My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Baby names

Is this name to American for living in the UK?

108 replies

Sprinklesomepixiedust · 15/03/2013 20:55

DH and I have decided on a name for soon to be born DD1. When we revealed the name to my parents they said it sounded ridiculous and far too 'American' for living in the UK. However DH is American and before you say anything, there are careful reasons why we chose this name.
The name is Savannah Dallas Kaitlynne
Savannah is one of our favourite names and always has been. Dallas may sound a little ridiculous but it is where DH originates from and was where she was conceived naturally after 3 unsuccessful rounds of IVF in the UK. It is also pretty much my favourite place in the world! And Kaitlynne was the name of DH's sister who sadly died last year so we thought it would be nice to include that.
DH's family love the name but I do worry it sounds very American for the UK(we dont live in a particularly multi-cultural area at all, I think DH is pretty much the only foreign person!) What are your opinions on the name?

OP posts:
Report
ChristineDaae · 24/03/2013 15:35

I think it's gorgeous!!

Report
ThreeMenFromCarntyne · 23/03/2013 08:33

I kniw a Dallas, it's a famiy name for her, not stripper or out there at all.

Report
Startail · 22/03/2013 23:43

Lovely meanings and Dallas instantly explains the non English spelling on job applications etc.

I think it works perfectly.

Report
simplesusan · 22/03/2013 23:38

I would say go for it.

I know a Savannah. I knew a Dallas, she will be in her 40s now and I always thought what a great name. I prefer Caitlyn To Kaitlynne, as I like names spelt with a C. However if your dh's sister's name was spelt that way then go with it.

Report
Tranquilitybaby · 22/03/2013 23:30

The meaning behind them is lovely, but for me together Savannah and Dallas - no sorry. I know of a Savannah Indiana and that's bad enough.

But variety is the spice of life and all that, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If you like it go for it! :)

Report
WafflyVersatile · 22/03/2013 23:01

I think you can use Caitlin and it still be in honour of your sil. but Kaitlynne is fine too. Your daughter will be half american so why shouldn't she have american names. 'Why is she called that?' Because her dad's american. end of discussion.

I quite like Savannah (sp?) ever since reading that book, midnight in the garden of good and evil.

and Dallas has meaning for you.

Report
IroningBoredDaily · 21/03/2013 06:58

I'd love to know what op has decided to go with. Please let us know.

Report
TidyDancer · 20/03/2013 18:36

Okay. You asked for opinions on the name.

Personally I dislike them all. Certainly don't hate them, but dislike, yes. And that's not because they're very American (which they are), they're just not my kind of thing.

All the reasons you have given, I think are lovely. The fact that you love the names are what matters most.

Report
crashdoll · 20/03/2013 18:23

Love Savannah :) Please drop Dallas, it makes it sound OTT and far too Americanised.

Report
DontmindifIdo · 20/03/2013 16:33

I think Savannah Kaitlynne is fine - I think it's lovely to remember her Aunt in her name. I think it's really nice she'll be able to mention to others why she has this name, and make her feel a connection with a woman she will sadly not miss. I'm sure your DH's family will feel honoured you've put their much missed DD's name in your DD's name.

However, if you are going to add a second middle name, you might want to think about honouring someone from your side, it's a very "this is all about DH's family" name- his sister, his place of birth (as you probably won't get into "this is where your dad knocked me up" conversations, she will be told to her "this is where your Dad is from"). There's not much of your heritage in that name - will she also have your DH's surname or have you double barrelled? If it's just his surname too, there's no link back to your side, which is fine if you weren't doing such a heavy handed link to his side.

Of the two, I think it's far more important to honour his sister (ignoring all stupid comments that you should spell it differently, that'll just look like an insult to your PIL's spelling, you are either honouring someone or you're not) than his hometown, so perhaps think about your family, would your mum expect her name or one of your Gran's names to be used as a middle name? Your godmother's name? Etc.

Report
Frikadellen · 20/03/2013 16:14

Savannah is beautiful and middle names are meant to mean something special in my opinion.

Good job

Report
Xiaoxiong · 20/03/2013 14:01

I know a Savannah, nicknamed Savvy. Lovely name, also lovely to have her auntie's name as her middle name.

I'm with dreamingbohemian though, as an American myself I'm not such a fan of Dallas (immediate association is Debbie Does Dallas to me).

My DS is half American too like your DD and as I hope you remind her often, so were/are Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan and Louis Theroux! Smile

Report
Bodicea · 19/03/2013 22:09

I think it is a bit too American really - maybe one american name and one british after all they will be half british still won't they?
But I understand the tribute to DH's sister even if not a fan of the spelling.
Failing that just skip Dallas out and its better.

Report
ladymia · 19/03/2013 15:05

Kittenkatzen it also says "What are your opinions on the name?" Wink

Report
Kittenkatzen · 19/03/2013 14:34

Not sure why the OP is getting such a beating, the thred was called "Is this name to American for living in the UK?" not "Please tear apart our chosen names which have special and personal meaning to us" Hmm

OP - I think it is a very American sounding name, but seeing as your daughter has an American father I don't think it makes a difference where you live!

I agree with the posters above who said they thought Savannah Kaitlynne Dallas flows better...

Report
BeeBopDingALing · 19/03/2013 12:03

I don't like any of the names and together don't think they sound very nice at all, but you don't care what anyone thinks anyway so why did you even post asking for opinions?

Report
dreamingbohemian · 19/03/2013 11:31

Good point, badtime. Savannah Dallas could be a flight plan (sorry OP).

Report
WormCanner · 19/03/2013 11:27

I quite like Dallas Blush

It's Savannah that I'd drop. (I loathe Kaitlynne but clearly that's not negotiable)

Report
GooseyLoosey · 19/03/2013 11:18

All 3 as a whole are, yes. I get your reasons for using Kaitlynne but Dallas should do. I get that it has a special meaning for the 2 of you, but it is not you who will have to live with the name in this country but your dd. Don't do it - you have had almost unanimous feedback as to how the name would be perceived.

Report
badtime · 19/03/2013 11:12

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but Savannah is the name of an American city (in Georgia).

I'm afraid I'm going to have to go the others who suggest you drop the 'Dallas'. Otherwise it will be like calling your child Norwich Kaitlynne Birmingham.

Report
wiltingfast · 18/03/2013 23:08

God, I'm afraid I hate it. Would you at least drop the dallas? Understand totaLly why you want to use kaitlynne (actually didn't recognise it as caitlin at first!) But baffled re the dallas part.

Don't like savannah much either but it is a pretty sound and I'm just a conservative namer! But savannah plus dallas in on top of kaitlynne is all a bit ott imo! Where is your influence in the naming?! Aren't you british? Throw an imogen in there fgs! Wink

Report
Hedwig3 · 18/03/2013 20:57

Could your parents be feeling a little put out?

Both middle names seem to be very much about your DH's family and heritage.

I am not saying they are right, this is your baby after all, but just thinking of it as a mum.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

caughtinagiggleloop · 16/03/2013 21:27

I think your choice of names are fine as they mean something to you. There is a guy on the telly called Dallas who presents Horizon or something and I do think it sounds more masculine than feminine (completely arbitrary opinion as it is neither). I think it's fine as a middle name as she can choose to use it or not and it has meaning for you.

I don't know why people have a problem with more than one middle name. I've got two and never thought of it as a handicap in any way.

Report
dreamingbohemian · 16/03/2013 21:00

Please don't use Dallas. I'm American and it makes even me cringe.

Two middle names is OTT anyway.

Report
ZZZenAgain · 16/03/2013 20:51

THe only name people will ever hear presumably is Savannah + surname so the middle names don't really play any role in judgements people will make. Yes, Savannah sounds American to me but then her father is American, so why not? I can understand that to your family all 3 names in a row does sound a bit odd but when will anyone use her name like that, possibly at her wedding but otherwise?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.