Why did you (if you did) choose a popular name?

When we chose our names they weren’t in top ten, one of them was around 53. Then they shot up in popularity. Our eldest I definitely would have thought twice if I’d known how popular it would become.

I have an unusual name and no one ever gets it right. I wanted a name that people understood for my son. As it turns out, it was the most popular in our county for the year, shooting up from number 20 the year before 🤦‍♀️.

Do people really avoid names they like just because they are popular?

Yes. My name was very popular when I was younger and at school and now at work there are lots of us. My name doesn't feel like mine. My DC all have names that aren't popular and I deliberately avoided a name I liked because it was a top 10 name.

My child with the most popular name was top 30 ish, so not that popular, but relatively so. We just picked the name we wanted, regardless of popularity.

I was keen to avoid 5 in the same class (less likely these days and not something you can control anyway), and don’t want a name I knew someone with already so it had no existing associations. Otherwise, I didn’t care.

Do people really avoid names they like just because they are popular?

I think it's all down to people's personal experience with their own name. If you hated being one of three Sarahs in your class you'll probably be more conscious of not choosing a popular name. Likewise, if you had an unusual name and were picked on for it you'll likely appreciate more common names.

Picked very popular names for both of mine. We rarely go out to places like soft play without coming across other children of the same names! For us, we just liked the names and we didn't (don't) mind that they're popular. The only thing that would put me off using a name is if a very close friend or family member had used it first. Not sure why really, just wouldn't want them to think we'd copied them I suppose lol!

Similar to a pp, I chose a name that I knew noone with, I had never taught one, noone I knew knew of one... and about 10 years later it was in the top 5. I feel unreasonably cross about people using it as I get lots of "oh I know 4 of those!" type comments, when it genuinely was an underused name at the time and I specifically did not want a common name. I now really dislike her name, because it's bloody everywhere.

We chose a name in the top 10 when DS was born nearly 5 years ago, it isn't now.

We liked it, everyone knows how to spell it and pronounce it (unlike our surname!), it's a classic name which will suit him his whole life.

There's usually a reason names are popular- people like them.

I purposely chose a name that wasn't in the top 100 24 years ago. That backfired. It's now in the top 15.

I have a very unusual name that always meant there were uninvited comments. I'd have loved to be Susan. Therefore my DC have classic, traditional names which have no alternative spellings.

My name was top ten the year I was born. Mum chose it because it’s a family name and she had been living overseas and was not aware of its popularity. I did not particularly enjoy being referred to as ‘Crikey number 3’ or ‘Crikey with the long hair’ growing up so I purposefully have my DD a name not in the top 100!

I'm so surprised that Lachlan is number 2 in NZ.

I have a Lauchlan (family name, my mam's maiden name was McLauchlan and I have no girls to name after her and I love the name). There are none in his primary school
atall and I think it was number 400 and something the year he was born and not that popular now. We're in Scotland so both Lauchlan and Lachlan are used but more so on the East Coast and I'm West.

Here Lachlan us pronounced Lack- lin and Lauchlan Loch- lin. How is Lachlan pronounced in NZ? Just interested.

We were going to go with Olivia for a long time. I have always loved the name. I loved it before it was crazy popular. I also don’t personally know anyone with an Olivia and, although there has been one in every class I’ve taught for the last 10 years or so, there’s never been more than one per class. (For comparison I’ve taught classes with 4 Isabellas (another favourite), 4 x variations of Eve/Eva/Ava/Evie and 2 of lots of other names).

The popularity put me off slightly and is probably partly why we chose another name, but the other reason is that the name we chose had a family connection and also just felt right as soon as she was born.

The name we’ve ended up with is a name I’ve never taught a child with and again don’t know anyone personally with. It rose in popularity last year though and is now top 50, and I’ve come across 2 more in baby groups I’m in (online so not necessarily local) so I’ve a feeling it will be more popular when the figures are announced for this year.

My friend chose a top 5 name for the year her daughter was born. She simply had no idea it was so popular. We joke about it because although according to the figures it was top 5 that year and is still high in popularity now, neither of us have ever come across another one (different ends of the country).

For DD1 I had chosen my girls name long before I even stated ttc, DH also was in favour. It isn’t top ten popular but is well known and traditional. For DD2 we had 2 names we both loved the one we went with is often in the top 10, she always has at least one friend with the same name, she has never been bothered and is now an adult.
I wouldn’t choose a fad name as then it seems like you are low on initiative but no problem with classics and traditional

My name was more popular in the 60s, 70s so I wasn’t the only one in my year/class at school. But it is still around now roughly one per school year in our area

Because when I first saw his little face he was Oliver. It's hard to explain as that wasn't even on the list. To be fair he's the only one at school and have never met another little Oliver so while yes it is common we haven't come across anyone else with the name.

@CaffiSaliMali my DD has a welsh name but we live in England (I was born in Wales) and I was surprised to meet more than one little girl around here with the same name. On the plus side they are the ones who know how to pronounce the name lol. It always surprises me how many people struggle with her name

Initially I wanted names that were not particularly popular. Then I realised that many of the names people chose trying to be different and unique kind of blend into one.

Also hate the trend of making up a spelling just to make a name appear special. Jorja for example.

I wanted something timeless, classless, easy to pronounce, easy to spell and I think really there's a reason that names are popular, because they are nice.

Ended up with 2 dc who both have names that often feature in the top 10. It isn't an issue to me, they are the only ones of their names in their class also.

I didn't look at name lists or consider popularity when naming our children. I don't care. My own first name was really, really popular in my generation, it has never been an issue.

Do people really avoid names they like just because they are popular?

I wouldn't want to pick a popular name unless I really loved it or it was very meaningful for me. I would ignore popularity for Isabel, which I've loved since childhood, but my niece is already called Isabel, so I can't use it.

I have an unusual name (well, unusual in England, it's perfectly normal in Wales, but I was born and raised in England). I have always liked having a less common name which reflects my heritage and want similar for my DC.

As I want a Welsh name for my DC if possible, by definition they are having an unpopular name as there aren't many Welsh names in the Top 100 names in England. Some of the names I like are very popular in Wales, which doesn't bother me.

Most of the non-Welsh names I like are outside the top 100 - Patrick and Juliet for example. They aren't overused but aren't particularly 'out there' either. There are lots of lovely names which fall into that category.

Different strokes and all that.

It was a family name. Chosen long before the baby existed.

I think a lot of people don't necessarily know what's popular name wise until their child is born and they start going to baby groups.

My parents and PIL find the names of our friends children 'odd'. They are names like Freya, Phoebe and Annabelle and Arlo, Arthur and Reuben. Their idea of 'normal, popular names' are very 80s ones like Sarah which are now outside the top 100.

I know my Aunt deliberately chose popular names for her children so they wouldn't stand out and would hopefully avoid name based teasing. Their names are very dated now as they were very 'of the moment' and although they weren't teased for them as children, they have been teased as adults.

Back in the dark ages of the 1980's when my 2 oldest DD were born, no-one considered the popularity of a name - simply whether you liked it!

My oldest DD was 1 of 3 in her class sharing a name, the younger was the only one in her year and hers is a very traditional name. 20+ years later their little sister is the only one we know in her entire large comprehensive school. We chose it for family connections rather than individuality.

Do people really avoid names they like just because they are popular?

I find it strange when people make such a big deal out of other people having the same name. If a name is popular, it's because lots of people like that name because it's a nice name!
If you focus too much on having a name that no one else has, then you could end up feeling very disappointed when another kid in your child's class has the same name and it's been such a big thing to have something 'unique' that no one else has.

Because its a classic name which doesn't age and I like it!