Chosen baby name: Rare? No, not any more!

[arabellaandbaby]

Hi All

I named my baby girl (who is now 9MO) Isla, thinking that it was rare. I even googled it before we committed it to the birth certificate lest people think it strange for a baby of no Scottish heritage, or in case it was considered strange altogether!

Since she was born though, I have come across 7 Islas in the nursery, playgroups and mum and baby groups, all around the same age as my DD. Before my DD came along, I hadn't heard of any Islas at all, and I know of so many young babies.

Anyone else out there who was trying to avoid their child having to potentially share a name with 2 or 3 other children in their class when they start school, but in fact, it seems to have gone the other way already? Similar to the Sarahs, Emmas, Rachels, Lauras, Louises etc to name a few in our generation?

Wonder what Myleene Klass will name her next baby. It seemed to make Ava very popular. If it's Orla I will cry!

Yes, definitely avoid any name of a currently big celeb or their offspring. Doomed to ubiquitousness every time.

Or any character in a popular soap.

My first I thought was unusual, not why I chose it though, and have since discovered that in all it's different forms is on the top 100 every year!

My second has a very unusual name although one that's well known enough that people don't question it - Mum took her to Ireland last week and was constantly asked "isn't that a boys name?" and had to explain to everyone the difference between the girls name and the boys name. My American friends never know how to say it.

I'm hoping to go for a name with a similar brief to number 2 but not sure how easy that's going to be.

I have one of the big 70s/80s name and always ended up with a number up to four being tagged on my name, even in a girls school in an area that meant the students were mainly Asian I was one of two in my form. I'd like to avoid a name that's too popular because I've been there but it's not a major factor.

Ah, we've just done this with Oscar.

DH and I chose it because a) we loved it and b) we thought it was a bit unusual.

Apparently at least half the boys in his nursery class will be called Oscar we now find! [oh pants emoticon]

Doesn't really matter though because we still love it (and him ).

I only know one Isla who is 3, but I am aware it is quite popular now. Who cares...it's popular for a reason huh!? My son is an Oliver and when I named him I had never come across an Oliver before....however, they seem to be everywhere now! I still really love the name so have no regrets.

EBD, you're not the only one. My friend was going to call her DS another name all through her PG 7 years ago and at the last minute changed her mind to Oscar as she thought it was more unusual.

We've never met or heard of anyone with the PG name, but Oscar now that's a different story.

Just out of interest, JJJ, what was the pg name?

I was against my DS1's name for being in the top 50 but so far we haven't come across any others. DD is probably one of the oldest in the country with her name, more have sprung up since a certain movie came out.
DS2 I am pretty confident will be a one and only for a while, unless we emigrate.

I had never heard of a child with DSs name until a couple of years ago although saying that still only heard of about 3 or 4 others. A boy at DDs tots group has the same name but they pronounce it wrong which badly grates.

Allie, the PG name was Angus which I think is cool, but am quite sure I will get flamed for that one

Nah, I think it's cool too. Would have thought about it for DS, but one of our cats is called Gus!

We had a cat called Elliot, when I was having DC1 DH once said "why don't we call the baby Elliot". I had to explain to him that yes I did like it, I'd choosen it for the cat afterall, but people might think that it showed an extrodinary lack of imagination if we used the same name twice

Not to mention the confusion when you talk about going on holiday/leaving food out etc!

Yeah, its a real shame for my DH, he honestly couldn't see that it would cause any confusion or even a raised eyebrow or two.

Isla is my name and I can honestly say I was slightly freaked out 5 years ago when loads of little'uns were suddenly running around with it. Most disturbing when you're used to being a rarity, especially in England.

Despite how mainstream its becoming I'm still forced to correct people on the pronunciation on a very regular basis. Bah.

This sounds like a lecture! not meaning it too, but I checked the statistics and looked to see how fast various names were rising. Ruby wasn't in the UK top 100 in 2002 early 2003 when I was looking through name books! Hard to believe now. I had a feeling though, looking at the American stats that it might be on the way up. The American stats are great. They list the top thousand names so you can really plot trends. If you're so inclined. I'm a name geek and I was! but that would be ludicrous to most people. I was doing a lot of research/analysis type stuff at work at the time. Think it spilled over.

Funnily enough, now, if I were to have another child, which I won't, I'd just call her Phoebe or Juliet and that'd be it. I love the names always have done and I wouldn't even look to see where on the charts it was. But I do understand that desire to give your child an unusual name.

When I gave birth to DD nearly 5 years ago all the midwives commented on what a lovely unuasual name she had. It is Ava.

These days they probably say 'not another bloody one'

Foundinhongkong, my son has quite a dated name and a good few times when I've called out *Victor, hold my hand!" some middle-aged guy has turned around and looked at me with confusion. (that's not the actual name)

Even though my som has a traditional name and neither myself nor dh knew anyone else (personally) with the same name when we named him, it became very popular.

I do think you notice your own child's name more though, so perhaps to others it may still seem relatively uncommon.

My parents chose (for me) a name from their generation ie a generation (and a half maybe)above mine and I HATED it gowing up. It was very unusual within my age group and I was very embarrassed to tell people my name.
Now my name seems quite cool (although I still don't like it as I think I'm scarred) and appealing but it doesn't seem to matter too much to me now - not like it did when I was growing up.

I would personally advise people not to go for a dated name for their child.

Thought i was being original when i called my kids kyle, jasper, alex and jess. I was wrong.

I gave DS2 a rare name...family were random strangers commented on it...7 years later it's in the top 10 of boys names, I think.

DD's name was becoming popular 5 years ago, so it's no surprise there is another girl in her class with the same name.

For once I will agree DH was right, and am glad we didn't go for Ruby...there are already 2 in her class!

edmundo - agree, i wouldn't advise people to choose a dated name - you are lucky yours is now fashionable - mine still isn't and i can't see it every being!

we chose a not very popular name and then the child's godparents used it as well.

I didn't know any Isabellas when I named dd1 in Jan 2008

DD2's name is already on this thread too.