American names = bad?

[thecaroline]

Hello, everyone,

I'm not a mom or pregnant, just very interested in names. I've been reading here for a while and am a regular on another name website, and I've noticed that lots of posters here seem to feel a certain disdain for "American" sounding names. I'm curious about this, partly because I'm American, and partly because I don't understand the categorization.

So, what are these American names you speak of? And I'm wondering if all "American-sounding names" are inherently tacky to the British/Irish ear, or... what do you think? Where do "Australian sounding names" fit into this equation?

I have a feeling that this category of names is what a good number of Americans would label "tacky" or "trendy"... or at least I hope so.

Thanks, y'all (I might as well play up my Americanness, right?)

:)

[SurfsUp1]

OP, as an Australian I'm not sure what names would be considered "Australian". Wayne, Shane? (they're considered pretty terrible even here but are used as stereotypical names for "okka" Aussie bloke names.
Tracey? Sharon? Kylie? See above but for women. They are all very dated now and I'm not sure there are modern names that have replaced them.
Australia has started to adopt a slightly more American style of naming, but those sorts of names are probably considered a bit down-market in some circles (similar to England).

When I think of American names I think of Chuck, Chad, Randy, Chad, Brad, Wyatt etc.

I think outside the US they just sound a bit cheesy?

[spamanderson]

Personally I'm not keen on American sounding girls names but I love the boys names. I find their names to be quite 'surnamey' strong names. A few I love for example Wade, Clarke, Gray, Harrison etc.

[GreenKay]

I know an American little girl called Addison Lee. Imagine her parents' dismay when they moved to London and found out it was the name of the city's largest mini cab company!

I have a few guilty pleasure names that I feel are 'American' sounding. Hadley, Piper, Aspen for girls and Cooper and Chad for boys. Maybe I could get away with Chad