American Mom, British Dad - name question

[ForestHillFirstTimeMom]

Hi,

I'm new here but hoping to get some help from all of you regarding names. I'm American and living in London with my British husband. We don't know the gender of our baby so need to come up with two names. I'm keen to pick names that work on both sides of the Atlantic, so no matter where we wind up, our child will feel at ease.

So far, we have:
Eleanor for a girl
Walter (Walt) for a boy

My husband doesn't know of any Walts over here. Would it still work? I realize it's a bit of an old-man name, but... I know so many young boys with the name Will (which I also like) and want something a bit different. Thoughts/opinions? Thanks in advance!

yes, walter mitty is another reason.
you definitely don't want to be associated with a daydreamer at best, liar at worst.
(it's well-used among adults)

I prefer Wilf to Walt. Agree with those saying about Walter Mitty. Not too sure on Beano associations though, Minnie the Minx, Desperate Dan, Billy Whizz etc (I appreciate I am mixing up my Dandy here too), I don't think names from the comics would have negative connotations.

Walt is just lovely - Eleanor nice but ordinary

I think Walt is lovely! I have a Wilf so think that is cool too!!

walter was one of our boy names, i think it is really great. it sounds pretty similar irrelevant of your accent so is a classless name which was important to us
also maybe it's a generational thing? i'm 24 and have never read the beano (?) so dont think the name sounds weedy at all, it sounds quirky.
whereas Wilf? wilf makes me think MILF from american pie movies and also like wilting? wilfred is nice, but wilf is just neither one thing or the other, just sonds a bit whimsical and wishywashy.
no offence, like.

I think it works in both england and america but I'm not keen on it

walter mitty is also used by the 'yoof' as rhyming slang for.......

I'm sure you can guess

I think Walter/Walt is OK, but if you're specifically looking for a name which works well in both countries AND your husband is a bit dubious about, then surely it's back to the drawing board?

I'm obviously the wrong age for this name as I don't like it. That doesn't mean you shouldn't use it, but if your husband doesn't like it either...?

What about Mortimer?

I didn't like to mention before but I have heard the same rather unfortunate rhyming slang .

I think Walt is lovely! And my first association is Walt Whitman not Walt Disney. Eleanor is lovely too and very popular round here too.

I'm an American married to a British man, and I don't like the name Walter, sorry. I wouldn't like it in the U.S. either, but I've been gone for nearly 10 years so maybe it's had a resurgence I'm unaware of? Never met one over here. For some reason it gives me the connotation of a whingy little kid, I think from a book, maybe one of the later Anne of Green Gables series?

I like Eleanor though!

I don't like the name tbh, it's one of those old names that I don't see making a comeback, which some may see as the appeal of it I suppose.

Eleanor is okay though.

Are you considering other names?

Realistically tbh, there's not that many names that won't work both sides of the Atlantic. There are some that are less common here or there, but we speak the same language so it's not a really big issue.

Yank. I loved Anne of Green Gables.

Posie, I think my set is still in my mom's garage in the U.S.!

Also what Tidy said, there's not many things that won't work in the other place if it works in one. I just don't happen to think Walter works in either place, sorry.

Eleanor is nice, but is very popular. She may well be one of 3 in her class at school. You might not mind that, but it's worth knowing before you choose.

I really don't like Walter - I think of it as an old man's name. I think it leans towards the American side rather than being a name which is used equally in both countries.

I'm also USian with a UK husband and I have to day I've never understood the obsession with having a name that works in two countries. This perspective us from working with young children of foreign parents from all over the world, I love the interesting names/pronounciations of different cultures.

That being said, I'm not generally keen on the name Walter.

Invader, I must admit I never even thought of having a name that 'worked' in both countries, it never occurred to me it was an issue. I suppose there are some names that sound very 'American' to British ears and names that sound 'British' to American ears though. I managed to pick one I thought was a bit unique, only to find it is growing ever more popular on both sides of the Atlantic!

I take it seeing as Walt and Wilf have popped up on the same thread that they don't use them in English schools?

I've never heard of these associations. I think of the little kid, Walt, from Lost.

Walt and Wilf for anyone wondering what I'm on about, lol

Eleanor is great, but my first thought at Walter was also Walter the softie from the Dennis the Menace cartoons, sorry. There must be plenty of boy's names that work equally well in both countries.

Walter shortage
Walter wall
Walter softy.
walt = wart

NOT a great current British Name

Wilf ( wilfred ) seems to be on the up as a name. Warren also.

No problems with Eleanor

Walt sounds cool in america, but here if you are @@ a bit of a walter'' it means you are a bit stupid.

having said that, you have to go with your wishesx