Yikes! Another Imogen!

[pinkgirlythoughts]

I'm considering Imogen for DC1, due on Monday, if it's a girl. It's DP's favourite, and it's definitely in my top two. I like the fact that although everybody's heard of it, it's not too common (I went to school with one, and taught one a couple of years ago, but don't know any others).

However... a friend from school just had a little girl last week, and called her Imogen, and someone from my ante-natal thread has also just had a little Imogen... so the last two baby girls born that I'm aware of are both called Imogen!

Looking at popularity lists, it was #32 in 2009, rising from #33 in 2008, and #33 in 2007, BUT, in 1998, it was only #59, so it's jumped 27 places over 11 years. I don't want to pick a name thinking it isn't that common, only to find that it's jumped up massively in popularity since 2009, and have her be known as Imogen F/ blonde Imogen/ whatever throughout her life!

Am I being overly hormonal and sensitive about this? Or should I seriously consider crossing it off the list? (I did actually cross Ivy off my list a few months ago, after I heard of three born within the space of a month!)

If you love it, use it. I think it's lovely. your daughter will be unique even if she shares a name with a few people.

IT's really up to you - two friends have recently used the name I am planning to use if my baby is a girl, but I'll still use it as we all live in different parts of the country and don't spend much time together.

If it was a close friend or family who we see often, I'd defintely reconsider - I still have a few friends due before me, so am crossing my finger's my name's not poached...!

I think Imogen is a lovely name, btw :)

we have an imogen and i have come across others but obviously it's not the most popular name around. i think it's probably on the up though.
whatever name you pick, there is a chance you may end up as imogen F, although obviously if you pick a less common name its less likely. we nearly chose a rareish name for DS but in the end went for one in the top 20, surprisingly he is the only one with his name but there is another child there with the rare name, so you never can tell. if we had picked that name wanting him to be the only one i would have been disappointed.
fwiw i find many more imogens at nct and other 'posh' groups and fewer at less middle class settings, so i guess it depends where you are.

in DS' class in school i meant

You like it, so use it. You can never guarante stuff about names...

There are 2 kids in DS's class who have the same name. This name is way outside the top 100 and they have to be known as firstname-H and firstname-N. The name is so uncommon that I have never met another child of any age with this name! But the 2 of them still ended up in the same class.

DH loved Anna, but I knew two: one was the dd of a mum-friend and one was the dd of a neighbour. It just ruined the uniqueness of our name for me. DH thought I was silly because I wasn't that close to either mum. As it happens, they have both become very good friends so I am glad I didn't choose it.

I'm worrying about the same thing!! My girl names (if baby is a girl) are Imogen and Holly. I know 2 Imogens aged about 5 who are in the same school but no others at all. On here it seems to be really popular though.
You could always consider her being known by a nickname if she ended up in a class with more than one Imogen - Immy, Ims, Gen, Midge etc

I was one of 4 with the same name in my year group at school - all in my classes on occasions too. 2 of us even had the same surname initial but I never once thought about it as a problem.

Out of interest, do you have the same problem with potential boys names? I do! Mine are Thomas (Tom) and Finley. I feel like Finley is in the same band (increasing popularity wise) as Imogen. Eek.

I have an Imogen and I (obviously!) think it's a lovely name. I wouldn't worry too much about popularity - as plantsitter said, your daughter will be unique regardless of her name!

Lovely name, but it's fast becoming the new Isobel!

I'd say it's completely supplanted Isabel round here.

But it is a lovely name!

puddle, we do have the same problem with boys, but not so much, I don't think. Our potentials are Zachary and Frederick. Frederick would be known as Freddie, which I know is getting way more popular, but since it's a nickname not a full name, it bothers me less, for some reason!