Stressing about boys names - touchy subject??

[YorkieMom]

Ok, I really hope I don't offend anyone with this post, but my hubby and I both really like a particular boys name, but now I'm worried it's really chavy.

In North American there really isn't a huge distinction between chav names and normal names. A name is pretty much a name unless it's kind of a ghetto made up name or a country hick name (like Peggy-Sue or Billy-Mae) but there's only a few states in the US that use names like that - they're not common. We associate names as just being unique, pretty, or ugly etc.

Since moving to the UK 3 years ago I've herad so much about chavs and people at work making fun of chav names.. It seems like a lot of the "chav names" here are just common run of the mill names of kids I that I went to school with back in Canada. Names like Lindsay, Tyler, Connor, Billy, Tiffany, David, Kevin, etc. So many people I've spoken to say they're chav names.

I'm really worried now that the name we've chosen for our boy will be considered a chav name and he'll either get teased about it when he's older, or have assumptions made about him and his background (and the way he behaves in school).

The name we've choosen isn't that common in North America, although I think it's now in the top 50, but it's in the top 10 names here in the UK. My husband and I both like it, and thought it was unique until we started doing a bit of research on it. I don't want to say what the name is, because I don't want to offend anyone on here incase they've also chosen it - I know some mums on here have because I've seen it in their signature.

I'm not sure how to go about choosing a name now, since a lot of the names we think are completely normal and grew up with are considered chav names here, and a lot of the names we like for our boy are considered "popular".

Can anyone offer any advice? (Besides saying just choose a name you like and don't care what anyone else thinks). I don't want to offend anyone, but what are some recently common "chav" names that have become popular over the past few years?

 

[chysantheMUM]

Names like Lindsay, Tyler, Connor, Billy, Tiffany, David, Kevin, etc. So many people I've spoken to say they're chav names.


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Obviously I can't comment on the name which you have chosen, as I don't know what it is but as for the names above, I am surprised to hear that any of them are regarded as chavy (with the exception of Tiffany maybe and thats probably due to Eastenders ). The rest of them though, I agree are just regular names and I know lots of people with those names and they are not chavs Maybe some people would disagree with me, but then maybe thats the point, its all subjective and one persons opinion of something, isn't necessarily what everyone thinks. I wouldn't worry about it if I was you, if you like the name , stick with it, its what you think thats important not other peoples opinions.

 

[Hellymay83]

What name have you chosen if you don't mind me asking?

My advice is don't worry about stereotypes, if you like the name then just go with it. Afterall it's not the name that makes a person a chav, it's the way the person behaves and dresses, someone could be called something really posh like Tarquin or Sebastian but could still turn out to be a chav x

 

[Samemka]

Sod what everyone else thinks I say! If it's in the top 10 names I doubt it's 'chavvy' cos to me 'chavvy' names aren't used by many people anyway.

Without being cruel, if kids want to find something to pick on, they will, whether it's a name or something else!!!

 

[mrs_tickle]

I really wouldn't worry about stereotypes. If you like the name you have chosen then go with it!
I had a quick look at the top 100 boys names in the UK and none of the top 10 (or even top 20) seem chavvy at all....

 

[dannienewt]

Okay ladies, I have to ask..What exactly does a "chavy" name mean?

 

[YorkieMom]

Okay ladies, I have to ask..What exactly does a "chavy" name mean?

Basically the way it's been explained to me since moving here is that chav is the UK equivilant of "white trash" or trailer trash - at least that's what I've been told: "Chav's wear sweat pants and wife beaters, don't speak properly and use words like "Oi". They're generally of lower class.

It seems like people are so subjective about the names here - even plain names I would consider quite safe and borring back home in Canada like Wayne and Tracy are considered really chavy - or so I've been told. I guess a lot of the "chav names" are popular names that have been taken from TV shows, or celebrities kids. The name we've chosen is in fact that name of a celebrity's kid, but we liked it way before that person ever called their son that.

 

[magicbubble]

Names like Lindsay, Tyler, Connor, Billy, Tiffany, David, Kevin, etc. So many people I've spoken to say they're chav names.


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Obviously I can't comment on the name which you have chosen, as I don't know what it is but as for the names above, I am surprised to hear that any of them are regarded as chavy (with the exception of Tiffany maybe and thats probably due to Eastenders ). The rest of them though, I agree are just regular names and I know lots of people with those names and they are not chavs Maybe some people would disagree with me, but then maybe thats the point, its all subjective and one persons opinion of something, isn't necessarily what everyone thinks. I wouldn't worry about it if I was you, if you like the name , stick with it, its what you think thats important not other peoples opinions.

i disagree - i would say a few of them were a bit chavvy.

what name are you thinking of yorkiemum? if you dont mind telling us that is

 

[magicbubble]

Okay ladies, I have to ask..What exactly does a "chavy" name mean?

Basically the way it's been explained to me since moving here is that chav is the UK equivilant of "white trash" or trailer trash - at least that's what I've been told: "Chav's wear sweat pants and wife beaters, don't speak properly and use words like "Oi". They're generally of lower class.

It seems like people are so subjective about the names here - even plain names I would consider quite safe and borring back home in Canada like Wayne and Tracy are considered really chavy - or so I've been told. I guess a lot of the "chav names" are popular names that have been taken from TV shows, or celebrities kids. The name we've chosen is in fact that name of a celebrity's kid, but we liked it way before that person ever called their son that.

oh yeah, tracy is a classic example although i would say its more an example of an essex girl than a chav. in my opinion that is. its not a very common name now i dont think. or atleast i havent come across any children called tracy since i was a child myself and even then i only knew one

 

[MrsH86]

I understand your concern over your child being teased because their name is deemed 'chavvy' but by the time your child is at school the name could be considered something else. Also the child's behaviour and actions will speak louder than his name. My husband's name is Rupert, which is deemed a 'posh' name..

He certainly isn't posh though, there is a story behind his name, but just because that's his name doesn't mean people think of him like that, they see the person not the name eventually x

 

[YorkieMom]

Ughhhhhh - we promised we weren't going to tell anyone, but this is killing mem so ok..... the name is Jayden. I know there are other mums on here who have chosen that name, so of course they're not going to say it's a chav name even if it is. And I don't want to offend anyone who's already named their son that.

 

[kizzyt]

Yeah Tracy/Sharon etc defo have connotations as Essex girl names (and I am an Essex girl so I know ) and I think chavvy names have been brought more to the fore because of programmes depicting people with those names to be chavs, you know? so Bird of a Feather, Eastenders, Harry Enfield (Wayne and Watnetta) etc made some names very chavvy. But also sometimes the names a celeb calls their baby can be chavvy too, especially if the celeb in question is considered a chav (think Z listers, reality TV stars etc). Plus for me, I know amongst my friends people with names of wine, cars, objects etc are defo considered chavvy (Chardonnay, Mercedes etc). I dont think chavs necessarily have to be poor people there's a lot of rich chavs about too (think Jordan for example), its more about not having much class. But again everyone's interpretation is different. Personally I'd say if the name's in the top 10/20 or whatever its not deemed chavvy, more popular!

 

[Kittifer]

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[Connah'sMommy]

round my area Jayden is common but by no means chavvy!

Stick with the name you have chosen hun, its for no one else to decided only you and your OH...screw everyone else!

I was called wierd and allsorts when we told people what we were calling DS1 but i love the name Connah and always will xx

 

[kizzyt]

I see we were thinking along the same lines with Chardonnay Kittifer!

 

[dannienewt]

Wow this is soooo interesting to me!! And so different! I know many Tracys, my Dad's middle name is Wayne lol Although, I guess it's the same here when it comes to names being "ghetto" and all. To me a name is a name, but I can see your concern. I was worried about what people would say about the name we have chosen and how people will treat him -Lyrik (Lyric) But I love it and so does my hubby and that's all that matters. Plus if he doesn't like it when he's older he can go by his middle name(Ashton) like I do. I'm dying to know the name you picked, but I totally understand why you wouldn't want to say it. Oh and what's an essex name?

 

[YorkieMom]

Yes, I've heard Chardonay mentioned a few times as well. My problem is since I didn't grow up here watching UK shows and celebrities I really have no idea. I've never seen East Enders or any UK soap, don't know who most UK celebs are, etc, so don't know the background about why they're considered chavy. There's a girl names Lisa in my office - she seems nice and normal - but is really tan, so everyone calls her Chav girl, or Chavvy Lisa... I just don't get it...

 

[dannienewt]

Ughhhhhh - we promised we weren't going to tell anyone, but this is killing mem so ok..... the name is Jayden. I know there are other mums on here who have chosen that name, so of course they're not going to say it's a chav name even if it is. And I don't want to offend anyone who's already named their son that.

This is so strange, but I KNEW you were going to say Jayden for some reason!! lol I personally love the name, and was going to name my first son that.

 

[YorkieMom]

Wow this is soooo interesting to me!! And so different! I know many Tracys, my Dad's middle name is Wayne lol Although, I guess it's the same here when it comes to names being "ghetto" and all. To me a name is a name, but I can see your concern. I was worried about what people would say about the name we have chosen and how people will treat him -Lyrik (Lyric) But I love it and so does my hubby and that's all that matters. Plus if he doesn't like it when he's older he can go by his middle name(Ashton) like I do. I'm dying to know the name you picked, but I totally understand why you wouldn't want to say it. Oh and what's an essex name?

I posted the name at the top of the page.....

 

[dannienewt]

Yeah Tracy/Sharon etc defo have connotations as Essex girl names (and I am an Essex girl so I know ) and I think chavvy names have been brought more to the fore because of programmes depicting people with those names to be chavs, you know? so Bird of a Feather, Eastenders, Harry Enfield (Wayne and Watnetta) etc made some names very chavvy. But also sometimes the names a celeb calls their baby can be chavvy too, especially if the celeb in question is considered a chav (think Z listers, reality TV stars etc). Plus for me, I know amongst my friends people with names of wine, cars, objects etc are defo considered chavvy (Chardonnay, Mercedes etc). I dont think chavs necessarily have to be poor people there's a lot of rich chavs about too (think Jordan for example), its more about not having much class. But again everyone's interpretation is different. Personally I'd say if the name's in the top 10/20 or whatever its not deemed chavvy, more popular!

Ha!! my first name is Sharon (i go by my middle name though) So does that mean I have a chavy name?! sorry this is just so interesting to me!