(no subject)

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

Hi all! Have been reading through the past few entries on this comm. First off, I'm not a mother, or expecting, and I don't think there'll be children in my future for a good five years yet! But I do find names fascinating. I'm very interested in etymology, and I like knowing the historical background of names.

Also, I like noting the socio-economic/cultural differences between naming. Like, from my quite middle class background, the most popular boys' names were things like James, Alexander etc, whilst my boyfriend, who had a more working class upbringing, knew more Steves, Brians etc. As this community is I think mostly American, I thought I'd share the UK's most popular names as of 2005.

1 Jessica Jack
2 Emily Joshua
3 Sophie Thomas
4 Olivia James
5 Chloe Oliver
6 Ellie Daniel
7 Grace Samuel
8 Lucy William
9 Charlotte Harry
10 Katie Joseph

None there that would surprise you too much, I think. However, a lot of American names that seem quite everyday to you would be unusual here. For instance, Madison, Tyler, Logan, Savannah (all in the US top 100). Sometimes names seem more "flaky" to me, I admit, but that's just due to cultural differences. Anyway, hope this post isn't too dull!

Comments

[the-theorist.livejournal.com]

I'm a little suprised that Harry is on the top 10, what with Harry Potter being so popular and all.... has Harry been popular for many years in the UK or is it new to the top 10?

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

Harry was #6 in 2001, 11 in 2002-4... So I guess it's been popular for a bit! I'd have to look into it to see what its popularity was before. I'm guessing that a couple of decades ago its full form - Henry - would have been more popular. And yes, I would attribute its popularity to Harry Potter! I personally wouldn't want to name a kid after an incredibly popular fictional character, but there ya go.

Actually, having looked closer at the top 100, I've found that Madison *does* appear for girls (as a side note to my point) - I'm certain this must be an American influence, as I have never met anyone called Madison! (And I'm 24, not old at all!)

[the-theorist.livejournal.com]

cool :)

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

The only Madisons I've met in the UK are under the age of 4. There were two in our baby group, though (one spelled Maddison, argh).

Harry's been fairly popular ever since Prince H was born, so... 1984/5? (He's officially Henry, of course, but has never been known by it.)

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

It just seems like SUCH an American name to me! Not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but it's a little odd.

[mommamayer317.livejournal.com]

lol thats the first thing I thought about, the reason Harry is popular is because of harry potter

[mrsduryee.livejournal.com]

I thought Harry would be popular because of Prince Harry, and it totally doesn't surprise me that William is in the top 10 as well.

Can you imagine if we named our kids after current political figures in the US? They'd all be John, George, Bill or Jim.

And it would just keep repeating...AND you'd be able to tell the political ideologies of a family after the first introduction.

That would suck.

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm sure the Prince Harry thing is there, too. Wouldn't be surprised if around the time of Charles and Diana's wedding there were lots of baby Dianas! But William has been popular in the UK for centuries - and deeply UNpopular in Ireland, due to the whole William of Orange deal.

[smasharash.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I wish that I lived in America because I feel that I would worry less about what I name my children. I feel that in England people are perhaps more judging and don't think kindly towards anything out of the ordinary. This is a shame because my favourite names are likely to get odd looks!

How do you feel about it?

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

I don't know... I have known plenty of people with more "unusual" names, but to me there's a difference between unusual and just plain hokey. Not really keen on "fluffy" names or anything too cutesy. I quite like fairly classic names.

[anapology.livejournal.com]

Ahh another english person!
I can't believe Sophie is so popular, my parents assured me when I was named they'd never met another Sophie.

I understand what you mean about the social background thing, it really is rather dicided in England. My friends are actually all called James & Alexander! I went to a comprehensive for 7-11 & then Alevels were private, lots of Karly's, Kayleighs, Staceys... then Libbys, Laura's & Ruby's... i totally noticed the name difference between the classes.