American looking for UK Answers

[EmilyRoo]

Hi,

I'm changing my name (from Emily-perfectly good name but there are 4 other on my floor) and I am looking for UK input on some names I am considering, and would also like suggestions for other names in a similar vein. I'm looking for a longer, elegant and unusual name. I plan on relocating to England in a few years and would like to know how these names are perceived there, if possible.

Cordelia
Rowena
Clementine (my favorite right now)
Penelope

Any more suggestions would be lovely!

-Emily

No one else is going to care what your name is. Changing it from 'Emily' to 'Penelope' is really bizarre and pointless.

I suppose I was thinking about what English women are really called as opposed to some grand make-believe American image of the typical English woman's name.
Claire, Joanna, Emma & Susan, too. Emma especially for 20-something. Emma could be short for Emmaline, I guess.

I think keep Emily too, I love it (but then its MY name too!) I am in my 30's and only ever met 2 others.

Sorry, was traveling and couldn't reply!

I'm 19 and in college. I have wanted to change my name for about 2 years now, because there is an inordinate amount of girls named Emily, and I feel anonymous wearing it.

I am for real, changing one's name is surprising but not unreasonable. I'm really considering these names, and really taking into account everyone's suggestions, except for Hyacinth.

Something 3 syllables or longer, that is uncommon in the UK too, would be preferable. Imogen is pronounced in an ugly way here, and is too popular in England. Emmeline is nice, but would blend in with the Emilys and Emmas.

One of the reasons I like Clementine is that I could use Emmy as a nickname. Roo is another nickname I have, which can be had from Rowena. I'm not sure on nicknames for Cordelia - Cordy? I dislike Penny, so I'm rethinking Penelope.

I appreciate all of the responses, thank you very much. :)

Can't figure out how to edit, so I'm double posting!

Yes, I do have an imaginary England in my head where people are named Peregrine and Daphne and I know that there is much overlap between the US and UK naming styles. Hopefully it's not offensive, because I know that not everyone has such over the top names, and live quite normal lives. For what its worth, my friend from London is called Maeve. I'm aware of my disillusionment. :)

Rowena makes me think of kettles

Rowena makes me think of a female Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson).
Emma, for under 20s. Oh, and Sarah. Never a shortage of Sarahs.
Top 100 English girl names for 1991.
I think of Andrea as a particularly English name.

Oh lord.

Yes, you are very special and deserving of a unique name that truly shows off how amazing and wonderful you are.

I hope in time you realise how very silly you sound.

I disagree, nizlopi, I think that everyone has the right to name themselves whatever they choose. A dear friend of mine was given a name at birth that, when they reached eighteen, did not fit their self-image or their gender, and they changed it to something far more suitable. I know quite a few people who don't go by their birth names.

I hope you find something that suits, OP.

Oh no, I agree, in fact, when I was 18 I changed my surname as I hated my birth name.

I just find the OP very childish and patronising. Especially wanting the little Englanders to be oh so impressed with her amazing idea's for this wonderfully unique name idea she has.

I thought she had a nice tone to her posts? Especially her last one, a little jokey feel, she was getting at the fact US think England's all small and romantic, not expecting us to be impressed. Nizlopi, it is easy to get the wrong idea of someone from words typed on a screen. Why don't we give her a chance? I'm sure OP is just innocently looking for opinions.

My mum gets called 'Roo' from Andrea (And I dont know too many Andrea's) :) I also like Emmeline and, as a suggestion, Esme.

I think OP is a bit naive, but at 19, she's allowed :). Some in my family still think that all of England stop for cream scones & high tea at 4pm every day.

Victoria, Amelia, Alexandra, Catherine, Helena, Sophia, Rebecca, Elizabeth, all very English names for you OP, and not so posh as to be OTT.
Yet keep in mind they almost all instantly become nns: Vicky, Millie, Lexi, Kate, Soph, Becci, Lizzie!

As a child I changed my name from one of these long ones to a (unrelated) common one in the long lists above, no regrets :).

Amilie or amilia

Can I suggest philippa. With pippa as a nn?

Emily - I know a Peregrine and a Clementine .

I quite like Caroline. I know you wanted something different to Emily, but perhaps Emilia/Amelia?

Hope you find something you love.

Are you one of the four Emilys from DS's class? Or maybe you are the Emilie...

The name really got a run for its money back in the early 90s.

I would go with Clementine or Rowena if you are determined to stick with your list, but I think you would be better off choosing a name that was popular in Britain back in the early 90s.

The name that sprang to my mind was Jemima, a perennial in the bottom of the lists. It doesn't say 'born recently' as Clementine or Rowena do. It doesn't say 'Brideshead Revisited' as Cordelia does, or lend itself to Penny as a nn as Penelope does.

You may have a reservation based on Aunt Jemima though.

There is Gemma too, not v popular in the US but fairly popular in Ireland and Britain.

Or if you have any Irish heritage would you consider Emer (pr EE-mer)?

Thank (most) of you for the kind words. I'll allow myself to be naive until my next birthday, at which point I will shape up immediately. ;)

Philippa nn Pippa; I like it, except I know an unsavory Phil. But I do have a horse, so the meaning is nice!

Jemima sadly screams "syrup", it also has negative racial connotations especially in the South, since an Aunt Jemima became slang for a black nanny type. I do love it, though, so will keep it in mind!

I have considered Caroline, but a first cousin is called that already, and I'd feel awkward adopting it. Coraline would get misheard as Caroline, unfortunately, so that's out too.

When did Clementine become popular/widely used in the UK?

Also, I was messing about with the baby name finder, but can't really grasp what some of the connotations are. I typed in "Clementine" and got "shops at Waitrose/Dolce & Gabbana/Boden", eats "Duchy Originals", and will most likely be a "barista/estate agent". I understand the implications of Dolce & Gabbana but not the rest.

Basically, it is the embodiment of middle class, upper-middle at a pinch.

Waitrose is a mid-to-high-end supermarket, that has huge deli and wine sections, lots of specialty products, is a bit more expensive, and sells very little in the way of processed, pre-packaged, ready-to-eat foods. Their pot noddle shelf is tiny and you (happily, natch) pay a bit more for ethically sourced fish and meat.

Boden is the middle class Mum label of choice. 'Easy' clothes, that are 'easy' to put together and 'easy' on the eye. They use the word 'fun', 'ditsy' and 'laidback/everyday' a lot when describing the prints.

Waitrose stocks Duchy Originals products which are organic products from the Prince of Wales' estates in Cornwall. Naice products for naice people - biscuits, shortbread, preserves, marmalade, etc...

These things are the epitome of comfy, cosy UK middle class-ness. I don't think any of them have changed too much since I left the UK.

Will most likely be a barista? Someone who makes espressos? Are you sure it didn't say Barrister? I don't imagine too many stereotypical Clementines logging the hours behind a Starbucks counter.

I should add, places like these aren't just shops; they're lifestyles.

Esmerelda

You might be right about the barrister instead of barrista kerfuffle. Thanks for the information about the shops/lifestyles. Someone mentioned that the English middle class is different from American middle class, would anyone care to clarify? I've also seen some names described as jolly hockey sticks or posh, but in a negative way...can someone enlighten me as to names that would qualify as such, if they are to be avoided. (I apologize if this is a touchy subject, just want to be aware! I know this is more of a cultural question than names but it does tie in, really!)

If you really want to get into class you'll be here all week, there've been lots of threads before about what constitutes different classes, I'd suggest looking at those. Essentially we have a lot of historical and cultural baggage, so it's never as simple as how much you earn. As an American you're largely exempt from those judgements, take advantage of that!

The comments aren't really negative, just making sure you know. Some upper middle class / posh names can sound a little pretentious but you'd probably get away with it. As an American living here (and college educated) you'd be assumed to be middle class in our terms.

Can of worms as it is and against my own advice, I am happy to procrastinate for a moment more. I'm 38 so apologies for the age of the references:

Upper class is essentially aristocracy so no direct comparison but the families at the top of your political system, or descendants of the first pilgrims may be similar.

Frasier and Niles Crane and their associates are upper middle class. Martin Crane is working class, married into middle class. Daphne's family are working class.

All the Friends characters are middle, middle class, though Joey's background is working class and Rachel's family may be upper middle (or rich lower middle depending what her parents do and are like, can't remember).

Roseanne Barr's character in the Roseanne sitcom is classic working class.

Back to names, I'm going from those that are nice, uncommon but familiar from my generation, my other reference is babies, so not your generation.

I like the suggestions of Francesca, Juliette and Felicity. You could also have Natasha, Naomi, Saskia or maybe Mariah.

Clementine has not become popular, it's very unusual. Be aware that the names discussed on the baby names thread here tend towards the unusual, may be becoming more popular amongst a segment of the population but won't necessarily become common (though you never quite know which will. Chloe, Olivia and Isabel were nice but unusual in my generation). For example, Beatrice would appear to be becoming massively popular from comments here but has yet to enter the top 100.