British names and American names

[NovaKart]

It's interesting how there are some names used in Britain that you almost never see in America, such as Nigel, Neville and Rupert. They're the only ones I can think of at the moment. Then there are some American names like Tammy, I've never heard of any British person named that and I've never even heard of anyone not from the South named Tammy. It seems like a country name.

Are there other names you've noticed are used in one country (USA or UK) but not the other?

 

[galdre]

Ian is really common in the UK, not so common here in the US

 

[Communisto]

The name 'Nigel' disgraces the sanctity of man.

 

[Arakhor]

The US is seemingly overrun with sanctimonious religious names such as Hope, Faith or Charity. Give a child a name, not a virtue!

 

[Mango Elephant]

The US is seemingly overrun with sanctimonious religious names such as Hope, Faith or Charity. Give a child a name, not a virtue!

Those are mostly black names. Who said a name couldn't be a virtue? Better Destini then Ian. Ian sounds like something you do to someone attractive.

I hate the name Tammy. I'm going to name my daughter (if I ever get one) a southern name, though. Sarah Grace or Yvonne Kate. Aren't those adorable? I think so.

 

[ZeletDude]

The names I really hate are the country/state ones.. Arizona/Kenya/Montana/Carolina, I'm assuming that the state names are purely American..

 

[Cutlass]

Those are mostly black names. Who said a name couldn't be a virtue? Better Destini then Ian. Ian sounds like something you do to someone attractive.

I hate the name Tammy. I'm going to name my daughter (if I ever get one) a southern name, though. Sarah Grace or Yvonne Kate. Aren't those adorable? I think so.

Hope, Faith or Charity aren't black names.

I think it's a matter of their being a far greater cultural background in the US to draw names from. So many "common" names can fall into disuse and there's still a huge selection to choose from.

 

[sophie]

It's vaguely related, so obligatory HIMYM video:


Link to video.

 

[PhroX]

To be honest, those names you say as being "UK only" are probably dying out - I'm 27, and I can't remember meeting anyone my age or younger called Rupert or Nigel, and the only Neville I know is my cousin, who is, oddly enough, American.

 

[Mango Elephant]

Hope, Faith or Charity aren't black names.

Maybe not. I don't many people with those names, but the few that I do they tend to be black.

 

[amadeus]

Ian is really common in the UK, not so common here in the US

Ian was the runner-up in the amadeus naming contest of 1985.

 

[Traitorfish]

To be honest, those names you say as being "UK only" are probably dying out - I'm 27, and I can't remember meeting anyone my age or younger called Rupert or Nigel, and the only Neville I know is my cousin, who is, oddly enough, American.

Yeah, the only names I commonly encounter IRL that seem rare in the US are those of a particularly Scottish character- Iain, Kieran, Ewan, etc.- which are obviously their provincial own deal.

 

[jtb1127]

On the subject of black names I can definitely think of a lot of them. African Americans for some reason feel it necessary to adopt African sounding names as a way to rebel against the man, or something like that. This really began in the late 80s and 90s. Sometimes these names are really not African at all, but they are actually of Arabic origin or elsewhere. I think it is sort of funny that their names, that they were initially given as a way to separate their culture from everyone else, are now being used to discriminate against them. Studies have shown that people with black names are at least 50% likely to be called back for job interviews. This study was conducted my MIT and the University of Chicago. Yes I found he source from wikipedia, but the source didn't make it up (before anyone attacks me on this). Here are some "black" names that I assure you, you will not find very common in the United Kingdom:
This is from Freakonomics
Girls-
Imani
Ebony
Shanice
Aaliyah
Precious
Nia
Deja
Diamond
Asia
Aliyah
Jada
Tierra
Tiara
Kiara
Jazmine
Jasmin
Jazmin
Jasmine
Alexus
Raven
Auriel

Boys-
DeShawn
DeAndre
Marquis
Darnell
Terrell
Malik
Trevon
Tyrone
Willie
Dominique
Demetrius
Reginald
Jamal
Maurice
Jalen
Darius
Xavier
Terrance
Andre
Darryl
Charles

 

[madviking]

"Honey, this is America. Our names don't mean [poo]."

- Butch Coolidge

 

[Arakhor]

Are all black/dark brown people in America called African-Americans? That might explain part of the misunderstanding.

 

[Traitorfish]

On the subject of black names I can definitely think of a lot of them. African Americans for some reason feel it necessary to adopt African sounding names as a way to rebel against the man, or something like that. This really began in the late 80s and 90s. Sometimes these names are really not African at all, but they are actually of Arabic origin or elsewhere.

It's not about "rebelling against the man", it's about asserting a cultural identity legitimate in itself, and not just as a replication of white (specifically, "Anglo-Saxon") culture. The very label "African-American", which you use in an apparently uncritical manner, is another example of this, having emerged as a more self-assured alternative to the cultureless, purely racial designation of "negro".

I think it is sort of funny that their names, that they were initially given as a way to separate their culture from everyone else, are now being used to discriminate against them. Studies have shown that people with black names are at least 50% likely to be called back for job interviews. This study was conducted my MIT and the University of Chicago.

You think that white supremacism is "funny"? That's, um, awful.

 

[Truronian]

The names I really hate are the country/state ones.. Arizona/Kenya/Montana/Carolina...

.../Central African Republic

 

[PhroX]

On the subject of black names... <snip to save space>


Charles

Charles is a "black" name? I'd have said it's a relatively ordinary "white" name. At least here in England it is. I've know a few Charleses (is that the right pluralisation? I always get confused...), though they often use Charlie.

 

[NovaKart]

The thing about black American names is that many of them are either not actually African in origin or are just made up names that sound African. The African part of African-American culture was almost entirely destroyed so much of the attempt to recreate it has been artificial, like the Kwanza holiday.

Actually many African-Americans prefer the term black and don't like being called African-American and don't identify with their African heritage, but then many do.

 

[NetGear]

I didnt realize faith hill is black.

I know 3 Ians. All as USA as you xan get, but gotta agree its not common at all.