I was telling my non-name-obsessed sister about how I was starting to really like classic, older names and listed specifically [name]Oliver[/name], [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Helena[/name], and [name]Everett[/name]. Her response was something along the lines of “I mean if you want your kids to sound like stuck-up snobs…” Keep in mind her favorite names are [name]Brayden[/name] and [name]Neveah[/name] (she’s only 14, fortunately I have time to talk her out of these lol). But still, her answer made me think. [name]Do[/name] you think a name can be pretentious? And if yes, which names do you think sound stuck up?
I one met a little boy named Superior (I swear), so yeah, names can be pretentious. But [name]Oliver[/name], [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Helena[/name], & [name]Everett[/name], in my opinion, are not pretentious.
I think there is a difference between pretentious names and the classic names like [name]Helena[/name], [name]Oliver[/name] and [name]Lucy[/name] you mentioned.
I do consider some names pretentious. Some parents want to project an upper class status or they have certain high aspirations for their children that they will be able to afford the lifestyle that comes with money and prestige. Some names just sound “pretentious” to me. I actually like a few of the names I’m going to list so it’s just a matter of people’s perception or opinion on a name.
The “posh” sounding names that end in “ton” like…[name]Remington[/name], [name]Kensington[/name], [name]Hampton[/name], Barrington, [name]Kingston[/name], [name]Preston[/name], [name]Templeton[/name], [name]Wellington[/name], Carrington, [name]Princeton[/name], [name]Ellington[/name], [name]Washington[/name], [name]Stanton[/name], Holliston, [name]Easton[/name], [name]Carleton[/name], Lexington etc…
Luxury brand names like…[name]Armani[/name], [name]Chanel[/name], [name]Royce[/name], [name]Carling[/name]
Some names can sound stuffy (eg. upper class English names) like… [name]Chandler[/name], [name]Algernon[/name], [name]Araminta[/name], [name]Rosamund[/name], [name]Lavinia[/name], [name]Alethea[/name], [name]Channing[/name], [name]Randolph[/name], [name]Broderick[/name]/[name]Roderick[/name], [name]Cedric[/name], [name]Dexter[/name], [name]Forbes[/name], [name]Nigel[/name], [name]Byron[/name], [name]Stanley[/name], [name]Nelson[/name], [name]Jefferson[/name], [name]Percival[/name], [name]Basil[/name], [name]Dunstan[/name], [name]Stanford[/name], [name]Cecil[/name], [name]Niles[/name], [name]Tarquin[/name], [name]Peregrine[/name], [name]Montague[/name], [name]Montgomery[/name], [name]Horatio[/name], [name]Tristram[/name], [name]Constance[/name], [name]Lafayette[/name], [name]Ferdinand[/name], [name]Archibald[/name], [name]Sloane[/name], [name]Waverly[/name], [name]Cressida[/name], [name]Gwendolyn[/name], [name]Neville[/name], [name]Henrietta[/name], [name]Philippa[/name], [name]Thomasina[/name]
Some words or names that are over-the-top like… [name]Maverick[/name], [name]Titus[/name], [name]Maximus[/name], [name]Legend[/name], [name]Messiah[/name], [name]Cash[/name], [name]Duke[/name], [name]Prince[/name]/[name]Princess[/name], [name]Marquis[/name], [name]Sterling[/name], [name]Barron[/name], [name]Squire[/name], [name]Caesar[/name], Magnum