What's your definition of a name that's "cheap"?

[flick]

I think people are too easily offended.

[amberdaydream]

I honestly think the person makes the name not the other way around. Your name has nothing to do with what you are.

I've never met anyone who thinks differently. I'm just asking for OPINION, not facts!

[amberdaydream]

Not Addision, Madison, Mackenzie, Amber or Crystal (just a few that have been mentioned). These have all been popular names and I have to think many types of people have chosen them.

I agree! I wonder if it's because people aren't fond of Addison, Madison and MacKenzie on girls.

[ksheja]

I agree! I wonder if it's because people aren't fond of Addison, Madison and MacKenzie on girls.

Yes, it's the -son and the Mac (son of) thing. Many people hate -son and mac names on girls.

[diana_m]

I feel bad saying this b/c I know some people whose names are spelled this way, but I think one way to instantly cheapen a name is to spell it with an -ee at the end (in place of a y): Britnee, Destinee, Katee, Leslee, Audree, Aubree...
It's a big trend in my area and I just want to tell people to STOP it!

I also agree that using brands cheapens a name: Mercedes, Lexus, Bentley, Royce, Prada, Dior, Tiffany, Chanel...(interesting since these are all expensive companies and brands)

[kateinlouvain]

Diana M,
Just to clarify, is the idea that if a name with a legitimate history and etymology like Mercedes or Tiffany is later used as a commercial brand, it becomes declasse? I´m asking genuinely because as my comment above makes clear, it irks me how many English speakers seem to react as if the name girls name Mercedes comes from the car and not the other way around. But your example of the name Tiffany (meaning the feast of epiphany) has made me realise that it might be me who is misunderstanding the argument and that the later commercial appropriation of the names is sufficient to ruin them for some people. Anyone following me here?

[sylfessev]

Names of common virtue – Hope, Destiny, Faith, Lovely, Pretty, ... strangely I like: Amity, Verity, Chastity...

Some 'glossy' and 'shiny' names like: Shine, Star, Glimmer, Brilliantine, Glitter

Names that are spelled unusually in a 'trendy' way: Ryleeigh (Riley), Krysteen (Kristen), Karleeigh, Karlee (Carla, Karla...), Jayden, Brayden, Jayleigh, Jayley, adding –leigh and –ley and –den and y's, h's and more e's and a's for modern 'appeal'

Fancy, gem names like Crystal, Amber, Jade, Jewel, I don't mind but adding some –ina, -a, -een, you get the point. Crystalina, Amberee, Jadina, Jeweline...

'Sweet' names like: Sugar, Angel, Pryncess(a), Angelyka,

Again, adding –ee's and –een's on random names: Anlee, Ashlee, Destinee, Desiree

All these names are tacky and spruced up.

[maja]

I definitely don't consider "cheap" names the same as lower class names; I think in America at least (where I live), names really come down to a matter of opinion, not social class. Of course spelling could be influenced by social class -- if someone was brought up without a stable education, they might be more likely to spell a name in a way that isn't the norm -- but I know plenty of people who gravitate towards "creative" names despite their excellent educations. So I think it might be hard to discern.

For me, a "cheap" name is a name that did not require much thought and isn't based in any kind of meaningful history. So that would include "misspelled" names, yes, because the history of the name is disregarded. That's tricky, though, because it can change so easily... for example, I don't think of Kaitlyn as a cheap name even though it's a made-up spelling, because it's been used so often that it has become a name in its own right -- a history has been created.

That said, I harbor a deep dislike of boys' names for girls, surname names for girls ending in -son or -ton (and loathe things like Campbell), utterly made up names like Jayden and Kaydyn, unnecessary "y's" and "e's" where they could just as easily be eliminated or kept to the original, and the whole idea of babies being named after people like Britney Spears (who also doesn't spell her name properly.) But that's probably just my name snobbery coming out.

[ocross]

I agree with most of the previous posters. Anything with unique spellings, definitely. Same goes for names for expensive brands. Certainly if it is synonymous with a less-than-reputable celebrity (ex: Paris), that doesn't help (however, such associations are likely temporary).

[lunaaah]

For me it's all about bad associations. Some names that I find trashy are Lynn (not so much as a middle name though), Chantal, Tiffany, Jacqueline, Nathalie, Kim, Denise, Kathleen, Nadine, Nicole (only where I live though.), Jermaine, Patrick (as much as I want to love it, I just can't!), Kevin, Michelle, Brandi, Mike, Conny, Nicklas, Cindy/Sindy, Danny, Linda, Vanessa, Jarmel, Celina, Cassie, Talissa and Taliah. All of them are because of bad associations. I just realized how many trashy people I've known. Wow.

A couple of weeks ago my mum told me that if I had been born in America she would have named me Amber or Skye or something like that. I was horrified and most of all happy that I was born in Denmark. I have no idea how, but for some reason her danish name choices are MUCH more classy than her american ones (My parents liked Laura, Freja, Anna and Nana for me, but chose Laura in the end.) When I think of the fact that I could have been called Amber or Skye, I actually think being called Laura is ok.