Bad idea to choose a popular name?

Pick a name you like.

I personally wouldn't pick a popular name. You can't move for Amelias around here. I would hate for my child to be known as Amelia 2, Amelia B etc.

I have an Isabel, despite what I read on here, she's the only one in her year and there are less than 5 in her multi entry primary school, I also have a Sam but he's never been bothered by the popularity of his name although there seem to be more younger than him than in his year

As many other posters have said you just don’t know what names you will stumble across.

My daughter is Evelyn on her BC (top 20 name now) but goes by Effie (in the 200s I believe) however I have never met another Evelyn and there is another Effie in our small village. I was in the hairdressers the other day and she said ‘oh Effie is getting popular now isn’t it?!’ It’s not-it’s just unusual names stick with you more so when you hear multiples you remember it more. I guess what I’m trying to say is pick a name you love because you could call her ABCDE and another one crop up down the street deeming you unimaginative

Lily's popularity has peaked while Jemima's seems to be rising.

I named my daughter Freya when it was quite low on the list of popular names. I thought it's rare enough that there won't be loads of them but not uncommon enough that people won't know how to spell. Now there are Freya's everywhere! Near enough everytime I go out the house there's someone calling after a little Freya. But I still love the name and can't imagine her being called anything else!
Just go with lily (I know more little Jemimas than I do Lily's - which won't mean a jot of difference to the amount of Lily's that are going to be born in your area)

You don’t know what name your child will end up using. SIL agonised over her name choice but as soon as her DD went to school she was nicknamed Orly by the other kids because their surname is Orleman. Now she prefers Orly to her actual name. Just pick whatever name you like!

But it doesn't

Lily is very popular at the school I work with.Its a lovely name about it diesmt stand out iykwim

@Nowayorhighway ahh that is annoying x

Also the celeb is an A lister so I do blame her .

Erm, slight trajectory but she was one of 220 in the year she was born. There are now thousands born every year, gutting.

I agree you can’t predict that a particular name might suddenly boom (eg name Harper after the Beckhams used it)

But if you look at the trajectory on the dark greener website you can pretty much predict what will happen to most names @Nowayorhighway

Lily has been on a downward trajectory for years now (each and every year) so you can guess with some certainty that that pattern is likely to continue

I wonder if your daughters name was already coming up the charts even before the celeb used it? Have you checked the website. I’d be interested but I’m a name nerd 🙈

I also know more Jemimas than Lily’s

DS1 has a relatively uncommon (but classic/biblical) name. I have only ever met one other DC with the name...and they are in the same class at school! Neither of them are remotely bothered.
DS2 has a much more popular name. There are others in his school, but not in his class.
Use the name you love.

If you love a name, use it!

I have an Adam and in his 22 years, he's only encountered one other Adam and he's my first cousin and 41.

My daughter has a more unusual name and one of her high school teachers has her first and middle name too! I found that odd.

Lily is a great name and I'm sure your little girl will suit her name just fine.

There's nothing wrong with choosing a popular name, especially if it is fairly ordinary. Then at least the child will not hate it or grow up hearing fellow pupils taking the mick.

Lily is lovely.

Just use a name you like. My DD has a very common name but she was the only one in her small primary. Lots more in secondary though! There were two boys in her class who shared a very unusual name so you just don't know what will happen. Another friend of mine wanted an unusual name for their DS but it became very popular a couple of years after they named him - it's now in the top 10!

I have an Oliver. Everyone and my dog told me I would regret it there's millions now of them around. Haven't met a single other one his age or his older brother (8) everyone's too busy finding different and unique names.

If you love the name shouldn't matter

We also have one of the most common surnames 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have a Lily.

Before she was born I did think about it being too popular a name. But honestly, I just love it and am so glad I picked my favourite name rather than using one I didn't like as much just because it was more unusual. I won't have any regrets if there are 1 or 2 others in her class with the same name.

Go with you favourite!

@Lavenderblues I have one of those types of names and it drives me batshit sometimes - even my family spell it wrong sometimes 🤔

I guess I mean common as in popular, well known with traditional spelling (there are 4 variations of my very 80's name but mine is the least common form) rather than having to state the spelling before they ask.

Added to this is my unusual seemingly unpronounceable surname.

I wish I was called Amanda Smith or something as it'd be less tedious 🤣

We chose the name William for our son because we have a very unusual surname and I hoped that everyone at least would be able to spell "Will". I was fully prepared for there to be hundreds of other little boys with the same name, but in fact there was only one other William at his first Primary. He's since moved to a different school and was delighted to find he's now one of four.
Just choose the name you like, that suits your baby and honours your own traditions.

I have a very popular name for my age group. It was a bit annoying at school, then wasn’t a problem for years until recently as my brother is dating a woman with my name which is apparently super difficult for people to deal with . It gets annoying when my family then decide that they get to refer to me as Bat 2nd name or a freaking nickname that I’ve never had because of it! I’m your bloody daughter!

I've never understood why people are so against using a popular name.

Just pick your favourite name and use it!

I have a name that I need to spell all the time and would rather have a common name.

Common does not mean obvious to spell (eg Catherine/Kathryn, Clare/Clair etc) and equally unusual names (as in not popular) are often super easy to spell!

Popular names have two disadvantages

1. they are fashionable for a few years and inevitably fall out of fashion, often sounding 'dated'

2. they don't do a good job at identifying a person, who often has to add a surname initial or other adjective.