/2015 10:05

Call it Excalibur Cottage.

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 13/09/2015 10:06

If its a new name - please send invites out to the naming ceremony, you can be grabby and ask for house presents.

rainpouringrainbows · 13/09/2015 10:57

Depends on the house, you see charming old ones with lovely names in the countryside, they don't look naff at all. (less sure about a small new build with a car bigger than the house parked at the front with a Spanish name).

Anyway, what about some local reference, or description of some kind?

For me, names (and most things) are only naff if they are pretentious.

charlestonchaplin · 13/09/2015 11:29

Our street and many streets close by didn't used to have numbers. Some of the streets with under ten houses still don't though we were forced to have have number some time ago. Most of the houses still use the names as well.

Our house name is quite boring and when we tell people what it is they always think we can't spell, but it seems to have been spelt that way since it was built over a hundred years ago.

Roseandbee · 13/09/2015 13:01

Well personally i always prefer & think its safer if its something house or something cottage, other than that ones like hillside or riverbank. One word more modern sounding names can be naff IMO

Marmitelover55 · 13/09/2015 15:52

Anyone remember Casa Bevron??

BaxterDawes · 13/09/2015 15:58

As long as it hasn't got a number and a name - that is naff.

Our house has a name as it has no number. We changed it when we moved here back to its original name when built which is House. It had been changed to 'The *'.

We applied to the council's naming and numbering dept and they sorted it out with the post office for us.

SocksRock · 13/09/2015 16:04

We have a name, but no number - it's lovely and suits the house.

If your house already has a number you can only have a name in addition to the number, not instead of

SocksRock · 13/09/2015 16:06

Although having a house with a name apparently makes me posh. What it does make me is very good at giving directions to lost delivery men (to a clearly named house on a main road)

Draylon · 13/09/2015 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

squoosh · 13/09/2015 17:35

Anyone remember Casa Bevron??

That was the first thing I thought of!

TwmSionCati · 13/09/2015 18:04

Well it depends - would be a bit naff if it was just a terraced house that has a number anyway. but if it already has a name then yes change it to one you like. Round here the house names are the addresses so you couldnt do without one. my address is house name, village name, etc.

derxa · 13/09/2015 18:12

There's another thread about this on mn. Most of the houses on our road have a name but no number. NDNs moved in and gave their house a name. We have a number but no name. I waaaaant a name

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