Rupert but for an American boy?

Boy Names
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Is [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] appropriate for American [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers? I love the name but like any other good names, it’s butchered in [name_u]America[/name_u] because of our primitive accent. It seems like I don’t have any other options but to name my baby boy with inelegant American-friendly names like [name_m]Colin[/name_m], [name_m]Dick[/name_m], [name_m]Jake[/name_m], [name_u]Shane[/name_u], [name_m]Justin[/name_m], [name_m]Luke[/name_m], [name_m]Zach[/name_m], [name_u]Cody[/name_u], [name_u]Kody[/name_u], [name_m]Colt[/name_m], [name_m]Jax[/name_m] etc. There are so many good British boy names that I can’t use because of American accent. I feel like I’m missing out in life

2

I live in the states and I adore Rupert! One of my personal top 20 boys names. If you don’t like how Americans say the name though (I don’t find there to be too much pronunciation difference between the US and the UK regarding this name myself) then putting it in the middle may be better.

Accents vary everywhere you go, even within a single country, and while sometimes people can lean into a blatant mispronunciation of a name, more often than not it’s just a matter of dialect which people can’t help too much. I think I would choose a name I really love even if the local dialect causes people to say the name slightly off (provided that the difference isn’t extreme.)

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I think [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] is pretty pronounceable in an American accent. I don’t feel like the American accent is so primative, plus not all British accents are the same, there are 37 dialects in Britian, so even there not all names are pronounced the same. If you really love a name I say go for it, and correct people on the pronunciation you prefer. There’s always moving to Britian worst case lol!

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Also I think nn [name_u]Rue[/name_u] for [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] is super cute!

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I live in the US myself and, despite being taught how to speak by British, Canadian, Australian and other European trained teachers, I have not seen this “primitive” accent you’re speaking of, even in my extensive US based travels. Please define it because you have me over a barrel trying to figure out what you’re hearing when names are pronounced.

As for names, I think you should go with whatever name you love. [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] would be great to see on any child, US born or not.

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America has many different types of accents/ dialects within one state not to mention the entire country. If you like [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] use it and correct people on the pronunciation if need be. However, [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] is one of those names that sounds like a kid who will be beat up and ridiculed on the playground.

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I don’t say [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] differently than a [name_u]Brit[/name_u] would?

I agree. I’ve lived in the north, the Midwest, and the south, and I’m quite interested in learning more about my primitive accent.

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I don’t know why you possibly couldn’t use [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] in the States. It doesn’t sound very different to me in British [name_f]English[/name_f] vs American [name_f]English[/name_f]. If you’re pronouncing it the [name_u]French[/name_u] way, then I would see where you’re coming from (although it’d still be doable), but it absolutely works in the US.

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I can’t say I understand what you mean by “primitive accent.” Like everywhere else (including [name_m]Britain[/name_m]), there’s all kinds of dialects and accents, none objectively better than the others.

Rupert does sound British, but that’s more because it is uncommonly used in the US and isn’t really in fashion. I don’t think the accent is the big problem.

I also don’t think you are limited to “inelegant American-friendly names;” there’s a wide variety of acceptable names in the US, many of them overlapping with lists in [name_m]Britain[/name_m]. Some of the names you listed are also not very American; [name_m]Colin[/name_m] is more quintessentially British than American, and [name_m]Dick[/name_m] is not American friendly due to its rude connotations. However, if you feel like you’re missing out in life, I would suggest asking the Americans on the site to help find elegant and American friendly names; I am positive you could find some.

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11

This is my formal petition to import [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] to the US and [name_f]Canada[/name_f].

It does have a posh boarding-school feel that screams [name_f]England[/name_f], but I think in the US it could actually be cowboy-ish and fresh. I like it either way. [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] and [name_m]Rufus[/name_m] have had my full support for a while.

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I’m in the U.S. and think [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] is cool! I’ve even known a little [name_m]Rupert[/name_m].

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Hello I’m British. [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] is a great name, totally useable in the states I would say.

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This is the second post of yours along these lines. Please take a little bit of time to read our Community Guidelines. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume that quite a few posters here will find your characterisation of the American accent as “primitive” and “inelegant” highly offensive.

Re. [name_m]Rupert[/name_m], I like the name, and see no reason why it wouldn’t work in [name_u]America[/name_u]. It’s far less popular there than here in the UK, sure, but there are a fair few famous Ruperts ([name_u]Everett[/name_u], Grint, etc.) who make the name familiar.

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I think [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] is a great name! Full stop.

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Wow that’s harsh! I know a fair few Ruperts and I can assure you that’s not been their experience.

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I’m American and I love British names :blush: Many names become popular in [name_m]Britain[/name_m] before gaining popularity here. I guess if you don’t like the way a name sounds when your family and neighbors say it then maybe don’t pick it but it being a “British” name shouldn’t stop you.

1 Like
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Ditto.

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@suttonplacedsa
I share your inclination regarding the name… I could see the “ert” part getting over emphasized due to many US accents’ vocalization being back farther towards the throat [eRRRT], rather than more frontally in the mouth that sounds more delicate to our ears, like a velvety purr [ehhr…t].

Many American accents ‘swallow’ vowels and sounds like “ert,” which I think is what you may be referencing. Or possibly it is the " American ‘R’ " that is moreso what you’re not in love with. It exists twice in this name, at the front and back end.

In either case, my suggestion would be to select a name like/similar to [name_m]Ruben[/name_m] or [name_u]Rudy[/name_u] and call him [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] at home as a pet name.

Other R-starting names that might be of interest:

  • Rosen
  • Rory
  • Riley
  • Reggie
  • Reginald
  • Reston
  • Remy
  • Remington