Something i think about occasionally is how "Tarquin" is the go-to "posh kid name" in British English, but it's been that since I was a child. Surely, given naming trends evolve, the posh kids are called something else now. (And I've actually never met a Tarquin, so maybe they weren't even then?)
I’ve only ever heard it referenced in Monty Python.
Wait, seriously? Completely baffling as that's the name of several kings of Rome (including the last one).
Well you don't get posher than that I guess..
AND more disliked. Might play a role for forming the stereotype there. 🤔
Ooh I think a posh name is Topher, in that you’re called Christopher but you’re such a dick you don’t want to be called Chris. All the Topher’s I’ve heard of have been utter posh eggs.
Trying to adjust my gagues here. How post would you consider a Tarquin to be relative to a Jolyon?
I am at least aware of some Actually Existing Jolyons, which probably makes it a more accurate stereotype
It was Hugo and Camilla when I was young.
I feel like posh kids these days are called things like Daisy and Olly. Short, simple, inferring they’re the kind of children who gamble with chickens and have wooden tricycles and $500 natural linen fibre white painting smocks and are banned from using screens.
By gamble I meant gambol, I have just learned these are two differently spelled words. I do like the mental image of tiny Apple running an underground betting ring on her heritage breed free range chickens though.
LOL I’m glad you clarified. I was thinking, is this some new side hustle gig I should be aware of?
Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel is the only one I've heard of.
Laurence Olivier’s son’s name .
Wasn’t Tarquin the last king of Rome? It’s like they have an unknown urge to overthrow the monarchy.. so there is that.
You’d also assume that at least one of them was going around demanding everyone call him Grand Moff.
I see what you did there...
When you're rich enough to know Tarquin was the last king of Rome, but ignorant enough not to know why he was the LAST king of Rome.
Oh dang, that's where Order of the Stick got that name. I, uh, really thought it was just a fantasy name.
it's always been a weird choice! it's from pre-republic roman history (as ported into english lore via macauley's lays of ancient rome), the name of an extremely unpleasantly villain-coded tyrant who allied with the rival etruscans to seize back his throne. he is despised by romans & in the poem!
Oh Burlew probably pulled it from that, especially since his character is that he *doesn't* want a throne, he just wanted to rule quietly in the shadows for the rest of time. I think Burlew probably thought that was a fun way to mess with reader expectations.
it's probably a useful speed-read when writing fiction, a little less so when naming yr children i'd have thought (but i have none so who knows where i'd have gone with this task)
Peregrine is also super effective, if Tarquin needs a chum.
I think the really old school posh - Tarquin posh - barely change. What changes is whether normal people also call their kids those names. Noticed we're having a wave of non-posh Hugos, for example.
Yes I've spotted a lot more Hugos around! I always notice them because it's my cats name and i always forget humans can be called that too
Awwww. It's a solid cat name. I think it's glacial with posh people because they've often been using those names in their family since 1740, while the rest of us are running on vibes.
True, but given how many posh people there are in public life in this country, it does feel weird there aren't any Tarquins that I'm aware of..
Fair point. I can only think of one, and he's, like, landed gentry posh. Probably too close in line to the throne to vote kind of posh.
Wait people can be too close in line to the throne to vote? So you’re either in line for “power” through blood mor you get the pleasure of voting in your power, is that the idea? Huh, the things you learn!
Yeah, royals don't vote. The sovereign is technically the head of state. It's not a legal thing, but a major royal choosing to vote would spark a constitutional crisis.
A journalist named Tarquin who *doesn't* write for the Telegraph?! I suppose he doesn't have a double barrel name so isn't posh enough.
I've met one Tarquin. Awesome person, but not posh. Very down to Earth. He's Kenyan, though.