[name]Hi[/name] All,
My husband & I may be relocating to the States with hubbys job during the summer. Out of interest we are wondering how each of our names would be percieved in the States. E.g we do not want it to be too white trash or too preppy-just want our little one to fit in!
Shortlist
Thanks in advance:)
I think these would all fit in just fine 
I don’t see anything that would make a name stand out or have negative connotations. I love the name [name]Harrison[/name], I think it is my favorite from your list, but [name]Oscar[/name] is excellent as well.
What a great list! The only one that gave me pause was [name]Raphael[/name]. I know or have known someone with each of the other names – that’s the only one that stands out as particularly unusual. None of them has a negative connotation in my book, though. [name]Oscar[/name] is not as common as [name]Charlie[/name] or even [name]Harrison[/name]/[name]Harry[/name], but it’s not unheard of. I think your little one will fit in just fine.
Definitely not white trash. [name]Raphael[/name] might be the most out of the box, but I think that [name]America[/name]'s a diverse-enough place to make room for it! I’d say you’re good to go
All good. He might stand out in a smaller town, but not in a bad way. In a city, he would fit right in. [name]Love[/name] [name]Raphael[/name] and [name]Oscar[/name]
I think you are safe.
I think [name]Charlie[/name] or [name]Harrison[/name] would “blend” in the best. Overall I think your list seems very British to me, but none of them would really stick out like a sore thumb here.
All those names are fairly common in the States, none would stick out. I don’t find any of them “white trash” or “preppy.”
I don’t think any of these names are uncommon here at all. Someone said [name]Raphael[/name] was unusual, but if you live in an area with a lot of Hispanics ([name]California[/name], [name]Florida[/name], [name]Arizona[/name], NYC, among others) you will hear [name]Rafael[/name] ALL the time. I think [name]Harry[/name] and [name]Leon[/name] would both still be considered a little bit “old man” here but neither is necessarily bad.
I was going to say the same thing about [name]Raphael[/name]. Not only is it common among Hispanics but it has gotten trendy among Italian-Americans and its used among Polish immigrants, which we have a lot of. [name]Oscar[/name] is another favorite among Hispanics, Poles and people of Scandinavian heritage.
[name]Oscar[/name] is very stylish. [name]Charlie[/name] very solid mainstream. [name]Harry[/name] and [name]Harrison[/name] slightly edgier but still mainstream – think liberal suburb. [name]Raphael[/name] and [name]Leon[/name] somewhat more ethnic/urban in the US compared with their more mainstream standing in Europe.
As for fitting in, kind of depends on where you’re going to be living and what your social group will be like. If a small town or city in the midwest, [name]Charlie[/name] or [name]Harry[/name] would be the best choices. If edgy, artsy life in Manhattan, then [name]Oscar[/name] may seem ho-hum and you’ll want to move to [name]Raphael[/name] or [name]Leon[/name].
Its actually not unusual to meet an [name]Oscar[/name] in a Midwestern city like Chicago. I went to school with 4 boys named [name]Oscar[/name]
Thanks a million, we are really hoping he gets placed in a branch in New [name]York[/name] or New [name]Jersey[/name]. [name]Oscar[/name] is still my favourite,followed closely by [name]Harrison[/name]
[name]Just[/name] to clarify we are a white, british couple with no other roots besides Irish relations on hubbys side so it is very interesting to see how these names cover a multitude of nationalites & socio-economic groups.
Also how would our girls names be percieved-
[name]Molly[/name]
[name]Mariella[/name]
[name]Mary[/name](this one is not really in the running I love it but dh feels its too dated… I feel its due a comeback!!) We have chose these 3 as we want to name her a version of [name]Mary[/name] after my mom:)
I’ve known a girl named [name]Molly[/name], she seemed to do fine, although I have known quite a few dogs named [name]Molly[/name] so I’m not sure I would give her that name on a birth certificate. Maybe name her [name]Mary[/name] and call her [name]Molly[/name] as a nn. I’ve heard of a few Mariellas, so it would fit in fine here in [name]Texas[/name]. We have a large hispanic community.
I went to high school with at least three girls named [name]Molly[/name] that I remember, so that one would be very easily assimilated. I’m sure many people will find [name]Mary[/name] plain, but honestly I think it’s refreshing. [name]Mariella[/name] would be more unusual, but again, somewhat common in Hispanic-heavy areas - I know a [name]Mariel[/name].
I would say [name]Mariella[/name] is common among Italian-Americans. The United States is very diverse, I would say more diverse than [name]Britain[/name] though I know it is fairly diverse over there as well. I think any of your choices would be just fine.
I have only ever seen [name]Harrison[/name] used among Southern Americans. That said, it wouldn’t be weird on a child who does not hail from [name]Dixie[/name] land. Its just that I noticed that [name]Harrison[/name] tends to be used down South more than other places in the United States.
Great!! Ok so [name]Mary[/name] a bit plain, [name]Molly[/name] mainstream & [name]Mariella[/name] latino? Which socio-economic groupings would they fit into?
As with boys names we don’t want anything white trash or New [name]England[/name] highbrow either!!
Boys-[name]Oscar[/name] still at the forefront followed by [name]Harrison[/name]
I definitely wouldn’t call any of them white trash in the slightest. [name]Mary[/name] seems the most “upper class” of the three to me - but not snobby at all.
I would not consider [name]Mariella[/name] latino. I know far more Italians with this name than Hispanics. I don’t think of any particular socio economic background when I hear of these names.