National Statistics coming soon...

It was important to me not to have a top ten name as my name was top for year I was born. There were 4 in my primary class, 3 at secondary, loads at uni and where I work. I hate being raining M, etc.

Softening actually, just means that lots of people think that they are nice names

DD1 and 3 hurtling towards the top ten, I know IABVVVU but I do feel a teeny bit grumpy about it. DD2 has hovered around the 400ish mark for years. All family names though so I don't really mind

I must be dense. I had no idea Oliver was so popular and yet it was #2 in 2011 and #1 in 2010? I feel all common now.

Fatima I don't know. Its never been intentional, and I never looked at name lists. There have only ever been around 10 names I like, it used 2 be 3 and over the years I've found more. I really don't like most names so for me I've always heard it and just known.

I don't care if people think them ridiculous or they don't sound right or how will they be judge. I just know when I hear it. Sounds bizarre but I can't offer any other explanation.

my dd1 is a sophies shes 20 ,did not know many of that name when she was born now they is lots also my gd is olivia -rose , my ds2 name not there

There are names that are popular on the Irish or Scottish list but barely any of in England and Wales. For example Catriona, 12 in 2011.

at the end of each film we watched we obsessively read the credits to get name ideas-SO much fun! :)
we also went through our bookshelf and found out what author's first names were.
once we had a shortlist we then went on the office of national stats website and discounted any that were in top 100 for last ten years, then looked at ones that were top yonks ago to get more ideas.
i think each to their own but there were 6 girls with my name in my class at school and it really annoyed me.

Mine was in a really lovely song. Ummed and ahhed about using it then in labour it just seemed to click. Couldn't imagine her being anything else now.

All those with children with no other or only 2 others with that name... how do you come across the names you chose? Are they really unusual?

I'm currently compiling a possibles list for bump and need inspiration

Ah, found DD at 297 on the list :)

I've not counted how many and I can't be arsed to go back and check but I was a bit at how many spellings of Riley there were (was?) in the boys list. It seemed never ending!

None of my DC's have made the top 100. There was over 303 of one, 56 of another and 3 of the last in 2011.

I may go back and look at their years of birth to see where they placed for comparison. Never really looked before and it's been quite fun reading out some of the spellings to the family!

I particularly liked the 6 (I think) that were called Joesph. Would you still say that Joseph or more like Josf?

And Mate was a favourite here but I'm guessing it's not pronounced like you would if you were meaning a friend? Or maybe it is.

Name choices are really interesting to read about aren't they?

My DD is at 275!

forcessweetheart My friend is called lola shes 19!!!

I never thought the name would get popular its so nice but now its over used such a shame!!

I saw the 2011 i wasnt shocked at all but i didnt no stanley was popular!!

Hope Ralph don't get popular!! :)

14 baby Denise's.

There were only 7 Ethels, but bizarely, 13 Bethels....

I'm loving that all three of my current top girls names aren't in the top 100, although both our top boys choices are - mind you, I'm not actually pregnant, so this is rather academic. (getting some good ideas though!)

I counted 15 yooneek spellings of Lily-May. Wow.

DS's name is 71 on the list for 2011 having dropped from 59,
DD's name hasn't been in the top 100 either year!

But really 10% Marys and Johns? Must go look on google now!

Yes, pretty much. In 1900, 9% of boys were called William and a further 7.8% were called John. There was more diversity with girls names with 4% of girls called Florence and and a further 4% called Mary. However, if we go back to 1850, 14.5% of boys were called William and 12.4% were called John. The position with girls names was similar with 15% called Mary and 10% called Elizabeth.

"Why do some people find it awful to hear of others using the same name as their dc's?"

Not awful but it can be a pain. We sometimes forget why we name a person - to identify him/her. That gets more difficult if a name is used by 3 or 4 in the same class or office.

If you're on an iPhone - try using glittershoes link, then choose girls or boys on the right hand side, and tap on the tabs at the top. It's pretty small but readable if you zoom & scroll.

There are 7 Ethels.

Im out now so I can took but were there many Ethel's? Did Lily Allen start a trend with that hideous name?

There is no Mildred anywhere on the girls' list. I rather like it.

I never said they were unregistered - if they were un registered they wouldn't be registered. Live births doesn't mean they don't die later, my daughter would have appeared on her year's list.

Could be Dirty Dancing fans

In late September 2005 I had my 20 wk scan where I found out I was having a girl. We immediately named her Lola after an old friend (which back then it wasn't in the top 100) and customized all sorts of things in the nursery with the name. A few short weeks later in November 2005 Charlie & Lola was first aired. I was gutted but by then she was firmly Lolabump and I couldn't change it. All the midwives commented on how unusual a name it was. The year after she was born it was the highest climber in the name stats going to 51 iirc. Now its 31.