Alabama???

I know there has been a lot of talk of the history of slavery.

However since reading this thread what has been in my mind is…

and (see image)

What about Arizona instead? Loved the character in Greys anatomy! 😆

I think London and Montana are awful! I'd rather Alabama than either of them...

OP, it's not really my style, but it's equally not the worst name I've ever heard, so go for it!

Try to be less of a dick.

Seeing as you think it's appose it doesn't surprise me you want a kid called Bama 🤣🤣🤣

It’s very very true.

I really don't like it. The U.K. version of Alabama would probably be St, Helen's. I personally don't have any feelings either way about either place but StHelens has a reputation for inbreeding , poverty and people of low IQ. Alabama is known for this and much much worse. It's taken until THIS YEAR for them to remove a KKK leaders name from the university of Alabamas building for gods sake. The KKK used to hang black men from trees and torch their bodies. why would you want your kids to have that association?

Have you practiced standing on a porch letting the screen door slam behind you and hollering “Alabama Rayne, you know you’ve got to wear what the Dairy Queen done give you” as her boyfriend’s pick up truck disappears in a cloud of red dust?

India as a posh girl name in England always seems tone deaf to me.

Alabama like travis barkers kid
and reign like Kourtney kardashians kid
people will presume you are a super fan.

I would say that those arguing it's an unacceptable name because it was once a hotbed of slavery are a bit ridiculous. If someone thinks "Alabama = Slavery", that just shows their extremely limited awareness of American history. Yes, slavery took place there, and that was awful, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing it's known for. Almost every first name that recalls a place has some darkness in its history, but people who conflate it with those events alone are just ignorant. India is a popular name, yet India aa a country has seen some atrocious human rights abuses over the years and certain minority groups continue to be persecuted there. Paris has had an extremely bloody history. The list goes on.

I think it would be fine if you were American or had some connection to Alabama. A twee English girl with a name like this seems a little incongruous to me.

Nothing wrong with Redneck America and hillbillies.

I suspect this is a wind- up, but let us take the OP at her word and catalogue the contenders for non-yucky alternatives.

Albany
Alexandra
Alastrina
Adelaide
Alberta
Albertine
Alba
Alana
Amanda
Amaryllis
Angelica
Annabella
Antonia
Anastasia
Alicia
Andrea
Antoinette
Avalon
Astolat

That's just off the top of my head, and you'll see there's a few euphonious place names in the list. No need to go all Trump trashy, which particularly would not be a good look in the UK, which is far from Alabama geographically and culturally.

I'm not usually one to have particularly strong feelings about names but I wouldn't. I live in the States and even here it would be considered...unusual. Sorry. Would Alaska or Indiana work instead?

Only if you want every date she invites up to her place for a drink to look around and then exclaim, “sweet home, Alabama!”

Springfield is several real places.

I recently came across a child called Jersey-Blu. 😶

There's an area of Cardiff called Splott. Just putting it out there...

Honestly as everyone else has said, Alabama has awful connotations and along with its historic slavery is in the vanguard of denying women abortions.

There's Carolina - also Southern, but not overtly identifiable as an American state, and the old JT song is still appealing.

I was so confused for a minute, JT (Justin Timberlake) is from Tennesse… then realised James Taylor.. 😳

Thought about Kentucky but that’s poss worse than Alabama.

Various capital cities could work: Augusta, Charleston, Raleigh, Boston, Hartford, Trenton, Atlanta, Jackson, Charleston, Montgomery, Frankfort, Anna(polis), Nash(ville), Harris(burg), Madison, Jackson, Helena, Austin, Lincoln, Denver, Phoenix, Olympia.

also Springfield is actually a real place - What?!?!

There’s a poo fetish move called an Alabama hot pocket. Boys at school used to joke about it.

The first thing I associate with the name Alabama is crimson tide so that’s a huge no don’t do it from me.

I’ve an Italian aunt Alba and it’s definite Al-ba there. Means dawn.

I'm surprised at people suggesting Alaska as a good alternative. The first images that spring to mind are baked Alaska and Sarah Palin. I think the problem with place names is that they do recall everything about that place, good and bad. They aren’t as unambiguously positive as most traditional names or neutral like many modern names (nature-inspired, surnames used as first names).

I'd look up some history first. Not a place I'd like my child's name associated with.

It's very cool, it reminds me of the movie True Romance which used to be a favourite of mine. But you'd better be certain that your kid is going to be super cool, it would seem a little ridiculous on a mousy shy girl!