What causes name fashions?

I think posh names definitely filer down. Names like Henry and Hugo used to be the reserve of the toffs whereas now they're mainstream.

Agree though that the only sensible course is to choose something you like. It is so difficult to predict

I'm noticing more babies/young children named Ivy and Pearl, too, Talcott!

This could be utter bollocks (in fact I'm pretty sure I read it on here!) but names can be seen to fall down the 'social classes' as it were (can't think of a better way to put it). So a name that was used as the reserve of the upper middle class/upper classes 15 years ago (e.g. Monty, Oscar

Filtering! You're not quoting Freakonomics are you? Their theory and prediction examples were largely debunked.
Monty still isn't very popular, nowhere near top 100.

My DD is named for my dad who died but as his name was too male we called her the old Welsh version of his hobby of collecting Owls. Turns out the same name is used when shortened from other countries. It is however the only one in both schools that's she's been in. DS has a name after my grandad and is so traditionally Welsh there again is no others at school.
At the school I work in people like names ending in "a" Zola, xola, Lola etc" and double barrelled names.

This could be utter bollocks (in fact I'm pretty sure I read it on here!) but names can be seen to fall down the 'social classes' as it were (can't think of a better way to put it). So a name that was used as the reserve of the upper middle class/upper classes 15 years ago (e.g. Monty, Oscar, Florence) filter down to mass use. And following that the upper class stop using them and move onto something else. I can see some logic in this - my DC were born in the 90s and some posh friends of mine called their DC Arthur and Florence because they were so unusual. So I guess to see where the next big trend is coming from you just need to spend time perusing the Telegraph birth announcements!

I love unusual names that are beautiful and that are not 'dated' to ANY era.

All names date, some may come back into fashion, as it is cyclical, but there is no such thing as a name that does not date. For example, James is a classic name, always popular in Scotland, so as unlikely to date as any name you can imagine. However, there has been a massive upswing in its use, alongside 'Jamie' as 'classic' names have become trendy. I predict James will start to go into a decline, but never completely disappear.

I think you might as well choose a name you like and forget about it being popular as it is so hard to predict. If you aim to be the only one with a certain name, you are likely to be disappointed as loads of parents will have thought the same - it is the zeitgeist.

I read a book a few years ago and liked a characters name. I could think of a couple of historical figures and one current sports "star" with it and so thought it was traditional but unusual and chose it for DS. He's now 18 months and one of 3 with that name in the baby wing at nursery. There's only around 12 boys in the wing!

DD has just started at Nursery yesterday and there are 3 Ivy's and 2 Pearl's in the baby room which I was quite suprised about!

Was thinking about this the other day and wondering how many girl names genuinely don't date the wearer. I came up with about two!

I had a friend called January who was born in October. Only just figured out it was probably when she was conceived.

But a November born May might be named after a relative.

Kinda not relevant but I have a HUGE pet hate of parents that give a child a name like "Summer" or "May" but the child was born in November 🤣

I read somewhere that the greatest gift you can give a child these days is an un Google- able name. Something along the lines of Jane Smith offers blessed anonymity.

It amuses me that people who are so desperate for their child to be the only one at school with their name strive to find something unusual. When in fact calling your child "Sharon" or "Claire" or "Ian" would have exactly the desired effect

This was the case at my kids' primary school. At one stage we had five girls across the seven year levels called Tymeeka/Tamika/Tymmeekka - three different spellings but all pronounced the same. So much for being one of a kind.

There was one Ian in the entire school, so he was a novelty.

Ian and Claire may be unusual for children these days, but they are dull names that are overused in my generation.

I love unusual names that are beautiful and that are not 'dated' to ANY era.

There's always at least one bright spark on these threads coming out with exactly the same comment about Ian/Claire.

It amuses me that people who are so desperate for their child to be the only one at school with their name strive to find something unusual. When in fact calling your child "Sharon" or "Claire" or "Ian" would have exactly the desired effect.

Are you really not able to recognise the difference between choosing an unusual name just for the sake of it and choosing a name that you love which is unusual?

It amuses me that people who are so desperate for their child to be the only one at school with their name strive to find something unusual. When in fact calling your child "Sharon" or "Claire" or "Ian" would have exactly the desired effect.

A lot of it has to do with news and celebrities, I think. The year Maya Angelou died, three of my friends named their babies Maya. Footballers tend to go for slightly wacky names which seem to be quickly assimilated into general use. .

Totally unnecessary, rude and unpleasant Backfromthedead

One reason for the trend for old names is the death of a loved one, usually a grandparent. The name is. celebrated, often as a middle name and then the name grows in popularity and a newer group of people chose those names as a first name.

Jude's an ugly name innit

I'm going to guess that the Beatles name is Jude.

MrsC I'm wondering if you mean Lennon, that's my eldest son's name and he was born thirteen years before your son was. There were over 1500 children named Lennon born within two years either side of mine and no doubt many more since. You said you're disappointed it had become popular but you were many years behind the trend I guess and I think it had a spike in popularity because that's what Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit called their son, who was born the year before mine, so it was probably kind of seized on by Oasis fans like me

Obviously if you're not referring to that name then fair enough