Hatred of American names

[FluffyMunchkin]

Why do so many people on here hate American names? They really take a beating here, being called chavvy and horrible. I'm Canadian, so see them as normal, which could explain why I don't mind them as much. But the reactions here are so intense!

Popular American names all seem me to be surnames, not first, given names like Mason, mackenzie, Cooper.

I'd never pick them for a child as I don't see them as proper first names. I prefer traditional names..

I think the tendency to call children, especially female ones utterly random adjectives as names can make British people twitch.

Gates, Parker, Piper, Paget etc

It’s not really new or creative to not be called Oliver or Sophie is it, people with first names like Ulysses or Rutherford or Grover or Millard all pre 20th century (or thereabouts) presidents of the us

But I don’t for one minute think naming conventions in the states are any less informed by class anxiety and or racism than is the case on MN

In the film The Blind Side the daughter is called Collins which did stop me in my tracks a bit. And I think some celebrity recently had a daughter called Banks. I mean Banks is a weird thing to call any child. But I presume it's an effort to sound androgynous as well as ultra preppy.

With regard to the occupational names, I saw an American teen boy on TV called Thatcher. That would a rather bold choice in the UK!

It is true particularly among upper-middle class city dwellers in America to look towards popular British names for their kids, but leaning more toward the classic side. Sophie, Ava, Ruby, Charlotte, etc.

But the one "posh English" name Americans are NEVER going to go for is Jemima because of the Aunt Jemima pancake syrup brand - the woman in the logo is seen as an old stereotype of a black woman, not as blatantly racist as, say, a gollywog doll, but still mildly demeaning. Any American girl named Jemima would likely get teased all day long for it.

snobbery.

People can write as long a post as they like but that's what it comes down to.

American and Canadian names sound fine in those countries. Surnames as first names is traditional there.

They’re not here, so they sound pretentious on British children. The US is seen as glamorous and home of filmstars. (Thus the popularity of celeb names).

In the U.K. they broadly tho not exclusively appeal to lower socio-economic brackets which then carries its own stigma.

Surnames as first names are traditional in Scotland.

Fraser, Blair, Duncan etc.

in my Scottish side of the family it's also the normal for surnames to be used as middle names for girls.

That has already been covered.

so why did you say it isn't traditional in the UK?

I said it wasn’t traditional on British children. I thought of putting in the Scotland caveat, but I figured people could read the thread for themselves.

'I said it wasn’t traditional on British children.'

Exactly. And you admit now that's incorrect.

Anything "American" is seen as wrong in MN. Just look at any of the usual "Halloween" and "Santa" threads bleating about DISGRACEFUL AMERICANISMS being the fall of civilisation despite numerous replies about how these things have been around in other parts of the UK since forever.

It is correct - Britain does not consist of Scotland.

In Scotland’s case because of the use of surnames, many names are also traditional first names.

Good grief, Tatiana. You made an incorrect statement. You won't turn to dust if you admit it!

It is correct - Britain does not consist of Scotland.

But Scottish children are British children, so....

In Scotland’s case because of the use of surnames, many names are also traditional first names.

And how do you think those names became traditional first names?

Clue: Because they were originally surnames that were then adopted as first names.

Honestly, this place sometimes...

WTF, Tatiana? Seriously, just stop because you're looking like an absolute idiot right now.

I made a general statement about Britain which is true. The Scotland angle was already covered, so there’s no need for me to go over it again. As I said I considered putting in the line, but I reckoned anyone could figure that out for themselves. Except you apparently.

If you’re that desperate for a fight go knock yourself out.

Jesus people read RTFT.

You made an incorrect statement. And now you're angry and looking like a bit of a titiana.

Scotland
Is
Part
Of
Britain
Both
Politically (for the moment)
And
Geographically (permanently)

This is simply a version of NAMALT whereby people at a loose end try to pick a fight over a generalisation.

We’ll rename it NABALT.