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Is this name to American for living in the UK?

108 replies

Sprinklesomepixiedust · 15/03/2013 20:55

DH and I have decided on a name for soon to be born DD1. When we revealed the name to my parents they said it sounded ridiculous and far too 'American' for living in the UK. However DH is American and before you say anything, there are careful reasons why we chose this name.
The name is Savannah Dallas Kaitlynne
Savannah is one of our favourite names and always has been. Dallas may sound a little ridiculous but it is where DH originates from and was where she was conceived naturally after 3 unsuccessful rounds of IVF in the UK. It is also pretty much my favourite place in the world! And Kaitlynne was the name of DH's sister who sadly died last year so we thought it would be nice to include that.
DH's family love the name but I do worry it sounds very American for the UK(we dont live in a particularly multi-cultural area at all, I think DH is pretty much the only foreign person!) What are your opinions on the name?

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Jojay · 15/03/2013 20:58

I think it's absolutely fine. Most people won't know the middle names anyway, and Savannah is a beautiful name. The middle names obviously have great significance for you and your DH, so do it!

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PartyFops · 15/03/2013 20:59

It's your child, forget everyone else, I think it's fine, and middle names don't surface on a daily basis anyway. She will be savanna, which is sweet Smile.

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Littlefish · 15/03/2013 21:02

I love the name Caitlin and completely understand the lovely sentiment behind it, but I really dislike the spelling. I have to say that I think the first two names and the spelling of the third do make it a very "American" name. It depends whether that bothers you or not.

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meditrina · 15/03/2013 21:02

Well, I suppose Dallas is inevitably going to sound very American Grin but in the middle, no-one will notice.

The Queen has a great granddaughter called Savannah.

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deleted203 · 15/03/2013 21:03

I think it's fine. And you have excellent reasons for having chosen it. Yes, it's pretty American - but so is DH. Might sound slightly odd if you both hailed from Wolverhampton, but DH is from Dallas. I'd have given my parents a Hmm look and said, 'Yep. That's probably cos her Dad's from the US...

I've got kids with Gaelic names because, despite living in England, DH is very Scottish, and wanted the kids' names to reflect this.

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Sprinklesomepixiedust · 15/03/2013 21:04

Thanks for the lovely comments! littlefish I personally prefer the spelling Kaitlyn or Caitlin if I'm honest! But we've decided to spell it that way in order to honour DH's sister

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TryDrawing · 15/03/2013 21:05

I thought it was beautiful, even before you explained it.

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pinkyredrose · 15/03/2013 21:07

Sounds like a porn star. Sorry.

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MackerelOfFact · 15/03/2013 21:10

Savannah is pretty and not really that 'out there'. I think it's fine, if you both like it... for goodness sake though, NEVER tell her she was conceived in Dallas. Save it for the wedding speech.

Kaitlynne is a very American spelling but you obviously can't change that if you're naming her after DHs sister. I don't think you'll have any problems.

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humblebumble · 15/03/2013 21:12

I think Savannah is a lovely name.

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Dillydollydaydream · 15/03/2013 21:18

I like the name savannah. I prefer the name Savannah Kaitlynne Dallas as I think it flows better that way. Dallas is obviously an American name but I can see why you want to use it and Kaitlynne too.

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AmandaPayneNeedsaHoliday · 15/03/2013 21:19

I think it's quite nice actually. Yes, it's very American, it's not my personal taste in names (I like very traditional British) but it all has lovely meaning for you and 'Savannah Jones' or whatever doesn't on it's own sound super-American. And of course, you do have that connection so what does it matter if it does?

For god's sake never tell her she was conceived in Dallas though. Just stick with, 'it's where your Dad comes from'.

Sorry about your DH's sister. I would normally suggest a different spelling of Caitlin, but I think you are quite right to stick with the spelling of your Dh's sister. As a middle name, it's not as if she will spend half her life correcting people on the spelling.

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LilyAmaryllis · 15/03/2013 21:22

Its highly rare for anyone to actually use the middle names on a daily basis so you just might as well go for it! Savannah is great

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curiousgeorgie · 15/03/2013 21:26

Beautiful name and love the meanings... I prefer a more traditional spelling of Caitlin but if it's the way it was spelt then that's more acceptable.

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Shr0edinger · 15/03/2013 21:30

I was going to suggest you change the spelling of Kaitlynne to Caitlin, but actually, it's worth more to honour his sister than it is to please mumsnetters! I don't think a random bunch of people would judge a k name so harshly!

Savannah Dallas does sound quite American to my ear but so what, her father is American.

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Letticetheslug · 15/03/2013 21:36

It's a lovely nae, very personal to the both of you. Agree maybe Caitlin is more "British", but if it is to remember your DH's sister, then it should be her name.

Forget what other people say. If she knows why her name was chosen, I am sure she will love it even more

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EuroShopperEnergyDrink · 15/03/2013 21:37

I get the sentiment and that's sweet, but it doesn't dispute from the fact that it sounds absoeffinglutely ridiculous.

Savannah- fine.
Dallas- you want to name her after the place she was conceived in? Confused
Kaitlynne- ok if you want people to think you are illiterate. Caitlin is much better.

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MTSgroupie · 15/03/2013 21:40

Savannah sounds a bit chavy to me.

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AmandaPayneNeedsaHoliday · 15/03/2013 21:41

EuroShopper - That is bloody rude and uncalled for. Kaitlynne is the name of the father's deceased sister. You really think that just because this is the internet it's ok to call her name 'illiterate'. Whether or not that is your opinion of the spelling, you can say so in a polite way.

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PatsysPyjamas · 15/03/2013 21:43

Congratulations and cal her whatever you like. I'm sure my parents would have made comments if I'd told them names in advance. It does sound quite American, but your DH is American so that's fine, isn't it?

If anything, I would take out the Dallas - that is always going to be DH's hometown and only you two need to know where she was conceived. It's probably something quite special and private between you both. It's lovely to give her middle name after his sister.

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AnneEyhtMeyer · 15/03/2013 21:45

Not to my taste but perfectly fine.

And ignore the people suggesting you change the spelling of Kaitlynne. I am presuming you are pronouncing it Kate-Lyn? Caitlin is pronounced Kathleen, despite what many posters seem to think.

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MTSgroupie · 15/03/2013 21:45

Good thing it was Dallas and not Fort Worth.

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iheartshoes · 15/03/2013 21:47

I think it's a great name and a lovely tribute to your DHs sister x

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MTSgroupie · 15/03/2013 21:48

I know a number of Caitlins. And they are all pronounced the way it is spelt. Would you care to tell them that they are pronouncing their own names incorrectly?

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AnneEyhtMeyer · 15/03/2013 21:51

Yes, MTS. They can pronounce it any way they like, it doesn't make it right. Would you pronounce Siobhan Si-ob-han?

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