UK place names that would make good first names

[AutumnIsMyFriend]

I heard the town name Kelso in the radio today and in the context thought they were meaning a person, which got me thinking.

Some of these may already be used, but I thought it might be a fun list. Some of the Scottish ones I’ve suggested are used, albeit rarely

Kendall
Lomond
Kelso
Ailsa
Amberley
Devon
Irvine
Nairn
Kingston
Avon
Barnard
Annan
Seaton
Arran (actually, many Scottish islands are first names too - Iona, Islay, Lewis etc)

Bethania in N W Wales

London Tipton from Disney channel was the first thing I thought of lol

I once met a Canadian woman called Darlington. I would not say that was a good name …

I know someone called Devon, and also a little Iona - I think Iona is a lovely name

Tonbridge

There's a village near me ( Cornwall) called Mithian which I always thought would make a nice girl's name.

Berkhampstead
Wyre Piddle
Piddletrenthide
Scunthorpe
Staines
Slough

I may have missed the point 🤣

Hadleigh
Leigh
Rayleigh
Lester (Leicester)

Maybe not Shetland place names…

Yell
Foula
Twatt
Unst

@AutumnIsMyFriend I’m guessing you’ve not been to Irvine!

My son is Devon.

Kirkby Malzeard, if you wanted your child to grow up to be a villain.
Or the nearby Kirk Hammerton if you wanted a hero.
Studley Roger is midway between the two, a good friend to both, and rather easily led.

I am reading a book where the main character is called Fleetwood. I can’t take it even though the book is set in the 17th Century. It sounds odd!

London

I want Luton on your list 😂

Skegness

In fact Skegness could be shortened to Skeggy

I have a child with one of the names on your list!

I'd also add Paisley and I know a few Harlows.

There is a trend in the US to name children for UK towns. Lincoln is the most popular (although that might be because of Abe). It was on R4/Today programme this morning, and coincidentally there was another item about a young Antiguan man murdered in the 1950s, called Kelso.

I can't stand when children are named Harlow.

Have the parents ever been to Harlow?!!?

@EffortlessDesmond does this have its roots in slavery do you think? A lot of Scottish moneyed families were deep in the slave trade, I wonder if that's where the convention started.

Places I think work as names:
Seal
Kemsing
Camden
Hope
Marple
Wilmslow
Buxton

I’m surprised no suggestion of Westward Ho! yet….

Beverley

Very plausible @BadBadDecisions , but I don't know.

Wensleydale.