# What are some common UK male first names that are nonexistent in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490 "2006-09-28T13:43:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/101 "2006-09-30T01:47:59Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] I’ve encountered it only once here. A friend of mine was dating a girl named Catriona a little while ago. Her father was from Scotland and her mother was from Vietnam. When I pronounced it “Katreena,” I was corrected and told that the correct pronunciation was “Kat-ree-OH-na” and that my error was a “common mistake.” [/QUOTE] For what it’s worth, I say you are right, **ascenray** and her father is like those people who pronounce “Caitlin” Kate-lyn". Ha! Gold star for you. 🙂 And I feel grumpy about anybody pronouncing “Ian/Iain” as Eye-an too. Grumpy grumpy me today. 🙂 How about Duncan, Alasdair, Stewart, Gordon? And I shouldn’t think there are all that many U.S. boys named Murdo. (That’s enough thinking from me for now - it’s long past sleep-time here.) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/102 "2006-09-30T06:31:36Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] How 'bout “Ridley”? I’ve only heard of the one, Ridley Scott, the British director of **Blade Runner**. [/QUOTE] That one’s rare on both sides of the pond. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/103 "2006-09-30T08:27:08Z")
I see someone has already mentioned Graham. My father’s name is Graeme, which is pronounced the same way, but I noticed that some Americans try to call him “Greem”. Graham/Graeme are very common here in Australia, and apparently in the UK too. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/104 "2006-09-30T08:30:00Z")
As an American, I can pop a few of these bubbles. In my (very) rural elementary school, we had a Roland and a Rhiannon (female, probably named for the Fleetwood Mac song). In the nearby beach town the summer guests are all D.C. Catholics of Irish descent - at least on my street - so Celtic names never went out of fashion. We had Conor, Devon, Brendan (those three are brothers), Patrick, Caitlin (Kath-LEEN), Cainywyn (!), and Gael (male name). None of these names were common in any other part of my life, though. No Siobhans or Gemmas… yet. Conor’s almost 20 years old, so his name probably pre-dates the trend. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/105 "2006-09-30T12:40:16Z")
Obviously, my authoritative input is desperately needed at this juncture. Unlike virtually everyone else who has posted thus far, I have actually been to England once. Without a doubt, the names, Rupert, Percival, Graham, Horatio and Ali account for 98% of English male fist names. The majority of the remaining 2% are typically what we Americans would consider to be silly and/or effete. Anglo surnames are always a bit colorful as well, leading to such combinations as: Rupert Peckerpimple, Percival Wigglebottom, Graham Krackerkrum, Horatio Whoreblower and Ali Ollyoxenfree. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/106 "2006-09-30T12:53:58Z")
All right, to be technical, I didn’t actually visit the “England” in the U.K., but I did go to the English Pavilion at Epcot Center, Florida, so I believe my authority stands on this subject. …oh, there were quite a few Mickey’s floating around there as well. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/107 "2006-09-30T14:57:59Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] Unless they’re **Angelic.** [/QUOTE] The angelic ones are definitely British. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/108 "2006-09-30T23:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] :dubious: “Jeremy” was immense in the U.S. for boys born between, oh, 1965 and 1980. Mabe it’s out of fashion now … but at one time, it was huge. [/QUOTE] Anyone want to weigh in here? I am precisely in the age range of the Jeremy flood… and while it’s not unheard of, I wouldn’t label it as immensely popular. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/109 "2006-10-01T00:54:55Z")
In the same vein as Jeremy, which I am surprised to learn enjoyed some popularity in the US, how about Julian? A popular name here around 30 years ago, I have never heard of an American Julian. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/110 "2006-10-01T04:47:40Z")
Is Patsy, as in the Holy Grail character, an actual UK male name? ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/111 "2006-10-01T05:30:04Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Neither Wat nor Hamish are known in the US. [/QUOTE] The little boy in the comic strip “Baby Blues” is named Hamish (Hammie for short). ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/112 "2006-10-01T06:47:01Z")
How about Vivian? Quite a common English/Australian male name, but I can’t think of many US Viv’s mm ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/113 "2006-10-01T07:29:23Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Is Patsy, as in the Holy Grail character, an actual UK male name? [/QUOTE] No ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/114 "2006-10-01T10:01:21Z")
How about some N. Irish names? Eamon and Gerard seemed to be not uncommon as of 10-15 years ago - I doubt if they’re particularly well-used in the US ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/115 "2006-10-01T12:37:13Z")
Lachlan, a Scottish name. I’ve never heard of an American called that. although there’s a few Lachlans around here. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/116 "2006-10-01T22:47:06Z")
**Usram** , the very few Julians I’ve heard of have been African-American men in their 50s or 60s. It’s not a common name at all for the 30ish crowd of any race, at least to my knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/117 "2006-10-01T23:19:17Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Colin (though that’s becoming more popular in the US) [/QUOTE] I’m a 29 year old American Colin (pronounced Kah-lin, thank you very much, Mr. Powell). I also notice that there is one other American Colin posting in this thread, which I’ve noticed because he always beats me into the “what’s your first name?” threads :mad: But yes, I’ve noticed this name getting more popular amongst the youngsters. Still can’t find that license plate or mug with my name on it, though … I guess I should have been named Bort. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490/118 "2006-10-02T00:12:18Z")
[QUOTE=cazzle] I see someone has already mentioned Graham. My father’s name is Graeme, which is pronounced the same way, but I noticed that some Americans try to call him “Greem”. Graham/Graeme are very common here in Australia, and apparently in the UK too. [/QUOTE] I’ve also noticed a slight difference in pronunciation between the UK and the US. Americans tend to pronounce it “Gram” (as in “kilogram”), while Brits make it sound more like “Grey-em.” Which way do Australians pronounce it? And am I correct in noticing these different pronunciations? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-common-uk-male-first-names-that-are-nonexistent-in-the-us/374490.md?page=5)