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Baby names

21st Aug 2018

One mum’s specific request for baby name suggestions sparks debate online

Orlaith Condon

Other mums were not impressed.

The process of choosing a name for your baby can be an incredibly long and gruelling one.

Yes, narrowing down the lengthy list of names is an ordeal, however, one mum’s approach to forming a shortlist did not go down well with other mums.

Posting her request on the parenting forum MumsNet, one expectant-mother simply asked others users to suggest “upper class/well to do baby girl names that are still used today.”

The post was quickly ridiculed by some parents who sent joking suggestions in response.

However, other mums criticised the request in general, with some calling the mum-to-be “snobby”.

“Why does this matter to you?” one asked. “If you were upper class you would call your child what you like and not give a hoot.”

Another added:

“So are you old money and posh or wanting to be pretentious? Call your kid a name you like.”

Not everyone was upset by the post, however, as others offered genuine suggestions like Bunny and Rupert.

“The upper-class people I actually know or have met have (and have given their kids) very classic names like James, Eleanor etc. then bestow them with daft nicknames rather than using diminutives,” commented another user.