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Baby names

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

Original poster

Are popular names really all that bad?

112 replies

QueSyrahSyrah · 18/05/2024 19:53

I see often on MN name choices being warned against as they're 'so popular' and 'everywhere' (but at the same time, don't go too far against the grain because nobody will be able to spell or pronounce it!).

I've just been reading a couple of articles about the 2022 ONS baby names report that was published the other day and from +/- 300,000 boys born in 2002 in England and Wales, about 4500 of them were the most popular Noah, so 1.5%.

Of +/- 300,000 girls, about 3000 were Olivia, so 1%.

Obviously there's variance from area to area and by demographic so the percentage will probably be a bit higher in some places than others, but 1-1.5% doesn't seem all that overwhelming common to me.

I've spent a lot of time stressing myself out that some of our favourite names are in the top 10, but based on the above information I've decided to let it go and use the name we love regardless of how close to the top of the list it is.

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buolaoir · 18/05/2024 20:32

VelvetTurtle · 18/05/2024 19:59

Depends if it bothers you if your child will be one of 3/4 kids in the same class as them. It bothered me so yes I avoided popular names as didn't want my kids to be Amelia V or Olivia V all through school.

Not actually that likely to happen. There are 16,000 primary schools in England, so with only 3000 Olivia’s there are going to be many year groups without an Olivia in at all. In fact in my DC’s reception class I think there is only one top ten name. No Olivia’s, Amelia’s, Noah’s etc.

20 years ago the most popular name had about 10,000 uses each year, then even more than that the further back you go. Olivia wouldn’t even had made the top ten with 3000 uses back then.

Of course you can have name pockets, where you might get 3 in one class, but quite rare now days. And can happen in with any name. And some names blend so it feels like you hear them a lot. Eg there seem to be loads of short girls names ending in ‘a’. Mia, Maya, Isla, Ava etc

But if you like a name, I wouldn’t let being in the top 10 put you off now days.

Tessiebeare · 18/05/2024 20:29

I’m not sure you can always predict it though. My daughter has no girls with a top 10 name in her class of 29 but two Aurora’s and two Luna’s.

Porpoising · 18/05/2024 20:23

It really doesn’t bother me. I do find it a bit childish to be honest: people determined to show their uniqueness through their naming choices are a bit try-hard. I would probably try to avoid names that very obviously date for the child’s sake but that’s my only caveat.

whyhavetheygotsomany · 18/05/2024 20:20

I have an ella which wasn't popular when I named her but now it's really common. I still like the name though and it really suits her !

StarsBeneathMyFeet · 18/05/2024 20:20

I was one of six with my name by senior school (think top 5 early 80s names) and yeah, it was irritating. My name does have a variety of nicknames and spellings but still difficult to differentiate and I did insist on a name outside the top 10 for DD.

VelvetTurtle · 18/05/2024 20:17

QueSyrahSyrah · 18/05/2024 20:08

Well that's not a guarantee by any means is it?

There are circa 18,000 primary schools in England & Wales and 3000 Olivias born in 2022, so it stands to reason that there won't be 3-4 Olivias in each reception class in a few years time, unless you happen to be in a very Olivia dense area.

By secondary school there is more chance, but there are still more Secondary Schools than Olivias born in that year, and most with multiple classes/forms per year group.

Show quote history

Well unfortunately there was 3 Amelia's in my son's class. You asked why people didn't like popular names and that's my reason, yes you could name your child apple and there still be one in the class as well but that's far less likely so not really worth talking about and as it happens both my sons are the only ones in their whole school with their names.

OmuraWhale · 18/05/2024 20:08

My DD has a popular name. She's named after my grandmother but it's one of those names that has come back into fashion! She's often not the only one with her name in a class / sports club, but she doesn't care and she loves her name. DH and I love it too!

Original poster
QueSyrahSyrah · 18/05/2024 20:08

VelvetTurtle · 18/05/2024 19:59

Depends if it bothers you if your child will be one of 3/4 kids in the same class as them. It bothered me so yes I avoided popular names as didn't want my kids to be Amelia V or Olivia V all through school.

Well that's not a guarantee by any means is it?

There are circa 18,000 primary schools in England & Wales and 3000 Olivias born in 2022, so it stands to reason that there won't be 3-4 Olivias in each reception class in a few years time, unless you happen to be in a very Olivia dense area.

By secondary school there is more chance, but there are still more Secondary Schools than Olivias born in that year, and most with multiple classes/forms per year group.

OP posts:
SouthLondonMum22 · 18/05/2024 20:03

Popular names aren’t as popular as they were in say, the 80’s because more people are using a bigger variety of names now.

If you use the name Noah, it’s unlikely he’ll be one of 3-4 in his class.

takemeawayagain · 18/05/2024 20:02

Popular names are popular for a reason! Mine has a very popular name and i don't regret it. Use the name you love, you never know there might not be any others in their class anyway - or you could choose a name you think isn't so popular and find there is another one!

VelvetTurtle · 18/05/2024 19:59

Depends if it bothers you if your child will be one of 3/4 kids in the same class as them. It bothered me so yes I avoided popular names as didn't want my kids to be Amelia V or Olivia V all through school.

OliviaFlaversham · 18/05/2024 19:58

Some names sound more popular than the ONS could show. For example, Amelia, Mia, Amelie, Emily all sound similar and therefore to me sound more common than they actually are.

Whereas names like Thomas (although not now top 10) sound less common because there aren’t other names similar.