One of the most iconic aspects of Keeping Up Appearances is its central character, Hyacinth Bucket, played by the brilliant Patricia Routledge. But one of the running jokes that defines her character is not just her overbearing personality or relentless social climbing—it’s her obsession with how her last name is pronounced.
Hyacinth insists that her surname be pronounced “Bouquet”, despite being spelled “Bucket.” This simple yet hilarious gag became one of the most memorable elements of the show, symbolizing everything about Hyacinth’s character—her desperate desire to appear more sophisticated than she actually is.
But why was she named Hyacinth Bucket in the first place?
Hyacinth Bucket’s name wasn’t chosen randomly. It was a clever creation by writer Roy Clarke, designed to perfectly represent her personality and the show’s central theme: social class and pretentiousness.
The last name “Bucket” is an ordinary, even slightly unrefined, surname. It is plain and practical, the kind of name that fits a working-class or middle-class family with no airs about them.
However, Hyacinth cannot accept being seen as ordinary. She is obsessed with status, elegance, and refinement, even though she comes from a rather ordinary background.
By demanding that people pronounce it “Bouquet”, Hyacinth transforms the name into something she believes sounds upper-class, French, and elegant. It’s a small but perfect example of how she constantly tries to elevate herself above her social standing, despite reality frequently betraying her grand illusions.
One of the longest-running jokes in Keeping Up Appearances is how people react to Hyacinth’s insistence on the pronunciation of her surname.
Many characters, especially those outside her social circle, naturally pronounce it the way it’s spelled—Bucket. This includes delivery people, repairmen, and service workers, all of whom unintentionally frustrate Hyacinth by refusing to acknowledge her preferred pronunciation.
Each time someone calls her “Mrs. Bucket,” she hastily corrects them with an exaggerated “It’s Bouquet!”, often in a tone of exasperation or forced politeness.
Even her own relatives—including her long-suffering husband, Richard—often struggle to take her pronunciation demands seriously. While Richard humors her, others, like her down-to-earth sisters Daisy and Rose, make no effort to maintain the illusion, often reinforcing the reality that Hyacinth refuses to accept.
This recurring joke never loses its charm because it so perfectly encapsulates Hyacinth’s character. Her entire existence is about keeping up appearances, and the pronunciation of her name is just another way she tries to distance herself from her humble origins.
While the last name “Bucket” is used for comedic effect, Hyacinth’s first name is equally important in defining her character. Hyacinth is an elegant and somewhat old-fashioned name, associated with refinement and high society.
However, much like her last name, Hyacinth's real-life circumstances do not match the sophistication she tries to project. She lives in a suburban home, not a grand estate.
She throws extravagant candlelit suppers, but they are attended by reluctant guests rather than high-ranking society members.
Her name, Hyacinth Bouquet, is the perfect metaphor for her character—a woman who wants to be seen as graceful and refined but whose reality never quite aligns with her grand aspirations.
Throughout the show, Hyacinth’s behavior is centered on social climbing. She name-drops important-sounding people, pretends to be friends with aristocrats, and constantly puts herself in situations where she believes she will be seen as elite.
However, the audience and those around her are always aware that her efforts are in vain. Whether it’s her embarrassing family (such as her slovenly sister Daisy and her layabout husband Onslow), or the uncomfortable situations she forces Richard into, her desperate attempts to seem upper-class usually result in comedic disaster.
Her name, and especially the Bouquet/Bucket gag, serves as a constant reminder of this central theme. No matter how much Hyacinth insists on her elevated status, reality keeps bringing her back down to earth.
Hyacinth Bucket’s name is one of the most memorable elements of British comedy television. The joke about her surname became so ingrained in pop culture that even people who haven’t watched Keeping Up Appearances recognize it.
Patricia Routledge’s brilliant performance helped bring this name to life, turning it into one of the most famous running gags in sitcom history. The humor surrounding the name never felt forced—it was always a natural part of Hyacinth’s character and the world she lived in.
Even today, Keeping Up Appearances remains one of the most beloved British sitcoms, and much of that is due to Hyacinth and her relentless pursuit of status. Her name, Hyacinth Bucket (Bouquet), perfectly represents her delusions of grandeur, making it one of the most iconic names in television history.
