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Baby names

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Original poster

Names that are common in the US but not the UK

208 replies

ffsfindmeausername · 06/10/2024 10:28

Just that really, there seems to be certain names that seem very American that you don't tend to hear in the UK such as Chad.
I like the name Chad but no idea why it's not really used in the UK. Can anyone think of any other very "American" names that you don't tend to hear here in the UK or vice versa very British names rarely used in the US?

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Puffalicious · 06/10/2024 15:54

Btw I have cousins Chad (age 50) & Jarrod (age 56) in the SW of England. My aunt was always a huge Elvis fan, so maybe it was that American influence. I never asked her.

RitaIncognita · 06/10/2024 15:50

MrsFrumble · 06/10/2024 15:00

Did you know that in the US Trey is actually a nickname for the third male to carry a name in the family line? So the grandad would be Brian Michael Jones (for example), the dad would be Brian Michael Jones Jr and the son would be Brian Michael Jones III, known as Trey. DH works with 2 American Treys, and both have ‘proper’ names that are completely different.

Also sometimes "Tersh" is a nickname in the US for the third from the Latin "tertius."

By the way, for what its worth, Roman numeral II after a name in the US means named for a grandfather, not the father. "Jr" is the designation for someone with the same name as their father.

John Alan Smith
John Alan Smith, Jr.
John Alan Smith III

If John Alan Smith, Jr. were instead named Robert John Smith, but he named his son after the first John Alan Smith, then the son of Robert would be John Alan Smith II.

FlutteryButterfly · 06/10/2024 15:47

A few years ago I would have said Rudy but that's a trend here now too.

Puffalicious · 06/10/2024 15:47

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 06/10/2024 12:31

The American trend of using surnames as first names does seem to be slowly catching on (eg Hunter is beginning to get used more, and I’ve heard of a British Harrison and Harris as first names).

I was told once the American tradition of surnames as first names started with honouring the mothers maiden name by some communities that then just normalised those surnames as first names, but not sure if that’s true.

within my lifetime the Church of England was still very strict in some areas of only baptising with a saints name, but not heard of that since I was a child so guess that might be why we’re beginning to import more US names.

Harris is an island in Scotland, and has always been very popular here in Scotland. See also Lewis, Isla, Skye, Arran. So, NOT American.

BreatheAndFocus · 06/10/2024 15:46

Chad
Adeline
Bree
Jackson
Bronson
Jared
Blake
Cody
Harrison
Randy
Dakota
Troy

Puffalicious · 06/10/2024 15:45

Plump82 · 06/10/2024 12:29

I work with a Christy.
I think of Kevin Bridges when I hear Chad.

Chad Hoggan- Spring Break! 😶(ie the Easter holidays).🤣🤣🤣

Alittlebitfluffy · 06/10/2024 15:44

You're right, come to think of it I think that was his full name and I'd totally forgot, because nobody ever used it!

BreatheAndFocus · 06/10/2024 15:43

Alittlebitfluffy · 06/10/2024 15:34

I went to school with a chad in the 00s. I always thought it was short for something tbf!

Not sure what... Chadster? Haha 🤣😂

Show quote history

I thought it was short for Chadwick. The Chad I knew had that as his full name.

SonicTheHodgeheg · 06/10/2024 15:41

Very interesting @MrsFrumble

BibbityBobbityToo · 06/10/2024 15:41

I hate the name Chad, I just think of the paper confetti (aka Chad) clogging up hole punches.

Easipeelerie · 06/10/2024 15:40

Brittany/Britney

nmnmn · 06/10/2024 15:40

I wonder how many names ITT are in fact common. I expect not many. I get what people mean though, they do sound distinctly 'US'

Mirren22 · 06/10/2024 15:38

Madison. Brianna. Bree. Kaylee.

Alittlebitfluffy · 06/10/2024 15:34

ffsfindmeausername · 06/10/2024 10:28

Just that really, there seems to be certain names that seem very American that you don't tend to hear in the UK such as Chad.
I like the name Chad but no idea why it's not really used in the UK. Can anyone think of any other very "American" names that you don't tend to hear here in the UK or vice versa very British names rarely used in the US?

I went to school with a chad in the 00s. I always thought it was short for something tbf!

Not sure what... Chadster? Haha 🤣😂

Cassie71 · 06/10/2024 15:33

Walker
Chip
Hunter

Prescottdanni123 · 06/10/2024 15:32

Gunner
Hunter
Forest
Bailey

Dobest · 06/10/2024 15:24

Wilbur,

Buzz,

Tab,

Elvis,

Sue-Ellen.

Bbq1 · 06/10/2024 15:22

Lemonadeand · 06/10/2024 12:44

McKenzie
Darby
Cindy (older generation)
Hal

And then of course a lot of Hispanic names.

My ndn is called Hal and he's 84 and v British!

abracabarbara · 06/10/2024 15:21

Hank

Bbq1 · 06/10/2024 15:20

Carson

nmnmn · 06/10/2024 15:20

I've read that many popular British girl names sound juvenile and twee to a US ear. Eg Poppy and Maisie

unmemorableusername · 06/10/2024 15:17

Avery
Addison
Caitlin
Brianna
Names ending in -ene
Britney
Ashley
Piper
Paisley
Kennedy
Chelsea

Tate
Chase
Lester
Shawn/Shaun
Mateo
Wyatt
Cameron
Biblical names
Angel
D names used by African Americans eg D'Angelo

Pastit12 · 06/10/2024 15:12

Todd I remember my husband suggested this for our eldest son ☹️

nmnmn · 06/10/2024 15:12

Scratch that. I checked Mackenzie and it was a top 100 most popular name in Scotland briefly.

nmnmn · 06/10/2024 15:05

MrsFrumble · 06/10/2024 15:00

Did you know that in the US Trey is actually a nickname for the third male to carry a name in the family line? So the grandad would be Brian Michael Jones (for example), the dad would be Brian Michael Jones Jr and the son would be Brian Michael Jones III, known as Trey. DH works with 2 American Treys, and both have ‘proper’ names that are completely different.

No, I didn't. That's interesting.