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Baby names

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

Original poster

Advice please. How popular are popular boys names?

35 replies

scoutfinch1 · 17/01/2013 21:57

We are expecting DC1 and have started to think about names. Quite a few of the names we like are fairly popular and high up the popularity rankings. Basically what I am wondering is in real life terms how popular are the popular names? This applies to boys names rather than girls as most of the girls names we like are more unusual.

I'm not looking for a name that has to be different or unusual but I would like to avoid DS being one of several in a class. Although I know that there is a chance this could happen even if you choose a very unusual name, I was wondering where in the rankings should you be looking (if it matters at all) to try and avoid this? Are there any particular names where this will always be the case?

Also, I suppose the other half of the question is even if DS does have a fairly popular name does this really matter? I know this is a pretty controversial subject but I don't want to reject a name we like on the grounds of popularity and regret it or vice versa.

Any thoughts or opinions would be very much appreciated.

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Original poster
scoutfinch1 · 17/01/2013 22:22

Thank you for all of your replies! Very helpful.

PoppyWearer: I think your right. I'm glad it's not just me that was thinking about it being different for boys.

HelpOneAnother: I agree completed, you are right and it would probably simplify things if we could do this but DP is Scottish, I'm English, currently in Wales and between now and baby starting school we could move to pretty much anywhere because of DP's job. We have been having this issue with names that are very popular only in Scotland.

OP posts:
TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 17/01/2013 22:15

I would assume there will be someone in his class with his name, then you won't be disappointed. If not in primary, then secondary, or college, or his workplace.

ClaraBean · 17/01/2013 22:13

Depends on area. I only know one Jack, but tons and tons of Stanley, Theo and Finlay/Finley/Finn/Flynn's

oooggs · 17/01/2013 22:06

Depends where you live to which names are popular. One of our sons is called jack. There are 3 in the school. Whereas Finley/Finlay there are 10 in the school with 3 being in my sons class.

TurkeyDino · 17/01/2013 22:04

DS1's name was top 10 when we named him. In a class of 35 boys he is the only one. William and Samuel are v common though, 3 of each in the class!

You never know who your child will be in a class with I guess.

HelpOneAnother · 17/01/2013 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PoppyWearer · 17/01/2013 22:04

We went ahead with a very very popular boy's name for DC2 because it is a family name and DH had his heart set on it. And it suits DC2 down to the ground. He really could not have been called anything else.

For the number one most popular name at the moment, he does have another one in his nursery class, and we do hear it out and about, but I really don't care. It's his name, we have excellent reasons for choosing the name, the whole family agreed, it suits him.

I do, for reasons I can't quite fathom, think it matters more for girls. Being known as "Richard A" or "Richard B" was no great shakes when I was at school. But "Emma A" or "Emma B" was a whole different kettle of fish. I was somewhat glad of having an unusual name!

AppleOgies · 17/01/2013 22:01

Incidentally I have a very popular name (3 in my class at school), I've really never been bothered by it. Names are usually popular for a reason, they're good names!

AppleOgies · 17/01/2013 22:00

I know a lot of Jacks and Harrys (and a fair few Ethans).

WinkyWinkola · 17/01/2013 21:59

So ime, Harry, Joshua and Jack are very popular in my dcs years at school.

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