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Help[Opinions] Re: British names
in reply to a message by LMS
Just off the top of my head:
Harriet
Winston
Rupert
Fiona
Alfie (God, I hate this name!)
Neville
Nigel
Archibald
Basil
Reginald (though I also consider this a black American name)
Annabelle
Imogen
Beryl
Most of these are either very oudtated (how many Nevilles under the age of 60 could you find, even in Britain?) And most have never been popular in the US anyway, like Rupert, which will probably never catch on. So it wold be a bit odd to see most of these in the US, although Annabelle and Fiona have gained some use with certain types of people.
Harriet
Winston
Rupert
Fiona
Alfie (God, I hate this name!)
Neville
Nigel
Archibald
Basil
Reginald (though I also consider this a black American name)
Annabelle
Imogen
Beryl
Most of these are either very oudtated (how many Nevilles under the age of 60 could you find, even in Britain?) And most have never been popular in the US anyway, like Rupert, which will probably never catch on. So it wold be a bit odd to see most of these in the US, although Annabelle and Fiona have gained some use with certain types of people.
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Replies
You never know... Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies) has certainly increased the name's recognition in the US, even if only a bit. I personally know two preteen girls who swoon over young Mr. Grint, and could be influenced thereby to use the name on a son in ten years or so, especially if the young man transitions to a successful adult career.
You never know.
You never know.
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lol, one never knows, do one?
I've never seen the Harry Potter movies so I was not aware of Rupert Grint. The only Ruperts I know of are Murdoch, Holmes (The Ina Colada song) and this old radio commercial for a used auto-parts store (probably a chop-shop, now I think about it) which featured a goofy country-bumpkin character named Rupert. "Hey thay-er!" he'd shout to start the ad.
I've never seen the Harry Potter movies so I was not aware of Rupert Grint. The only Ruperts I know of are Murdoch, Holmes (The Ina Colada song) and this old radio commercial for a used auto-parts store (probably a chop-shop, now I think about it) which featured a goofy country-bumpkin character named Rupert. "Hey thay-er!" he'd shout to start the ad.
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Harriet: I think of this as American because it reminds me of Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Rupert: I agree, this seems very British to me. I never knew it was not popular in Britain though.
Alfie: This reminds me of that hairy creature that used to have it's own TV program.
Neville: Again, very British but I didn't know it wasn't popular.
Nigel: Oh, this is a good one. It reminds me of the character on the TV show Frasier.
Archibald: Very british. Is this one popular at all? Is it even in the top 1000's in Britain?
Basil: I rank this with Herb, which I also see as a Brit name.
Reginald: This is a butler name to me. You mention that it reminds you of a black American name, which I suppose is true. The black people I know with the name Reginald always go by Reggie though.
Beryl: I always thought this was from a germanic language. Eh, you learn something new every day.
Rupert: I agree, this seems very British to me. I never knew it was not popular in Britain though.
Alfie: This reminds me of that hairy creature that used to have it's own TV program.
Neville: Again, very British but I didn't know it wasn't popular.
Nigel: Oh, this is a good one. It reminds me of the character on the TV show Frasier.
Archibald: Very british. Is this one popular at all? Is it even in the top 1000's in Britain?
Basil: I rank this with Herb, which I also see as a Brit name.
Reginald: This is a butler name to me. You mention that it reminds you of a black American name, which I suppose is true. The black people I know with the name Reginald always go by Reggie though.
Beryl: I always thought this was from a germanic language. Eh, you learn something new every day.
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A comment from a Brit chic...
Harriet: still mildly popular in some parts of the UK today.
Rupert: Never met a Rupert, it's very "upperclass" and I live in a middle class very British Asian sort of area...
Alfie: trendy.
Neville: Not popular at all today, though it may make a comeback, due to popular character Neville Longbottom (or so I've been told)
Nigel: never met one myself, though I've seen a fair few on TV.
Archibald: to me, this is what someone would think a British person would be called, though in reality they are a Jack with sisters Chloe and Ellie.
Basil: there's a popular kids TV show called Basil Brush, where Basil is a puppet fox. I still love the name though, as a GP. I don't think many kids are called Basil though.
Reginald: Nope. Reggie I've heard of though.
Beryl: sweet old lady name, I do love it.
Names I personally associate with Britain:
Ellie, as a full name (they are everywhere!)
Freya, Imogen, Ruby, Ava, Emma (off the top of my head) have been on the rise recently. Chloe was no 1 for a few years, and is very popular among the sub-culture we know and "love" as chavs (which you can find on wikipedia if you really can be bothered). Jack has been no 1 for years, so the UK equivalent of Jacob.
But most names I encounter are Asian or Eastern European, so I'm not a good representative of the whole country.
Harriet: still mildly popular in some parts of the UK today.
Rupert: Never met a Rupert, it's very "upperclass" and I live in a middle class very British Asian sort of area...
Alfie: trendy.
Neville: Not popular at all today, though it may make a comeback, due to popular character Neville Longbottom (or so I've been told)
Nigel: never met one myself, though I've seen a fair few on TV.
Archibald: to me, this is what someone would think a British person would be called, though in reality they are a Jack with sisters Chloe and Ellie.
Basil: there's a popular kids TV show called Basil Brush, where Basil is a puppet fox. I still love the name though, as a GP. I don't think many kids are called Basil though.
Reginald: Nope. Reggie I've heard of though.
Beryl: sweet old lady name, I do love it.
Names I personally associate with Britain:
Ellie, as a full name (they are everywhere!)
Freya, Imogen, Ruby, Ava, Emma (off the top of my head) have been on the rise recently. Chloe was no 1 for a few years, and is very popular among the sub-culture we know and "love" as chavs (which you can find on wikipedia if you really can be bothered). Jack has been no 1 for years, so the UK equivalent of Jacob.
But most names I encounter are Asian or Eastern European, so I'm not a good representative of the whole country.
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The only young Neville I ever heard of was the kid in the Fig Newton commericals. lol
Alf, the TV character (I loved him! I think I had a stuffed Alf) got his name from the initials for Alien Life Form, or so I'm told.
I don't think Archibald has been used much in Britain for a VERY long time. I understand that Archive is popular there now though. I can't picture a young Archie either. ALl I picture, in fact, is Archie Bunker.
As for Rupert: well, I've heard it is somewhat popular with upwardly-mobile British parents. Idony in fact, some time ago, ina discussion of the Madeleine McCann case, made a comment about yuppie parents taking little Rupert and Francesca to nice restaurants so they could throw sundried tomato and rocket salad everywhere. lol I guess the kind of parents in UK who'd use Rupert are kind of like the American ones who'd use Annabelle and Fiona. :)
Alf, the TV character (I loved him! I think I had a stuffed Alf) got his name from the initials for Alien Life Form, or so I'm told.
I don't think Archibald has been used much in Britain for a VERY long time. I understand that Archive is popular there now though. I can't picture a young Archie either. ALl I picture, in fact, is Archie Bunker.
As for Rupert: well, I've heard it is somewhat popular with upwardly-mobile British parents. Idony in fact, some time ago, ina discussion of the Madeleine McCann case, made a comment about yuppie parents taking little Rupert and Francesca to nice restaurants so they could throw sundried tomato and rocket salad everywhere. lol I guess the kind of parents in UK who'd use Rupert are kind of like the American ones who'd use Annabelle and Fiona. :)
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Well, again, you never know
One of the most important second-tier characters in HP is Harry's good friend and ally Neville Longbottom. So, like I said...
And your mention of little Rupert and Francesca made me totally laugh out loud; I have another association with Rupert I'd forgotten all about. When my little Sophie, who's about to turn seven in August, was, oh, I think about two years old, she was still nursing, and having to share with newborn Gideon. She announced one afternoon that she'd named my breasts. "They're Rupert and Joanna, mommy," she said, clearly pleased with herself. "Rupert's on the right. Gideon can only have Rupert, 'cause they're both boys. I get Joanna."
And Sophie had never even heard of Rupert Grint!
:-D
One of the most important second-tier characters in HP is Harry's good friend and ally Neville Longbottom. So, like I said...
And your mention of little Rupert and Francesca made me totally laugh out loud; I have another association with Rupert I'd forgotten all about. When my little Sophie, who's about to turn seven in August, was, oh, I think about two years old, she was still nursing, and having to share with newborn Gideon. She announced one afternoon that she'd named my breasts. "They're Rupert and Joanna, mommy," she said, clearly pleased with herself. "Rupert's on the right. Gideon can only have Rupert, 'cause they're both boys. I get Joanna."
And Sophie had never even heard of Rupert Grint!
:-D
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