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Baby names

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

Original poster

James - too popular?

38 replies

naturelover · 02/08/2009 12:35

DH and I love the name James.

What has put me off so far is the idea that it's in the top 10 so I'm concerned that he would be one of several boys named James in his class/school - which I'm keen to avoid.

That said, I haven't met a single James for years... so how popular is it really? Have you come across many baby James recently?

PS our second choice is Christian which is much further down the list for popularity.

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BexJ78 · 04/08/2009 21:20

my husband is called james, as is his dad and half of his family. is a good traditional name (so he would say!!) that is probably not going to look outdated in a few years.

crokky · 04/08/2009 20:36

James is a really nice name, I'd use it. Names are popular for a reason - because they are nice!

cookielove · 04/08/2009 20:34

actually if my sister had been a boy she would have been james, but oddly enough my brother who was born next wasn't

ByTheSea · 04/08/2009 20:32

I love it. If DD2 had been a boy, she would have been James. I spent the whole night in labour with the song 'Sweet Baby James' going through my head.

cookielove · 04/08/2009 20:20

oh and the Jamie is nicknamed Jam, by the nursery.

cookielove · 04/08/2009 20:19

i think james in popular in different areas, we have had constant james and jamies in the 6 years i have worked at nursery, we seem to constantly have a big jamie, a little jamie and a baby jamie, which we do at the moment, and 1 james, which makes it alot easier as one of the jamies is with james and they come to their different names, saying that we have an alex and an alexander and a jayden and aidan, all in the same room, basically all the children come at once

sybilfaulty · 04/08/2009 20:13

Oh I'd have loved a James, but our surname would not suit it alas. I have a godson called James and he is a lovely young fellow (nearly 12 now). We called him Jameski when he was little but stick to James now. He's never been a Jamie.

Classic name which would see him through any walk of life. I'd go for it. (PS ended up with a Matthew instead which is also gorgeous. He'll go through school being called Matthew J as there are lots of them round here, but I don't care)

cherrylips · 04/08/2009 20:08

My son's year at school has 65 children in it. He is the only James. There is one Joshua and 4 Jacks. I love the name too.

RubyBlueberry · 03/08/2009 22:46

It's quite lovely! We are in good company Mrs K!

MrsKitty · 03/08/2009 22:31

RubyBlue We often call our James "Jamesy" too!

MrsKitty · 03/08/2009 22:27

James is a beautiful strong name for a baby, boy or man. There's only 1 other in DS's nursery as far as I'm aware, and I've not met any others at playgroups etc.

If you both love it, then go for it. As others have said, it is popular, but it seems to be spread out across the whole country, as opposed to being saturated in lots of areas IYSWIM?

RubyBlueberry · 03/08/2009 22:27

My DS is a James, we had thought we'd nickname him JJ but we call him James. Sometimes I call him Jamesie which is cute but sounds a lot like his big sister's name oops. Loved the name for years, always thought I'd have a Jack but pleased we chose James!! Go for it!

It can be shortened / nicknamed so many things, he can call himself what he likes when he's a teenager (unlike MY name which is fecking horrendous, cheers Mum & Dad!)

honeydew · 03/08/2009 22:16

Can't stand the name Joshua- far too many of them and all known as 'Josh'. Hope no-one gets offended,so apologies but I think it's just awful. Far worse than Jack ( the most popular boy's name) if there are more 'Jacks'.

honeydew · 03/08/2009 22:12

Married to a James- love it! It is sophisiticated, sexy and savvy - one of the best male names. Think of all the famous James's;- James I, the Biblical James, James Bond, James T Kirk, James Dean etc. You can't go wrong!

noonar · 03/08/2009 16:59

however, i will have 3 joshuas in my class in sept.

noonar · 03/08/2009 16:58

i've been teaching for 14 years and have only ever taught 1 james.

simplesusan · 03/08/2009 16:40

Thank you Teamcullen- timeless, I think I have spent too much time on MN today and need a break!

Fillyjonk · 03/08/2009 16:33

oh also, even names in the top 10 are not THAT popular. Its not like in his class there will be 10 Jameses and then a Rupert, an Oscar and an Albert. There might be 5 or 6 in the SCHOOL.

teamcullen · 03/08/2009 16:30

simplesusan... is timeless the word your looking for?

Fillyjonk · 03/08/2009 16:29

if you love the name use it

it is popular because lots of people like it

having an unusual name is seriously over rated IMO, believe me, as the holder of an unusual name. Kids do seem to LIKE having the same name as other kids.

Also, re Christian, one thing is I would assume someone called Christian WAS Christians, iykwim. Just to bear in mind if you're not.

teamcullen · 03/08/2009 16:26

my middle DC is called James. Its my favorite name. (ha ha I dont tell the other 2 DCs that)

There where 3 James' in his class when he started in foundation but now he is the only one left.

By the way he has the most beatiful temperament as well. Dont know if that has anything to do with his name, but Ive never met a horrible James.

Plus the nursery where I work, 50+ children, we havent got any James'.

simplesusan · 03/08/2009 16:24

James is popular as it is a .........cannot think of the word.......you know a name that is never in or out of fashion.

What I mean is a James could be 100 years old or 1year old iykwim so a good name.

StinkyFart · 03/08/2009 16:17

oooh oooh tell us your girl name

StinkyFart · 03/08/2009 16:16

James is a fab name

go for it

Original poster
naturelover · 03/08/2009 16:01

Thanks everyone for your messages. That's encouraging to think that schools are not flooded with boys named James.

I think you're right Ninni, it's a popular middle name so that's why it's on the lists.

I think we'll go with James after all.

Of course, we might have a girl! We have a firm favourite for a girl so at least that decision is made.

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