Well, there was S. Chad, Bishop of the Mercians, d. 672 (original spelling: Ceadda), who had a reputation for holiness and got a favourable review by the Venerable Bede.
Given the Catholic custom of naming children after saints, I would think there have been many people named Chad in England, especially in the Lichfield area, where S. Chad had his episcopal seat.
A few months ago, I was at DisneyWorld and waited about 45 minutes in line behind an English family with two boys, Nigel and Trevor, ages (roughly) 10 and 8. Here is an accurate excerpt from their conversation:
“Mother, Nigel called me a rude name. Tell him to stop.”
“Trevor started it. He made a vulgar gesture.”
Somehow, it was 100-times more annoying than if Jimmy and Billy had been fighting.
Ian seems to be fairly common among my age group (I was born in 1971) but it’s true I don’t know any Nigels or Ruperts. As to the reason why, names just seem to follow fashions. I mean, the names Amy, Sean and Jason have existed for ages but around the time I was born they were “rediscovered.” And it’s not surprising that fashions on opposite sides of the ocean would be different. Sort of like how some rock bands succeed in both countries and others just succeed in one. Who can say why?
I work with a Trevor. 100% Hoosier. And an Italian last name, so I guess he’s Italian-American to boot.
My nephew, born in February, is an Ian and he has no British or Celtic heritage. He is ALSO the world’s most perfect baby, I’ll have you know!
My bosses husband is named Nigel. Nigel McMichael, actually. I spoke to him on the phone once or twice, and he has no discernible accent, although I have no idea what his family background is. Could be his parents moved to Canada with him, or before having him. I really don’t know.
I know a few Ians, actually, and they mostly come from a variety of backgrounds (I say mostly, because some may have similar histories - I can’t be sure). Ian is a name I really like, though, and wouldn’t mind naming a child that. But then, I am part Irish…
My paternal grandparents were named Malcolm and Hazel. Now those are names I don’t hear of often (although with that TV show “Malcolm in the Middle”, I’ll be the next few years will have a few more children with that name). Personally, I’d love to give the name Malcolm to a child.
And perhaps I’ve been listening to too much “A Perfect Circle”, but lately I just love the name Brena (though my bf prefers the alternate from Brynna). Again,very uncommon, but I don’t know if the same is true for the UK.
Just to say that I have an uncle Trevor, and went to school with an Ian. And I’m sure there are a few relatives of mine named Malcolm (from Malcolm X no doubt.)
Also, I’m still amazed how ‘localized’ my full name “Wesley Stuart McGee” has turned out to be. No Anglo, Saxon or Gaelic or whatever in my immediate background, I have to note.
While driving home tonight, I thought about the name Henry, a great English name. Not exactly in the top 100 these days in US, but certainly was in the 40’s-50’s, maybe earlier. And most of these kids in the US were nicknamed “Hank.”
Is/was “Hank” a very common nickname for Henry in the UK?
Let me put in my votes for Geoffrey & Jeremy as names that I’ve rarely encountered among North Americans.
Hm, perhaps this thread will solve my own occasional puzzlement over the uneven distribution of first names among notable literary figures. They tend to go in for John, George, Henry, William & Tom…but have you ever heard of a notable writer named Luke or Mark, hm? & beyond Matthews Arnold & Prior, that apostle seems ill-represented, no?..
Sorry it’s getting onto 2 AM & one posts odd things at that hour.
But Jeff is a reasonably common North American name. And I know two Jeremys myself. I also know a couple Ians. No Nigels or Ruperts, however. Ronald and Stuart are fairly uncommon US names, although I guess there are some Rons out there.
While a pseudonym, “Mark Twain” jumps to mind.
This is spot on. Unlike Robert, Thomas, James, John, names such as Nigel, Ian and Rupert were rare in Britain during the periods of greatest British emigration to the U.S.A. They were only subsequently ‘rediscovered’ in Britain. These particular fashions never made it across the Altantic.
hmmm…interesting
i know many Ians (living in the scots-irish heartland of northern ireland) but i’ve never met an american one.
my friend Ian actualy goes by Hugh (Ian is his father’s name)and is routinely called “wee shughie/qughie” by women over 50…he’s 6’2’’.
i’m guesing Hugh isn’t big in the states.
i also know a Charlie Cathal Cather…whose parents obviously went overboard because they didn’t speak irish…
also i’m guessing you’ve seen Owen, but what about Eoin, or Eoghan? good old gaelic non phonetic spelling for you.
and as for Chad…
what about Chad Varah?
English priest, founded the samaritans, married Charles and Diana?
what about Neill or Barry? very irish…slightly unpleasant…remind me of Trevor and Nigel
Even though it’s really a latin name.
Hey, samclem, I have two kids, 3 1/2 and just turning 1 (both wonderful) and in checking out possible names during the pregnancies, it turned out Henry (and Jack) are huge right now. Maybe not top 10, but perhaps top 20 and certainly top 100. This was substantiated when Jake (my son, and another name experiencing a resurgence) went to pre-school - at least 3 Henry’s in the two classes for Jake’s age…
In one of his pieces, humorist Calvin Trillin suggests a name exchange, whereby American parents will give their children ‘English’ names and vice versa. Eventually, the starting lineup at the Superbowl would be full of Nigels, and the Queen would knight an eminent musicologist named Bubba Thistlethwaite - “Rise, Sir Bubba.”
First off, I actually also know a pair of American Ians, although one of them pronounces it “yawn” just to be different. And only one Nigel, but he’s from Manchester, so he doesn’t count. But I have a minor hijack…
Where are all the Horaces, Hirams, Huberts, and Humphries ANYWHERE? And why is it that so many male names that start with H are so (although this is a matter of opinion, of course) awful?
I have a stuffed elephant named Humphrey…does that count? 
For what it’s worth my general musings are:
Ian is a relatively common name over here, but Nigel is much less so. Many of the names you mentioned would be thought of here as aristocratic, and would not be common in most communities. Nigel is definitely not a football hooligan’s name!
Julian and Jeremy I’d say are effete, middle or upper-class names, and I didn’t know any until university. I’ve never met any Ruperts, Clives, Cyrils, Crispins, Evelyns, Percivals or Sheridans and they’d have got you beaten shitless at my old school. Jemima is upper class, Emma and Charlotte used to be but are in general use now. Here’s why American places are called Charlotte.
In mentioning school, I should point out that I’m from a Liverpool Irish background, so “typically British” names would’ve been more unusual where I grew up than in some parts of the UK. Irish names like Aiden and and Keiran were fairly common, though, as were “Catholic” names like Tim, Dominic and Adrian. We also had a Venantius, who wouldn’t have survived without seeing the funny side of it himself.
The British “last name as first name” names quoted by WordMan is pretty unusual here too - in fact I’d guess most British people think of that as an American affectation. (Pride and Prejudice wasn’t written recently you know ). Naming kids after places is unusual outside of Yorkshire in my experience.
Simon is not unknown here, but it’s biblical so should be just as well-used in the US no? Seamus is surely unheard of outside of Ireland or Irish communities (means James of course).
Henry is unusual among adults here but a few kids were called after Prince Harry (real name Henry). The only English “Hank” I ever heard of was Hank Marvin, b. Brian Rankin. We don’t call Charles “Chuck” either.
Gaelic or pseudo-Gaelic names (Liam, Callum, Sean, Siobhan) have become increasingly common in England even among people with no Irish or Scots connections. I’ve got a Liam, a Siobhan and a Niamh in my family, but I’ve already told you why.
One very British name not listed so far is Graham (Scottish spelling Graeme), but if you want to hear really ethnic names head for Wales. Trevor has already been mentioned (original spelling Trefor) but there are dozens of others used there that will sound very strange to American ears.
He’s the only Chad I’ve heard of here, but if memory serves it was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, who married Charles and Diana (mind you I spent most of the day in a pub with no TV avoiding the whole syrupy business).
Some of you may find this site interesting.