The trend for ridiculous baby names is eroding our sense of national identity
This week's tidings that Muhammad heads the list of UK baby boys' names for the second year running doesn't only reveal a profound shift in demographics, it shows how the practice of handing down saints' names amongst white Britons born into some form of Anglican heritage has practically evaporated.
I was at primary school with a bunch of Davids, Mathews and Stephens, but now such lads would be called Noah and Oliver (the next two most popular boys' names in the country) or, judging from my sons' classmates: Fergus, Otis, Ethan and Max.
Meanwhile Olivia, Amelia and Lily head the girls' names table, which belies the fact countless parents strive for studied originality. In so doing, they've become remarkably like lemmings leaping off a cliff while yelling 'I'm so unique'.
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Daily Mail
35 minutes ago
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The huge mistake almost everyone is making when washing their socks
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BBC News
an hour ago
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Call for help with school uniform costs in England
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However, the average cost of a school uniform is just over £340 for primary school children and around £454 for those in secondary education, according to DfE figures. "For many low-income households, even with such savings, uniforms will remain unaffordable without proper support," said Adam Rolfe, policy and public affairs officer at Money Wellness. Money Wellness says of 153 local education authorities in England, just 22 offer a dedicated uniform grant, while a further seven provide help but only in exceptional circumstances such as fire, flooding or being made homeless. It said the data reveals a "postcode lottery of support". Councils in places such as London, Yorkshire, and the north west offer help ranging between £30 to £170 per child. But, it said: "The vast majority offer nothing at all." Mr Rolfe said: "We urgently need a consistent, national approach to school uniform support to ensure no child is disadvantaged simply because of where they live." The Local Government Association, the membership group for English councils, said: "While some councils choose to help parents with the cost of school uniforms, funding pressures on council budgets make it increasingly difficult for them to continue these concessionary grants. Sorry, we can't display this part of the story on this lightweight mobile page. View the full version of the page to see all the content. While pupils in England are still out for the summer, the break finishes in around four weeks' time and the Children's Society charity said now is the time that school uniform banks are starting to get busier. For Carrie, who was getting a uniform for her son Dillion for his new secondary school, places like the Green Uniform and Baby Bank in Cheshire are "invaluable". Image caption, Carrie, here with her son Dillon, said uniform banks are "invaluable" "It's a real challenge to be able to afford a brand new school uniform," she told the BBC. 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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Increase in vapes found on Britain's coastline by beach clean volunteers
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