ONS 2019 baby names

A unique name is, by definition, unique and has never been used before or since. It would not be included in the ONS lists as that only shows names with more than 3 births, for privacy reasons.

I don't know anyone with such a unique name.

But I know lots of people with interesting and memorable names!

For me, and I can only speak for myself, there are some names that are SO common I just find them really basic. I know so many Williams, Georges, Emilys, Sophies and Isabellas (also Sophia and Isabelle of course). Literally three or four of each - if not more - in my child’s year group.

You say “basic”... can you elaborate a bit more? Which I’m aware might read that I’m being obnoxious but I promise this is being asked out of fascination. And is a light hearted ask. Is it that the kids all lose their personality a bit because they get muddled up? Or frustration that you don’t know which one your child is talking about? Or something completely different...

There are literally thousands of names outside the top 100 or even outside the top 1000 most popular names. So many perfectly normal beautiful names to choose from!

There's no need for whacky or made up names.

My ds's name was used 30 times last year, yet it's a normal easy to spell name.

That would be a fascinating analysis - to take the people with the top ten names of the 70s and 80s and to see what they have named their own children. And analysis the other way. To see if the people with “unique names” went the same way.

When my grandmother was born the doctor said she wouldn’t make the night so they just gave her a placeholder name (along the lines of being called “Diamond”). She had two daughters; one was given a top 10 name (I assume top 10, not far off if it wasn’t) and one was given a unique name. I wish she was still alive to ask her why, but I suspect it was just because she liked the names. My grandmother didn’t mind having a unique name but its one of those words that everyone would know how to spell/pronounce and she was quite proud of the fact she proved the doctor wrong so liked explaining her name. My mother, with the unique name, absolutely hates it. And her three children were all given common names.

I guess our names are a way to identify us. But I don’t mind being “Emily Smith” as opposed to just “Emily”. It’s not like my entire identity is being Emily. At university, there were a lot of Daves, and we ended up with “Tanned Dave”, “Psychology Dave”, “Skiier Dave”. “Cockney Dave”.

I don’t think having a unique name is a problem per se, but it appears to be one of the top priorities. And then I see people getting angry if there is another one and proud when there are only a few. I noticed the list had a lot of “Margaux”s for example, instead of sticking to “Margot”.

I often read the baby names forum and want to ask “well why does the name need to be unique?” but never have as it’s not a helpful comment. Plus it’s not a judgement of one particular name, just a curiosity about the whole trend.

Why are unique names so fashionable? As in, why do so many people want names that no one else has.

For me, and I can only speak for myself, there are some names that are SO common I just find them really basic. I know so many Williams, Georges, Emilys, Sophies and Isabellas (also Sophia and Isabelle of course). Literally three or four of each - if not more - in my child’s year group.

Although I never wanted unique names (there is nothing good about having a name that’s literally unique, because that means it’s either misspelled or a bizarre double-barrel combo ). I did want my children to be different and to stand out.

I think there’s no middle ground when it comes to baby names. You either care about choosing something less common or you don’t.

Someone at work had an Amelia and chose it because it's 'unusual' basing that on the fact there weren't many when they were growing up and was quite annoyed to find out just how popular it is!
Yes I feel like people still use Amelia as the more interesting / less common Emily when that’s been the case for some time.

When I was at school I knew an Amelia and a Sophia and both those names seemed almost exotic I wouldn’t be surprised if some people did think “when I have a daughter I’m going to name her Amelia/ Sophia...”

Freya also surprises me because I thought it had its moment about 10 years a go but now it’s had a mini resurgence.
I’ve just looked it up on Darkgreener (they haven’t added the 2019 data yet) and yes it was on its way down.

@Lebkuchenlove yes do agree with you that "names have a purpose to identify us"

It just doesn't work that well for me in practice. I just find it so much easier to remember certain common names than some rare ones. I know two little girls called Isla in the same class and I never forget their names when I bump into them. But then there's one girl I know with a similar name called either Iona or Ione and I can never remember it. I keep having to look it up. So I know many may think she has a really identifiable name but it's the opposite to me.
Same with this one lady I know called Atlas which is obviously a very rare name for a 30 year old but I always forget it but she has a family member called Emma and I never forget her name, if that makes sense

Does anyone know why Freya has suddenly made it into the top 10? It's been hovering between 18 and 21 since 2009 and now has climbed 8 places.

When I was at school Freya was a very popular name in 'what will you call your kids' conversations. Quite a few of the girls who loved Freya have now had daughters and several have named said daughters Freya.

I suspect people have gone for Freya as it was outside the Top 10 thinking it was a bit more unusual and lots of other people had the same idea and now it's shot up.

I also think a lot of people don't check the popularity charts, either because they're not bothered by popularity or don't think to. So people's idea of what's popular can be a bit skewed. Someone at work had an Amelia and chose it because it's 'unusual' basing that on the fact there weren't many when they were growing up and was quite annoyed to find out just how popular it is!

My daughters name has just moved into the Top 100. I kind of liked that it hovered for years just outside it.

Why are unique names so fashionable? As in, why do so many people want names that no one else has.

I think there are a few factors which have led to much greater diversity of names this century. People travel more and society is more multicultural in general. I also wonder if some parents who were themselves one of many Sarahs / Helens / Johns growing up may have disliked this and wanted a more unusual name for their own child. That would be a fascinating analysis - to take the people with the top ten names of the 70s and 80s and to see what they have named their own children.

When I was at school everyone was called Sarah and Emma. I have one of those types of names and I didn’t care there were four others

Many will disagree and would prefer to have a more memorable name! I know so many adult Steves, Andys and Sarahs...!

Names have a purpose- to identify us

@Babs709

I myself (a 70's baby) have a name that's unusual and frankly it was unique I have yet to meet another person with my name. No one struggled with it . I liked not being Sarah B or Sarah P and I wanted that for my children, Dh and I picked what I would call unusual but not weird names. People know my children's names but they are often names they do not know others called.

When ds started primary school (we had just moved county) one of the dads was named his name Conrad he said that at age 36 this was the first time he had met another Conrad. yet everyone knows the name.

For me that is the sort of names I like.

dd3 has risen to 189 sorry

Why are unique names so fashionable? As in, why do so many people want names that no one else has. When I was at school everyone was called Sarah and Emma. I have one of those types of names and I didn’t care there were four others. We had a “Rhia” and people struggled with her name. That was seen as exotic! I’m not judging, it genuinely confuses me. Curious to know what the psychology of it is. My DS name isn’t in the top 100 but it’s a common name generally across generations (think: “Peter” esque).

DS DD2 and 3 names have all kept out of the top 100 list. DD2 has risen to 189 ds and dd2 are in the thousands. Only 7 named DD2s name (the highest I can remember) 23 for DS. DD1 has steadily risen since we named her 22 years ago and is now 22nd. I would prefer for them to have known but not commonly known names but with DD1 Friends put a stop to that. Still, I love her name so :)

I had fun looking up my Danish cousin's children's names as they are in the top 100 in Denmark but barely feature here.

I do love this report every year it fascinates me and really brings out the geek in me :) (I say that proudly)

Snowball effect, I guess @evenprimrose

People meet baby with an uncommon name, they copy it (or tell their friends, who copy it). It happens again and again. Name slowly goes from outside the top 500 to inside the top 50.

I suppose it’s trend-led as well. Take “old lady” names. Florence, Edie, Elsie and Mabel are hugely popular. People who like those kinds of names start looking for more obscure old lady names, which means they start climbing up the charts too.

It’s funny, because I just can’t see the next generation of old lady/man names having the same kind of renaissance. But I’m sure they will. Will our children name their babies Roger, Alan and Ian, or Sandra, Susan and Debbie?

Because everyone else is also looking for interesting underused names and avoiding the fashionable/overused ones.

The problem arises if everyone goes for the same ones!

It's so interesting how everyone starts liking previously rare names at the same time! Why is that?

I’m surprised at Dua too! But I know it means “love” in Albanian, so I can imagine fans of Dua Lipa knowing that and thinking it’s romantic. Reminds me of how popular Seren is, because it means “star” in Welsh.

I see my daughter’s name has entered the top 50. Over 1000 babies! I remember when it was so rare, there were less than 50 babies per year given that name. My girl is about to turn nine so it’s amazing how trends change. Fuming

Not suprised Arthur is so high, I hear it everywhere.
Oh yeah I remember reading that based on the 2018 and previous data that Arthur’s fast rise put it on track to be a future number 1.
Looks like it’s still going strong based on 2019... I wonder if in 2021 or 2022 it will knock Oliver off the top spot? Kind of hope so.

I also found the breakdown by age really interesting, for example Harper is really popular among under 25s and Charlotte with the over 35s although I was surprised that Sienna was more popular with older mothers than younger ones.

Does anyone know why Freya has suddenly made it into the top 10? It's been hovering between 18 and 21 since 2009 and now has climbed 8 places.