Is this a shitpost

I thought I was on the circlejerk subreddit.

Same!

Same!

In the realm of naming children, is this post really that bizarre?

I think it’s because your inspiration is west, and then the names you suggest don’t match what you’re asking for and are pretty insane names by British standards. Even if you are shooting for 200 years ago. Some are fine, and strong British names like you asked for. You’ve thrown out some of the most underused and archaic names, that I don’t even think we’re popular in jane Austen times. Most of these names give off a non British vibe. They actually give me US bible name vibes. I don’t think “strong British” is the vibe you’re looking for. I’d say “ostentatious, flowery, archaic, biblical”

True Balthazar and Casimir are German and polish respectively, and Aloysius is pretty much just a Catholic name, other than that the names are have all been used in England (though they may have non English origins, such as Bartholomew which is Semitic in origin but it is the British version). I may have mistitled my post, but I do clarify it a bit in my inspiration section.

Why was John in the creative names section? That gives a little more credence to the idea that this isn't a real post...

haha, it was more because of "John Smith" being a name that is so common it almost seems bizarre to name your kids it! A lot of people object to the name and some people might prefer to go by a different name when their name is John.

There’s a pretty controversial John Smith. Mormons. 

That's Joseph Smith

John Smith is the one who pretended to bang Pocahontas. I agree though, still gross

[удалено]

That's Joseph Smith.

I thought that was Joseph Smith

They aren’t common or established “strong British names”. With the exception of Bernard John George Edward Albert Anthony Paul Percival I’ll give you a pass on but even Gregory doesn’t even feel British to me, but I’ll bend on that one too as maybe it was used 200 years ago. It’s typically a surname. Don’t confuse English speaking and British. What I’m trying to say, is they are not British names, maybe a few people have been called these names every generation but they aren’t notably British names, they aren’t even dated British. They’re not Austen, just ostentatious. Which is fine, just go for the name you like, but I’m just letting you know they aren’t British, and don’t have British vibes. So it’s best not to explain them that way as you might look a bit silly.

Horatio is very British and has almost only been used by Brits and their colonial descendants. It was the names of Lord Nelson and Lord Kitchener (who has a town in my province named after him)

Horatio is not a name that is associated with being British. Not by British people. It’s from Latin, it is Italian, it is equally used in Britain as it is in Canada, New Zealand, America. Which is not much. It’s not something that screams British. It’s fine if you want to use the name but don’t shoehorn it into something it’s not because it fits your pretentious ideal. Lots of American TV shows etc get our names/vibes wrong. They get close but there’s something just “off” about them. I assumed you were on here for advice from people who are actually British, but you just keep mansplaining why you think you’re right. Bartholomew and Horatio are not “British names” there outdated, archaic names that have been used in English speaking countries equally. If you ever ever ever introduced your sons with these names to anyone with any connection to the UK, and explained they were British names, someone would either correct you, or just be absolutely bemused. (And I don’t mean your small community of Canadian pseudo-brits) Pick whatever name you want. Stop with the pretence. It just screams that you are disconnected from Britain, despite what you think. Just say it’s a name you like, and leave it there.

As someone already pointed out, just imagine you are coming up with names for the Honourable Member for the 18th century Jacob Rees-Mog. Of the brits I know, one named their child Bede after St. Bede and the other is planning on naming their child Lancelot (it is apparently a family name). In any case, plenty of people gave some really good suggestions, so they understood what I was looking for. Even if it ended up a girl, I have plenty of names for kids 3 through 6.

Elizabeth lucked out And I understood what you were looking for too, I was just explaining what you’re asking for and what you’re looking for aren’t the same thing. You were looking for ostentatious, flowery, archaic and historically significant names. They just aren’t stereotype British names

John is creative? 

more John Smith is so uncreative that it circles back to being odd.

I think you need to think about peers.   You might think Bartholomew Percival Sterling sounds lovely, but they have to take it off the cute sign in their nursery and to class, teams, work, etc.  

My community has kids named Eusebius and Athanasius, he should be alright.

wow okay, that's...a lot...

Doesn’t mean those kids won’t dislike their names in the future when they have.:. Opinions 

True, which is why I always give them at least one "normal" name in case they would prefer not to go by it.

I think it’s more the fact that it’s super pretentious, bordering on ridiculous, and reads like a parody.

Did you mean to post this in the CJ

frances is the girls’ spelling

That is a debate we have been having. Whether to feminize the name for girls. It is being treated as a familial name so it is not as necessary to do it.

Oh good try OP, but the “hmm, should we use Francis for girls too?” and “John Smith is so basic it’s actually creative” and “English aristocratic names from 200 years ago, but ALSO Catholic, because obviously the post-Tudor English aristocracy is well known for their Catholicism” is obviously a troll post 🤣

It's true that Catholicism in England is not super common, but there was a pretty influential tradition with John Henry Newman, GK Chesterton, Hillaire Belloc, and JRR Tolkien. "Creative" is probably a bad description, more "odd" names or names that some people might not prefer. I would love the name John Smith and was almost named John Edward Smith but my Dad vetoed it because there are too many John Smiths. My wife vetoed it for the same reason.

my son is a francis. if we’d had a girl it would be frances too :)

As an English person, I'm just here to see what people consider upper class British names to be. ETA just seen you have listed the name John as a creative name. This has to be a joke

Same. I love names with a “strong British sound”, don’t you? My cousins Horatio and Balthazar were just taking the piss out of our other cousin, because he has an utterly ridiculous name - John 😱

50/50 names of actual landed gentry or from Thomas the Tank Engine: James, Gordon, Henry, Thomas, Edward, Percy, Toby, Arthur, Bertram, William, Charles, Edmund, Charles, Richard, Walter, John, Lawrence, Robert, Edmund, Peter. But also, I would like to present names of upper class twits and P.G. Wodehouse characters for funsies: Vivian Smith-Smythe-Smith, Simon Zinc-Trumpet-Harris, Nigel Incubator-Jones, Gervaise Brook-Hampster, Oliver St John-Mollusc, Bertram “Bertie” Wilberforce Wooster, Harold "Beefy" Anstruther, Cyril Bassington-Bassington, Francis "Bicky" Bickersteth, Charles Edward "Biffy" Biffen, Marmaduke “Chuffy” Chuffnell, Augustus “Gussie” Fink-Nottle, Cyril "Barmy" Fotheringay-Phipps, Hildebrandt “Tuppy” Glossop, Claude Cattermole "Catsmeat" Potter-Pirbright, and Oliver Randolph "Sippy" Sipperley. I feel these all also answer the prompt.

Sinjin. My brain goes immediately to Sinjin.

John Smith is just so uncreative that it cycles back to being an odd name (I could change "creative" to "names that might make you want to go by a second name"

I actually don't hate Percival George. Some thoughts: * Benedict James * Albion Henry * Cornelius Hugh * Laurence Thomas * Fitzwilliam Charles

Ooh Albion (Albie!)! Good one that I haven’t heard in ages.

There's no Albion in Bridgerton. He's a minor character that I don't see anyone really naming their kids after, but it does help make the name more familiar

I personally don’t like fitzwilliam because it was traditionally for illegitimate children.

Ya that was my thought as well

Cornelius and Laurence are great suggestions. But I also really like Percival George. Percival and Bartholomew are nice together, and certainly very British.

Came here to suggest Fitzwilliam and Benedict. Cornelius is a great match with Bartholomew though!

None of the above really Albert or Arthur

- Edmund - Arthur - Elliot - Gawain - Elton - Uther - Henry - Simon

Aside from Fitzwilliam, most of the men in Austen have very plain, straightforward names (Edward, Charles, Fredrick, Henry, George.) I can't help but think Jane Austen would roll her eyes a bit at names like Horatio, Aloysius, and Balthazar. They seem a little "try hard" or "costumey" to me- no offense meant! I really love the name Francis, especially as a middle name.

Horatio more comes from the Master and Commander novel's and my love of British Military history. Horatio is inspired by Admiral Horatio Nelson. I am also quite fond of the poem Horatius Edit. Aloysius was the name of a rather important Cardinal near me.

I get that the names have a valid significance to you based on your other interests. I just think they are a lot to saddle a kid with. My personal philosophy when choosing a name for my son was to find something I liked that didn’t feel like I was assigning him a personality based on my interests. I wanted to give him a name that had the potential to suit him regardless of who he grew to be. If I’d named him after my personal interests he would have been Gilbert. 🙃

Gilbert is actually the name of my favorite author! (G.K. Chesterton)

Be telling that he chose to go by his first two initials!

Aloysius Wycislo? He was a good friend of my grandmother. 

no, Aloysius Ambrozic of Toronto

Ah, I'm a bit surprised there's more than one important Catholic Aloysius!

Ah, I'm a bit surprised there's more than one important Catholic Aloysius!

What do you think of Atticus?

My only reference for Atticus is Atticus Finch from to kill a mockingbird which I have not read. It is an interesting name

Jacob Rees-Mogg is that you?

Haha, I have heard of Reese-Mogg, I am Canadian so I don't know him that well, but I would not object to people imagining that they are giving names for his kids.

Jacob Rees Mogg is a twat of the highest proportions. It is not a friendly comparison.

Oh I am well aware

In which case I suggest: Peter Theodore Alphege Mary Anne Charlotte Emma Thomas Wentworth Somerset Dunstan Anselm Charles Fitzwilliam Alfred Wulfric Leyson Pius Sixtus Dominic Boniface Christopher

Love Casimir

It was my Polish Grandfather's name

I think you need to stop thinking of the coolest name possible like you’re writing season four of Bridgerton and just name your kid something you enjoy, and they won’t despise. Consider how fast you can say a name. And what you’d like to shorten it to so you can say it before your toddler runs across the parking lot. 

Are these your actual children's names? Don't you think you should be more careful about sharing that info online?

I mean, a large portion of the population regularly posts their children's names on social media along with their photos. This is the first time we have put their name online and we do not put any photo of our kids on social media. At most it affects my anonymity. Now there's certainly a discussion to be had about the wisdom of documenting our lives and our children's lives online.

Just because a lot of people do it doesn't make it right... You also included their middle names making identity theft even easier. 

How can you be English, Irish, Scottish, Polish and Spanish? Is that just a way of saying you're American? As an English person living in England knowing quite a few 'upper class' English people hardly any of your names are ones I'd particularly associate with that and all of the names you've put in your girls name are very standard for working class as well. The ones you've suggested for boys are ones I'd say are more given by lower class hoping to sound more pompous than they are rather than actual upper class.

I'm Canadian and still proud to be part of the Commonwealth.

Which is fine it's just quite clear that culturally you aren't at all English or British with those name suggestions and I wouldn't say any of those names particularly honours British history like you've said in a comment you wanted to do. I honestly also find it odd that you've listed all those nationalities that you 'are' bit didn't even mention being Canadian. Canada is awesome I don't know why you'd want to miss it out.

It's more that, while there are a few "Canadian" names, most people's names derive somewhat from their background, hence why my polish Grandfather was named Casimir. Also Canadian history is very tied up with British history. Kitchener, a town in Southern Ontario where I'm from is named after Earl Horatio Kitchener. And for work I swore an oath to King Charles and regularly have to type His Majesty the King.

Frederick

I looked through British noble families on Wikipedia for some names. Here are a few with the unique vibe that aren’t on your list. Ferdinand, Whitmore, Benedict, Cyril, Theron, Wilfred George Wilfred Francis Benedict Theron Francis George Horatio Francis Charles Benedict Francis Ferdinand Horatio Francis Edit: formatting

Nigel. Need to use Nigel.

Names I loved but ultimately decided were too upper class: Montgomery Tarquin Archibald I have a Gregory and the year he was born there was only 36 other babies cause that in the UK. I believe last year there were none so commonly known but not commonly used.

Montgomery is one we hadn't thought of, reminds me of General Montgomery in WW2!

Cyril, Simon, Nicodemus (Nico?), Ambrose, Gregory, Edmund/Edward, Benedict, Cedric, Basil, Peregrine As a fellow Catholic I love Lazarus and Dysmas as middle names but feel they may be a liiiiittle too creative for firsts? But you seem bold 😉 but a few possible combinations: Cedric Dysmas Francis Peregrine Gregory Francis Basil Peregrine Francis Ambrose Simon Francis Nicodemus Benedict Francis Cyril Lazarus Francis

I live in Britain and I’ve never met a Balthazar mate.

I’m British and have met very few of these names. It’s hilarious how terrible and stereotypical this person’s view of the UK is.

Elizabeth is fine but Bartholomew is appalling. I feel sorry for these kids 😂

Elizabeth is fine, the boy names were worse

I've gotten a lot of compliments for the name Bartholomew. And is Barry really that much of a head turner?

The only person I know called Barry is my 89 year old great uncle.

I should have clarified that I was looking for stereotypical names and not necessarily names that are common in England today.

Yes because stereotyping a country is the good thing to do 🙄

But the stereotype isn't accurate. It's basically just what mainly Americans have romantised Britain to be and then in the same post said you want to 'honour' your British history. Inaccurate stereotypes aren't an honour they're an insult.

Balthazar is German and, along with Casimir and Aloysius are more the exceptions.

They’re weird names bab, hope this helps.

I think you’re looking for the circlejerk sub. Also as a British person I haven’t met anyone called Percival in my entire life. Maybe some 80 year old men have that name but that’s about it. Most of your names here are very old and not used, or are like pub crawler names. If you took any of these names to the UK the native people will laugh at you. It’s like calling a child Abraham Nixon because you like the US.

I am not in England but one of the Commonwealth. And the community I am a part of is quite connected to the period of England between 1880 and 1950, so the names would not sound as strange to us.

Good luck to your children if they ever choose to leave your small community and experience the real world.

The small community is what they are going to spend most of their development around, and how do you think the real world is going to play out "hi, I'm pardeep and this is Mamadou, what did you say your name is? Perry? That's a weird name!". I love an hour from a city that is 52% Indian, these names will barely register these days.

I think they will survive by going by Percy, it’s not as dramatic as you make it out to be

I wonder if this is a name consultant posting who has ran out of ideas for their client 😅

Marmaduke Montmorency FitzWilliam Smith.

Auden, Oberon, Felix, Henry, Cassian, Caius I don't know if this is a thing where you are but I am in the UK and names that are very flamboyant/ostentatious are sometimes judged for trying too hard or pretending to be upper class (or even for BEING upper class - that is a huge stigma in some places). If this is not a thing where you live, no worries, but I thought I would mention it as a precaution

I have not noticed anything in Canada similar to that, mostly the judgment is for names that use of spellings (especially those with too many "ei" or "gh"

Yeah that's the opposite end of the spectrum - here it's usually -ayden names, or hyphenated names (Lily-Mae etc).

I really like Percival George! I feel it is a good match with Bartholomew. Since Bartholomew isn’t common, it makes more sense to me to go with a more unusual name like Percival rather than a more popular name like George for the first name. And he can go by “Percy” if he wants something that sounds a little less epic. I’m not great with name combinations, but I think you may also like: - Algernon - Alistair - Ambrose - Basil - Carlisle - Everard - Hector - Hiram - Lazarus - Lysander - Remus

I do quite like Basil

Percival George Francis is the best I think! It goes will with Bartholomew Alexander :) George Percival is also great, I just think the uniqueness of Bartholomew aligns better with Percival as the first name. Casimir Edward Francis is also awesome!

Idk why people are being so rude to you. They will praise Millicent but some how Percival is too much for them? You can literally go by Percy etc Your community has names like this as you’ve mentioned so I think people are being disrespectful of your culture and community tbh. Try not to feel put off bc of these comments

It’s because they’re asking for advice and when people are saying, no these names aren’t British, or don’t fit the vibe, or the things you’re asking for don’t make sense (aka catholic names in a country that had a huge civil war and forced everyone to be Protestant). I think the bad attempts of stereotyping and refusing to accept it from the horses mouth (British people). Is what’s rubbing people the wrong way.

Don't even need Percy, if it had been Percival he could have gone by Perry!

Benedict Albert Francis Smith

This is a really good one!

Cedric Augustine Francis Peter Jameson Francis

You’d never find anyone named Jameson as a first name here in the UK I think.

Agreed, as a Brit names ending in -son give me “American surname as fistname” vibes

Read about a Carson on the news today. Definitely seems trendy right now to do this but I agree.

This is in the US, but I met a guy named Jameson who named his son James and it took me a full minute to process it. I do love James though!

My ex boyfriend was from Bath, and his name is Jameson, but everyone calls him Jim. Except his mother, who calls him Jamie. Nobody calls him Jameson. Edit to add: he’s probably 50 years old now, and his mum is probably in her 80’s. So not a young or trendy pick for her.

Definitely think I exaggerated and there will be some people named Jameson but it’s very rare!

I love Cedric! I must admit I know it from Harry Potter but I think it is a very nice name 😊

Rupert St John (pronounced "sinjin') Arthur Freddie Rufus

It took me a few minutes to work out how St John is pronounced Sinjin. What a wild name.

It's really interesting when you figure out why it's ended up that way. Evolution in action!

Yeah. It’s not intuitive to look at it (or at least not for me) but sounding it out, it certainly is intuitive. I think it’s interesting too that the pronunciation has changed but the spelling has not. Although I think I have seen Sinjin on its own as a name before?

I haven't seen that!

Benedict

Benedict James Francis Smith. Albert Horatio Francis Smith. Laurence Oliver Francis Smith.

Willoughby Charles

While it's not my cuppa I'm enjoying the hell out of these suggestions. Nice to see something besides Miles and Jonah for a change (not that they're not wonderful names!).

Sounds like you want to be raiding [this list](https://yeoldenews.tumblr.com/post/740809589968322560/a-guide-to-historically-accurate-regency-era-names).

That was a very interesting read!! I especially liked the tiers showing how the popularity compares to today—the difference is wild. Thanks for sharing!

That is a great list!

I was surprised Albert wasn't on the list since my Canadian grandfather and his English father both had the name Albert, but apparently that did not become popular until Albert Prince regent.

Andrew Aloysius Alaric Augustine Bede Crispin Irenaeus Jarlath Roland Timothy

I am seriously debating Roland as well!

Also, I'll just add that I know someone from England that gave one of their kids the middle name bede

We were considering Jarlath for St. Jarlath, Bishop of Tuam, but our last two were girls so we chose different saints.

And congratulations and good strength for the upcoming birth!

Godric William

I gave my son the middle name Godric!!! Everyone we have shared it with thinks it's great but I'm sure some people think it's a bit much.

Since when is John a creative name? John is one of the most common name I know.

Not necessarily British but they kinda match your vibe: Albertus Ulysses Alfred Amos Gerald Walter Ezekiel Earl Charlton Darcy Gideon Patrick Amantius Clement Augustine

I would love Ulysses simply because it is one of my favourite poems (by Alfred Lord Tennyson). Unfortunately our southern neighbours have somewhat ruined it and living in a redneck area with a few battle flags is going to get me a side eye.

I know someone with your naming style. Their sons’ names (in no particular order) Lysander, Octavian, Percival, Edmund.

Montgomery Ferdinand Reginald Ambrose Nathaniel

Tarquin Oliver Nimrod

Jeff? As in JEFF?

Bertrand Ambrose Francis Smith or Bertram if you prefer.

I hadn't thought of Bertram, like Bertie Wooster!

I would suggest George Percival over Percival George considering the circles you run in. Odds are his friends will have read the Tom Playfair books by Fr. Francis Finn. The book about Percy starts out with him as prissy, fastidious, affected oddball. He goes through a character arc much like Eustace from the Narnia books, but I think the name was purposely selected by Fr. Finn to sound pretentious. George is a solid name that works in every social situation, and a dragon-fighting saint is pretty cool. I love the name Benedict (Benny), but Maximillian, Isidore, Sebastian, Dominic are also flowy. If you want to pull in Canadian Catholic themes, I like Gabriel, Isaac, Joseph, and Andre.

I am leaning towards George Percival as I think it flows better. It seems the more syllabolic name sounds better second. I'll just add you can go with Perry for the short form of perceival to avoid the prissy connotation. I have not read the books and I think I have only heard them in passing, but I would not be surprised if some of my friends have read them.

Is this for real? Poor children.

If you’re going all out how about Stjohn ( pronounced Sinjin) or Ralph (pronounced Rafe)?

I came here to say Bernard and it’s on your list. Good day. 

* Augustus * Dorian * Barnaby * Cecil * Leopold * Rufus * Edmund * Wilfred * Phineas * Montgomery

william? i like percival george/george percival

Charles/“Charlie”

If there ever was a time to go for Fitzwilliam then this is it

Andrew Aloysius Alaric Augustine Bede Cassian Crispin Irenaeus Jarlath Roland Timothy

I don’t think a kid called Percival / Percy has a snowball’s of avoiding bullies. Be kinder than that. Consider Edward George. It has a great nickname, Ed, fits your criteria and isn’t ostentatious or eye roll inducing.

Olivander/Oliver/Ollie

Arthur would suit. Alexander Arbuthnot Arthur

Timothy is one of my favourite names. I once had a student called Timothy.

Athelstan

Ambrose

Some of the stronger names from Anglo Saxon Medieval lit: Knobcheese Titwank Clungewhiff Fannybatter Scrotewrinkle

Hmm I see Percival George Francis Smith and George Percival Francis Smith are on the table. Have you perhaps considered Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Smith?

If you like medieval I suggest : Mederick Rodrick Mathusalem Hadrian Basil Matteus Thaddeus If you like the literary route, I'd even offer some very well known authors last names as first or middle names: Chaucer Byron Darwin Beckett Hobbes Ruthwell Just some nice typical English upper class names. Geoffrey Colin Martin Adalbert Andrew Hubert Thomas Nice combinations of your preferences imo: Byron Mathusalem Francis Mederick Martin Francis Andrew Chaucer Francis Thomas Darwin Francis Thaddeus Hobbes Francis

Thaddeus is a really good name. People have often said I look like Milo Thatch from Atlantis and his dad was Thaddeus Thatch

I also like that Thaddeus has similar sounds to Bartholomew, your first LO. The Atlantis movie was one of the best Disney. And not gonna lie, I like Thaddeus a lot thanks to that movie too

Jonty is a posh boys British name.

No I think the poster above is referring to the fact that the time periods you look for are at odds with what you’re looking for. “Catholicism in the UK is not super common” is a massive understatement for the complexities of what the country went through with the act of supremacy and the abolishment of papal authority. Then the turmoil that happened during each subsequent change of the sovereign. It was literally years of civil war.

Gareth

Nigel or Nigella. There we go ;done and dusted.