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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Does it really matter if it's in the "top 100"??

39 replies

BaymaxismyHero · 09/02/2017 17:59

I see posts saying I like this name, I like that name but it's too common or its too popular.
Does it really matter? If you love it have it.
I have daughters whose names are apparently very popular yet they're the only ones in their year with that name.
I am definitely in the if I love it who cares camp!

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scurryfunge · 09/02/2017 18:01

If you love the name then it doesn't matter ( except Connor or Bradley, they are just plain naughty boys names

TheChippendenSpook · 09/02/2017 18:02

I'm with you

My eldest has a name that has been popular since time began and he was the only one in his year at primary school. I think there was only one other child in the school with the same name.

My youngest has a very popular name and there are a couple in his class but it doesn't bother him.

mycatwantstokillme1 · 09/02/2017 18:04

It doesn't matter one bit. I've never understood MN when it comes to names. It seems people try and outdo each other with how they tout the most unusual and made up names. I don't think it's snobbery but I still don't get why people try and foist names on you that range from the sublime to the ridiculous!

PleasantPhesant · 09/02/2017 18:05

Doesn't matter one bit.
All mine are in the top 100. My eldest is the only one I know of. There's one more of our middle dc and our youngest is the only one in the school called their name.

PleasantPhesant · 09/02/2017 18:06

Posted too soon....

Only one in their school anyway so it doesn't matter if it's popular or not. I mean we all know a Dave don't we? Do we lose sleep over it?

WindwardCircle · 09/02/2017 18:08

It doesn't matter at all if you love the name, but names that suddenly spikes in popularity for a few years will be very associated with the era they were popular in, and may be considered passé in the future. My name was mooted on a baby names thread a few weeks ago and it got lots of "far too 80s" comments, I can see some well used names of today getting that kind of reaction in twenty or thirty years time.

MouseClogs · 09/02/2017 18:09

Agree that it doesn't matter one bit, and how unusual a child's name is will have precisely zero bearing on how much they stand out as an individual. Have said it many a time before, by some of the most stunningly beautiful/intelligent/bizarre/memorable mavericks I've ever known have been Sarahs and Jameses - and equally there are old acquaintances I vaguely recall about whom the only thing I remember is their name.

Plus the vast majority of children (not all, but most) are perfectly happy with a popular name. Not that this should be the case in an ideal world, by a name that makes them stick out is more likely to be a problem, at least until adolescence.

museumum · 09/02/2017 18:17

Top 100 is fine. But I would avoid "name of the year" names just cause it's annoying to be one of three or four in every group you're in (experience).

IzzyMaedchen · 09/02/2017 18:26

It think it depends exactly how popular it is, and in your area specifically. DD1 is called Isabela (I've NC for this). In the year she was born, Isabella & Isabelle were both top 20, and Isobel, Isabel, Bella were all in the top 100 as well. She doesn't like having the same/similar name to multiple other girls in her class or being referred to as "Izzy A".

DD2's name is Clara which is top 100 as well but only just, and doesn't have loads of popular variations. She probably won't have 5 of them in her year group, but her name will be known and easy to spell which is definitely an advantage of a fairly common name.

BertrandRussell · 09/02/2017 18:29

Of course it doesn't matter. Even with the most popular names you'd be pretty unlucky to have another one in your particular class of 30. And fashions change very quickly anyway- 21 years ago we chose a name for our dd we thought was really unusual but classic- it was Grace!

BertrandRussell · 09/02/2017 18:31

And being called John, Paul and George didn't seem to hold them back at all..........

Montsti · 09/02/2017 18:38

All my kids names are top 100, 2 are top 20...I couldn't give a toss. We chose the names we liked best! I always find it odd and a bit sad that people are desperate to find a name that nobody else has...completely understandable if the names are those they love as we all have different tastes, but it often seems as though they themselves compromise on their choices in order not to choose a popular name.

MrsMarigold · 09/02/2017 18:40

I think these days giving your child a popular name is a blessing as it leads to online anonymity which is super valuable in the internet age.

wigglesrock · 09/02/2017 19:00

I have 3 daughters who have top 10 names infact they maybe top 5 and one was the No1 name for a few years (including the year of her birth, I think) - they are all at primary/ early secondary and the only one in their class. I understand people wanting to consider popularity but I wouldn't discount a name purely on those grounds.

In my dds school there are also two children in the same year with quite an unusual name, one I hadn't heard in years. Both sets of parents were affronted when they realised at the welcome night.

SpongebobRoundPants · 09/02/2017 19:19

People like to be yooonique.

SerialReJoiner · 09/02/2017 19:26

I don't care about popularity. I have a very common name - been in the top 10 for a long time when I was born. There was always one other girl with my name in class. I don't remember feeling hard done by or stifled. It's a nice name!

picklemepopcorn · 09/02/2017 19:47

Even unusual names can crop up in a cluster. I taught a Codie and a Cobie in the same class. Never either one before or since.

No guarantees...

SuperBeagle · 09/02/2017 19:51

I don't think it matters, although I'd be likely to avoid names in the top 10 unless I wanted them for sentimental reasons.

My DC1 has a name that was close to the top 10 (I think it was around 13-15) when he was born, but it was chosen for sentimental value. We don't know any other kids his age with the name. Obviously there must be a few kids out there with that name, but they aren't in our area.

On the other hand, I know two Mirandas in the same class, and Miranda is nowhere near the top 100 where I live. You can't pick it.

AllTheLight · 09/02/2017 20:09

My friend's daughter is Pru which is outside the top 100, yet there's another in the same class!

Having said that, I have a slightly unusual name and I really like that!

Iwannasnack · 09/02/2017 21:03

We also have the most common surname in the U.K. so have tried to avoid the most common names!

megletthesecond · 09/02/2017 21:07

Yes. It was to me.

My name is common as muck and I've spent a lifetime being known as 'Meglet A' at school and work because there's usually three or four of us. It's a PITA.

My dc's might not have gift shop toys with their name on but at least their teachers will know who they are.

NataliaOsipova · 09/02/2017 21:21

It's a bit like not everyone can be above average....100 names have to be in the top 100. And if yours is one? Well - there's another one (it probably worst case, two) in your child's class....but at least people know how to spell it. Just go with what you like....and you think your child might thank you for in 30 years!

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reuset · 09/02/2017 21:46

No, of course it doesn't matter a bit!

In the past people on here have said, that they like their child to stand out for their unusual name (it's usually some really daft name as well).

Somebody said the judges in dance competitions remembered her children because their names were so unusual (one was called Charity I think, I can't advanced search it), but you'd rather they were remembered for their talent really wouldn't you.

reuset · 09/02/2017 21:52

It doesn't matter at all if you love the name, but names that suddenly spikes in popularity for a few years will be very associated with the era they were popular in, and may be considered passé in the future. My name was mooted on a baby names thread a few weeks ago and it got lots of "far too 80s" comments, I can see some well used names of today getting that kind of reaction in twenty or thirty years time.

That is a fair point. Difficult to avoid though, usual argument that you'd have to predict and avoid any future trends. Only really safe bet is to choose a name that was never in fashion or likely to be, alas usually for good reason.

BaymaxismyHero · 09/02/2017 21:53

It must depend on what region of the country you are in.
My girl has a top 10 name now (never knew anything about top 100 names when i had her) yet I personally don't know any others.
My name is now in the top 5 yet I was the only one in my school that I knew of.
I think some people are worrying way too much about there being another 'ava/jack' in the same class when infact there may only be one.

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