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Baby names

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

Original poster

British/Scottish naming rules for expats? (Inspired by the wrong cafe thread and a terribly insecure person called Hopkins)

30 replies

WeArePregnant11 · 28/10/2016 11:40

I'm pretty sure this is British cultures influencing me (and mumsnet... the "wrong cafe thread". It's interesting, it seems like you think all this middle middle, lower middle stuff is simply entertaining. But it might also be that you're simply pretending, because you actually do take it seriously but are unwilling to admit it... and if this is actually taken seriously. Sure, we're expats. But it isn't like teachers or employers will know that when they see our baby's name)

So, baby names. Seeing as we do plan to stay in the UK (preferably Edinburgh, but we also liked London) the baby name should be fine for the UK.
The internet lead me to a very insecure woman called Katie Hopkins... which as very unhelpful 😐 !

My spouse is in favour of using family names. Sure... but her family names are American (Southern), and British and American naming culture is different.
I'm Swiss, and although there are names with a bad reputation back home (like Kevin) for example I'd usually be secure enough to not care about things like this.

So, the names we like
Tara Ylva Millicent
Clarissa Millicent
Clarissa Ylva
Louisa Ylva Clementine

Nathaniel Jason or Erik
Henry Jason
Erik Nathaniel
Alexander Henrik

OP posts:
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florascotianew · 28/10/2016 12:29

OP - probably you are aware of the Scottish and English government websites that provide statistical data on the names that people in the UK actually use. They don't tell you any unwritten class-based rules, but they do show very clear real-life trends and preferences, and so you might find them useful to look at if you have not seen them already:

www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/babies-first-names-2015
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/babynamesenglandandwales/2015-08-17/relateddata

This site is also excellent for documenting fashions in baby names over the past 20 years or so:
names.darkgreener.com/

FranklyMeDeer · 28/10/2016 12:20

Don't worry about the cafe thread, it's (largely) tongue in cheek.

As for the names, if you love a name, use it. It really doesn't matter what we think, if you browse the baby name topic you'll find that pretty much how every name has been both loved and hated by posters on here.

From your list I love Nathaniel and Louisa. I don't think it matters what the middle names are unless you plan on putting them into daily use. I'd spell Erik, Eric though. But again, that's my preference which doesn't make yours any less valid.

Original poster
WeArePregnant11 · 28/10/2016 12:12

The question (which was admittedly not clear) is: is there an easy way to easily sum up British naming rules? Because that stuff is complicated.

And thank you for the answers :)

OP posts:
Chinlo · 28/10/2016 12:10

So wait... what's the question?

The boy's names are all great. The girls are okay but I don't like Tara. Louisa is nice. Clarissa is not my style, but is okay I guess.

Sophronia · 28/10/2016 12:07

I like Clarissa Millicent and Nathaniel Jason best

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