UK berries - help me out!

[linneus]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around some names and I would appreciate some help from all the UK berries here. The rest of you are of course also welcome to answer, but it would be great if you could mention where you're from then since a lot of my questions on these names has do to with the UK popularity.

Questions to go with the names:
1. How common do you think this name is? Have you met any?
2. How would you react if you heard of someone with this name? Surprised by the name, would you think the parents owned three castles or that they were homeless, tired of hearing the name? etc etc, 3 guess you get what I'm out after!
3. Do you think this names ages well?
4. Anything else you can think of!

So, the names:
Tobias
Finn
Milo
Theodore
Hugo
Barnaby
Crispin
Rupert
Malachi


Florence
Beatrice
Violet
Penelope
Elspeth
Arabella
Talia / Thalia
Beatrix
Honora
Jocasta
Philippa
Linnea

[essjay]

Tobias - met one, seems quite posh but the kid I knew came from a council estate. Ages well and has cute nn Toby
Finn - only Finn I know has the full name Finley, and I think I prefer it as a nn.
Milo - don't know any, would use as nn for Miles as it seems quite childish.
Theodore - ages well with a variety of nns, don't know any.
Hugo - don't know any, I like this but I can't see it on a child.
Barnaby - don't know any but like nn Barney, seems quite upper class though
Crispin - I know someone who has this as a middle name, not a fan, all I see is Crisp.
Rupert - don't know any, don't think it would suit a child as it seems too grow up and no cute nns.
Malachi - I know one, think it ages well, cute.


Florence - know someone with it as a middle, feels quite dated to me.
Beatrice - don't know any, not a fan.
Violet - don't know any, not a fan.
Penelope - don't know any, not a fan.
Elspeth - I know two, think it's nice but hard to say with a lisp. Nice, ages well and nn Elsie is cute.
Arabella - don't know any, not a fan of the -bella trend at all.
Talia / Thalia - know one, think it's a nice name but not sure how well it ages
Beatrix - don't know any, not a fan..
Honora - don't know any, not a fan.
Jocasta - don't know any, feels made up to me.
Philippa - know one, think it ages well and can go by cute nn Pippa as a child.
Linnea - don't know any, sounds nicknamey (I've been told it's said like Linny)

[linneus]

Tobias - met one, seems quite posh but the kid I knew came from a council estate. Ages well and has cute nn Toby
Finn - only Finn I know has the full name Finley, and I think I prefer it as a nn.
Milo - don't know any, would use as nn for Miles as it seems quite childish.
Theodore - ages well with a variety of nns, don't know any.
Hugo - don't know any, I like this but I can't see it on a child.
Barnaby - don't know any but like nn Barney, seems quite upper class though
Crispin - I know someone who has this as a middle name, not a fan, all I see is Crisp.
Rupert - don't know any, don't think it would suit a child as it seems too grow up and no cute nns.
Malachi - I know one, think it ages well, cute.


Florence - know someone with it as a middle, feels quite dated to me.
Beatrice - don't know any, not a fan.
Violet - don't know any, not a fan.
Penelope - don't know any, not a fan.
Elspeth - I know two, think it's nice but hard to say with a lisp. Nice, ages well and nn Elsie is cute.
Arabella - don't know any, not a fan of the -bella trend at all.
Talia / Thalia - know one, think it's a nice name but not sure how well it ages
Beatrix - don't know any, not a fan..
Honora - don't know any, not a fan.
Jocasta - don't know any, feels made up to me.
Philippa - know one, think it ages well and can go by cute nn Pippa as a child.
Linnea - don't know any, sounds nicknamey (I've been told it's said like Linny)

Thanks you! I thought I'd point out though that Linnea isn't pronounced like Linny. It's my own name, and it's pronounced lih-NAY-ah.

[custard]

I lot of your names are on my list too, so there's a lot of love going on!

Tobias - Prefer Toby personally
Finn - my friend has just named her son Finley (nn Finn). I'm not sure Finn works on it's own....
Milo - Love this.
Theodore - Love this
Hugo - Like it, but I can't shake the association to the fragrance....
Barnaby - Barney is a cute nickname
Crispin - Prefer Crispian
Rupert - Love this
Malachi - Pronounced Mal-ah-kai or Mal-ah-kee?


Florence - Getting quite popular in the UK now, thanks to the singer
Beatrice - Ok
Violet - Love this, but again, getting popular
Penelope - Love this too
Elspeth - Love
Arabella - Nicer than Isabella IMO
Talia / Thalia - Ok
Beatrix - Prefer Beatrice
Honora - Ok, think I prefer Honor
Jocasta - Don't like
Philippa - Ok
Linnea - Ok

I think most of your names (like mine) are fairly unique in the UK but some are starting to trend, especially the floral ones. I think people like floral names but want alternatives to Lily & Rose, so Violet & Florence come in.

Vast majority of your names I picture as more middle-class. I can't imagine any small child on a council estate called Elspeth or Rupert! That's not a bad thing btw! The only one I think bucks that trend is Finn, only because Finley/Finlay is quite trendy & common everywhere now, so there will be lots of little Finns around.

Great list though!

[malk]

This is a brilliant site for comparing names popularity, though it only does England and Wales.
http://names.darkgreener.com/

I was based in Scotland until recently

Tobias - none
Finn - I knew 2, mine and another boy. Finlay/Finley is more popular
Milo - none
Theodore - I knew a Theo and Teo (father Dutch) not sure of full names
Hugo - none
Barnaby - knew one elderly man
Crispin - none
Rupert - none
Malachi -none

I lived in a lower working class neighbourhood so those names are all too posh for where I stayed.


Florence - knew one infant
Elspeth - one adult
rest are again too posh for my bit of Scotland
Beatrice
Violet
Penelope
Arabella
Talia / Thalia
Beatrix
Honora
Jocasta
Philippa
Linnea

[harrietsmummy]

Tobias- I know a Tobias who's 10, and a few little Tobys. I think its unusual but not too surprising as a choice. It ages brilliantly imo- can see it on a little boy or a man! Dashing! I think its generally a fairly middle/upper middle class name. Pretty popular in the public schools etc. It is kind of soft, charming and handsome sounding to me...and friendly. Like, Barnaby actually- both sound personable and, kind? maybe?
Finn- Haaa I know several Finns. Its used as a nickname for several names which means there are a lot I guess. I think its so popular that its become kind of outside of class/character stereotypes- could be a brother for Laura Hannah or a brother for Beatrice Xanthe.. I think this one works better on a younger boy/man than an older one. Sounds kind of casual, and a bit punchy and fun.
Milo- I don't personally know any Milos but I think its pretty common. Mm, find it quite a neutral name. Like Alfie, its hit a sudden spike and I think it will date similarly fast. I see Milo as a little silly on a grown man- Miles is nice though
Theodore- Know 2 Theos, but no children who go by Theodore. He def wouldn't be the only Theo in his class..good name though. I'd expect a Theo to be a little shy, well behaved, sweet?
Hugo- Very middle class, first off. I know 1 Hugo (my kids go to public school. Wouldn't expect Hugos to pop up so much at state schools maybe. Hope thats okay to say?)
Barnaby- Same as Hugo really. Don't know any Barnabys but I know a Barnanus. I find this name a little 'snobbier' than Hugo I think. Very class suggestive, maybe? Whereas Hugo/Hugh has been widely used across classes in the past. More widely anyway
Crispin- This one is fun! Aristocratic but eccentric and a little 'retro aristocratic'. Have never met a Crispin
Rupert- Love Rupert. Was always keen to use this one (dammit) Never met one. Really want to!
Malachi- Not a fan of the 'i' ending. Find this name quite tough sounding. Haven't met a child Malachi before. Might call this one a more working class name, I think. Can see this name as a little lower class, if thats okay to say..

Florence- Such a winsome name. Know of quite a lot of Florences born recently- its hit such a spike! Think it was previously a very niche middle classy name but now, happily, its found across the board. Big kudos for anyone who uses this name.
Beatrice- Love this. Two of my friends have Beatrices, but that might just be coincidence..
Violet- Don't know any Violets. Think it has hit the US much harder than the UK. Pretty
Penelope- Know 1 Penelope but her parents chose the name before it began being used so much in US, and a little in the UK..She's about 10 and has a sister with a very unusual name
Elspeth- Don't know any! Would imagine a traditional, but maybe a fun, family using this. I imagine a little girl running around outside a lot in fields. Haha
Arabella- This name sounds like its trying a little hard, frillwise, for me. I know several Annabels but no Arabellas
Talia / Thalia- Know none. Would imagine this name alongside a Carmen or a Scarlett. Dramatic, flamboyant, slightly sultry sounding..
Beatrix- Can't really pass unbiased judgement on this one! Clearly I love it.
Honora- I know an Honor? Honora is better imo- it flows a little better than Honor which I don't find that easy to say. I like 3 syllable names though
Jocasta- Ooh this is the most offbeat girls' name yet. Haven't heard this around at all. Very grand sounding, but in a good and wearable way. Would be excited to see this used
Philippa- Quite a lot of Philippas popping up, mainly nicknamed Pippa (surprise surprise) I know of a few..I think this has become a bit of a 'British pride' name alongside Katherine, Charles, William etc.
Linnea- Offbeat again. Like this one less. Feels a little fluttery and insubstantial somehow. And nope, never met one! I can see a Linnea in a family alongside an Isla, or maybe an Ada.

Hope this helps! Good list

[caroline147]

I live in London, originally from Nottingham. I don't know many babies, but I do go on name boards/follow the popularity charts & birth announcements closely, so that's where my opinions popularity/trendiness come from.

Tobias- Toby seems popular to me, I know of a couple of child Tobys, but I don't know anyone named Tobias. I would probably not expect a Tobias to be working class. It ages fairly well imo.
Finn- Seems very popular/trendy! I don't know any personally, but have heard of several babies born with this name. Much less middle-class sounding than Tobias. A little too nicknamey to age amazingly well.
Milo- Slightly trendy, but not alarmingly so. Don't think it ages brilliantly.
Theodore- Love this! Theo is popular, and trending upwards, but Theodore seems relatively stable so far. Would expect a Theodore to be middle-class.
Hugo- Definitely has a bit a posh image, but this seems to be fading. Trendy. I much prefer Hugh.
Barnaby- Also seems a little bit posh to me, and I don't think it would age too well.
Crispin- Still very posh! Not too trendy/popular though.
Rupert- A little bit posh and a little bit trendy.
Malachi- This seems very different from your other choices. I have a fairly neutral opinion on it.


Florence- Super popular/trendy! I've heard of a few baby Florences recently. I think it has started to shake off its posh image now it is becoming so widely used.
Beatrice- I used to love this name, then I got sick of hearing it; very popular/trendy. Also starting to shake off a formerly posh image.
Violet- Definitely on the rise, trending upwards to becoming popular. I don't associate it with any socioeconomic class.
Penelope- Perhaps the tiniest bit posh and the tiniest bit trendy.
Elspeth- Oh, I love this! Not very popular or trendy, although Elsie is! Perhaps considered slightly posh.
Arabella- Seems fairly posh/princessy to me. But I can imagine it will become increasingly trendy, with Isabella, Bella and Annabelle so popular.
Talia / Thalia- Slightly working class vibe, if I'm honest. Don't think it would age as well as your other choices.
Beatrix- Less trendy and posh than Beatrice, more on the quirky side.
Honora- I would love to meet a little Honora. Don't think it's too posh, popular or trendy. I much prefer Annora though.
Jocasta- Just seems like a weird name to me.
Philippa- Reminds me too much of Pippa Middleton. Pippa seems trendy.
Linnea- I imagine there may be pronunciation problems.

Hope that helps!