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Baby names

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

Original poster

Do you consider any of these names American in origin?

154 replies

Wilderwood · 25/07/2026 08:17

Girls:
Harper
Lainey
Autumn
Madison
Delaney

Boys:
Hudson
Cooper
Hunter
Grayson

And not that it’s a bad thing! But husband says my choices are quite American 🇺🇸 so please help settle this debate.
Open to suggestions

thank you ☺️

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Oldwmn · 25/07/2026 22:07

Seagulldancing · 25/07/2026 08:24

Most would be considered surnames to me, so follow the American tradition of using surnames as first names.

Boys often had surnames as first names in 19th century.

Shloopie · 25/07/2026 22:13

I think they all have an American vibe. I quite like Lainey and Cooper. Dislike Autumn and Hunter (that will always be a Gladiator to me!)

There's a significant chunk of MNetters who have a strong aversion/snobbery against anything that sounds vaguely American. They think all children should be called Edith or Percival. It's ok not to agree with this! 😂

Of your husband's choices I like Kasia and Thea (I'd expect Kasia to be Polish though). Octavia is horrific.

DefiantRabbit9 · 25/07/2026 22:14

To me all except Autumn sound very American. My DH is american and he was horrified the name Hunter is on the list LOL.

hahabahbag · 25/07/2026 22:16

All very American. The whole surname as a first name is typically American. I’ve never met a kid with any of those names in the U.K. in real life whereas most of those names were in one or other of my DD’s classes in the USA.

hahabahbag · 25/07/2026 22:20

I like Thea, how about a trad first name and more modern middle name, or a trad first name that can be shortened to a more modern nickname?

Brickiscool · 25/07/2026 22:40

I hate surnames as first names.

Glidinglikeaswan · 25/07/2026 23:20

I agree they all sound more American than traditional British. However, in Scotland surnames are often used as first names, usually with some family connection, so I know a Wilson, Sutherland, Lyall, Innes and McNab. Then there was Menzies (pronounced something like Mingis) Campbell.

I know dogs called Hudson and Cooper.

Grayson made me think of Grayson Perry.

If you like Madison how about Madeleine? Which is, of course, French...

LivingTheDreamish · 25/07/2026 23:58

Yes they are indeed very American OP.

BruFord · 26/07/2026 01:02

Grendel7 · 25/07/2026 21:49

They all are!! Americans choose surname for forenames as they have no imagination.

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@Grendel7 Yes, all 349 million of them have no imagination.
Talk about a sweeping statement!

ThistleTits · 26/07/2026 01:19

@Wilderwood I've known a few girls called Lainie. In Scotland it's a pet name for Elaine.
The rest are either Surnames or US names.

Theonebutnotonly · 26/07/2026 08:31

Wilderwood · 25/07/2026 10:16

Just to clarify absolutely nothing wrong with sounding American which I obviously have a leaning towards. I like modern, non classic or traditional names. I actually work in America and the thing is the list of names I’ve written aren’t obvs American names when you’re in America (if that makes sense) so it’s interesting to get a British perspective who might not be travelling or living in America.

My husband likes…
Kassia
Thea
Octavia (which I cannot get on board with 🤣)

Kassia sounds invented, too try-hard.
Octavia sounds a bit pretentious and as if she’s your eighth child.
I like Thea. How about Theo for a boy?

pineapplecrushed · 26/07/2026 09:26

all of them

ExplodingSmittens · 26/07/2026 10:43

Wilderwood · 25/07/2026 17:46

I didn’t ask this though.

I honestly dont know why mumsnet is so judgy.

Show quote history

Sorry that you’re getting judgy comments.

Personally I don’t see Harper as an American name. There are a few around here but it’s not overused. They do all seem to have younger DPs though so I’d just assume you were a young Mum if I didn’t know you.

Wherethedogsits · 26/07/2026 10:49

I like your husband’s suggestions.

envbeckyc · 26/07/2026 11:01

cannibalfish · 25/07/2026 08:27

Girls:
Lainey
Delaney

Boys:
Hudson
Cooper
Hunter
Grayson

All very American, most not to my taste but I love Madison and I think cooper is very cute for a little boy.

Show quote history

Cooper is a British occupational surname, it was given to a village barrel maker!

cannibalfish · 26/07/2026 13:53

envbeckyc · 26/07/2026 11:01

Cooper is a British occupational surname, it was given to a village barrel maker!

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Yes however the trend of giving baby boys surnames is very common in America, far more than in England (though it still does happen).

Edit: Geography.

Abhannmor · 27/07/2026 11:04

Not sure about Grayson. The others all sound very American. Some quite pleasant though.

Deadringer · 27/07/2026 11:12

Surnames and place names being used as first names seems to be a trend that started in America and caught on over here.
I know 2 Irish Laineys though, one in her 60s whose name is Elaine, and one in her 30s so I dont connect that with the U.S. They all sound quite trendy and rom com style to me.

Juryduty · 27/07/2026 13:59

They definitely sound American to me (though Lainey for example could be nickname for a woman named Elaine in the UK). Surnames as first/middle names do have a history in Britain (especially Scotland) but it's typically surnames that have family significance e.g. the mother's maiden name. Choosing random surnames just because of how they sound rather is more of a modern, American-influenced trend.

QueenFnaaaaaaar · 28/07/2026 09:05

Grayson could be not American ( as in Perry)

mathanxiety · 01/08/2026 02:21

All the boy names are solid British surnames. Harper and Madison are also British surnames. Delaney is an Irish surname.

Autumn is in the same category of girl names as Kaylee and Amber - blue collar names for the most part.

Lainey or Laney are often diminutives of Elaine or Delaney, though they are also used as names in their own right.

Calliopespa · 01/08/2026 12:23

OccasionalHope · 25/07/2026 12:39

They're all very American.

I like your DH's choices much better.

I agree Op.

They all sound American in style to me.

Lots of baby girls in the UK being called Thea - and even Theadora, which I prefer. I also like Octavia. Both good names that sound strong but still feminine and with a long history of use (so not faddy).

I'm afraid the surname/place name thing isn't for me, and I think it is fair to say I think I am far from alone on MN in saying that.

AwayWiththeGoblins · 01/08/2026 18:02

mathanxiety · 01/08/2026 02:21

All the boy names are solid British surnames. Harper and Madison are also British surnames. Delaney is an Irish surname.

Autumn is in the same category of girl names as Kaylee and Amber - blue collar names for the most part.

Lainey or Laney are often diminutives of Elaine or Delaney, though they are also used as names in their own right.

Edited

Yes, we get that, but using surnames as first names, regardless of whether they're British or Irish, is a US trend. Delaney has never been used as a first name in Ireland for boys or girls, according to the CSO stats.

Lilyargin · 01/08/2026 18:13

Very American indeed.

HiEarthlings · 01/08/2026 18:59

BirdLandedonmyHead · 25/07/2026 08:22

Maybe not Autumn

The only Autumn I've ever known was American.....