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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Accidentally chose a popular name...should I change it?

104 replies

Nameregretsagain · 10/05/2021 20:03

I named my baby after my godmother who is also my aunt. I really struggled to choose a name I liked and in the end decided to honour her. I do like the name but it was a compromise choice really as I couldn’t use my favourite name for other reasons and DH and I couldn’t agree. I’m not from the U.K. and it’s a name from my country. I’ve since discovered it’s having a total moment here and know of lots of other babies called this, apparently because of a tv series where one of the characters has this name. I’m gutted because people keep asking me if I’ve named her after this character and/or telling me how popular it is. I really don’t want these associations for my baby. She is 7 months old. Should I change it?

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bellaisle · 10/05/2021 20:39

Could you use Mae (pp May) as a shortened version.

I too don't know of any Maeve's or of the tv show.

Original poster
Nameregretsagain · 10/05/2021 20:38

A couple of people have asked me if it’s after the sex education character so at least some people do think that.

I do like it, but I don’t love it in the way I love my DC1’s name. If I really loved it then the popularity and tv issue wouldn’t bother me. A bigger issue is not knowing what I’d replace it with I suppose.

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 10/05/2021 20:33

It sounds like you don't like it regardless of the popularity.

I think it's completely fine to change it. Especially in these circumstances where she hasn't met many people and you aren't using the name yourselves.

Baconking · 10/05/2021 20:32

I find it hard to believe that anyone would think you'd named your baby after a character in sex education.
It's not even that popular a show. I haven't watched and no one I know has recommended it.

I also haven't heard of any baby Maeve's. The only one I know is in her 40s

Original poster
Nameregretsagain · 10/05/2021 20:32

@ZoyaTheDestroyer

It’s really not that popular, OP. It’s #218, joint with Leila, Maia, and Pearl.
I think that must be 2019 data though? I think it’s one of those that have risen super fast so expecting it to be well within the top 100 in 2020. I’m just basing this on the fact that every baby group I’ve brought her to has had at least one other one and several people I’ve told her name to have said that their niece/friend/cousin/neighbour has a baby called that, born in the last year. I’m in London.
OP posts:
MumofSpud · 10/05/2021 20:32

DD (15) was born and named a couple of months before a certain v v v popular book was published and her name was one of the main characters.
I taught her from a v early age to say NO when asked if she was named after this character!
Now her name is v v popular with younger girls but not her immediate peers (there are always threads about it on Mumsnet- it is v divisive!!)

MotherOfCrocodiles · 10/05/2021 20:31

Lovely name. I think it is a coincidence you met so many. It has gone up in popularity lately but it's still not in the top 200. names.darkgreener.com/#maeve

For comparison, there are 10 Sophia's for every Maeve.

Also, won't anyone be offended if you named her after a relative and then changed it?!

WaltzingBetty · 10/05/2021 20:29

It is definitely growing in popularity

names.darkgreener.com/#maeve

Lovely name though

Zarinea · 10/05/2021 20:29

No baby Maeves among the millions of under twos I know.

It would be a bit weird to change her name now - she probably knows it. I'd only do it for a very very good reason (perhaps like all those little girls called Isis a decade ago), not because of a TV show that will soon be forgotten.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 10/05/2021 20:29

It’s really not that popular, OP. It’s #218, joint with Leila, Maia, and Pearl.

Crosstrainer · 10/05/2021 20:29

Don’t worry about it. Really. If it’s popular, it’s because a lot of people like it. It’s her name and you chose it for reasons personal to you. Just go with it.

Original poster
Nameregretsagain · 10/05/2021 20:26

It’s one of the main characters in Sex Education apparently...I’ve never seen it myself.

OP posts:
Ylvamoon · 10/05/2021 20:25

Don't.

I am in a similar position. DShas a name that was fairly unusual 11 years ago... 3 years later it's made it into the top 20 and is now in the top 10 names.
I'm gutted, as DD has a unique name and wanted the same for DS.
But such is life, just go with the flow!

Original poster
Nameregretsagain · 10/05/2021 20:24

It seems to be one of those names that has come from nowhere. I have a 4 year old so know a lot of young children and never came across any, but since she’s been born there suddenly seem to be loads. There’s another thread on here asking about it where people have commented how popular it is. I would never call a child after a tv character in a million years and I’d hate people to assume that about her when she’s older. I don’t have a frontrunner alternative. Tbh we just call her baby most of the time anyway and she’s hardly met anyone because of covid.

OP posts:
Spectrumofhumanlife · 10/05/2021 20:22

I only know one Maeve and she’s 37! I don’t know any TV programmes which has a character of that name. I think you’re overthinking it.

LittleBearPad · 10/05/2021 20:22

Maeve is a lovely name and really not very popular (in the nicest way). Don’t change it Smile

Blowingagale · 10/05/2021 20:22

Say the name to your baby and maybe a couple of other names. If she recognises it and you like the name I’d keep it. If she doesn’t recognise it I’m not as sure.

SavoyCabbage · 10/05/2021 20:21

It's absolutely lovely. I wouldn't change it if you like it and are happy with it.

If you aren't then do change it. But not because you think it's too popular.

Flymetothestars · 10/05/2021 20:20

Maeve is gorgeous
I don't know any

I wouldn't change it unless you have another name youre 100% set on. Do you?

Skiddlingmama · 10/05/2021 20:19

I’m in Scotland and can’t say I’ve heard of any babies named that recently and I couldn’t even tell you what tv program it was from. Don’t over think it, it’s a beautiful name.

PhannyPharts · 10/05/2021 20:16

Maeve is beautiful.

Original poster
Nameregretsagain · 10/05/2021 20:15

It’s Maeve. I think if I’d loved it from the start I wouldn’t care about the popularity but it was always a compromise so I still feel very uncertain about it. I wanted a connection to my heritage but lots of the people I know who have used it don’t even realise it’s Irish.

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/05/2021 20:15

Don't change it just because of a TV series. Current popularity is annoying but imo the fact that it's also a family name and one that you like the sound of is more important.

Tlollj · 10/05/2021 20:12

I was just going to ask what the name is

TinaYouFatLard · 10/05/2021 20:10

It’s Arya isn’t it?

It’s a lovely name and people will forget Game of Thrones one day.

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