Naming trends in countries outside the US.

[Tomh1966]

I notice a good number of names of women in many stores where the character seems to be born say 1975 to 1995 are names which have long ago nearly disappeared for anyone born after 1950. Many of the stories I read are set in modern types yet Betty, Phyllis, June, Hetty, Hester, Pearl, Ruth have largely disappeared from the for anyone under age 65... But the females in the stories have those names.

Are these names still popular in UK, Australia, NZ... etc? Three countries I see many authors are from.

This is not a complaint, I just wonder if they are still common in other countries outside the US. ???

 

[Kelliezgirl]

If you compare the US and UK lists of most popular baby names there always seems to be more traditional or classic names on the UK list. I attribute that to the influence of the royal family. They tend to use traditional names and that sets a precedent for a certain segment of the population.

 

[HordHolm]

If you compare the US and UK lists of most popular baby names there always seems to be more traditional or classic names on the UK list. I attribute that to the influence of the royal family. They tend to use traditional names and that sets a precedent for a certain segment of the population.

Names sometimes get passed down through families, too. Often to the chagrin of the recipients. This isn't restricted to the aristocracy, though it tends to be concentrated there.

 

[Escierto]

It's not a UK thing. Take a look at the 100 most popular baby girl names in the UK. None of the names you mentioned are on the list. With a few notable exceptions, the US and UK lists are very similar.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Those names would only be likely for someone over 80 in the UK, though Ruths may be a bit younger.

I suspect many authors use names of women they lusted after when they were an impressionable age, and don't bother with the math of what year their story should therefore be set in. In 20-30 years time people can criticise my stories in the same way, for starring Sarah, Karen, Dave and Steve...

Britain tends to be more conservative with names than the US - using surnames as names for boys and later girls is less common, names that are random syllables likewise. But it's mostly my age which means I can't think of Brie, Clay, Breanna or Taylor as sexy.

 

[StillStunned]

I always want to call my female characters Mel. No idea why. No, the redhead's name isn't Mel. I don't know a single Mel, never have.

The redhead has a theory that all women called Nicky/Nikki are sluts. I've called one 'self-assured' female character Nicky in honour of that theory.

 

[StillStunned]

Mel B! Scary Spice! Arguably the hottest Mel of all times

Mel in Flesh for Fantasy/Flesh for Another Fantasy is modelled after Mel B, appearance-wise.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I notice a good number of names of women in many stores where the character seems to be born say 1975 to 1995 are names which have long ago nearly disappeared for anyone born after 1950. Many of the stories I read are set in modern types yet Betty, Phyllis, June, Hetty, Hester, Pearl, Ruth have largely disappeared from the for anyone under age 65... But the females in the stories have those names.

Are these names still popular in UK, Australia, NZ... etc? Three countries I see many authors are from.

This is not a complaint, I just wonder if they are still common in other countries outside the US. ???

I know a Ruth who is mid-thirties. Not the others though.

Em

 

[Bamagan]

I notice a good number of names of women in many stores where the character seems to be born say 1975 to 1995 are names which have long ago nearly disappeared for anyone born after 1950. Many of the stories I read are set in modern types yet Betty, Phyllis, June, Hetty, Hester, Pearl, Ruth have largely disappeared from the for anyone under age 65... But the females in the stories have those names.

Are these names still popular in UK, Australia, NZ... etc? Three countries I see many authors are from.

This is not a complaint, I just wonder if they are still common in other countries outside the US. ???

You can check the incidence of names in the US here. June and Ruth in particular seem to have cyclical popularity, currently on the upswing again.
Realism aside, picking a name that is uncommon for a given cohort of people is one way to minimize accidental implied associations. Kind of the other side of the coin of naming characters with a moniker nearly everyone knows at least three of: Jessica, Jennifer, Marie, etc. for women, for example. Give them a rare name to make them stand out, give them a common name to cloak their inspirations with additional anonymity.

 

[Sinstories]

The redhead has a theory that all women called Nicky/Nikki are sluts. I've called one 'self-assured' female character Nicky in honour of that theory.

Niki with a heart as the dot on the second i.....the ultimate stripper name

 

[EmilyMiller]

Thinking about my FMCs (from memory):

1. Emily (d’oh!)
2. Amelia=
3. Gemma
4. Jenna=
5. Na-ri
6. Emma+
7. Lily+
8. Eden
9. Lucia*
10. Paula**
11. Harper**
12. Mia
13. Laura**
14. Ava*
15. Elena
16. Whitney
17. Megan
18. Lauren (Mimi)*
19. Noelle
20. Cathy**

The single asterisks are women who are thirty something. The double asterisks are women who are forty something. The plus signs are supernatural. The equals signs are born outside the US.

Em

 

[Tomh1966]

I always want to call my female characters Mel. No idea why. No, the redhead's name isn't Mel. I don't know a single Mel, never have.

The redhead has a theory that all women called Nicky/Nikki are sluts. I've called one 'self-assured' female character Nicky in honour of that theory.

My cheating wives are usually Brittany. I had a RL friend with a cheating Brittany and it has stuck.

Otherwise, I usually consult the popular baby name lists for a given year for the age of whatever character I am writing. Also I tend to have people of a certain name have very similar characteristics.

Allie is a tiny blond usually 5' or 5'1 and thin. Small to medium chest.
Cassie is a big boobed blonde and usually a bit of an alpha chick.
Julias are busty brunettes.
Jennifers are smallish light brown hair with a small-medium chest...
etc

It helps (But doesn't prevent) naming errors, but when writing a story I usually have an image in my head so I see a tiny blonde and I think 'Allie'

Thanks for the answers. It appears the names are uncommon in other countries. Must be a legacy thing tho I did have a college roommate who had a girfriend named Margaret. She hated her name and was named after a beloved aunt.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Thinking about my FMCs (from memory):

1. Emily (d’oh!)
2. Amelia
3. Gemma
4. Jenna
5. Na-ri
6. Emma
7. Lily
8. Eden
9. Lucia
10. Paula
11. Harper**
12. Mia
13. Laura**
14. Ava*
15. Elena
16. Whitney
17. Megan
18. Lauren (Mimi)*
19. Noelle
20. Cathy**

The single asterisks are women who are thirty something. The double asterisks are women who are forty something.

Em

Though I guess Emma and Lily are both eons old. They just don’t behave that way.

Em

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Names sometimes get passed down through families, too. Often to the chagrin of the recipients. This isn't restricted to the aristocracy, though it tends to be concentrated there.

True, my point was simply that the British Royals tend to use names that would be considered a bit "old fashioned' here in the US, and naming kids after Royals is a bit of a thing for the Brits.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Of course, names can cause all kinds of problems. The Tiffany Problem is my favorite.

https://dmnes.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/the-tiffany-problem/

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Top 10 names in England and Wales 2021.

Girls
1 Olivia 3,649 (–)
2 Amelia 3,164 (–)
3 Isla 2,683 (–)
4 Ava 2,576 (–)
5 Ivy 2,245 (+1)
6 Freya 2,187 (+6)
7 Lily 2,182 (–)
8 Florence 2,180 (+6)
9 Mia 2,168 (-4)
10 Willow 2,067 (+2)

Boys

1 Noah 4,525 (+3)
2 Oliver 4,167 (-1)
3 George 4,141 (-1)
4 Arthur 3,766 (-1)
5 Muhammad 3,722 (–)
6 Leo 3,465 (–)
7 Harry 3,089 (+1)
8 Oscar 3,071 (-1)
9 Archie 2,928 (–)
10 Henry 2,912 (+1)

Parentheses is change from last year.

Lots of those names would strike an American as "old fashioned". I don't think I've ever met a Florence who wasn't collecting social security.

 

[alohadave]

I notice a good number of names of women in many stores where the character seems to be born say 1975 to 1995 are names which have long ago nearly disappeared for anyone born after 1950. Many of the stories I read are set in modern types yet Betty, Phyllis, June, Hetty, Hester, Pearl, Ruth have largely disappeared from the for anyone under age 65... But the females in the stories have those names.

Are these names still popular in UK, Australia, NZ... etc? Three countries I see many authors are from.

This is not a complaint, I just wonder if they are still common in other countries outside the US. ???

Look at the average age of writers here and I think you'll have the explanation.

 

[alohadave]

Of course, names can cause all kinds of problems. The Tiffany Problem is my favorite.

https://dmnes.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/the-tiffany-problem/

One of my stories is set around pre-1000ish and when I searched for names, Roger came up as a common name for the time and area.

 

[Bamagan]

Top 10 names in England and Wales 2021.

Girls
1 Olivia 3,649 (–)
2 Amelia 3,164 (–)
3 Isla 2,683 (–)
4 Ava 2,576 (–)
5 Ivy 2,245 (+1)
6 Freya 2,187 (+6)
7 Lily 2,182 (–)
8 Florence 2,180 (+6)
9 Mia 2,168 (-4)
10 Willow 2,067 (+2)

Boys

1 Noah 4,525 (+3)
2 Oliver 4,167 (-1)
3 George 4,141 (-1)
4 Arthur 3,766 (-1)
5 Muhammad 3,722 (–)
6 Leo 3,465 (–)
7 Harry 3,089 (+1)
8 Oscar 3,071 (-1)
9 Archie 2,928 (–)
10 Henry 2,912 (+1)

Parentheses is change from last year.

Lots of those names would strike an American as "old fashioned". I don't think I've ever met a Florence who wasn't collecting social security.

The name is apparently starting to make a comeback since 2017. I assume it's an 'et machina' situation, at least in part.

 

[StillStunned]

One of my stories is set around pre-1000ish and when I searched for names, Roger came up as a common name for the time and area.

According to historical research by Messrs Curtis and Elton, Sir Walter Raleigh once encountered "[a] mad pirate king, whose crew consisted entirely of men called Roger."

 

[ElectricBlue]

Lots of those names would strike an American as "old fashioned". I don't think I've ever met a Florence who wasn't collecting social security.

Florence and the Machine
Florence Pugh (she could account for any upswing in the last two years, just by herself)

Keep up!

 

[Bamagan]

Florence and the Machine
Florence Pugh (she could account for any upswing in the last two years, just by herself)

Keep up!

Both those Flos are Anglos, though... er, English ladies.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Both those Flos are Anglos, though... er, English ladies.

So? The world doesn't end on the American coastline.

 

[Bamagan]

So? The world doesn't end on the American coastline.

I never suggested it did, but the topic you replied to was about how different the current popular names were in England versus the US, for example Florence, which until recently had been a less than 1-in-1000 occurrence in the states, for almost 40 years. So pointing out famous Florences who are from England doesn't really speak to the point @Kelliezgirl was making, about it seeming old-fashioned by current conventions here in the US.

 

[Tomh1966]

So? The world doesn't end on the American coastline.

It does! I've been to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. 50 feet out is a giant waterfall in both oceans!