To wonder why you would pick a name in the top 10?

[FreckledFrog]

So the latest top 100 baby names have been released this week. It has prompted me to wonder why on earth you would pick a name in the top 10-20 names.

There are thousands of beautiful, unique names out there, yet so many people are happy to pick the same names despite knowing their children will go to school with multiple Olivia's, Noah's, Amelia's or George's.

Do these people not desire some originality for their children?

Am I being unreasonable? I have a very very unusual name and have picked less common names for my children and I wonder if this clouds my judgement?

Presumably they are in the top 20 because they are lovely names.

Yet another way to judge parents - just call your child a name you love.

There are thousands of beautiful, unique names out there

They are not "unique", though, are they? Just as long as there are at least two people with the same name.

Maybe try something like aowihausdhyfia.

Do these people not desire some originality for their children?

Originality is overrated.

I wonder about this too. I have a friend who actually went through the list of top 10 names when she was pregnant with both her DC because she absolutely wanted to give them a popular name. I suppose the pp who said most people are ordinary so they aspire to that for their children too is spot on.
Fwiw I have a name that was in the top 10 when I was born and I decided to give my DC rare names. I have worked with a few people with extremely unusual names (one of them was called Baby ffs!) and while I don't like whacky names, I do like the fact that whenever someone mentions "Baby" everyone knows who you're talking about. I have always gone by my surname because there are so many women with my name.

How bizarre to think that having a 'unique' name makes you somehow special and individual.

I must immediately rush out and change my daughter's name from the lovely, classic top-15 name she currently has to something more 'unique'. Deztyinee-Leyigh, perhaps? Nevaeh-Rowze? Wouldn't want her to miss out in life because of a dull, unoriginal name...

And no, I didn't choose my DD's name because I want her to 'fit in'. I chose it because I've loved it since my own childhood.

I just picked names I liked, I didn't care if they were in the top 10. Mine was in the top 10 when I was born yet I only knew one other by the same name.

I have a Noah! I'm a teacher and have never taught a Noah nor do we know any others. Given it's a biblical name it has stood the test of time!

It is a beautiful name and we get lots of comments on it.

My name is not at all common or popular but is very much a traditional name-im not a fan!

My husband has possibly the most common name ever (think Dave but not Dave), so I use a cutesy nickname for him!

I've not RTFT but am interested to know what "unusual" names you have called your children OP? Bet I've taught a few....

I picked all my DCs' names because I loved the names and because they are also 'family' names. One of them is currently and has been for ages - maybe decades - in the top 10-20. The rest are fairly obscure.

There is a whole world of names between Olivia and George to Foxybelle or Oakleaf-pixiedust.

I personally chose names for my kids which weren't top 10, but which weren't what the fuck out there either.

Having said that, if you have a very unusual surname, a very common first name is a great idea.

My name is really common for my age group but hardly ever appears now. Certainly not in the top 100.

My DC have common names, they loved having friends at school with the same name - it seemed to forge an instant bond. At one point there were four with the same name in one class - think Lily, Lily, Lily and Lily. I never heard that it was a problem.

YABU
The criteria for me choosing a name:-
A name I like, that can be shortened to something nice if need be
A family connection
A name my children won't be embarrassed about and feel they blend in and don't stand out
A name that is suitable for both old and young
Both my children have top ten names which they like and have never once said they wish they had a unique name

@JimLahey

Game of Thrones names ....

I imagine that your children are more likely to hate having a "unique" name that nobody can pronounce/spell than a more common name.

mrsmargesimpson: We have a million Jacks, a fair few Alexander’s and a dearth of George’s, Harry’s, Alfie’s and Archie’s. They’re everywhere! But those names aren’t all as popular everywhere

... a "dearth of" means the opposite of what you think it does - it means a lack of/almost none.

Anyway, i have a very popular 80s name with two spelling variants, so despite it being extremely common people are always getting it wrong. I would absolutely give my child a top 10 name if that's what I liked, though as I intend to give my children Irish names (pregnant with first) they will end up with not especially common names in England anyway.

DD is named after her grandmother. Apparently her name is also one of the most popular for little girls right now. Am I supposed to care about that?

@Lweji

Your theory that originality is overrated actually BAFFLES me. I truly cannot understand why you would want to be the same as every body else. I'm not talking about crazy names here I'm talking about proper names that fall outside of the top 20.

@bookworm14

Having a name outside of the top 20 does nothing to make you a more unique person that's not my point. But it does make you a little more memorable in scenarios such as a job interview.

How I wish we were sharing our children's names here.

I truly cannot understand why you would want to be the same as every body else.
I didn't say that. There's a middle ground between being original and the same as everybody else. The fact is that most of us do want to belong and feel like people around us.
Or you wouldn't be asking here for our opinions. Presumably you want to feel you're not the only one wondering about names.

I'm not talking about crazy names here I'm talking about proper names that fall outside of the top 20.

Then, they are not unique, are they? Or original, even. Just less common.

But it does make you a little more memorable in scenarios such as a job interview.

It would be sad if people were chosen based on how memorable their name was rather than competence.

I suppose the pp who said most people are ordinary so they aspire to that for their children too is spot on.

Yeah because most high court judges and outstanding scientists have names like Amarylliz or Khaarl-Yohan. Crap, I've missed an opportunity to help DD become successful in life!

Aaaaaaaand we're back to class!

Reading this thread made me look up where my 2 DC's name come popularity wise. When I had DS 6 years ago his name was top 150 and DD's name was no. 25 two years ago. Now DD name isn't even top 50 and DS name is top 15!!
You never know what way trends are going to go. I just picked names I liked although I didn't use my absolute favourite name for DD as t seemed every child I met was called it

If my baby had been a girl it would have been a top 10 name. I liked it but must admit i was worried about there being lots. I had a boy and his name isn't even in the top 100

All of us are ordinary and unique at the same time.

We all have a set of characteristics that distinguishes us from everyone else.
Sometimes we value particular things and distinguish some people who excel at them.

Bill Gates can be as ordinary as you and me. I'm sure he values his ordinariness and how it makes him relate to people.
I suspect it's mostly ordinary people who aspire to uniqueness that value it so much. It shouldn't depend on a name, though.
I'd rather teach my child to value himself for what he is, in what makes him like other people as much as for what makes him different.