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Baby names

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

Original poster

American Mom, British Dad - name question

99 replies

ForestHillFirstTimeMom · 07/03/2012 14:42

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!

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YankNCock · 07/03/2012 21:24

Are all the people who are saying 'Walter would be ok in America' actually in or from America?

I seriously cannot imagine anyone in the U.S. thinking 'Walter' is a name that 'works'. As I said, maybe I've been gone too long, but I strongly dispute that it has suddenly stopped being an old man's name over there.

FlipFantasia · 07/03/2012 21:26

I love Walter - it's our DS's middle name (named after my American DH's grandfather). I think Beano references are pretty dated, as are Walter Mitty references, so unlikely to cause any teasing amongst kids today. UniS makes a good point, but I think most names can be mocked (eg John = toilet, Will = willy = genitals etc).

Will is nice, but so super boring. I know about 12 baby Wills (and just wish some of the parents would choose Bill as a nn instead!). I personally don't like Wilf - reminds me of milf and just sounds rude to me (I'm Irish though, so may be missing something). And Wilfred just reminds me of WW1 and the futility of war (Wilfred Owen).

Eleanor is lovely. A classic name with centuries of history. I like Eleanora too. I also like Nell if you go in for nicknames.

FlipFantasia · 07/03/2012 21:32

Yank I agree that Walter wouldn't seem that "cool" in the States, as the main trends over there seem to be for surnames as first names or place names as well as old reliables like Old Testament names. The old man/old lady trend that's big over here doesn't seem that big there. But it a name with more of a pedigree over there (Walt Whitman, Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite) which is perhaps why posters think it's more workable in the States.

SwedishEdith · 07/03/2012 21:49

I confess I'm not remotely American and am just saying it in a lazy Brooklyn hipster way Grin so it sounds cool

birdofthenorth · 07/03/2012 22:23

I love Walter. Anyone remember the Anne of Green Gables sequels?!

Eleanor is beautiful too.

YankNCock · 07/03/2012 22:27

yes bird, already reference AoGG above, I seem to remember Walter being a bit whingy.

ButterPecanMuffin · 08/03/2012 09:44

I'm another American married to an Englishman, and having had a quick peak at the name stats in the US for 2011, I'm quite surprised to see Walter was used over 700 times. I really wasn't expecting that.

Anyhow, that aside, I'm in agreement that Walter doesn't work in the UK. I'm sure there are a few that crop up here and there, but it's far from being in the 'comfort zone' of names.

I love Eleanor though.

abbypumpkin · 08/03/2012 09:52

Walt is definately American and i've never heard it in the uk (though obviously I've heard Walter) I find Walt a little difficult to hear - just is a bit too abrupt for me plus you have to pronounce the 't' which here (yorkshire) would tend to get dropped. Walter also would lead to Wally which is an insult so kids could use that. Having said that if kids want to tease they'll find something and I'd rather be teased about my name (which I didn't choose) than my appearance which is much more personal

thegreylady · 08/03/2012 09:55

Warren is horrible IMHO it goes with Darren,Wayne, Dale and the like. I'm not keen on Walter but Wilf(red) is fine.

wafflingworrier · 08/03/2012 21:37

flipfantasia we must have the same brain!
i've just wikipedia-d walter mitty-come on that film was made in 1947!! no wonder i'd never heard of it! dont think your son would need to worry about any children in his class knowing about it either Grin

mummytime · 08/03/2012 21:44

We read the original short story when I was at school, so they might do it in class (anything can be studied in English in my experience). Also lots of kids read the Beano and there is even a cartoon version on TV, and Walter Softy is right in the middle of it (in his kids suit, glasses and full weediness).

mumzy · 08/03/2012 22:30

Wasn't Walter's official title in the Beano, prince of the softies?

FilterCoffee · 08/03/2012 23:30

Eleanor is a lovely classic name.

I think Walter is an excellent name, and there have been some great Walters! Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Walter Scott, Walt Disney.

Yes there was Walter the softy but so what? That was ages ago.

PollyMorfic · 08/03/2012 23:32

Walter also has the short form 'Wally', which means fool, idiot in British English.

mathanxiety · 09/03/2012 04:36

I don't see how Walt/er would work in the US either. It's just too associated with Disney. I know there's Walt Whitman, but Disney has spoiled the name. Old mannish names are not hot in the US as they are in the UK so it wouldn't even have that going for it, and having said that, I think it is one of the old mannish names like Dennis that will not come councing back. (Irish here, once married to an American in America).

Strangely enough Walter was popular in some parts of Ireland, probably 50-60 years ago. Many Irish middle aged Walters are known as Watty.

Eleanor -- there are millions of Ellas and Ellies running around the US just as there are in the UK. If that doesn't put you off, it's a nice name in and of itself.

tadjennyp · 09/03/2012 05:16

I'm a Brit living in America and I know a baby Walter. His older sister is Sydney which all of a sudden sounds very masculine as opposed to feminine before her brother was born. Now it seems that they both have old man names. Hmm I love Wilfred Owen poetry and think that Wilf would be cool!

saffronwblue · 09/03/2012 05:52

If we are talking Anne of Green Gables- why not Gilbert, nn Gil?

Bubbaluv · 09/03/2012 06:46

Wilbur might be another alternative to Walter (I have to agree it sounds unpleasant to non-American ears)? I also think that the English would be unlikely to use Walt as a nn - he's more likely to get Wal or Wally, which would be unfortunate.

Irish names are popular in the US. What about Sean or Seamus or Kieran? There are lots of lovely Irish names.

There are also lots of great names that sounds common, but are in fact quite unusual for today's kids - I'm thinking Richard (Richie), Robert, Jonathan etc.

Bubbaluv · 09/03/2012 06:47

Ooh yes, I agree Gilbert would be fab!

AKissIsNotAContract · 09/03/2012 09:44

Walter makes me think of the new muppet in the latest film.

FlipFantasia · 09/03/2012 23:00

Gilbert Blythe in the TV version of Anne of Green Gables - my first crush [happy sigh]. Gilbert/Gil is a great name.

Tooblunt2012 · 09/03/2012 23:19

I think Walter / Walt is cool! Being American, you could get away with all sorts Wink.

The only Walter I've heard of recently is in Fringe. Eleanor seems to be increasing in popularity as there are quite a few around here.

YankNCock · 09/03/2012 23:22

Flip, you and me both, I thought that guy was gorgeous!

Wilbur....it's making me think of a pig for some reason. Is the pig in Charlotte's Web called Wilbur?

YankNCock · 09/03/2012 23:24

Jonathan Crombie, that's him. He's not aged too badly!

Tooblunt2012 · 09/03/2012 23:29

I loved Gilbert Blythe too - had completely forgotten Anne of Green Gables Grin so thanks for that!