four in a class - really?

"we both dislike our names because they are so common! Think you are better trying to find a name that is somewhere inbetween, but gawd knows how you do that!"

Jilted, it's not that difficult imo. The ONS lists every single name (or all those used at least twice) given in a year. If you look beyond the top 100 or even top 250 you'll find loads of nice, classic easy to spell/pronounce names - they may not be as fashionable (but then they won't date either) but they are perfectly normal nice names.

My ds's name was used 9 times last year - it is a classic, old latin, two syllable name that is easy to spell/pronounce, yet it isn't 'popular'.

I went through quite a few primary and secondary schools being the only 'me' Since then my cousin has married a 'me' and my dd's best friend's Mum has the same name as well. Also DH bf's wife.
None at all and then three. Where were they all when I was growing up??

"There were loads of 'me' at primary, secondary school and now at work there are zillions of us (sarah).

And this is why my DC have more unusual names."

Funny isn't it. My Mum was the only one with her name at school and work and she didn't like having such an usual name so she gave me and my sister more common (yes, I do mean common and not popular[hgrin]) names and we both dislike our names because they are so common! Think you are better trying to find a name that is somewhere inbetween, but gawd knows how you do that!

Last year in dd's reception class of 25 children (one class out of two) they had,

2 x Molly (1 x Mollie, 1 x Molly)
2 x Evie
2 x Alfie

In the other class -
2 x Elle (both spelt the same but pn differently)

Each called Alfie B or Molly E etc depending on the first letter of their surname.

There were loads of 'me' at primary, secondary school and now at work there are zillions of us (sarah).

And this is why my DC have more unusual names.

My best friend in school was called Mary. She was also an 80s child, and the only Mary. Perhaps going for names from a less fashionable era works.

Mary always wanted a trendier name (such as Gemma - there were always lots of Gemmas), but I thought it really suited her sweet personality. As an adult she likes her name.

PureBloodMuggle - 2 Aisling's. I have only ever met one Aisling, in my life.

JiltedJohnsJulie - refers to a name to identify her. I have a common first name (Jane), and it was fine, as I had a very unusual and rediculously long surname. I appreciated not having to spell out my first name, as well as surname. My one syllable first name was perfect.

Now that I'm married, and have a more common and much shorter surname, I see the attraction of unusual first names, to identify person.

I have still kept my unusual surname for work though. My brothers also love their short first names (names similar to Ian and Guy).

Jane is not that unusual name, but it was not common for my age group, and I was always the only one in my class at school. I did used to work with another Jane but she was ten years older than me. It was never a problem.

The only duplicated name in dds class is Bethany.

:o

There's a few Meron's on the register i think, but so few that it's unlikely you'd come across another!

How old is your Merryn 4 ?

You should try being an Anne! There are never any other Annes!

I know a Merryn! Lives in the Scottish Highlands. Went tos chool with her mum.

Even if you think you ahve a rare name you will likely get six in the year- Mum went through a claire and a nicola before hitting on a rare name LOL; OTOH common names can be hugely regional so if you move- ds1 was a Sam in 1999 when every otehr boy at home seemed to be named that, only one otehr in his primary when we moved.

Stirling was a winner for rare both back home and here in wales though. Clearly The Moss had little effect on baby naming in 2001

i have a Merryn which is similar tonk :) and not met another yet :)

Not Peppa! :o Her name is Merren. None on the register her year or since!

Am curious to know what DD1's one name is now Tonks. Is she one of the rare ones that they miss off the National Statistics spreadsheet?

DS is Y3 too and I'm sure I can remember seeing a Peppa registered the same year. Have I guess correctly? [hgrin]

DD1 (yr3) She's the only one in the country i suspect.

2 Molly/Molli
2 Oliver
3 Beth/Bethan
2 Harry
2 Harvey
2 Sophie

DD2 (yr2) Only one in school

several Charlies
5 Lily/Lily-mae

In DS's age group we have an awful lot of Thomases!

Elder how confusing must that have been for your Mum and the class?

DSs class is actually ok. There isn't any repetition, the closet they come is a Will and a William.

As well as all the repetition in DD's class she shares her initial and last name with one of her best friends.

My mother once taught a sixth form class of 8 girls of whom 6 were called Helen.

Three Harrys in ds's swimming class (out of seven!). Not many nickname options there either... Har? Ry?

Yeah, I do think we all need to be more supportive of more name diversity - it really would make life easier (and more interesting).

2 Matthews and 2 Emilys in dd1s class.
2 Thomas in dd2's class.

I used to work in a small office with two Rachels. They were known as Alcoholic Rachel and Fat Rachel. This was by adults, not schoolchildren. I felt for them, I really did.

DS1's class

2 Tadhgs
2 Lukes
2 Aislings
2 Kates
2 Lauras

DS2 class there is just

2 Juliets
2 Hughs

5 Josephs in ds3's primary school class all called Joe. ds1 had 4 George's in his secondary tutor group.

ds3 now has 2 boys in his class who not only share the same first name but have the same surname too! Not particularly common names either!

I remember the 1970s Sarah epidemic. At one point in my class (of 12) we had 3 Sarahs and 2 Emilys (I have another e name, but answered to Emily anyway as the teacher never could get his head round it....) 9 other Sarahs in the year.
In Ds year (of 60), 3 Hannahs, 2 Freyas, 2 Harrys, 2 Lilys, 3 Isabels but NO Sophie

There are 2 Sophies and 2 Williams in ds's class - the problem is that the two Sophies share the same surname initial, so it can get a little confusing apperently.

Yes, more name diversity woud be great!

"I once taught a class with 4 Bens in and they were known (by the other children) as: tall ben, ginger Ben, sporty ben and thick Ben." .

Gosh, this thread really makes me hope we all become a little more encouraging of less popular, less fashionable, less overused names. Name suggestions are often critisised on here for being too 'dated', too 'foreign sounding', too 'poncy', too whatever, when in fact they would make a refreshing change to all the popular top 50/100 names.

And I agree with those above who say that a name that's very widely used doesn't really do a good job, i.e. doesn't IDENTIFY someone. And I wouldn't want to end up as 'thick Ben'.....