Anonymous wrote:Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

Heh. I grew up working class and all the men named their sons after themselves. People called them "Big ____" and "Little ______."

Big John and Little John
Big David and Little David
Big Lenny and Little Lenny
Big Jim and Little Jim
Big Dale and Little Dale

I put my foot down and refused to do this to my boys. Their father's last name is sufficient. They don't need his first name, too.

Anonymous wrote:Chet.

No. Don't! Any guy named "Chet" is always a dick.

If you're going to go prep, pick something WASPy and classic:

William, Robert, John, Charles, Phillip, Henry, Harry, Arthur, George, Edward, James

Anonymous wrote:Here are some different names I have heard lately:

Kevlar
Ford
Greyson
Greyer
Jagger
Truman
Lukas
Sampson

Those aren't preppy names. Those are names that hipsters give to their kids.

Anonymous wrote:Here are some different names I have heard lately:

Kevlar
Ford
Greyson
Greyer
Jagger
Truman
Lukas
Sampson

Kevlar???

Here are some different names I have heard lately:

Kevlar
Ford
Greyson
Greyer
Jagger
Truman
Lukas
Sampson

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baby boy #2 is due soon, and I am still name searching. I like the idea of something preppy.....and I know there are plenty of preppy names floating around the DC area. What are some of your favorite preppy names for boys? I also like the idea of a name that means something in another language (for instance, Agape means "love" in Greek, or Leibe means "Love" in German, etc.). Would love to hear some ideas!

Die Liebe means love in German.
Der Leib means body or belly in German.

Either are horrid choices for a name.

--native German

MY name is Liebe. Thanks.

I think a better description of what op is probably looking for would be "soap opera" names as opposed to "preppy" names.

I agree with what PPs have said about preppy names being organic or random nicknames for either generic family names (William, John) or crazy old school family names (wentworth).

I think the 80s soap opera and John Houghs (sp?) movie names like Trevor, Hunter, and Preston are faux preppy.

The real preps I have known have boring (George, John, Mary, Elizabeth) or ugly names that were given out of birth-rite and not intended to be a cool name and are typically from the wrong generation. Think Barbara, Wallace, Beatrice, or Archibald on 30-somethings. And, of course, the catchy and sometimes inappropriately juvenile nicknames for III, IV, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

My husband is a III even though his parents are working-class. I don't think it's pretentious. (We drew the line at a IV, though.)

OT: I once met a guy who was the 19th. Talk about pressure to have kids!

Yes, it's pretentious. It's also now the dominion of the working class, as they're being pretentious...that is, Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. Unless you are royalty, you don't need to be the III, or XI, or whatever.

What if you just want to honor your predecessors? I guess you could do same first name, different middle name.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

My husband is a III even though his parents are working-class. I don't think it's pretentious. (We drew the line at a IV, though.)

OT: I once met a guy who was the 19th. Talk about pressure to have kids!

If you Mr. XIX had the initials HDG, I know him, too.

Back to the OP, if you have to ask if a name is preppy and didn't actually go to prep school, STOP IT. Pick a name you like -- you'll never pass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

As a European, I find the whole "III" business utterly ridiculous and pretentious even for people from old money. What are you guys, dukes, kings, popes? Not even the European nobility - except for RULERS - did this.

+100

You must be one of the other Germans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

My husband is a III even though his parents are working-class. I don't think it's pretentious. (We drew the line at a IV, though.)

OT: I once met a guy who was the 19th. Talk about pressure to have kids!

Yes, it's pretentious. It's also now the dominion of the working class, as they're being pretentious...that is, Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. Unless you are royalty, you don't need to be the III, or XI, or whatever.

Anonymous wrote:Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

As a European, I find the whole "III" business utterly ridiculous and pretentious even for people from old money. What are you guys, dukes, kings, popes? Not even the European nobility - except for RULERS - did this.

Anonymous wrote:Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

My husband is a III even though his parents are working-class. I don't think it's pretentious. (We drew the line at a IV, though.)

OT: I once met a guy who was the 19th. Talk about pressure to have kids!

Related, sort of: So is it pretentious to name a kid XX XX III, even though the family isn't old-money? My DH is a Jr. and I'd be open to naming a son III, but we are both from working-class families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baby boy #2 is due soon, and I am still name searching. I like the idea of something preppy.....and I know there are plenty of preppy names floating around the DC area. What are some of your favorite preppy names for boys? I also like the idea of a name that means something in another language (for instance, Agape means "love" in Greek, or Leibe means "Love" in German, etc.). Would love to hear some ideas!

Die Liebe means love in German.
Der Leib means body or belly in German.

Either are horrid choices for a name.

--native German

Another German here. Wanted to correct this, too (but then didn't want to come off as a Besserwisser). And would you name your kid Love??

For that matter, "agape" means something in English, too - and that is certainly not what you want for a name.

Heh. I am a "Besserwisser". Couldn't help myself, it just drives me nuts. Liebe is such an odd choice, as is agape for the reason you mention.

I'm not even touching the "what is a preppy name" part of it.