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ArchivesRe: What are the snobbiest and most old-fashioned English first names, according to you?
in reply to a message by Anneza
As an English person I would have to say that I have never come across a Garrett or a Kendrick, these names sound very American to me and the only Rudyard I have heard of is Rudyard Kipling! I know a family who have named their little boy Elliott, I don't consider it old-fashioned at all. Many of the names on the list e.g Florence, Margaret and Dorothy aren't in common use now, they are very old fashioned but have been used in the past by people of all classes.
Names which I personnally can't stand and which are old fashinoned and seem to be used by upper class people are:
Frederick, Freddy,
Archie,
Arthur
Alfie,
Charles,
Edmund,
Hugo,
Henry,
Amelia,
Arabella
Harriet,
Henrietta,
Jemima,
Maisie,
Maude,
Can't think of any more off the top of my head but if/when I do I will let you know!
Rosey
Names which I personnally can't stand and which are old fashinoned and seem to be used by upper class people are:
Frederick, Freddy,
Archie,
Arthur
Alfie,
Charles,
Edmund,
Hugo,
Henry,
Amelia,
Arabella
Harriet,
Henrietta,
Jemima,
Maisie,
Maude,
Can't think of any more off the top of my head but if/when I do I will let you know!
Rosey
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Replies
On second thoughts, what we should be doing is checking in Burke's Peerage to see what names are actually being given by such persons. I've got a problem, though - and as I say I'm foreign so what do I know? - isn't there a difference between people who name their children Hugo and Henrietta because they've been doing so since 1066, and people who do it as an attempt at social camouflage or social climbing? Surely only the second group are snobbish?
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I would agree with you. There is nothing wrong with people using a name which has been used for centuries, it depends on their reasons. I know a lot of people who wouldn't want to give their child a name like Sharon, Samantha, Jade or Darren, Jason or Wayne because they sound "common". What they mean is modern, because a name hasn't been around for hundreds of years or used by royalty then it's not acceptable. I think a lot of people are guilty of this.
What is interesting is that in recent years the top ten names in England have mainly been old-fashioned names and names like Emily, Charlotte, Chloe, Jack, Thomas, and Joshua which are used by people of all classes, wheras 30 years ago only middle or upper class people would have used these names.
I use the computer in the library (in my lunch hour), when I have more time I will have a look through Burke's Peerage. I do flick through The Times (middle class paper) and look at the birth announcements because I've always been interested in names. Names like Oliver, Harry, Archie, George, Alice, Charlotte, Eleanor and Isabel are popular at the moment, these are all "old-fashioned". Although I have seen a couple of unusual names like Caspian, Balthasar, Inca Skye and Echo Maud recently. I feel sorry for those kids!
A bit of a long message I'm afraid!
Rosey.
What is interesting is that in recent years the top ten names in England have mainly been old-fashioned names and names like Emily, Charlotte, Chloe, Jack, Thomas, and Joshua which are used by people of all classes, wheras 30 years ago only middle or upper class people would have used these names.
I use the computer in the library (in my lunch hour), when I have more time I will have a look through Burke's Peerage. I do flick through The Times (middle class paper) and look at the birth announcements because I've always been interested in names. Names like Oliver, Harry, Archie, George, Alice, Charlotte, Eleanor and Isabel are popular at the moment, these are all "old-fashioned". Although I have seen a couple of unusual names like Caspian, Balthasar, Inca Skye and Echo Maud recently. I feel sorry for those kids!
A bit of a long message I'm afraid!
Rosey.
1
Do not feel sorry...
I have enjoyed growing up most of my life feeling particularly special as I had never met another Caspian. It has only been in the last couple of years that I have heard of very few others bearing my name. I think it quite neat. I am curious of how many other folk you have come across with my name.
I think more people should take more time to conjure up the name for their child, and realize that they don't need to be named before they are born. Many Native cultures did not give their children permanent names, until they earned them, either through coming of age rituals or pure dumb luck or ill fate...
I have enjoyed growing up most of my life feeling particularly special as I had never met another Caspian. It has only been in the last couple of years that I have heard of very few others bearing my name. I think it quite neat. I am curious of how many other folk you have come across with my name.
I think more people should take more time to conjure up the name for their child, and realize that they don't need to be named before they are born. Many Native cultures did not give their children permanent names, until they earned them, either through coming of age rituals or pure dumb luck or ill fate...
1
Me too, Rosey! Actually, when I'm in the UK (currency permitting!) I find the most fun in the births column in the Telegraph. Means you've got to buy the Telegraph, of course ... the Guardian just isn't the same! And they used to put birth announcements on their web site, to my lasting joy, but now no longer do.
A couple of years ago I noticed a number of future Telegraph readers got named Poppy if born in November. Is this new? I suspect that while that War was alive in people's memories it wouldn't have happened.
A couple of years ago I noticed a number of future Telegraph readers got named Poppy if born in November. Is this new? I suspect that while that War was alive in people's memories it wouldn't have happened.
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