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HelpThatcher
while watching friends last night, out of the blue DBF commented that he liked Thatcher as a name for a boy. He said it seemed really traditional and old-fashioned. I could really see Thatcher growing on me, though i've never really given it any thought before as I'm not a huge fan of the surname trend. So what do you think of Thatcher?
Would it come across as overly surname trendy or a nice old-fashioned type name?
Would it come across as overly surname trendy or a nice old-fashioned type name?
This message was edited 3/27/2011, 4:57 AM
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I know someone who named their kid Thatcher. His nickname is T-man.
Personally I feel the name is overly surnamey, and almost tries too hard to seem old-fashioned, sort of like the name Rexford.
I prefer Fletcher, which has a similar sound and surname origins, yet isn't terribly common but seems a little more established in my mind.
Personally I feel the name is overly surnamey, and almost tries too hard to seem old-fashioned, sort of like the name Rexford.
I prefer Fletcher, which has a similar sound and surname origins, yet isn't terribly common but seems a little more established in my mind.
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Maiden name
I am bias. It's my maiden name, so I love it!
I am bias. It's my maiden name, so I love it!
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Well, not so much traditional or old-fashioned, but I do like Thatcher. Yes, it's surname-trendy, but personally I don't find that to be a drawback.
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It sounds totally trendy. I think it's stupid.
Even so, I think it's unfair that people think the association with Margaret Thatcher is automatically bad. I mean, sure she was conservative, but conservative doesn't translate into "we want everything the way it was 100+ years ago". In fact, even though I don't identify as conservative, I am conservative compared to most of you.
Even so, I think it's unfair that people think the association with Margaret Thatcher is automatically bad. I mean, sure she was conservative, but conservative doesn't translate into "we want everything the way it was 100+ years ago". In fact, even though I don't identify as conservative, I am conservative compared to most of you.
This message was edited 3/27/2011, 2:19 PM
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Among most of my friends any association with Margaret Thatcher is automatically bad. She is hated by a lot of people in this country for some of her policies. And I think there's a difference between Conservative party in the UK and the USA, so you can't really compare the two.
I dislike the name, regardless of the Maggie Thatcher connotations.
I dislike the name, regardless of the Maggie Thatcher connotations.
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Ugh...does EVERYONE here have to be far-left?
This message was edited 3/28/2011, 2:24 PM
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For one thing, it doesn't = "conservative." It = Margaret Thatcher. She was conservative. She was other things too. I'm "liberal," at least probably by your standards, and would not name my kid Clinton. For another, in general I think it's kinda disrespectful to the kid to give it a name loaded with political connotation.
...
And last, yeah the world would probably be better if more people were "far-left". But you brought that up, not me. :P
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And last, yeah the world would probably be better if more people were "far-left". But you brought that up, not me. :P
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I'm not far left! I think I'm somewhere in the middle. Not that my political views are relevant.
I was merely pointing out that many people I know have a low opinion of Margaret Thatcher and the Tory policies. Obviously, not everyone in the country as we currently have a Conservative Prime Minister. The Conservatives here are seen as being the party for the rich, upper classes and there are plenty of people here who cannot identify with that background.
I was merely pointing out that many people I know have a low opinion of Margaret Thatcher and the Tory policies. Obviously, not everyone in the country as we currently have a Conservative Prime Minister. The Conservatives here are seen as being the party for the rich, upper classes and there are plenty of people here who cannot identify with that background.
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It reminds me of Thatcher Grey, a character from "Grey's Anatomy". I personally like that association, as that what I saw of Thatcher was rather cute and adorable.
I suppose it's a good name to use in the USA, but you might want to think twice about using it (as a first name) if you live in the UK, because then everyone would immediately think "Margaret Thatcher!" and that will probably haunt your son for the rest of his life. So, if you live in the UK, I'd just use it as a middle name only. :)
I suppose it's a good name to use in the USA, but you might want to think twice about using it (as a first name) if you live in the UK, because then everyone would immediately think "Margaret Thatcher!" and that will probably haunt your son for the rest of his life. So, if you live in the UK, I'd just use it as a middle name only. :)
This message was edited 3/27/2011, 1:53 PM
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It's so far from being traditional and old-fashioned that...
...I just checked the England and Wales birth data, and there's not one single historical instance of it having been given to a baby as a first name. There is one kid in the whole country with Thatcher as a first name, and he was born in the last 20 years and has a very African surname. Like Janan said, random surnames as first names haven't been used here until very recently; it's a borrowed American trend.
So yup, trendy. And lol yes, people would totally think you were Tories!
...I just checked the England and Wales birth data, and there's not one single historical instance of it having been given to a baby as a first name. There is one kid in the whole country with Thatcher as a first name, and he was born in the last 20 years and has a very African surname. Like Janan said, random surnames as first names haven't been used here until very recently; it's a borrowed American trend.
So yup, trendy. And lol yes, people would totally think you were Tories!
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OT
I've been meaning to ask - where do you check E&W birth data by name or year?
I've been meaning to ask - where do you check E&W birth data by name or year?
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Can't get past the Maggie T association which is not a good one for me. I think that would be an huge issue in the UK. It seems trendy to me.
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Eh, it's okay. Makes me think of thatching roofs, though.
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I don't see it as old-fashioned either.
Thatcher, Fletcher and other unusual surnames are very preppy to me. I went to school with a lot of very rich white brats with names like those - older, slightly hipper parents who wanted something different for their kid.
Thatcher, Fletcher and other unusual surnames are very preppy to me. I went to school with a lot of very rich white brats with names like those - older, slightly hipper parents who wanted something different for their kid.
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Makes me think of Margaret too, and even if it didn't it doesn't strike me as that nice a name. Sorry.
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One word: Margaret!
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I like Thatcher, but I don't know if I like it enough to use it myself. It doesn't strike me as really traditional and old-fashioned unless he was referring to Southern naming traditions. In the Southern United States, people have been using surnames as first names for a while, so I can see what he meant in that case. Most often, the names are family names or they are honoring someone, so choosing a surname as a first name that you just like doesn't go along with tradition. In a sense, Thatcher is a bit trendy if you're using it just because you like it, but it doesn't seem overly trendy to me.
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I'm not generally a fan of occupational names, but I do like the sound of Thatcher. And since it obviously makes me think of thatching, it has a simple hard-working feel that I find relaxing, and it smells like hay. :)
I don't associate it with other occupational names like Cooper and Mason. Maybe because it's not as common. And I don't think it seems overly surnamey either. It does sort of have an old-fashioned feel to it.
I don't associate it with other occupational names like Cooper and Mason. Maybe because it's not as common. And I don't think it seems overly surnamey either. It does sort of have an old-fashioned feel to it.
This message was edited 3/27/2011, 5:04 AM
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Margaret Thatcher
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exactly
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This was one worry of mine. Would people think we're right-wing tories lol
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Right, yeah, don't use Thatcher if you're not. No reason to. It's like when people in the US use Reagan - wat??
Also it's completely un-old fashioned. Totally trendy.
Also it's completely un-old fashioned. Totally trendy.
This message was edited 3/27/2011, 5:10 AM
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Reagan - surname usage has been far more popular in the US, whereas in the UK it is not as common. Using a surname makes a definite statement.
Reagan also fits in with current naming trends. As well as the surname thing, Teagan, Megan (which I've heard in some accents as MEEGIN) as well as the Irish connection. People would associate Reagan with the President, but with other things as well. They are more likely to meet other Reagans, Coopers, Montgomery's. In a country where our top names are Jack, Alfie, Archie etc, Thatcher would stick out. The only other association we have with it (apart from the fact it is an occupational surname we may encounter) is Margaret Thatcher.
Reagan also fits in with current naming trends. As well as the surname thing, Teagan, Megan (which I've heard in some accents as MEEGIN) as well as the Irish connection. People would associate Reagan with the President, but with other things as well. They are more likely to meet other Reagans, Coopers, Montgomery's. In a country where our top names are Jack, Alfie, Archie etc, Thatcher would stick out. The only other association we have with it (apart from the fact it is an occupational surname we may encounter) is Margaret Thatcher.
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it's my very first association
and I'm sure it would be what a lot of people in the UK thought of. It's never been common and there isn't really any other association to attach it to (ie movie character or other famous figure) and no obvious nickname, so she is my first thought.
and I'm sure it would be what a lot of people in the UK thought of. It's never been common and there isn't really any other association to attach it to (ie movie character or other famous figure) and no obvious nickname, so she is my first thought.
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