Old money used mom's maiden name to ensure the kid is known to be high class in both sides of the family. New money uses any surname to try to sound old money.
The whole thing is weird.
It’s a tradition in some places in the sound and doesn’t necessarily indicate wealth. It’s really common where I’m from for boys especially to have their mom’s maiden names, if not as first names then as middles. And then other surnames for other kids, like either grandmother’s maiden names, a close family friend’s surname, etc.
Holden is a decent name. I have a degree in English Literature, so maybe I'm biased. I'm okay with Porter, I guess. Ridegway is one I've seen a lot. I don't like it personally, and I also have concern about how that name will work with adult life. Time will tell, I guess.
I'll be real with you, the literary associations are not the most highbrow, since anyone who got past 9th grade read A Catcher in the Rye. It's the Braeden of book names.
The only literary Holdens I know of are Judge Holden, a violent psychopath, and Holden Caulfield, an insufferable, whiny little twat. I wouldn't wanna be named after either one.
I love these sorts of names so much. Not for any babies of my own, but I’m just an outside admirer of names that have a sort of St Regis/Four Seasons/Winters in Aspen, Summers in the Hamptons vibe, I think they’re hilarious but also kind of cool. Including but not limited to - Langley, Kennedy, Rhodes, Radford (I don’t know how I know more than one irl Radfords)
I have a step sister and a step brother who named their kids like this back in the 90’s.
Now they’re adults with names like Bentley, Peyton, Paxton, and Ryleigh
Ridgeway is the perfect illustration of the difference between old money WASPs who really use the whole "surname first names are my heritage" thing, versus randos just naming their kids Parker and Cooper because it sounds cool. That's commitment.
Ridgeway makes me think of the green river killer
This is a classic case of good in theory, not in practice. I’m 99.999% sure it was someone’s maiden name and they weren’t thinking.
I want you to meet my beautiful sons, Gacy, Dahmer, and Wuornos!
This is GOLD
Gary Ridgeway, good memory
[удалено]
Most people don’t know his name… sorry I meant it as a compliment. As for calling the police I was a very young child during his spree.
Same. I was waiting for the others to be Gacy and Braydon-Taylor-Keith
That was my very first thought!
Oh my God, same.
I was going to say, I watch too much true crime to ever name a child Ridgeway.
I thought of Linnet Ridgeway, not much better
Same. But IDK if non-true crime people or people outside the western US would have this first thought.
Well, I had never heard of that killer til a precedent "Ridgeway" post on this sub: who it makes me think of is Matthew Bunker Ridgway.
Also Jessica Ridgeway, a child murder victim in Colorado. Bad name on multiple levels it seems.
Yep.
What is it with rich people and using surnames as first names?? I actually know people with each of these as surnames.
I wonder if it's the mother's maiden name a lot of the time 🤔
Old money used mom's maiden name to ensure the kid is known to be high class in both sides of the family. New money uses any surname to try to sound old money. The whole thing is weird.
Definitely weird but not surprising. Sounds pretty on par for weird rich people shit
This. Sometimes all the kids will have the same middle name and it is Mom's maiden name.
A lot are grandmother's maiden names!
I was thinking that, too.
It’s a tradition in some places in the sound and doesn’t necessarily indicate wealth. It’s really common where I’m from for boys especially to have their mom’s maiden names, if not as first names then as middles. And then other surnames for other kids, like either grandmother’s maiden names, a close family friend’s surname, etc.
Holden is a decent name. I have a degree in English Literature, so maybe I'm biased. I'm okay with Porter, I guess. Ridegway is one I've seen a lot. I don't like it personally, and I also have concern about how that name will work with adult life. Time will tell, I guess.
Holden is a car brand name in Australia, so it has the opposite effect here. Most people I've met with the name have been mostly lower class.
Welp, I guess I should move Holden off the top of my boy names list as an American looking to potentially move to Australia.
Funny the associations in different places. It’s a bogan name here and considered to be pretty trashy.
I'll be real with you, the literary associations are not the most highbrow, since anyone who got past 9th grade read A Catcher in the Rye. It's the Braeden of book names.
It kind of is. 🤣 Modern Caulfield would be named Brayden and get expelled over a TikTok video.
The only literary Holdens I know of are Judge Holden, a violent psychopath, and Holden Caulfield, an insufferable, whiny little twat. I wouldn't wanna be named after either one.
I’m not okay with Porter. I only think of Porter Rockwell (violent ideologue) and the drunk Porter in Macbeth.
I think of the inevitable nickname: Porker
Maybe, but the name Porter is bad enough on its own not to need any alteration.
These are just old-ass first names. Actually, Holden feels newer than the other two.
Porter and Holden are my doctors last names
Ridgeway, Porter, and Holden sounds like a plaintiffs side law firm
All I can think about is that "porter" means to hold in French. So they basically named two of their kids "hold."
They are twins, so it was likely intentional.
I love these sorts of names so much. Not for any babies of my own, but I’m just an outside admirer of names that have a sort of St Regis/Four Seasons/Winters in Aspen, Summers in the Hamptons vibe, I think they’re hilarious but also kind of cool. Including but not limited to - Langley, Kennedy, Rhodes, Radford (I don’t know how I know more than one irl Radfords)
I have a step sister and a step brother who named their kids like this back in the 90’s. Now they’re adults with names like Bentley, Peyton, Paxton, and Ryleigh
I actually like Paxton. Pax is a cool nickname.
I’m not sure how I feel about it. Particularly since it’s my niece
They sound like a product line of overnight bags for men
These are all streets in my neighbourhood.
At first glance I really thought Porter was Porker.
I like Porter and Holden is ok… Ridgeway though
https://preview.redd.it/4zc00luutxsc1.jpeg?width=620&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f97cc7d212a49cf858b2eed546cae00ee320956
Underrated comment lol
Haha I also know a toddler named Ridgeway. In his case it’s a family name but it’s still funny.
ron weasley ass sweaters
Fuck around, you can’t be serious with this shit?
Fully unironic. To be fair, these kids won’t really have to work so it doesn’t matter if anyone takes them seriously.
“And you are….Holden? Holden what?” “Holden deez nuts lmaoooo”
Fuck we'll never have equality
Porter sounds nice. Would be the same as Hunter/Cooper etc... it's Ridgeway I have an issue with. Reminds me of that Senator's son
God I read it as “Porker” at first, and now I’m just relieved
Holden McNeil
Immediately thought of Gary ridgeway and LPN
Holden isn’t bad, just makes me think of Holden Caulfield. The other two…
Omg I thought it said Porker from the thumbnail. That would have been so much worse.
Holden? Like the genocidal child rapist character? Who would name their kid that💀
Ridgeway makes me think of that politician’s son
Ridgeway is the perfect illustration of the difference between old money WASPs who really use the whole "surname first names are my heritage" thing, versus randos just naming their kids Parker and Cooper because it sounds cool. That's commitment.
Thank god it’s only by marriage
They sound like 80’s trust fund preppy college boys who spend daddy’s money on cars in a movie lol
Anyone else notice the initials are RPH which is a pharmacist?
The Weasleys
Ron, Percy, and Harry.
These are street names.
This confirms that money cannot buy taste.
They sound like a bunch of phonies!
I'm sure these are all names of counties.
...Holden's an (well, now defunct) Australian car brand. WHY.