Did you choose a popular (top ten) name? Do you regret it?

Picked a top 5 name for both of my sons. I don't regret one of them because it just felt so right, Im still not keen on the other one though but it has nothing to do with its popularity

I had a top ten name, changed it by deed poll as soon as I was old enough.

My daughter's name was number 80 something when we named her 5 years ago!! When we rang round the family after her birth, my sister hasn't even heard of the name! Now it's top ten and makes me cross and never would have chosen it that way. You can never predict these things and I still love her name, just don't want there to be anymore :)
I know! Selfish!!!

Yes. I guess there are top 10 names and top 10 names. Some are fairly 'classic', always been around so won't date. Others are 'trendy' and may date, although, I think there is a LOT more variety in naming now, so I don't think we will have a Darren and Tracy situation again.

To put it in perspective, I know some lovely Karen, Joannes and Jennifers and indeed, a lovely Tracey. Who really cares?

For me it's less about whether there are others in the class with the same name (which may or may not happen depending on where you live/the school/class they're in), and more about the fact that a very popular names becomes associated with that era, and will inevitably date (and sometimes badly).

So you may have the only Jack/Ava in the class (great), but overall Jack and Ava will still very much be associated with a set point in time (not so great).

Karen/Joanne/Jennifer would all have sounded delightful and fresh and lovely to parents 30-odd years ago. And they are all nice names. But barely anyone's naming their daughters those names now.

And so it's hard to believe now that Ava/Evie/Isla/Milly/Tilly/Lily/Ella/Bella, et al will all go the same way as people move on to the next fashion.

I think there is a big difference between having a popular classic name (e.g James ) and one that dates (e.g Claire). It is adults with the latter type of names who seem to more frequently dislike them.

My 12 year old is George loved it when we named him it and still love it now. Although its popular, at school he is the only George in his year group. I guess its just luck of the draw.

Ahhhh..my dd has a Benita in her class, but I think she's Lithuanian! I always thought it was pretty and never thought of the connotation!

Two DCs are top 10 and one top30 and I really don't regret it as their names are classics. Very, very few of both DDs names where we are and my DS is the only one in his year. His name does crop up everywhere we go though which is a bit annoying but I would still choose it again for him as I love it.

Oh I get it now, I was wracking my brains trying to think if it.

merry We live in Italy, so I'll give you one guess...

Depends on your surname. I have a fairly popular (i guess top 50) first name and surname and it çauses so much bother. There was another me at work so payroll and expenses muddled, always forwarding on emails - small thing but after every day for years it drives me up the wall! The NI people even thought i was signing on whilst working as there's someone with the same name and DOB out there. Another family member had their CRB check muddled. It can cause problems, and honestly, you wouldn't look at my name and think wow that's popular.

Sgatmajor - was it Roberta? (Mugabe), Must say I wouldn't think of him, but maybe something more obvious.

Yes, actually I'm gutted that ds's name is now so popular.

He's 14 and it's a family name and was outside top 100 when he was born. I love it for both of those reasons.

Now it's top ten and I'm really surprisingly upset about that.

Obviously, in his age group it's not so popular. He's the only one in his secondary school, and there are only two in each of the large schools I've worked in, and we have none in our friends/family. Still gutted.

I gave my daughter a female version of a much-hated politician's name (not quite Adolpha but you get the idea...) hoping he'd be gone by the time she grew up. Unfortunately, he's still around and I regret it when other prople give us a look. Still love her name, though.

Ninja if DH can't remember some bloke from work's name I always start the prompting with Mike and Steve!

Dos has a very,nerdy classic top 10 name, but there are lots of shortening options - so whilst one of his gang actually has the same name, they are known by different names iykwim. Dd otoh has a very us usual name - we've only ever met one other person with the same name.

I love both names, and don't regret either. Ds is a quieter soul, so having a 'fitting in' name suits him. Dd is a rebel & an extrovert, so having a more unusual name suits her.

Well we didn't make the top 10.
DS1 was #13 and DS2 #38.
In all honesty I have never considered their names to be an issue though, nor did I think about popularity when I chose their names. I did it because I like them.

We have the number 1. Oliver. I don't think it was in the top ten when we named him that. I still love the name but there are too many about now. I'm sure people think they are being original when they name their child Oliver (usually 1st time parents who don't know other/many children) and then realise actually the name is very very popular! It is annoying when we go out for the day and we are constantly turning around to the name being shouted by other parents! Flower names are also overused now, same reasons above!

My child with a top ten name was aLWAYS QUITE chuffed to see someone who shares the name on TV. It's also a family name which is nice to talk about.

Even with the most popular names there may not be another one in their school year. Names can be quite locally popular but not make top 10 and vice versa.

For example we have known very few Jacks through school, although I know of more through friends and family. It has been popular everywhere for years with nearly every sub group of parents but there have never been a whole lot together. My son was in a sports squad with about 5 Andrews though!

I don't mind some top 10 names but I would avoid those with lots of variations. Eg Evie, Eve, Ava, Evelyn, Eva, Evangeline. There are many of these names in a class round here. I would also avoid Isobel, Isabelle, Isabella.

There's lots of confusion between Sophie and Sophia. I would also be a bit wary that I'm influenced by name trends. However if you love a name, go for it.

I personally like my name which is a well known name. However there were no others in my v large secondary school.

We chose names deliberately out of the Top 50

Guess what? Every other baby now seems to be called that. I swear i start trends

Both DC had top 10 names at the time, both classic biblical names which have always been popular. I don't regret it at all. Neither of them had another one in their class at primary school. A few more at secondary though.
Only problem was when dd got to secondary school, there was a girl who had the same first name and the first 4 letters of surname. The computer names were based on first 3 letters of surname and last 3 letters of first name plus the year of entry. DD had a problem with hers as her passwords never worked and had to be constantly reset. Turns out they had allocated computer sign in name to both girls! It got sorted out in the end by adding another number.

There were 4 of my name in primary (very popular 50s/60s name) but not the Karen/Tracey/Sharon, but I don't meet many in nowadays but I do know two of dds age group with that name.

DS1 has the same name as his best friend at school and thinks it's great. DS2 also has a top five name but no others in his nursery....

Yes for both of mine and no regrets.