[Opinions] Re: Unusual British Names
in reply to a message by lac
GIRLS
Millie - This is extremely popular here, sometimes combined with another name for example Millie-May or Millie-Rose. I'm not a fan but IMO it is a lot better than Millicent or Mildred
Evie - I prefer Eve
Poppy - I like the flower, but I dislike the name because of the 'pop' sound in it. This is used more by the 'upper-class'
Libby - I definitely prefer this as a nn for Elisabeth
Rosie - I prefer Rose
Demi - Popular because of Demi Moore, and a character on the popular soap Eastenders. I don't think people think of this as being a nn for Demetria, because it is also a French word meaning 'half'
Tilly - I dislike it, I think people here like names ending in the 'ee' sound. I just wish they would use them as nicknames for more formal names :-)
BOYS
Lewis - Very popular, I dislike it
Alfie - I like Alfie, it's cute and does age well IMO. Popular again because of a character on Eastenders. I would prefer Alfred nn Alfie though
Harvey - I agree, it is ugly. I can't really think of a reason for it being popular except that the 'model' Jordan named her son this
Leo - I like it, this is Tony Blair's youngest son's name
Archie - Archie is fine, I do know an Archer nn Archie though
Finlay - This is very popular, I dislike the 'fin' sound
Harley - Harley is nms, but it's better than Harvey
Freddie - I like Freddie a lot as a nn for Frederick
Luca - I prefer it to Luke or Lucas. Can't think of a reason for it's popularity
Ellis - I think it's ok
Zak - I would prefer this as a nn for Zachary
I think British people prefer nicknames to full names because they don't really consider formal names to be as important. People may dislike Charles but like Charlie, so they would just use the name they like, without thinking about how well it 'ages', because a large percentage of this whole generation will have nickname-style names- so it won't seem unusual or strange then.
Millie - This is extremely popular here, sometimes combined with another name for example Millie-May or Millie-Rose. I'm not a fan but IMO it is a lot better than Millicent or Mildred
Evie - I prefer Eve
Poppy - I like the flower, but I dislike the name because of the 'pop' sound in it. This is used more by the 'upper-class'
Libby - I definitely prefer this as a nn for Elisabeth
Rosie - I prefer Rose
Demi - Popular because of Demi Moore, and a character on the popular soap Eastenders. I don't think people think of this as being a nn for Demetria, because it is also a French word meaning 'half'
Tilly - I dislike it, I think people here like names ending in the 'ee' sound. I just wish they would use them as nicknames for more formal names :-)
BOYS
Lewis - Very popular, I dislike it
Alfie - I like Alfie, it's cute and does age well IMO. Popular again because of a character on Eastenders. I would prefer Alfred nn Alfie though
Harvey - I agree, it is ugly. I can't really think of a reason for it being popular except that the 'model' Jordan named her son this
Leo - I like it, this is Tony Blair's youngest son's name
Archie - Archie is fine, I do know an Archer nn Archie though
Finlay - This is very popular, I dislike the 'fin' sound
Harley - Harley is nms, but it's better than Harvey
Freddie - I like Freddie a lot as a nn for Frederick
Luca - I prefer it to Luke or Lucas. Can't think of a reason for it's popularity
Ellis - I think it's ok
Zak - I would prefer this as a nn for Zachary
I think British people prefer nicknames to full names because they don't really consider formal names to be as important. People may dislike Charles but like Charlie, so they would just use the name they like, without thinking about how well it 'ages', because a large percentage of this whole generation will have nickname-style names- so it won't seem unusual or strange then.