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Baby names

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

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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nmnmn · 06/10/2024 15:04

Alyssa
Mackenzie

sarsaparillatree · 06/10/2024 15:04

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 thought Chad was a nickname for "Charles"

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.

MrsCarson · 06/10/2024 14:59

Colton
Cory
Travis
Troy
Ashley
Jesse
All boys I know/knew.

Rin
Blayke
Brianna
Briony
Girls I knew.

DogwoodTree · 06/10/2024 14:46

Girls names that to my UK ear are more like surnames…
Campbell
Peyton
Camden
Kendall
Paisley
Leyton

Sanguinello · 06/10/2024 14:43

The Bates Family grandchildren. Some have names we'd use, but some wouldn't be common like Cambree, Kolter etc

Names that are common in the US but not the UK
boulevardofbrokendreamss · 06/10/2024 14:36

Surnames as first names

Bumcake · 06/10/2024 14:32

NotTheMamaNotTheMama · 06/10/2024 14:17

Same thing with me and Diadra, found out it’s their pronunciation of Deirdre.

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Dear-dra maybe? That’s the Irish way.

Bumcake · 06/10/2024 14:31

PurpleChrayn · 06/10/2024 12:37

Likewise Grem (Graham) and Seesull (Cecil).

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Yes! I remember googling grem crackers and getting nothing, not knowing they were Graham crackers.

Chersfrozenface · 06/10/2024 14:30

NewtonsCradle · 06/10/2024 14:18

Paige

Paige used to quite popular in the UK. We had one in our street in the 1990s. In 1996 there were 2052 Paiges born and the name was 28th most popular for girls. But by 2021 there were only 252 and the name was 202nd most popular.

NewtonsCradle · 06/10/2024 14:18

Paige

NotTheMamaNotTheMama · 06/10/2024 14:17

Bumcake · 06/10/2024 12:25

I like Wanda.

I used to think Kreg was an American name, but then I found out they’re saying Craig.

Same thing with me and Diadra, found out it’s their pronunciation of Deirdre.

Talisin · 06/10/2024 14:13

StolenChanel · 06/10/2024 12:02

Tyler and Troy are quite common here (but Tyler is often accused of being a “chavvy” name). Trent and Brody sound very American to me.

Wanda is another one. I’ve never heard that name used in the UK but seen it lots of times on American TV shows in the 90s/00s! Not so much any more though.

Same with Kendal, Randall and Brock

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Benedict Cumberbatch’s (very British) mum is the actress Wanda Ventham. And of course The Scarlet Witch in the Marvelverse is Wanda so the name is getting more popular again.

Kendal always seems to turn up as the bitchy sorority girl type in fiction!

Grimgrump · 06/10/2024 14:12

Chadwick
Grayson
Sheridan
Garwood
Chuck
John Boy
Janey
Sadie
Andra
Mamie

30percent · 06/10/2024 14:09

Chad yes but has recently became a joke name like Karen but it means a really handsome good looking man who gets all the girls so not necessarily a bad connotation haha.
Travis, Riley, boys names on a girl (billy Charlie etc)
Honestly I think American names are quite cool apart from giving a girl a typical boys name.

Alpolonia · 06/10/2024 14:04

Todd - Sweet Valley High book character. I’ve never met a British one.

Comedycook · 06/10/2024 14:02

Todd
Scott
Brett

Madison
Avery

tothesea · 06/10/2024 14:01

I love Jesse but here in Scotland no one is calling their son that because of ‘ya big Jessie’.

Earl
Brad
Ira

Bree
Crystal
Missy

YellowRoom · 06/10/2024 13:59

Patty, Marcie, Marsha

AsFunAsEnglishWeather · 06/10/2024 13:53

Keith
Colin

Both seen as old fashioned in the Uk but very popular in the US.

HoppityBun · 06/10/2024 13:52

Gigihadid · 06/10/2024 13:08

Jesse for a boy

Jesse is in the bible- father of David.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 06/10/2024 13:52

My first thought was Madison for a girl - reasonably common in the US.

Conversely the name Benedict is hardly ever used in the US due to negative connections with Benedict Arnold (traitor during the revolutionary war)

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 06/10/2024 13:52

Nancy
Taneeka
Cole
Cody
Lauren

Mirren22 · 06/10/2024 13:51

Bret

AgainandagainandagainSS · 06/10/2024 13:47

Maddison
Sabrina
Taylor
Parker
Fletcher
Harrison