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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Joseph - too popular?

23 replies

TabithaTwitchet · 21/10/2010 11:01

DH and I have long decided that if we have a boy we will call him Joseph.

Now I am having doubts. I love the name, and it has family significance, but I know lots of little Josephs, and it is making the name seem less special to me. I don't want my son to potentially have the same name as loads of his peers all through his life.

I want to use Joseph as the middle name, and use one of the names from our as-yet-undecided shortlist of middle names as a first name.

DH thinks our middle name choices are "too posh" for a first name, and that it is fine to have the same name as lots of your friends. He says we both really like the name, so we should just use it, problem solved and we won't have to spend the next 6 months arguing about names .

What is the consensus here?
Do you think it is really shallow to be put off a name just because it is popular?

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Komondor · 21/10/2010 11:10

My names popular, and its never bothered me.

christabell · 21/10/2010 11:32

I haven't encountered any little Josephs in 2 nurseries and various play groups and my daughter is nearly two. I still suffer periods of doubt over her name though, because although it is still my favourite name I did not realise how popular it was when I chose it. As a result, I seem to hear it everywhere, although it was not in the top ten or anything when she was born (somewhere in the thirties so suppose should not be surprised we encounter others!) I just think if you are tuned in to it you hear it more and remember, which is probably what is happening with you and Joseph! I think Joseph is a lovely name fwiw.

Simbacat · 21/10/2010 11:36

I have 3 nephews ( out if 5) called Joseph. One is called Joe all the time.

It's a good neutral name. Not posh, not common. Suits both adult and child. They can be Joe as a teenager etc

Expecting06112010 · 21/10/2010 12:16

I think its lovely, and i dont know one joseph!

Teapot13 · 21/10/2010 20:46

If you select a name that is such a timeless classic, there are bound to be others.

DH absolutely insisted on naming DD an extremely popular name. I love the name itself but didn't want one so popular. We could not find another that we both liked as well, though. In the end I decided that it was just as silly to refuse a name based on popularity as to select it based on popularity.

Faaamily · 21/10/2010 20:48

I know loads, but it's a nice name, isn't it? Most popular names are.

sleepyhorse · 21/10/2010 20:51

Hi I think Joseph is a gorgeous name - we are going to call our 2nd boy (am currently pregnant) Joseph Benjamin which I love.

I had the same concern as you regarding the popularity issue but to be honest I don't think it is that popular anyway, certainly not in these parts where I live (Bucks). There are no Joseph's at my other son's nursery and there are many children that go there. Also have lots of friends with kids - no Joe's or Joseph's)

Also I have decided that its much better to go for a name that you like even if it could be potentially popular rather than going for a risky name that could go either way.

Hulababy · 21/10/2010 20:55

Lovely name. I realy like the name Joseph. Would use it myself if I was able - can't as Joe would sound very silly with my surname King! Had DD been a boy it was going to be her middle name.

withorwithoutyou · 21/10/2010 20:58

Looooooove it, really not that popular IME.

Have 2 DD's who would have been Joseph if they were boys.

bundlebelly · 21/10/2010 21:00

I think the popularity things are sometimes misleading anyway. They say that Jack has been most popular for ten years or something, but I'm a mum and a teacher and can only think of a handful of Jacks I've had anything to do with, even with supply teaching in lots of schools. Where are all the Jacks?? If you love the name, use it! I did! Now preg with ds2 and struggling with name for him as I love the name Joseph so much. It's a classic and popular for a reason.

facebook · 21/10/2010 21:06

I have a 3 year old Joseph and he's beautiful! .

He has just started nursery and he's the only one in his class and in fact in the whole year group of 49 children so it doesn't seem to be overly popular here. There are 3 Jacob's in his class though so sometimes seemingly less common names are over used in certain areas, it's all down to chance so if u love the name, don't worry about it. Jack is supposidly the most popular name in the UK but I only know of 1 and there's not a single jack in ds' class.

Joseph is a gorgeous name, I still love it and never once regretted using it!

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 21/10/2010 21:06

I have a Joseph. Named after his grandfather. We'd decided if we had a son - that's what we'd call him. I have worried that it's quite popular, but in actual fact, we hardly know any others (not the same age anyway) - but I think it's a classic name, it suits his nearly 80 year old grandfather and it suits a two year old.

If you like it, use it.

ABitBatty · 21/10/2010 21:09

I have a Joseph too, he is nearly 9. I have come across only one other Joseph in ds3's nursery. I call mine 'Joe' all the time though and only Joseph if he is in trouble

facebook · 21/10/2010 21:15

Oh all the mummies of Joseph's are coming out of the wood work now! Perhaps it is popular lol! I have to say though that all th best names are popular for a reason, because they're nice names!

pooka · 21/10/2010 21:21

I agree with the poster that said that just because a name is in the top 10 doesn't mean that that name will be all around your ds at school/nursery and so on.

Jack being a very good example. Very popular name apparently. And yet not one in DD's year (year 3), or in DS1's (Reception). Don't think any in year 1 either. And don't know about the other years. So out of 180 children, not one Jack.

Re: Joseph. None in dd's year, none in ds1's. Think there is a Joseph in Year 6. But you get the picture.... :)

Round here the names that are all over the place are Thomas/Tom (though weirdly ds1 was at pre-school with 5, but he is the only Tom in his year). Also Joshua. And James.

I think Joe is a lovely name (I have one). We made a decision not to have Joseph though.

Original poster

TabithaTwitchet · 22/10/2010 11:34

Thanks :)
I am even more conflicted now

I suppose it is true that it is a classic name, you're always going to have some of them around (of all ages). I just suddenly felt there were lots of pre-school aged Josephs around, but maybe I am just listening out for the name more.

I'm going to spend the whole pregancy not being able to make up my mind, aren't I?

OP posts:

facebook · 24/10/2010 14:14

Yes unfortunitely . Seriously though I do believe if u love a name u will kick yourself for not using it! It's lovely and it's not overly popular. I think it's only number 17 or something like that, definitely not in the top 10 and hasn't been for decades so I wouldn't worry. I still love it.

WaftyCrank · 24/10/2010 19:37

I have a Joseph, who is 3.

He is 1 of 3 in his nursery class however one is just Joe and the other is Josef.

I still love his name though and would have had it regardless of popularity.

DS2 due in March will be Gabriel and everyone I've mentioned it too has given me a negative comment but I am still going to choose it as DP and I both love it and that's all that matters.

forehead · 24/10/2010 22:43

Wafty both beautiful names

itstheyearzero · 25/10/2010 07:19

I have a 22 month old Joseph, and obviously I love the name! At the nursery he attends he is the only Joseph. 3 boys started last week and they are all called Alfie! Stick with Joseph, its a lovely name.

sleepyhorse · 25/10/2010 09:56

It's the best boy's name!!!!!!!

Original poster

TabithaTwitchet · 25/10/2010 12:39

Wafty we obviously have similar taste, as Gabriel is one of our middle name choices (that DH doesn't want to use as a first name)

OP posts:

WaftyCrank · 25/10/2010 18:15

Thank you forehead :)

Joseph Gabriel sounds lovely together Tabitha. My Joseph is Joseph Payton and Gabriel will be Gabriel Luke.

Our DD is Lola and I keep joking I should change her name to a more religious one to fit in with the DS's.

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