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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

"American" names in London - will they go over well?

82 replies

lily3 · 10/11/2012 21:16

As expats in London, I'm wondering how our children's names will go over. I also just found out I'm pregnant with DC 3 and I'd love to hear what names are considered "trendy" (to avoid them) or what names would not go over well, that might be popular in America.

Our baby twins are named Rowan (girl) and Weston (boy).

The other names we like are Beatrice, Winifred & Hadley (for a girl) or Finn, Harrison & Asher (for a boy).

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PurplyWurply · 10/11/2012 21:43

Hadley for a girl would be unusual here - I would assume it to be a boy's name - surnames as first names tend to be used for boys here. Also, even for boys, using a surname for first name divides people. Personally, I would rather have a 'real' first name rather than 2 surnames iyswim.

Beatrice is nice, with nicknames Bea and Trixie

Winifred will be unusual, but probably called "Winnie The Witch" after the storybook.

Finn is a very popular name here, I know several boys called Finn/Finley/Finlay.

Harrison wouldn't be my choice, but is well known here.

Asher does sound very 'American', and will probably sound better in your accent than in most of the local London accents.

maillotjaune · 10/11/2012 21:41

Well as you're in London I don't think I'd worry too much about it. I might raise an eyebrow when Brits with no connection to the States use 'American' names but as you are American...

The thing is that wherever you live in London, you'll be surrounded by people from all over the world so your choice of names will not stand out as much as they would in a small, homogeneous community (assuming such places still exist, don't get out of London much Grin)

AGeeksWife · 10/11/2012 21:40

Hadley was on my girls list, love it

Original poster
lily3 · 10/11/2012 21:34

Thank you! Yes I am looking for honesty! I'm just curious to hear what the name trends are across the pond. Are Brits big on nicknames? We like to shorten everything. Weston goes by Wes (hardly call him Weston) and honestly if we went with Winifred or Beatrice we'd really be going with Bea or Winnie..and so on.

What names are uber trendy now in the UK? We definitely want to avoid those...

OP posts:
amazingmumof6 · 10/11/2012 21:30

Tickled would you have guessed I like Asher the most! Smile (read my previous post)

amazingmumof6 · 10/11/2012 21:27

I'm not trendy and have chosen Biblical names for all our kids, but I'd say your boy names are all lovely!

I like Beatrice, but the other are a bit old fashioned I think, though I like Winifred also.

you can google most popular names in UK

Tickledyellow · 10/11/2012 21:25

I'm not too sure how to respond to this... Honestly is best! I love your baby girl's name, although I think it is more popular (although by no means very popular, it is still unsual) for baby boys at the moment. I think it is a great name for both sexes though. Your twin boy name would definitely be considered quite 'American' over here I think.... Certainly not popular. Actually names ending in son and ton, ie. Ashton, Samson etc leave people divided. Some love them, others loathe...

As for your name choices I love all of them! my least favourite is Asher probably (quite American for me!).

Congratulations by the way and good luck with names

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