Question about the name Trey....

[GiveMeVegemite]

I like this name, but after mentioning it to a black friend she said that it would sound strange if i named my son that cos I am white.

I didn't think Trey was a race specific name. I know there was a Tre in Boys in the Hood, but didn't realise this defined the name?!

What are your thoughts?

[awkwardsis]

It wouldn't occur to me that names could be race specific. Trey certainly sounds more American to my ears than anything else. I'm not keen on it personally.

[DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper]

Trey sounds very American to me, but in a WASP-ish sort of way - rich, white, upper-East Side-dweller, type...

But maybe I am channelling the ghastly Trey MacDougal on SATC...

Tre, on the other hand, is a different name altogether.

[LeChatRouge]

My first thought was Will Smith's eldest son, but also the South Park guy and he is white I think. Am not sure this particular name is race specific.

[FriggFRIGG]

I don't think any names are race specific are they? What an odd thing to say.

However,I don't like it at all,if anything,it's very 'American jock' circa 1990...

[littlebitofthislittlebitofthat]

I always thought that Trey was the French version of three

ie 'john smith the third' would be called Trois pronounced Trey

[KittenOfDoom]

Trois isn't pronounced "trey" though, it's more like "twa".

Trey does mean three, it's sometimes used in card games eg the three of clubs is the trey.

It sounds more like an old-fashioned dog's name to me - there's a sentimental poem about "my poor dog Tray" that my grandad used to recite when he'd had a few too many.

[ttcnumero3]

Makes me think 'American'... was in Sex and the City iirc...

[littlebitofthislittlebitofthat]

ok so maybe it wasn't in French but it still means three!

[nooka]

ds shared a class with a boy called Trey. He was very badly behaved, and quite clearly had a difficult home life. He was mixed race I think, but I've never met another, so have no idea whether it's commonly used by any particular racial group.

I don't think it's a very nice sounding name though. According to Beyond the name it is based on an English nn for 'three'

[GiveMeVegemite]

Thanks for all the opinions and advice!

[InNeedOfBrandy]

I would agree with your friend,

[DuttyWine]

I think floppy haired jock in a varsity jacket, or the singer trey songs who is very handsome!

[Fae]

Only Trey I know of was a character from the OC played by www.imdb.com/name/nm1334869/ ...thought it was Tom Hardy at first glance

[flubba]

I'm to say I immediately assumed your son would be black or mixed race - I've taught in schools with lots of different races and all the Treys / Tres I've known have been black or mixed race.

Just asked DH (also a teacher) and he says he thought of Trey Parker (?) who is white and a creator of South Park.

hth

[marriednotdead]

Another one who agrees with your friend. Have come across several Trey's, all black. There are definitely names that are associated with a specific race/country. What assumptions would you make if you saw the names Adewale, Mohammed, Alfie?

[seeker]

It's not a name anyway, it's a household item.

[flubba]

:o seeker but then again so is Mat(t) :o

You could get a whole host of kitchen utensils!

[DuttyWine]

seeker

[Gunznroses]

Hmm.. A white Mohammed, that would be interesting. White AND English will leave people scratching their heads.

[flubba]

Actually - I taught a white Mohammed. He was Muslim though.

[GiveMeVegemite]

Hahahaha oh god. Might scratch that one off the list then!

[DuttyWine]

How about lyle? Same kind of vibe maybe?

[GiveMeVegemite]

I'm going to start a new thread asking for suggestions on different but not crap names! I quite like Lyle. I need more suggestions like that!

[DuttyWine]

Hmmm, cale, travis, remy, Leo, Thai?