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in reply to a message by penguiny7
True ... but as Professor Higgins points out in My Fair Lady, the Americans haven't spoken English for years ...
There is a rising tide of American name fashions all round the English-speaking world, of course, largely driven by the Internet and reality and celeb TV; but when Steven and Barbra and such began, this was not really the case. And it seems likely that there would be some names that cross the North Atlantic more comfortably than others - notoriously, Randy, but also the sad ones that seem to be made of all the refrigerator magnets left over after the real words have all been made. This doesn't get mentioned much, even in the Comments slot, though it would be interesting.
There is a rising tide of American name fashions all round the English-speaking world, of course, largely driven by the Internet and reality and celeb TV; but when Steven and Barbra and such began, this was not really the case. And it seems likely that there would be some names that cross the North Atlantic more comfortably than others - notoriously, Randy, but also the sad ones that seem to be made of all the refrigerator magnets left over after the real words have all been made. This doesn't get mentioned much, even in the Comments slot, though it would be interesting.
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I would say overall Stephen is the usual form in England but I think that back in the 1960s and 70s Steven may have become been more popular. Both spellings were popular then. I know of loads of Steves in their 20s, 30s and 40s. These days I think both forms are considered dated.
American names have influenced names in Britain long before the internet - names from TV and films have had an impact for many years. I've never come across a Barbra other than Barbra Streisand and by the time she became famous the name had gone out of fashion but I'm sure there are some around in the UK. I don't think the name Randy is ever used in Britain!
American names have influenced names in Britain long before the internet - names from TV and films have had an impact for many years. I've never come across a Barbra other than Barbra Streisand and by the time she became famous the name had gone out of fashion but I'm sure there are some around in the UK. I don't think the name Randy is ever used in Britain!
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