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Baby names

Is it really that big of a deal?

197 replies

Kelsey28 · 22/01/2017 10:20

Is it really that bigger deal if a child has the same name as other children in the class? I see so many people on here give that as a reason not to pick a name and just wondered what the general consensus is? My mum called me my name and very few people had heard of it in the early nineties yet when I started school there was another girl with the same name sat next to me. It never bothered me.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 22/01/2017 10:25

DD has the same came as someone in her class. It's not even that common. She rather likes it.

DS had the same band as his Sixer at Cubs and later vex it. They have the same surname initial too, DD looks up to this other lad, and I'm sure a lot of this respect comes from having the same name.

MarmiteDoesYouGood · 22/01/2017 11:12

I had the same name as 3 other boys in my year of 130 people. (4 of us out of 65 boys).

Never bothered me in the slightest and pretty sure it didn't bother them either.

MyBreadIsEggy · 22/01/2017 11:15

My DC's both have names that aren't really "out there" weird, but they are quite unusual so will probably be the only ones in their classes.
My mum and dad gave me a name that was very popular in the early 90's and I was one of five in my class alone. I went through the whole of primary school being known as "First name + last name initial" Hmm

PuppyMonkey · 22/01/2017 11:18

I do think it screams a certain lack of imagination and individuality to name your child, say, Jack. We've got enough Jacks now. Honest.

Avengerhart85 · 22/01/2017 11:21

I named my DS an older but not unusual name to avoid the '3 in a class' and he loves meeting others with the same name so I now realise it doesn't bother the kids. When my next DC is born I won't let it put me off a name as much like it did the first time.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 22/01/2017 12:01

It doesn't matter at all. If you like the name, go with it.

Pipilangstrumpf · 22/01/2017 12:11

No it's not a big deal. But given how many lovely names there are to choose from, it seems a shame if so many of share the same name, having to add a modifier (surname initials or big xx, little xx, etc). There are 4 Harrys in our local sports team that it can get a little annoying/confusing. It also lacks of imagination imo.

thebakerwithboobs · 22/01/2017 12:12

It's also not always correct. For example, we have a son called Jacob. When we named him the comment was passed that it's common nowadays. He has attended three primary schools and two nurseries (military reasons, we aren't flaky!) and has never had another Jacob in his class and only ever had one other in the school. It doesn't matter even slightly anyway. If you like it, use it.

MrsHathaway · 22/01/2017 12:24

There are more little Olivers than Colins because Oliver is a better name than Colin. Even if everyone tried to be super original something would be bound to be the most popular.

Popular/common because good is different from popular/common because trendy as the latter will date, but it can be hard to tell the difference.

And even if you choose a super popular name, the chances aren't that high for duplications in a class of thirty - in my children's classes the repeated boys' names are top 50, not top 10. It's just chance.

Even if you do end up being Oliver H for your entire school career, you're your mother's only Oliver and uniquely yourself etc etc.

There's also an interesting conversation about the relative benefits of a unique v common name (Benedict Cumberbatch v John Smith) in an Internet world.

indigo13 · 22/01/2017 12:37

It does matter. Its not just about who is in the class, I know of no little Amelias but even just the word is done to death! if there was a birth announcement with that name it really would be boring. There are so many lovely choices beyond the top 100

indigo13 · 22/01/2017 12:37

It does matter. Its not just about who is in the class, I know of no little Amelias but even just the word is done to death! if there was a birth announcement with that name it really would be boring. There are so many lovely choices beyond the top 100

MrsHathaway · 22/01/2017 12:45

The most important thing about naming your child is keeping name geeks from getting bored Hmm

harderandharder2breathe · 22/01/2017 12:48

The plus side of popular names is they'll always find souvenirs with the name on

That's the main thing I never liked about my unusual name.

MrsHathaway · 22/01/2017 12:51

True, harder. And ought to have less trouble with giving names over the phone.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 22/01/2017 12:53

If you also have a common surname it can cause problems having the exact same name as others.
I've had this numerous times. Worked with someone with exact same name. Got medical records muddled (same DOB and name), had to sort out claiming job seekers when working (I wasn't, another name DOB muddle)
Not sure why my parents gave me such a common name combination tbh seeing as Dad had sane problems - CRB check, health records and apparently going awol from the army!

Needless to say I've got outside the top 100 for the DCs

spencerreidswife · 22/01/2017 12:54

My DD is the only one in her class with her name. My DS is one of 3 in his class with same name

LemonyFresh · 22/01/2017 12:55

I think the popular and common names are more likely to sound dated in 20 years.

BreatheDeep · 22/01/2017 12:59

I was one of 6 in my school year and one of 3 in my uni friend group. It annoyed me as we all had nicknames to tell us apart so I was never my name. I am one of 3 at work too. Each of us are always firstname surname all the time. Also annoying.

MrsHathaway · 22/01/2017 13:01

Lemony - there are some really interesting charts showing the popularity of names over decades/centuries. Certain names such as Jack, Harry, Elizabeth, Katie etc have never been out of the top ten or twenty. Some like Ruby or Poppy have peaks and troughs of popularity. They're the ones which are likely to sound dated.

HeadDreamer · 22/01/2017 13:04

I think some children do care. DC1 had a very popular name. She insists the teacher at reception to call her by a not so popular short form of her name. She's now known by the short form at school.

LemonyFresh · 22/01/2017 13:05

*MrsHathaway
*
Exactly what I mean, classic names (King and queen names I usually think of) will never go out of fashion, but the faddy ones which have only been popular for a few years will sound dated when they reach adulthood.

That's a reason not to choose a now popular name where there will be 5 others in the class.

HeadDreamer · 22/01/2017 13:05

Think William as Bill instead of Will. Mines a girl so she isn't William. But you get the idea.

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BertrandRussell · 22/01/2017 13:08

My step nieces and nephews had really, really unusual names. In turn, they refused to go to secondary school unless they were allowed to change them. They each chose names that began with the same letter but which were short, simple and very well known.

MrsHathaway · 22/01/2017 13:11

The names that feel trendy round here are Finlay, Lucas, Oscar; Ruby, Evie, Lily.

TeshiB · 22/01/2017 13:18

I hated being called my name + initial as there were a few others in my classes with the same name.

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