Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is Amelia really that bad?

209 replies

FleursDeFilles · 15/05/2024 02:02

We named our DC Amelia because it worked well with English speakers, DH's non-western background and also my heritage. We get lots of compliments for it too. But then the other day I read a thread on MN about naming a baby Amelia. And it sounds like it's a very overused name. I'm so sad. I really didn't realise it was so overdone and common right now.

YANBU - Amelia is a nice name
YABU - Amelia is a rubbish name

OP posts:
hattie43 · 15/05/2024 06:31

Amelia is a lovely name .

Okaythenboss · 15/05/2024 06:31

I put YABU because I think what random people on the internet may think should be pretty low on the list of considerations when you’re choosing to name your children. Also YABU because it’s not a bad name (in my random internet opinion).

LeonoraFlorence · 15/05/2024 06:31

I have an Emilia. Also love Amelia. It’s popular for a reason! It’s a beautiful name, OP.

AlexaPlaySomeHappyHardcore · 15/05/2024 06:31

It’s a popular name in Britain but it’s popular for a reason. Don’t let people on the internet make you feel crap about the name you picked for your child.

PurpleChrayn · 15/05/2024 06:32

It's a bit whiny and it means "no limbs" but a lot of people like it and us it.

Pottedpalm · 15/05/2024 06:36

It’s a lovely name! Why is it necessary to ‘think outside the box’ for your child’s name? My name is probably unique due to my parent spelling a pretty uncommon name wrongly and as I child I found it quite embarrassing and longed for a common name.

Yodeling · 15/05/2024 06:37

We are in the USA. My son's 17 year old girlfriend is called Olivia and it's still reigning supreme as the most popular baby girl's name in the USA for 2023. I still think its a beautiful name, even though it's been going strong and very popular for 25 years. I think Amelia is similar. They are popular for a reason, they're both classically beautiful.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 15/05/2024 06:43

It’s not particularly to my taste but that’s not because it’s overly popular or not a nice name. It’s popular for a reason so stop stressing about it.

Toothless224 · 15/05/2024 06:48

My dd is amelia she's in her teens though
I'm not sure if it was popular when she was born or not. I just liked it and still do.

I think its really rude for people to go on at people about how horrible a name is when they are trying to name their baby. If you like it you use it. Its nothing to do with other people she's your child no one else's

Willmafrockfit · 15/05/2024 06:49

i nearly chose it for my dd but didnt as i knew it would become Amy

Maraa · 15/05/2024 06:52

It’s a lovely name. It does seem quite popular on these posts but I have two kids one in school and one in nursery and only know of 1 child names Amelia. However a more unusual name I know of two in the same school. If you love the name it’s perfect, don’t listen to mumsnet

Woahtherehoney · 15/05/2024 06:53

Some people have this really weird complex about naming their child something ‘popular’ - like it would be the worst thing in the world for their kids name to be in the top ten or something!

Names are usually popular for a reason - because they are nice names that are popular across the ages. Amelia is a pretty name and that’s why people like it. So don’t worry OP!

NotJohnMajor · 15/05/2024 07:01

Overused is just another term for 'popular' - it's popular for a reason! I think it's a lovely name.

In childhood, people are surrounded by people of the same age, at nursery, school, clubs etc, so you do find the popular name situation where there might be two or three in the same class.

That won't be so forever; your daughter's childhood will be a relatively short part of her whole life, the rest of her life she will be mixing with a range of generations so popular names of any given era will be diluted. I don't know any Amelias at work, even amongst the very young people!

LostTheMarble · 15/05/2024 07:04

It’s a lovely, ‘classic’ name. Yes there are more Amelia’s now but names go into flux. I have a MN Big NoNo name, believe me you’d rather have a common one than one that gets you called a ‘chav’ or similar insults.

0w1 · 15/05/2024 07:08

I couldn't vote because I quite like it. Jennifer was an incredibly popular name 40-60 years ago and I love that name. Lots of jennys but nobody is at a therapist saying well, this over used name was where it all began

CJsGoldfish · 15/05/2024 07:10

It's a lovely name

I wouldn't care about a name being 'popular'. People who obsess over name 'popularity' are the ones who end up with the Ahmeelyas of the world. Far, far worse 😂

RomeoMcFlourish · 15/05/2024 07:11

It’s popularity must vary massively depending on where you live - I’ve only ever known one Amelia, and there’s definitely not any young ones at DC’s school.

RomeoMcFlourish · 15/05/2024 07:11

Also think it’s a perfectly lovely name.

ForAPicnic · 15/05/2024 07:12

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Springchickenonion · 15/05/2024 07:14

It's a lovely name! That's why it's popular!

mogtheexcellent · 15/05/2024 07:20

It was the no 1 name the year my DD was born. Have yet to meet another at school. My DD is an Emma. Again gave yet to meet another at school (apart from one teaching assistant). Loads of Charlotte's though.

If you like it then use it.

PonyPatter44 · 15/05/2024 07:22

My cat is called Amelia. I chose it because its a pretty name and she is a pretty cat.

daisypond · 15/05/2024 07:23

It’s a nice name. I like it. I don’t know any.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 15/05/2024 07:24

It's a lovely name, which is why so many people have chosen it. The ones who say "it's too common now" are probably the ones who call their children Otillie and Jolyon.

VisitationRights · 15/05/2024 07:24

I think it is a very pretty name but didn’t choose it as it was too popular for my liking.

2011-2021 it was either the first or second most popular baby name for girls in England and Wales so there is no doubt it is very popular. Some see that as a good thing and others try to stay away from the most popular names.