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?

Out of the last 10 years teaching reception here are the number of children I have taught with the top ten names.

Olivia - 0
Amelia - 1
Emily - 0
Isla - 0
Ava - 1
Isabella - 0
Lily - 2 (including Lilly)
Jessica - 2
Ella - 1
Mia - 1

Oliver - 0
Harry - 0
George - 1
Jack - 2
Jacob - 2
Noah - 1
Charlie - 0
Muhammed - 0 (technically 1 but he used his middle name)
Thomas - 1
Oscar - 0

They might be common but not that common.

My name dates me as about 15 years younger than I actually am.

Touchmybum my point exactly. My friends Molly is in her mid twenties. Quite uncommon then.

Androidsdreamofelectricsheep

I left David off the boys list! That was very popular.

There was a bit more variety in names for girls.

A lot of Janes, Sarahs, Clares, Lauras, Rebeccas, Vickys knocking about.

Two of my children have names in the top ten! With my first child, I just loved the name, knew the name was popular but not how popular. I still love it though. With my daughter, we loved the name so used it - she is 7 and so far has never had anyone else in her class with the same name, despite their being several repeated names which are actually less popular according to the statistics. We have quite an usual surname though, although I know that there is one other person with the exact same name as my first son, and another who recently died who had the same name as my last son in our town.

I have to admit that when I meet, say, a Finn and an Oscar, part of me (the mean part) thinks 'why did you bother, may as well have called them boy 1 and boy 2'.

I LOVE the name Mary!

There's unusual and there's downright wierd. It's ok for Paula and Gwyneth to call their kids alter fruits but most people don't want their children teased endlessly because they're named after a make of cheap plonk, for example. My DH once had an Errol-Elvis in his class who sat next to Sid-Timothy. And then there was the very unfortunately named Latrine.......No, better to have a common name everyone can write and pronounce without endless repitions. Life's hard enough without being lumbered with the Christian name Wylde, especially if your surname is Bull.

Freckled frog I think your post is very strange. You pick the name you like, for you and your child. I found choosing names incredibly stressful with my first child (a DD) it took me and DH literally ages to pick a list we both could agree on and when we finally chose the name it happened to be very popular. It did put me off to a certain extent but the names I loved DH couldn't stand. The majority of the names he loved I couldn't get on with either. The name we ended up with has always been one of his favorites and to be honest it suits her. Out of the 60 kids in her year, there are three. One of the three shares her birthday. She is known as Olivia F (not actually her name) but who the hell cares? Each to their own and I think we are getting far too 'judgey' of our peers. My SIL chose more unusual names for her kids but they know others what's the problem

Boysofmelody she isn't any of those, although my niece is a Sarah.

My daughter chose to name her daughter Emily which is one of the top three and we were greatly relieved that they chose such a pretty name and I don't see why it wouldn't be a problem. I am Susan which was very common in those days and it was never a problem for me.

These names are popular because they are nice, traditional, classic names that won't date over time. I'd far rather one of these than a celebrity-inspired "trendy" name.

My son has a top five name. He's never had another in his class, at primary or now secondary. Not even another in his year group. We know of a couple of others, but not many - and we don't live rurally, we live in the SE!

It was a family name, and 12 years ago not nearly as popular as it is now.

DS2 has a name which is up in the 300s which surprised me, as I always thought it would be more popular than it is. He loves never having met another with his name. But hates not finding pens/tat with his name on in gift shops!

My daughters name is in the top ten, she had a girl in with the same name in pre-school, but not since starting school.
Funnily enough, I know more children with the same name as my son, which is towards the bottom of the 100 list (well it was in the top 100 last time I checked, maybe in 2015)
I named her it because I liked the name.
What other people name their kids didn't come into it for me.

YABU, my first has a more uncommon name but my second turned out to be the most popular this year however it was the only one DH and I both liked!

If someone went all judgey because ds has a popular name I would tell then to shove it. He is named after my late dad (and grandfather), and I can't think of a better man to name my son after. At least the name has a lot of meaning to us rather than trying to be trendy and unique with a stupid bloody spelling!

Yes. You are. Parents pick names for their kids because they like them or they have a special meaning. Whether that name appears on some top 10 or not doesn't matter a jot. Each child is individual and what they are named doesn't need judgement from anyone.

AIBU to wonder why you wouldn't give your child a named in the top ten if you really like it?

DS2 has a top ten name. It wasn't even in the top 40 when we named him, in fact when I was in hospital for weeks before I had him loads of women said "you can't name him that" and tried to change my mind.

His name is lovely, hence why it's so popular. I'd rather him be called what he is than some original name that he'd have to go through his life spelling out.

You can't win. People judge you for giving your children a popular name and they judge you for being unique. How about you mind your own business?

3 of my 6 have names that were in the top 10...so?

I am more concerned that they have names that suit them and will not be a hindrance to them later in life than being yoooneeeeeek

My son is 7 and we chose Oliver without looking at lists of popular names. We had three names we liked for both boy or girl and both of us said once we saw him he’s definitely an Oliver. We both like traditional names and wouldn’t pick something just because it was popular. He’s the only Oliver in his class.

I chose unusual names for my children but then someone famous came along and it became popular. My DS1s name I had only ever known one boy growing up with his name and decided then (age 14) that I would call my son that. A sportstar appeared when he was 4 and every boy was called it. The same for DS2 and DS3. So while their names were unusual at the time, they aren't now.

I do have an unusual name (45 yrs ago was a rather historic name). I have only ever met 2 people with the same name. My DS and DD have names that are in the top 50. Who cares!? The names were chosen (they are now 13 & 10) as both parents loved them & they 'suited' each child at birth. They are more traditional than query and I did NOT want them to called after a fruit, vegetable or destination. My choice xxx

I have an unusual culturally-specific first name paired with a slightly unusual English surname. I'd absolutely love the anonymity of being an Olivia Brown. A quick google gives anyone my employment history, current address, religious affiliation. I hate it.

Thomas, Jack, Harry, Oliver. They're classic names! There are 90 year old Thomas' and Thomas' being born today. It's not going to date

Apart from Thomas these are trendy names which will date just like Gary and Kevin!

Harry is popular because of Harry Potter and Prince Harry (actually Henry).

It was unheard of between the 60s and 80s.