What about all those American girls names that sound like boys names, place names or surnames?

[Gunnerbean]

Things like Tyler, Taylor, Ashley, Ashton, Scout, Bristol, Atlanta, Harlow, Finley, Harper etc to name but a few.

They seem to be very big on it over there but it doesn't really seem to have caught on to such an extent over here yet. But I suppose it will eventually.

What do you think? I think some can sound OK but others - I mean Bristol is pushing it a bit surely?

You suck, Salty!

OMG, DD1 has completely betrayed her maternal heritage. The other day, after seeing an advert with DT, she said, 'I'm going to marry that bloke who plays Dr. Who because I like his eyes and I like how he talks.'

I said, 'But he's from Paisley!' (not pointing out that he's a) beyond minging b) about 30 years older than she is).

And she shrugged and said, 'Aye, but so's mah wee brother.'

EEEEEEEEewwwwww.

She also wants to marry the chap who plays RobinHood because, 'I like the look of him,' so there's hope for her yet.

Well, she probably doesn't know many boys from Houston!

It's an interesting point though -- what sort of accent does a toddler have? That of their mother? DD kind of sounds like Peppa Pig

Re spelling: I knew a girl at High School named, 'Shivaun' and her (Irish) mother said it was to spare her a lifetime of having to spell it (Siobhan). As someone with a very unusual surname, I totally understood.

The two children I have who can speak have Scottish accents. One is 3 and already has one. I guess it's because I'm the only American voice they hear so they speak like everyone around them.

I absolutely love DD2's nursery teacher's S. African accent, though. It's gorgeous!

David Tennant. She finds David Tennant fanciable?!

The RobinHood chap I could understand that, he's a nice looking kid.

But DT?!

I'm frankly horrified.

I love that Americans consider themselves Italian/Hungarian/Irish etc - despite never having been there or met anyone that's been there, never mind having been born there themselves. It does seem to be a peculiarly American thing, I would never dream of describing myself as Irish, despite having an Irish grandparent and an Irish surnam

And whoever mentioned Lynette's children on Desperate Housewives - yes, they're horrible! Isn't it Parker, Preston and Porter? Sounds so bizarre to my ears.

I work in a nursery, and we don't have any weird names I think - lots of Sam, Ben, Jack and Sophie, Lucy and Charlotte type names (and a couple of Bettys too!).

willowthewispa - I think you aren't generalising enough about Americans. You left out that we are all loud, obnoxious, ignorant, etc etc. I mean, come on, you can do better than simply stopping at insulting Americans of mixed heritage who actually DO know something of their homeland/s. Jaysus. Can you be any more ignorant yourself?

WFV, we all know that loads of Americans have strong links to their country of origin and visit that country and are in touch with relatives and speak that second language etc...

But you have to admit that in Ireland and UK nobody would say I'm Canadian if their Grandparents were Canadian! My paternal GPs were Canadian, they left Canada in about 1930 and my eldest uncle and his children could get Canadian passports I think, BUT, we just never, ever say "we are half Canadian" because it's not the way we look at things here. With my Dublin accent people would just fall about laughing if I said "I'm Canadian" (I have been there twice btw! I have seen my Great grandparents gravestones! cheerful ey?)

WFV - it doesn't matter how much they know about their "homeland", having an great-great-great grandmother who was born in France doesn't make you French. Americans are the only people who seem to feel this way. I find it amusing and endearing, it wasn't supposed to be an insult. I never suggested Americans were loud, obnoxious or ignorant either - I've got some great American friends, they just have odd attachments to countries they've never been to!

True Jester. IMHO the tendency in the UK is to focus on people's accents and more immediate origins, rather than delve into grandparents' homes or such.

If I had £1 for every time someone quizzically asked me, "I can't place your accent, where are you FROM?" I would be rich. As if it matters anyway - why the obsession with accents?? I digress...

What I really object to is the the assumption that every (!) American describing themselves in terms of their origins is making a false claim.

Just because 'Wispa here has no connection to Ireland doesn't mean every person descended from Ireland is equally apathetic about their personal history!

How patronising. You find it "endearing"? Hardly. Try to disguise it a little better would you?

British people ARE obsessed with accents and the weather and how much a person paid for their house and where their kids go to school.

By the same tokens Americans have a curious habit of claiming to be: irish, Scottish, Italian when they absolutely aren't. So what? It's funny.

Don't see why these to facts need to create such bad feeling.

Exactly Nancy - my American friends think our class obsession is hilarious too. WFV, you seem awfully defensive - where are you from?

"British people ARE obsessed with accents and the weather and how much a person paid for their house and where their kids go to school."

so, so, so, so true!!!

You forgot where their kids will go to school next

I like some of those names, but then I don't really judge names that much.
I like Harper, Tyler and Scout . They could be good names for girls.

The thing about profession names for me is that when I hear 'Parker' I think of a menial being sent to park his boss's car!

I hear "chandler" and I think of ships' supplier in an apron making ropes and candles,

I hear cooper, I think barrel maker,

Thatcher, I think of a man on a roof compressing straw.

And so on and so on. I am too attached to the meanings of these words. They are words, not names! Maybe that's one reason they seem odd to me. Harper? Somebody who plays the harp for a living

As these professions don't seem aspirational to my ear, it follows that they wouldn't seem attractive as a given name. I think that is why they don't have as much appeal this side of the world.

Actually, playing the Harp for a living would be a fabulous job, what am I talking about.

Really Jester?
When I hear Thatcher I think of a right wing community cruncher, but there you go!!!

Oh yes of course! Margaret HIlda Roberts! that's my second thought. But I'm Irish, so I'm that tinybit more removed from the Iron Lady. I agree, for a British person that would be the first association. It'd be an odd name choice in the UK though wouldn't it!?

David Cameron likes unusual names doesn't he!! who knows.

Vino you say-"If I had £1 for every time someone quizzically asked me, "I can't place your accent, where are you FROM?" I would be rich. As if it matters anyway - why the obsession with accents?? I digress..."

Vino - and your point is? If I had a dollar for every time someone in America said to my brother, (from NYC) who now lives in SC "I can't place your accent, where are you from?" I would be rich.

IME, Americans often pick up on out of State accents and comment on them. What's the problem?

Love how SOME of the Americans on here cry 'generalization' and then add their own perceived generalisations when it hasn't even been said. Join in the original debate, offer an opinion or a theory, rather than cry anti-American. Tis pretty short-sighted.

Perchance you've been waiting for that Vino too long.... crack it open and join in the fun.

Loving how this debate is running and running!

I get that now. Accent obsession. My accent was all over the place at one point, dick van dyke one moment and Keith from boyzone the next. I can't help it, 15 yrs in London! When I first returned to Ireland people couldn't figure out if I was an English person who'd been living in Ireland for a long long time, or the other way around. And nobody Irish ever wonders in silence!! I don't mind. People are vaguely interested in you, enough to ask you a question. I'd be more upset at being ignored totally, knowing nobody was even slightly curious

Obviously I said "I'm Canadian"

I've been reading this thread for the past 2 hours lol, very entertaining and sort of informative.

I thought of something to add midway but now I forgot :/

Ohh! Yes I do my family tree my surname used to be Farrar in like late 1800's which I guess is not too dissimilar to Farah ?

Oooh, one of my family surnames is Farrar. Wonder if we are related?!

I don't think it's an confined to America anymore. I live outside North American and it's starting to catch on here. I've seen baby girls named Harper, Windsor, Riley, Campbell and Dylan so far this year.

A friend of mine also has young daughters named McKinnon and Jamison which I believe were originally last names. I think they are quite pleasant personally.

Jameson.

PMSL.

I've heard it all now!

Yeah, it's Irish allright.

Irish whisky.

Ooo who knows Horton, it got changed in the early 1900's to what my surname is now though.

Trying to be posh perhaps?!

They were from Cumbria