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Baby names

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

Original poster

four in a class - really?

234 replies

mogandthecat · 10/10/2011 14:48

I've noticed on here that many people seem to dread the possibility that their child may be one of 'four or five' in a class. Just thinking about this when my friend showed me the list for her dd's reception class intake the other day. Of thirty children there were only two names replicated, each with two children with the name (one of these being Ruby, which was the most popular name for the year anyway). When I was at primary school in the seventies when there were probably fewer names used overall there was only one duplicated name in a class of 20 girls (Claire). So, just out of interest, what names are there more than one of in your dc's classes and are there often '4 or 5' of one name or is this actually an extremely rare occurrence?!

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ivykaty44 · 10/10/2011 20:46

There where several Samantha's, I think about 4 in total

when my dd1 started nursery there where 5 mums with the same name Grin and one of the mums gave her daughter the same name...

JulesJules · 10/10/2011 20:41

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BeeBread · 10/10/2011 20:35

There were 4 Kathryn/Katherine/Catherines in my senior school class of 30-ish in the 1980-1990s, and always plenty of Sarah/Helen/Emmas too.

I don't think I ever minded that much but I am reasonably keen for my DSs not to be in the same position.

SoylentClean · 10/10/2011 20:34

There were 4 of my name in my infant school class, then at high school I was one of too many to count. In my final year math class there were 6 of us in a class of about 25. Madness!

TimeWasting · 10/10/2011 20:28

There were 3 Emmas in my sisters class.

I think there are 2 Alexes in DS class, which surprised me.

mumslife · 10/10/2011 20:02

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oooggs · 10/10/2011 19:44

3x Finley/Finlay in reception class but it is the most popular name in the town we live in, I know at least 10 all under 8!!!!!

DigOfTheStump · 10/10/2011 19:43

DS - he was the only one in the entire primary school, one of two in secondary. His name is a rare-ish Scots name.

DD - has none in her class, though there are others in different age groups in her school. Well known name, but been around for centuries.

bigbluebump · 10/10/2011 19:41

I know three adult Steve Smiths - very confusing!

Agree that life would be easier if we all made more use of ALL the names available and not all choose the same top 20 or so.... will bear this in mind when naming our next bump!

mybootsaremuddy · 10/10/2011 19:38

3 Georges in ds1 class 2 are known by their lastname the children came up with idea and the staff/other parents refer to them with these as well now!! The 3 Georges think its realy cool!

PandaNot · 10/10/2011 19:19

hellokitty123 I know! I saw the class list and was very grateful that my DH had vetoed Grace for our dd

cat64 · 10/10/2011 19:17

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LynetteScavo · 10/10/2011 19:14

DS1 had 3 Lucys and 3 Bens in his class.

hellokitty123 · 10/10/2011 19:09

6 Graces Shock!

PandaNot · 10/10/2011 18:57

There are 6 Graces in our current reception class of 25.

LadyInPink · 10/10/2011 18:50

In DD year there are 3 Charlie's (one is a girl though same spelling), 3 Adam's, an Amelia/Emilia/Amelie - very muddling, but only one Jack, one Sophie, one Oliver and one Max which surprised me as also very popular. There are 9 Isabelle/Isabella's at DD Brownie group and some have the same surname initial.

When i was at school Michelle and Claire/Clare were the most popular. Mine was the only one though.

DD has a name which no one else in the school has and isn't that unusual (as in we've all heard it and know the spelling etc)

Littlefish · 10/10/2011 18:46

My dd is in a class of 11 boys and 9 girls. 4 out of those 9 girls (including dd) are called the same name, or a derivative/diminution of it. Sad

hellokitty123 · 10/10/2011 18:36

We've got two Jacks, three Daniels, two Lillys and two Sophies in our school year.

Reading this thread, I think we should all be more supportive of more name diversity - it really would make life easier (and more interesting)!

natsmum100 · 10/10/2011 18:24

I have taught a class with four Harrys and three Joshuas. Currently have 2 Megans, 2 Lucies and 2 Harleys,

Secondtimelucky · 10/10/2011 18:09

I'm like HoHoLaughingMonster - there were four Catherine/Kate/Katies in my class at senior school. And about 10 Sarah's in a year of 200.

juneau · 10/10/2011 18:06

I loved some of the top 100 names when I was pregnant with both mine, but DH and I resisted the temptation to choose one and both our names are rather unfashionable. So far I haven't met any kids their age with the same names (even though they're normal, traditional names). At DS1's nursery there are 3 Thomas' in his class and they have more than one Ella, Amy, Scarlett in the top two classes.

I'm a Melissa, born in the 70s, and was one of three in my school (but mercifully the only one in my year). My sister is a Sarah and there must've been a couple in each year and she finds at work she's always one of several Sarahs. Ditto Claire/Clare, Emma, Louise, etc.

HoHoLaughingMonster · 10/10/2011 18:06

There were 7 Catherine / Kathryn / Katherine's in my history class at school.

There are 3 James's in my family. I also have 4 friends called James.

Among my friends there are 5: Emma's, Helen's, Claire's, Daniel's, Joanne's and Andrew's.

And yes I have nicknames for them all to avoid confusion eg. for the Daniels there is Just Dan, Fit Dan, Techno Dan, Greasy Danny and Danny Fanny.

Bunbaker · 10/10/2011 18:04

When DD was at Rainbows there were 3 Olivias, out of 13 girls.

LittleWhiteWereWolf · 10/10/2011 18:03

In the 90s when I was at school I was actually one of 6 in my year, 2 in my class. Have been to many schools and my name is and was still popular.

In DDs nursery (65 children in total) there are 3 Evies, 2 Daisys and 2 Olivers.

Bunbaker · 10/10/2011 17:54

"are there often '4 or 5' of one name or is this actually an extremely rare occurrence?!"

When my mum started school, in Germany, there were 4 Ilse's in her class, so she had to start using her middle name. This was back in 1920 something.