why do names differ so much - USA/UK

[Summerbluues]

So just a late night thought and after seeing a post about a girls' name that I think would be totally accepted in the States but not so much here. It seems that across the pond they are much for "daring" with names, like there is more emphasis on trying to find something unique. I just commented on another post how "masculine" names are not all that rare for girls e.g Brynn, Ryan, Jamie.

My sister lives in Chicago and just through having a quick browse at her FB friends list I've found

Kayli
Kristi
Kenzi
Brandi
Tinley (x2)
Dakota
Desiree
Avery (x2)
Adalyn
Ariel (x3)
Westley
Charity
London
Trinidy
Darriyan
Shallise
Shelby
Delaney (x3)
Payton
Brynn/Brynne for a girl x 2
Lark
Raleigh
Logan
Tulley
Maydee
Lincoln (x2)
Tyree
Porter (x2)
Genesis
Braylon
Jett
Kamryn
Reese for a girl (x2)
Hadley (x2)
Brielle
Kennedi
Raina
Landry
Kaelyn
Piper (x4)
Madalyn (obvious Madeleine very common but never seen this spelling before!)
Sharise
Dixie
Presley (x3)
Haeliey
Kylynn
Kodi
Keilah

And those are just the ones that really stood out..it's like I would see those names and know straight away it was someone from the States and not the UK. Why do you think it is that across the pond they are more "out there" with names?

Because they can't spell?

Possibly it's that they're a completely immigrant nation, a melting pot of so many different cultures/languages and therefore names, so more variation is likely to be spawned where there's less focus on name traditions like here.

There's also a much bigger culture of individuality over there, so parents are more likely to try to pick something different and unique. There's a growing trend of that here now, but it's been going on longer over there.

Partly just a cultural difference. Partly depends on your social circle - I'm sure there are bits of the USA where Charlotte &c are very popular.

One cultural thing that does seem to be common(er) in the States is giving a child the mother's maiden name as a forename. Beyonce's name is a tweaking of her mother's maiden name, Beyince, for example.

I know too much about Beyonce

That list of names is giving me the vapours [shudder]

I'd say Paperdoll's explanation is right.

I doubt any of those kids will be able to buy a mug with their name on

Yes to Paper, but the one that thing that strikes me is how awful the majority of those names are! All those gruesome younique twists like Kennedi and Haeliey, and Brielle and Braylon sound like drip-dry sofa coverings. Is 'Trinidy' just Trinity?

I initially read Landry as Laundry

For a moment there I thought that someone on that list was called Laundry.

Ha! Not just me.

Unfortunately I'd subconsciously assume most live in a trailer park.

ComedyWing haha I know! Taken very "normal" names and giving them bizarre spellings.

PaperdollCartoon good points. I suppose there isn't much influence of "traditional" names since as you say it's such an amalgamation of cultures so the tradional names from various countries may not have been carried over.

My sister is Bryony and was concerned when she first moved out there that everyone would find it really strange and not be able to pronounce it since it's a British flower and really only used in the UK, but she said people find it less "weird" than they do in the UK because so many names are so uncommon. She's also come across Bryanna, Bryonna, Bryannie and Brynna which are all bizarre but no other Bryonys

senua

Great cross post!

Currently living in the states and yes there are so many Madison's, Mackenzie's, Knox's etc... Much less 'classic' names IYSWIM and more surnamey. Met a little girl called Campbell last week!

The culture of using surnames as first names is huge in the US.

"Unfortunately I'd subconsciously assume most live in a trailer park"
Seriously, but WT actual F?!! I'm genuinely that you wouldn't realise how offensive that comment is on so many levels.

How is Bryony pronounced? And do others pronounce it the same time with a different spelling?
I have an Irish name and I don't think anyone other than family have ever spelt my name correctly..Mainly coz they can't be bothered

That name sounds like the ones I hear in Oz.

Well....there are two camps actually. I hear things like

Jodi
Kodi
Corey
Kaiele

and on the other side of the coin

Guinevere
Hermione
Perdita
Rose

So it's either weirdly American or full on English.

Lucy BRY ON EE

How else?

Omg Trinidy is sincerely the worst name I have ever heard.

What do you mean how else violet ?
My name is not pronounced phonetically.. A lot of names aren't.. Not all names are from the English language

Lots of pronunciations are different as well. My middle one is called Kara pronounced Car-a but here the default pronunciation is ka-ra. She's getting a bit cross about it

Because it is an enormous country, way way bigger than the UK, with a mostly immigrant population. So it doesn't have the small population and strong history of names.

also because it isn't class-obsessed (see the lovely "trailer park" comment above) and not that worried about class markers so even very middle class people wouldn't worry too much about giving an unusual name or spelling to a child.

That said, I think most white parents wouldn't give an overtly black name to a child.

Surnames are also very popular as first names.

That said, I live in the northeast and my dd knows more Emmas and Alexandras than any other name. To the point where there are 3 of each on her hockey team.

As someone who teaches English in a US middle school.

1. There is far more emphasis on spelling, vocab and grammar than in UK schools.
2. What British people see as unusual or 'try too hard' or 'younique' are actually very often just normal run-of-the-mill names in the US. Some people are looking very ignorant of American culture with those comments.
3. Yes, there are large numbers of immigrants, but the majority of people living in the US are from families that have been there for several generations. Some of their 'different' names are actually very historical (as are many of their spellings - it was the Brits who changed spellings, not the Americans).
4. It is incredibly rude - some would say bigoted - to make derogatory comments about an entire nation. In fact, as some of the names being laughed at come from different racial backgrounds, it is racist.

But yes, I have gotten used to American culture, names and spellings. They are a different nation with different culture, and I do not laugh at or deride any of the children I teach because they offend my English priggishness sensibilities.

In fact, I find the British attitude towards names really weird nowadays. Stupid, ignorant, bad-spelling inbreeds who all use the same names and have no imagination.

DixieWishbone you summed up my initial thoughts perfectly.

I would think many Americans wonder why us British people tend to go for 'common' or 'old fashioned' or 'traditional' or 'boring' names when there are so many others available. But it's not really their concern!