What is an old money name?
Old money refers to the inherited wealth of established upper class families or rich people whose families have been rich for a very long time. Old money names are the names used by such families that have been around for a very long time and have an old world charm and aristocracy associated with them. The trend for old money names has recently been triggered by the tiktok trends and fads of other social media platforms.
Why would parents want a rich name for their child?
There is no denying the fact that money does not come with a guarantee of class or increased social status unless it is old money. Old money is a class of its own and unlike new money that has been recently earned, it has passed on through generations. There is no flash and bling associated with old money but rather a sense of superiority that is ingrained and has a modest outlook of its own.
Netflix series like DownTown Abbey and The Crown have reignited the trend and piqued the interest of people in the topic. The trend picked up after reference to the The 100 year rule stating that it takes a century for a name to be resuscitated and return in style. The trends vary in different countries and are influenced by dialects and inter-continental traditions and beliefs though there is a lot of cross- over between European and American names
A number of parents want a rich name for their kids to go in the trend and elevate their social standing. But statistics say that the trend has actually started with the names given to the royal family and continued since. A Californian study has actually shown that once a name catches on among high-income, highly educated parents, it starts working its way down the socioeconomic ladder and is gradually made popular among the general public. For eg- George is one of the most popular names of Britain that was significantly prevalent in the 1800s before fluctuating up and down and regaining its position in top 200 since 2000.
Here are some other examples of British old money names with their shortened versions.
British old money first names
For Boys
Cecil
Alexander (Alex )
FitzRoy (Roy)
Cooper
Donnelley (Donny)
Albert
Alfred
Hugo
Archibald (Archie)
David
Edmund ( Eddie )
Christopher
Elliot
William
Michael
Theodore (Theo)
Leonardo ( Leo )
Preston
Roland
Gregory ( Greg )
For Girls
Audrey
Anna
Elizabeth ( Liz )
Josephine
Charlotte ( Lottie )
Fiona ( Fi )
Prudence ( Pru )
Eloise
Ophelia
Penelope ( Penny )
Clarissa
Alexandria
Violet
Millicent
Lorelai
Lillian ( Lilly )
Cressida
Rosalind ( Rose )
Helene
Mildred
Old money names in America
For Boys
Christopher
Andrew
Brent
Thomas
Robert ( Rob )
Tristan
Dylan
Avery
Ambrose
Harold
Peter
Cabot
Astor
Frederick ( Fred )
Quinn
Rafferty
Alastor
Arthur
Darby
Daniel
For Girls
Veronica
Madelyn
Holly
Edwina
Emmeline
Portia
Maud
Priscilla
Ava
Sylvia
Nichola
Sophia
Irene
Louise
Lillian
Agnes
Gwen
Fiona
Alexis
Alida
European old money names in Europe
For Boys
Aloysius ( German )
Ernest ( German )
Leopold ( German )
Rupert ( German )
Juan ( Spanish )
Pedro ( Spanish )
Sebastian ( Spanish )
Gregorio ( Spanish )
Hector ( Spanish )
Cristian ( Romanian )
Anatolie ( Romanian )
Gavril ( Romanian )
Gheorghe ( Romanian )
Alina ( Polish )
For Girls
Sofia ( Spanish )
Adela ( German )
Conclusion
With so many options for your little one, it can be overwhelming choosing the perfect name. We hope you found the list of old money inspired names to be enlightening and helpful in your decision-making process. At the end of the day, no matter what name you choose for your child, it’s important that you make a conscious effort to give them values that’ll help build character, such as integrity, respect and compassion. A good name without these qualities is only as good as an average name with them—they’re both equally valuable. So take some time to explore and research various names together until you find the right fit! After all, they will carry this name with them forever.
