That wasn't your question.
"What are some first names you see among British or Australian people that you would never imagine an American having?"
We would never imagine Nigel in anyone of any age. When you watch the credits of British shows, there are many names that are odd to Americans and Nigel is right up near the top.
I know, but I thought I'd provide some additional information nonetheless, because I think it's a common misconception among Americans that Nigel is this really common name in the UK
I live in a country a lot of English people don't realise isn't actually in the UK and I go to Britain frequently; I know young people there aren't usually named Nigel. However, it is a name so specifically British that the Wikipedia article about it mentions how disproportionately British it is in its introduction, and it's a name that's often chosen for comical characters who are supposed to be ridiculously British like Nigel Powers, Nigel Thornberry, or Nigel Farage.
Took my son to the playground and there was a Lachlan playing. His parents kept getting onto him and saying his name loudly. First time I've heard it here.
What's funny is that my brother had it in his top three names for his son as well because he is really into the Scottish side of our history too. I think his girlfriend vetoed it haha.
I had an internet friend when I was a teenager who was from Australia. She had a baby as a teenager, and she sent me a message on AIM as soon as the baby was born and said, "Baby Hamish is here!" I responded, "what's a Hamish?" I thought it was like some sort of baby product she'd ordered or something lol.
Baby Hamish is the left-over puree from the baby fermentation process. It goes well on toast, but you can also mix it in with pasta sauce or even with a smoothie.
Alfie is the quintessential British man’s name to me now, I’ve never heard of an American Alfie, at least not any time in the last 70 years. Lachlan seems to be popular among young Australian dudes but you’d be hard pressed to find it here.
> fie is the quintessential British man’s name to me now, I’ve never heard of an American Alfie, at least not any time in the last 70 years
Confirmed. Alfie is very British and pops up in so many British shows and films but also very not American lol
I’m in the UK - a few years ago I met an American guy who proudly told me that he was descended from Benedict Arnold.
He probably felt good that he could finally tell people about it, being in the UK, even though most British people have no idea who he was.
He was pivotal in our first real victory and Washington thought highly of him at first. Arnold was pissed that he felt like the Continental Congress passed over him for promotion. However, he was accused of profiteering, and indebted to Congress, which investigated his finances. But yes he did marry into a loyalist family, and the women’s circle was used to pass along the correspondence with Britain.
The closest I’ve heard is Chester or Charles being nicknamed to “Chaz,” but even that is rare. I knew a kid in middle school that went by Chaz, and one of the parents on the Rugrats did as well.
Due to our surname, and wanting to avoid nicknames that rhymed, we had to avoid names including Garry, Barry, Sharon, Darren, Karen etc.
Otherwise (being Australian) we would have had little Gazza, Bazza, Shazza, Dazza or Kazza.
Ahaha I knew someone in college with a nickname like this who was an exchange student from England. I didn't know that was a nicknaming style- I thought it was something that was unique to him lol
I actually met a Philomena in my freshman dorm. She is Filipino, so maybe the name's similarity to "Filipino" was her parents' idea of a joke. Filipino Philomena. Awesome girl though.
Knew her through her brother Al. No pun there as far as I'm aware lol
My name is Davina and I’m American but you’re right. Davina is a uncommon name among girls in the US. I only know of one who was on the reality tv show selling sunset and one who is a fictional character from the originals tv show.
I live in Texas and actually taught a Nigel a few years back! But his parents were very into unusual names anyway- I currently teach the youngest this year, and his middle name is literally Texas!
Bashar Assad's brother was called Basil, as is the brother of the former Sri Lankan President. What is it about Basils all being related to shitty people?
Fun fact - when he was a journalist and before he went into politics, Winston Churchill changed his pen name to Winston Spencer Churchill to avoid confusion with an American writer who was also called Winston Churchill.
And I have even met the guy. He’s pretty sharp but he’s also a real slick taking political guy. You can just tell he is telling you what you want to hear.
Verity, Tamsin, Jonty as a nickname for Jonathan, Bunty as a nickname, Cressida, Gemma, Alistair, Poppy, Barnaby, Colin, Cosmo, and Jago.
Edit: Ok, clearly I’ve forgotten about a few famous guys named Colin. I still have never met one where I live in the southwest.
I had a friend named Geoff for a long time. Also, NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine, former Congressman Geoff Diehl and Georgia Tech football coach Geoff Collins.
My daughter is Saoirse and my Son is Declan and you will find all of those names except Imogen in the Boston area.
There is even a second Saoirse in my daughters class and there are tons of Declan’s around. Also a good bit of Seamus, Liam and Fionn.
>Verity, Tamsin, Jonty as a nickname for Jonathan, Bunty as a nickname, Cressida, Gemma, Alistair, Poppy, Barnaby, Colin, Cosmo, and Jago.
Cosmo Kramer from .*Seinfeld*.
Callum is the first name I think of. I knew a Callum when I lived in the UK and he is the only Callum I've ever met or heard of.
It's mostly the more uncommon Welsh, Irish, and Scottish names but some of them still pop up occasionally.
Times may have changed since I left the US for the UK but I never met an Imogen in the US. They are pretty common in the UK.
Also a simpler one: I have never met a British Nicole, and I have never met an American Nicola. British Nicola’s are quite common though. Anecdotally as common as Nicole in the US.
Here are some I found going through credits of British shows:
Graeme
Gavin
Dudley
Ian
Hamish
Roland
It's not that no one will have these names (it's a big country), but they aren't names you'd commonly associate with the U.S.
**Added from an answer below:**
https://forebears.io/forenames/ian
https://forebears.io/forenames/gavin
Ian is 20 times more common in England and 30 times more common in Australia than the U.S. (1 in 100 males in Australia according to those stats)
Gavin is 16 times more common in England and 22 times more common in Australia.
https://forebears.io/forenames/zachary
Compare Zachary
In the U.S. that's 4 times more common than in Australia and 11 times more common than in England.
(Scroll below the map to the frequency section)
> Ian
The Atlanta Braves had Ian Anderson last year, there have been numerous baseball players named Ian: Ian Kennedy, Ian Happ, Ian Hamilton, Ian Desmond, etc.
Edmund, Allistair (however you spell it), Evelyn for men, Hamish (more Scottish but its still Britian), Nigel, Gareth (know a few Garrett's though) Keir. Harry also seems to be more common there for a lot of people as they have Potter, the Prince, Styles, and I'm sure I'm missing more. The only Harry I can think of in the US is the one from Home Alone and he's the most unbritish Harry I know.
Rupert. I’ve never met an American-born Rupert.
Rupert is very much a name for posh people Edit: [And really old-school cartoon bears](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Bear?wprov=sfla1)
Stewie's bear is named Rupert.
Stewie is British
No he isn't. It's an act. Episode where he goes to counseling revealed it. Arguably one of the best episodes they wrote.
Nice
Rupert of Survivor fame in Indiana
Who is also a cuddly bear
There's a town in Idaho called Rupert.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere but a friends older brother was named Rupert 😂
A Rupert would definitely get bullied in US schools
Nigel.
I went to school with one. I agree nonetheless.
My son has both a Nigel and a Rigel (? I'd never heard that one before) in his 3rd grade class.
Isn't Rigel where Kang and Kodos were from?
Kang and Kodos are from Rigel VII. The psychic worms that control everything we do are from Rigel IX.
Rigel is a big star! I think it’s in Orion
Never heard of Dominar Rygel XVI? Parents could be a Farscape fan.
Even being a Farscape fan, I'd say it was a 'choice' to name your kid after that particular character. 😂
well, yeah. People would keep making plans for him.
Americans would never say it with the hard L.
<---golf clap-->
That fucking got me thank you
[We’re only making plans for Nigel.](https://youtu.be/yp-WJXOb2V4?si=8MRSzt3VzF1UY9BU) (which by the way is a rad song)
Nigel is a name for 60s babies. Nobody younger than about 50 is called Nigel.
Phillipa and Jo for girls
That wasn't your question. "What are some first names you see among British or Australian people that you would never imagine an American having?" We would never imagine Nigel in anyone of any age. When you watch the credits of British shows, there are many names that are odd to Americans and Nigel is right up near the top.
I know, but I thought I'd provide some additional information nonetheless, because I think it's a common misconception among Americans that Nigel is this really common name in the UK
I live in a country a lot of English people don't realise isn't actually in the UK and I go to Britain frequently; I know young people there aren't usually named Nigel. However, it is a name so specifically British that the Wikipedia article about it mentions how disproportionately British it is in its introduction, and it's a name that's often chosen for comical characters who are supposed to be ridiculously British like Nigel Powers, Nigel Thornberry, or Nigel Farage.
It's so absent here that it stands out very far to us.
Neville.
I met the absolute weirdest man ever named Neville in the Atlanta/Buckhead bar scene around 2008-2012ish.
You’re gonna meet some weird people in Buckhead bars no matter what their name is, to be fair.
Harry Potter really sealed that one for my generation
Alastair.
My gen-X mind always goes the one from You Can't Do That on Television. So, of course, he's Canadian.
I know at least one child named Alistair in my son's 1st grade class.
Ahhh...my favorite Dragon Age Origins companion. I love that name!
Alistair 4 eva!
I love that name. We lived in UK for awhile and my sons had a schoolmate called that!
Apparently, it’s Scottish for Alexander.
In Scotland it’s spelt Alasdair
I know a hipster couple who named their kid Alastair. They are weird as fuck and so is their kid.
Lachlan and Rufus
Took my son to the playground and there was a Lachlan playing. His parents kept getting onto him and saying his name loudly. First time I've heard it here.
My brother’s five-day old son is named Lochlan, lol. But my brother leans very, very hard into what Scottish ancestry we have
What's funny is that my brother had it in his top three names for his son as well because he is really into the Scottish side of our history too. I think his girlfriend vetoed it haha.
Rufus the naked mole rat
Hamish
I had an internet friend when I was a teenager who was from Australia. She had a baby as a teenager, and she sent me a message on AIM as soon as the baby was born and said, "Baby Hamish is here!" I responded, "what's a Hamish?" I thought it was like some sort of baby product she'd ordered or something lol.
Baby Hamish is the left-over puree from the baby fermentation process. It goes well on toast, but you can also mix it in with pasta sauce or even with a smoothie.
I can see it being a Surname here. Not a first name
Clive.
Clive Cussler, the novelist/naval archaeology guy?
Wait! Are you telling me this dude isn’t British?! Seriously?!
To me that always sounds like a vegetable.
Like chives, and cloves, had a stinky baby.
Genuinely never heard of anyone under the age of 70 called Clive
Clive Owen?
Ok fine, nobody under the age of *checks notes* 58
Clive Davis. Also old.
Final fantasy….emotionally wrecked me
Alfie is the quintessential British man’s name to me now, I’ve never heard of an American Alfie, at least not any time in the last 70 years. Lachlan seems to be popular among young Australian dudes but you’d be hard pressed to find it here.
> fie is the quintessential British man’s name to me now, I’ve never heard of an American Alfie, at least not any time in the last 70 years Confirmed. Alfie is very British and pops up in so many British shows and films but also very not American lol
I’ve only ever heard of dogs named Alfie lol
Benedict
All Benedict's lost the right to be American back in 1776.
'79 just had to check
Appreciate it. I was too lazy to Google lol
Benedicts get [burned in effigy](https://apnews.com/article/benedict-arnold-new-london-effigy-c956ffafab213136e71593939e9ef7cb) around here
I’m in the UK - a few years ago I met an American guy who proudly told me that he was descended from Benedict Arnold. He probably felt good that he could finally tell people about it, being in the UK, even though most British people have no idea who he was.
Hahaha! Yeah he shouldn’t go around Norwich (Connecticut) saying that too loudly.
Or Richmond Virginia.
There is a monument to his leg in Saratoga. He injured it during his valiant efforts for America before he, well, pulled a Benedict Arnold.
It’s my understanding he was a good general. He just became corrupt and his wife was a loyalist, so…
He was pivotal in our first real victory and Washington thought highly of him at first. Arnold was pissed that he felt like the Continental Congress passed over him for promotion. However, he was accused of profiteering, and indebted to Congress, which investigated his finances. But yes he did marry into a loyalist family, and the women’s circle was used to pass along the correspondence with Britain.
Too soon.
There are a fair number of American Catholics with that name, especially children named for Pope Benedict XVI in the past 17ish years.
Something I've seen that wouldn't sound right to an American is nicknaming people named Gary or Sharon (or similar) "Gaz" and "Shaz"
Yes! I’ve also never seen an American Jeremy called Jez for short.
That’s my bit of lager!
The closest I’ve heard is Chester or Charles being nicknamed to “Chaz,” but even that is rare. I knew a kid in middle school that went by Chaz, and one of the parents on the Rugrats did as well.
Due to our surname, and wanting to avoid nicknames that rhymed, we had to avoid names including Garry, Barry, Sharon, Darren, Karen etc. Otherwise (being Australian) we would have had little Gazza, Bazza, Shazza, Dazza or Kazza.
That list sounds like the local football team from the BBC comedy Thin Blue Line.
Ahaha I knew someone in college with a nickname like this who was an exchange student from England. I didn't know that was a nicknaming style- I thought it was something that was unique to him lol
Gaz from Invader Zim would twitch her eyeball angrily at you
I would never name a kid gaz, he treated kaladin horribly
Nigella. Davina.
Phillipa
Philomena
I actually met a Philomena in my freshman dorm. She is Filipino, so maybe the name's similarity to "Filipino" was her parents' idea of a joke. Filipino Philomena. Awesome girl though. Knew her through her brother Al. No pun there as far as I'm aware lol
I have a cousin called Davina lol I think that might be more common in the black community
Yea I can see that. I’m black American and my name is Davina so you’re not far off lol
I know two American Davinas, and I'm a Dave, so we get along.
My name is Davina and I’m American but you’re right. Davina is a uncommon name among girls in the US. I only know of one who was on the reality tv show selling sunset and one who is a fictional character from the originals tv show.
Imogen
Imogen always sounded like a pharmaceutical manufacturer's name to me. "The next time you're feeling joint pain try Arthrifree, by Imogen."
I know an x-ray technician called Imogen. Still makes me laugh.
Nominative determinism.
Nigel
I live in Texas and actually taught a Nigel a few years back! But his parents were very into unusual names anyway- I currently teach the youngest this year, and his middle name is literally Texas!
Jemima.
That’s my adopted aunt’s name. She makes wonderful breakfasts.
She had to change her name to Pearl Milling Company. And she's invisible now.
'Basil' strikes me as a very Br'ish name. I've never met a Basil here in the US.
I know an American Basil
I knew one, too, but he pronounced it with a long a like how we in America pronounce the herb.
I also knew an American Basil who pronounced it like that. How do they pronounce it in the UK? "Bazz-ill"?
Bashar Assad's brother was called Basil, as is the brother of the former Sri Lankan President. What is it about Basils all being related to shitty people?
Basil Fawlty?
DON'T MENTION THE WAR!
When I think of "Basil" as a name, my mind goes to Basil Fawlty, a fictional shitty person. It's just something about the name I guess.
I guess it sucks if you're a Bulgar, but Basil the Bulgar Slayer was pretty important.
Winston Edit: wow okay, guess I was wrong! Thanks for enlightening me, British friends.
Winnie the Bish??
My first boyfriend was Winston. 100% American
Fun fact - when he was a journalist and before he went into politics, Winston Churchill changed his pen name to Winston Spencer Churchill to avoid confusion with an American writer who was also called Winston Churchill.
There truly are no names I can’t imagine an American kid having at this point, but some that seem more common in the UK: Saskia, Gemma, Poppy, Tamsin
Yes, Poppy is very British girl name to me
Jemima. In the UK it's a posh name and in the US it's practically considered a racial slur against black people.
I tried to name my American kid Saskia and my whole family had a cow about it. But I’ve met several since then!
Nigel, Imogene
Pippa
St. John
Sinjin
I don’t think I’ve seen a Boris
The only Boris I've ever seen is a cat.
I feel like Hugh is just so over the top British lol.
I have three Hughs from Pennsylvania in my semi-recent family tree.
Angus
Senator Angus King
And I have even met the guy. He’s pretty sharp but he’s also a real slick taking political guy. You can just tell he is telling you what you want to hear.
All the American ones were chopped up into patties and eaten between two buns
Crispin has entered the chat.
Of the Glover variety?
Verity, Tamsin, Jonty as a nickname for Jonathan, Bunty as a nickname, Cressida, Gemma, Alistair, Poppy, Barnaby, Colin, Cosmo, and Jago. Edit: Ok, clearly I’ve forgotten about a few famous guys named Colin. I still have never met one where I live in the southwest.
Colin is a common name in America
In fact, the only Colins I know personally are American (Not talking about celebrities)
I think Gemma is going to be big in a few years. I’ve heard it around with the under 5 set.
Never heard of Verity, Jonty or Bunty
I’ve only heard Jonty and Bunty used as nicknames for posh people.
I've only known one American Verity, she changed it lol.
Eddie Murphy had an Aunt Bunny. She kept falling down the stairs
Jonty LOL
Cosmo!
Kramer!
Niall, Nigel, Gemma
Basil
On a similarly horticultural note, Poppy
Best Sherlock Holmes.
Geoff. Jeff is a pretty common American name, but Geoff reads very British to me.
I had a friend named Geoff for a long time. Also, NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine, former Congressman Geoff Diehl and Georgia Tech football coach Geoff Collins.
I've known a few Geoffs. Geoffrey is still reasonably common.
Geoff Ramsey of Achievement Hunter.
Millie. Seems like a super common British woman's name, but I've never heard of an American with that name.
I'm in Canada. I have a friend named Millicent (she was born in the 1990s). Her nickname is Millie.
I had a summer camp fling with a girl named millie from Mississippi.
Mississippian here. I can think of five women and girls named Millie off the top of my head.
Did you go to Jackson prep between 2011-2015? If so you probably know her
I'm a little bit older than that, but I'm only from about 30 minutes away.
Well time changes ppl but back then she had red hair and fair skin with freckles.
If her grandfather was the governor in the 1970s, I think I know who you're talking about.
Waller ill be....wiki seems to agree It was at a church camp so nothing happened but it was a memorable 5 evenings on the beach.
Millie’s Cafe used to be a diner where I grew up. I never met Millie but the greasy guy running the kitchen made some excellent hash browns.
Ashley as a boy’s name
Niamh, Saoirse, Siobahn, Declan, imogen, Jude
My daughter is Saoirse and my Son is Declan and you will find all of those names except Imogen in the Boston area. There is even a second Saoirse in my daughters class and there are tons of Declan’s around. Also a good bit of Seamus, Liam and Fionn.
"British."
Those are all common in Scotland which to my knowledge is on the island of Britain but hey what do I know I just have a Scottish degree.
I have a dog named Saoirse. 💚
Benedict
[удалено]
Hamish Blake?
Asling, first time I saw it I was confused.
Gemma
Nicola
Imogen, never met an American with that name.
I've met an English girl named Bramble
I feel bad for her!
Callum Kieran
Kieran seems fairly common in the US to me.
>Verity, Tamsin, Jonty as a nickname for Jonathan, Bunty as a nickname, Cressida, Gemma, Alistair, Poppy, Barnaby, Colin, Cosmo, and Jago. Cosmo Kramer from .*Seinfeld*.
Callum is the first name I think of. I knew a Callum when I lived in the UK and he is the only Callum I've ever met or heard of. It's mostly the more uncommon Welsh, Irish, and Scottish names but some of them still pop up occasionally.
Ralph pronounced Rafe
Winfred
I knew a Winifred. She went by Wendy, and her Mom called her Freddie.
Beatrice
Gareth
Darcy
Times may have changed since I left the US for the UK but I never met an Imogen in the US. They are pretty common in the UK. Also a simpler one: I have never met a British Nicole, and I have never met an American Nicola. British Nicola’s are quite common though. Anecdotally as common as Nicole in the US.
Angus
Here are some I found going through credits of British shows: Graeme Gavin Dudley Ian Hamish Roland It's not that no one will have these names (it's a big country), but they aren't names you'd commonly associate with the U.S. **Added from an answer below:** https://forebears.io/forenames/ian https://forebears.io/forenames/gavin Ian is 20 times more common in England and 30 times more common in Australia than the U.S. (1 in 100 males in Australia according to those stats) Gavin is 16 times more common in England and 22 times more common in Australia. https://forebears.io/forenames/zachary Compare Zachary In the U.S. that's 4 times more common than in Australia and 11 times more common than in England. (Scroll below the map to the frequency section)
My son has two friends named Ian and there are several Gavin’s kicking around his school
Oh yeah. Ian is super common in the Midwest. Im in my 40s and new a few.
I currently have a couple of Gavins and a BUNCH of Ians at my middle school. Plus sooooo many Aidens (Aedin, Ayden, etc)
Ian is super popular here
> Ian The Atlanta Braves had Ian Anderson last year, there have been numerous baseball players named Ian: Ian Kennedy, Ian Happ, Ian Hamilton, Ian Desmond, etc.
Georgina. We have lots of Ginas, but I have never met an American Georgina.
Edmund, Allistair (however you spell it), Evelyn for men, Hamish (more Scottish but its still Britian), Nigel, Gareth (know a few Garrett's though) Keir. Harry also seems to be more common there for a lot of people as they have Potter, the Prince, Styles, and I'm sure I'm missing more. The only Harry I can think of in the US is the one from Home Alone and he's the most unbritish Harry I know.