Traditional names - too common?

northernftm · 2021-01-11T15:02:27+00:00

Is William too common these days? I really like it but hate the idea that the whole class will be full of them. What do you think? Any suggestions for similar vibe names? We like traditional sounding names, for example my nightmare names are things like Jaxon and Levi! So like, whatever is the opposite of those..? Thanks!

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yorkshireeveninglost · 14/01/2021 16:14

@EuphieKat

FWIW, at DD’s school (Welsh Valleys school, not a very affluent area at all...not that it matters) there are multiple Williams but no Jaxons or Levis. As a pp said, Levi is a biblical name so I don’t see the correlation.

Yep, biblical or not, used to work in schools, and the Levi's were always the super rough kids stabbing other kids, stealing etc. It had a bit of a moment amongst a certain demographic. The new ones fitting that are the Jaxons and Jax, Riots and Zaydens at the moment. Harsh but not untrue.

EuphieKat · 14/01/2021 06:12

FWIW, at DD’s school (Welsh Valleys school, not a very affluent area at all...not that it matters) there are multiple Williams but no Jaxons or Levis. As a pp said, Levi is a biblical name so I don’t see the correlation.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 12/01/2021 18:25

Daniel
Edward
Theodore
Harry
Matthew
Luke
Adam
Samuel
James
Jack
Patrick

VienneseWhirligig · 12/01/2021 18:19

I think if I was having a baby now, I'd be looking at names like your preferences. William is a great name.

Richard
Anthony
Martin
George
Roderick
Laurence
Erik
Granville (bit of a wildcard)
Michael

Mumoftwoinprimary · 12/01/2021 18:17

My son had a William, a Levi and a Jaxon in his reception class.

As the Levi had very religious parents and knowing the (biblical) names of Levi’s siblings I would describe him as a “biblical Levi” not a “trendy Levi”.

EngineeringFix · 12/01/2021 18:14

There are more names used nowadays so fewer kids with any one name.
( Except Oliver..)

YoniAndGuy · 12/01/2021 18:10

Levi? WTF, what a strange example to use!

Levi is far, far older than William!

Chilldonaldchill · 12/01/2021 16:12

My children are a little older (teenagers). There was no William in their primary school at all throughout all their years there.
There is one William in each of their years at their v large secondary school (all known as Will). Both of them do a lot of extra curricular activities and there are no Williams at any of them either.
I have one friend with a William (sisters Grace and Ella) who is 13.

Bluesername · 12/01/2021 14:33

Nathaniel

Original poster

northernftm · 12/01/2021 11:25

@ethelredonagoodday

My DS in 7, there are 2 Williams, for example, in his year group (60 kids). We are in Yorkshire.

Wow, that's a lot less than I expected! Is there a name which lots of the kids have?

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Original poster

northernftm · 12/01/2021 11:24

@Pumpertrumper

Classic traditional names are popular for a reason!

They’re timeless and guaranteed not to cause embarrassment. They’re also pretty flexible so whoever your child turns out to be personality or lifestyle wise they’ll suit it.

I love William and wanted to use it for DS

Our top list included:

William
Charles
Edward
Henry
Thomas
George
Alexander
Oliver (although did think this was too popular even for us)

We went for one of those names in the end and are very happy with our choice. Naming a child is a real responsibility x

Love Oliver, but there's just too many!

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Pumpertrumper · 12/01/2021 06:59

Classic traditional names are popular for a reason!

They’re timeless and guaranteed not to cause embarrassment. They’re also pretty flexible so whoever your child turns out to be personality or lifestyle wise they’ll suit it.

I love William and wanted to use it for DS

Our top list included:

William
Charles
Edward
Henry
Thomas
George
Alexander
Oliver (although did think this was too popular even for us)

We went for one of those names in the end and are very happy with our choice. Naming a child is a real responsibility x

Mogwaimug · 12/01/2021 06:50

My DS are 5 and 7. We know no Williams. Plenty of Jaxons, Juniors and Ollie's though.

We have a Thomas and I am yet to encounter another at DS school.

Ellen35 · 12/01/2021 06:47

I have a 2yo William and we've never met another in any of the baby classes he did or at nursery. I don't think it's used that much at all. I think the trend at the mo is more for old names, but not necessarily classic or timeless which is what William is x

Original poster

northernftm · 11/01/2021 23:30

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

But other classic/traditional names not used very much now (if you want other options) - Hugh John Robert Phillip Nicholas Stephen Richard Mark Edmund

Thanks!

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FawnDrench · 11/01/2021 18:45

Wilbur
Wallace
Wesley
Stanley
Clive
Cyril
Francis
Jeremy

Trer · 11/01/2021 17:30

Levi is as traditional as it gets

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/01/2021 17:26

But other classic/traditional names not used very much now (if you want other options) -
Hugh
John
Robert
Phillip
Nicholas
Stephen
Richard
Mark
Edmund

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/01/2021 17:22

@FluffyEggsontoast

William is a lovely name, it's currently number 17 in the charts according to the official figures but if you look into the numbers, the numbers of Williams born has been falling each and every year since 2000 when it peaked. The name looks set to leave the top 20 by the time the 2020 statistics are released so I'd say it's an excellent choice.

Some slightly more underused classic gems:
Peter
Tristan
Simon
Laurence
Matthew
Christopher

Agree with this post. It's also worth using the ONS table to check how popular William was in your area last year - as there could be wide regional differences (you could be gutted if you chose something more "uncommon" that you liked less, but which turned out to be very popular where you live!)

BTW William is lovely - so many great namesakes and it's very classic and timeless (in fact I think it's stayed in the top 50 since the 1300's!)

Original poster

northernftm · 11/01/2021 16:55

@bridgetreilly

I really like it but hate the idea that the whole class will be full of them.

It won't be. The class will be full of Jaxsons and Levis.

😂 do you think?

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bridgetreilly · 11/01/2021 16:50

I really like it but hate the idea that the whole class will be full of them.

It won't be. The class will be full of Jaxsons and Levis.

Original poster

northernftm · 11/01/2021 16:45

@FluffyEggsontoast

William is a lovely name, it's currently number 17 in the charts according to the official figures but if you look into the numbers, the numbers of Williams born has been falling each and every year since 2000 when it peaked. The name looks set to leave the top 20 by the time the 2020 statistics are released so I'd say it's an excellent choice.

Some slightly more underused classic gems:
Peter
Tristan
Simon
Laurence
Matthew
Christopher

We did consider Lawrence but worried it was a bit.. frilly?

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FluffyEggsontoast · 11/01/2021 15:41

William is a lovely name, it's currently number 17 in the charts according to the official figures but if you look into the numbers, the numbers of Williams born has been falling each and every year since 2000 when it peaked. The name looks set to leave the top 20 by the time the 2020 statistics are released so I'd say it's an excellent choice.

Some slightly more underused classic gems:
Peter
Tristan
Simon
Laurence
Matthew
Christopher

Haworthia · 11/01/2021 15:28

Take a look at the baby name stats - you might find some trad but less popular names you like (scroll down to #7 which will give you a spreadsheet link).

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/babynamesenglandandwales/2019#baby-names-data

This is how DH and I named our son We wrote down our favourites and there was one we both agreed on!

PinkyParrot · 11/01/2021 15:24

Matthew?