Do you know a Randy?

[Derlei]

I was thinking about names that are common in the US but that you would rarely find over here in the UK. I can't imagine meeting a Randy.

Similarly:
Hunter
Patty
Lincoln
Booker
Gunner

I went to the States a few years ago and was surprised at how many men under the age of 30 were called Trevor.

Has anybody come across any babies that have names more common in the US?

DH had an American colleague called Randy, who had to have it explained to him why his effusive greeting 'Hi, I'm Randy' didn't always go down very well in the U.K.

The worst name is Gobnet.

I can't imagine that ever sounded good, but now could be a sweary SM site.

I know a Lincoln and a Chase. Lincoln is a toddler but Chase is probably about 18/19 now

Only in dog names,but even as a name for a dog, they are all horrible names!

@Oblomov21

What do American names such as Randy and Lincoln get shortened to? Because the English always try and shorten any name to 1/3 of a syllable?

Randy is, afaik, the nickname for Randall or perhaps Randolph. It's really not the case that English people always go for one syllable diminutives anyway, especially for youngsters - Billy, Bobby, Timmy, Johnny etc (in that case a lengthening)

I knew a Randy and a Rudy. Both in the US Rudy was Dutch.

My managers in the US over the years have included a Rudy, Chuck and Ham.

The Ham wasn't a biblical name, it was short for Hambleton - which was quite funny as I lived in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire at the time.

I have a friend whose middle name is Randy

I wonder if there are any common British names not used in the US?

Currently living in the US and like a PP mentioned with Trevor I find that certain 'old man' names are common among younger males over here. E.g. it wouldn't be unusual to find a teenager or 20-something called Brian. Same goes for female names.

Surnames as first names is also extremely common. I come across names like Cooper, Chase, Parker, Sawyer etc. pretty frequently.

I know a Randy Milkman

Another very American name I came across was a customer of mine called Woody!

Elwood seems to be an increasingly popular boys name, which can become Woody. I worked with a Lincoln who was about 23 a few years back. Hunter also a very popular NZ name. I would not cope with a Randy, as I am juvenile.

I know a Randy who moved to the UK from the US as a teenager - he very swiftly became a Randall.

I know three Randy's including my sisters fiancé but I'm American so I don't really count.

Yes, American, he doesn't get why I find his name funny

I knew an American Storm some years ago. It was quite a well known girl's name in the USA at one time, but I have never met a British Storm.

I know of a few British Hunters, all below ten years old.

My half Dutch grandson was nearly called Thor, which is apparently more used over there. They decided against it, much to my secret disappointment.

My half Dutch grandson was nearly called Thor, which is apparently more used over there

Well we have "Thora" ....

I do know a Randy but he’s in his 40s and (crucially) American. I also know a Hunter who is 5 and British.

I can do better than that OP! Not only do I know a Randy, but his surname is Gibbons!!!

I used to work in the UK with an American whose surname was a common UK girls' name. (Not 'Mary', but that will do for illustration).
It was impossible to stifle a giggle on being introduced to Randy Mary for the first time.

I imagine Gobnet is pronounced Geeva or something similarly Gaelic-sounding…

I’ve hear Link as a shortened form of Lincoln.

Randy is reasonably common in continental Europe too. I've met a fair few Dutch Randys, plus a couple from France and Germany. I've also met a Dutch man in his 30s called Rowdy.

A lot of stereotypical American names are different shortenings of names we have here, like Chuck instead of Charlie for Charles, or Hank instead of Harry/Henry. I think it started because it's more common for names to be passed down through American families, and it gets confusing with several men with the same name.

And Gunner/Gunnar is a common but slightly old-fashioned name in most Scandinavian countries.

Only ever met 'Randys' from the US! I remember on a school music tour some friends explaining to a kid from an American orchestra why his name was considered amusing in the UK.

Hunter and Lincoln are both names I've heard of in UK. Also much less common for kids to be named after a parent (usually dad) here but I know of one or two.