Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Ava? Too popular

32 replies

MissTriangle · 03/07/2011 12:24

I really like the name Ava Florence for a girl. Florence is a family name that has special meanings to me... So would like to use it as a middle name. But feel that it needs a short first name to go with it. I love Ava... But have heard that it is really popular. This is my first baby and have no idea how popular is too popular... If that makes sense. I don't want her to be one of many avas! What does everyone else think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
TheSnickeringFox · 03/07/2011 12:33

It is very popular, but that's because it's a beautiful name! How about Ada/Eda?

MrsvWoolf · 03/07/2011 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovinme · 03/07/2011 12:55

I've got an Ava Lily and she's the only one I've met so not popular where I live!

MelinaM · 03/07/2011 13:24

Ava is one of my favourite names but due to the recent surge in popularity it's now a no, no for me, shame!

Avia is a variation of Ava, found this: www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Ava

shoobidoo · 03/07/2011 14:13

Lovely name but it has definately become too widely used that it has lost some of its 'specialness'. Your dd would also most likely have to share her name with at least one other in her class/school. What about Aria?

BluddyMoFo · 03/07/2011 14:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Panzee · 03/07/2011 14:22

I don't know a single Ava.

Original poster
MissTriangle · 03/07/2011 15:05

Thanks for the replies. It is such a big decision picking a name! I'll discuss some alternatives with OH. But it doesn't sound like it is too popular everywhere... So am tempted to still go for it. X

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 03/07/2011 15:11

I only know one, she is about 4 months old.

The office of national statistics do a break down of baby name rankings, broken down by year and region (within the spreadsheets for each year) Here.

I am considering Eva for pink bump; popular too, but was my granny and great aunt.

fedupofnamechanging · 03/07/2011 15:42

i don't know any Ava's and think it is a very pretty name

MelinaM · 03/07/2011 21:03

Aria is lovely shoobidoo Smile

olddeuteronomy · 03/07/2011 21:26

I know 2 locally but hear it around a lot and have encountered a few out and about. It is lovely, but I would go for something less popular personally - Ada is lovely (though may risk becoming popular as people search for the new Ava...)

bigbluebump · 03/07/2011 21:29

Yes, overused imo. There are far nicer names that aren't already used by thousands others. Aria or Ada are nice alternatives.

SloganLogan · 03/07/2011 22:24

Ava/Eve/Evie/Eva are very popular at the moment, yes. Just depends whether this bothers you.

CaptainBizarro · 04/07/2011 02:48

DH loves this name and it would be top of his list if we ever had another DD but it is too popular now and I think will date quite considerably. It will be this generation's Claire/Karen/Joanne.

emmyloo2 · 04/07/2011 05:07

Very very popular I think. I used to like it but now, sorry to say, I am well and truly sick of it. Ada, on the other hand, is gorgeous and still original.

yellowflowers · 04/07/2011 08:31

I think Ava ok but not as nice as Eva. Really dislike Ada though.

tinker316 · 04/07/2011 08:38

I wanted DD 2b called Ava-but DP didn't like it Sad so agreed 2 have Ava as middle name instead

hester · 04/07/2011 08:41

I have three in my street.

I really like Ada.

pregnantpause · 04/07/2011 08:44

I was advised against Eva as it was too popular. But then i decided its popular because it beautiful and I didnt want to settle for a name that i liked less just because others like it too.
I LOVE my choice. And tbf i only know one eva(mine) and one ava. Go with it if it feels right. I think that to drop it just due to popularity is ridiculous. And all of this 'but it not unique!' is equally ridiculous, a child is an invidual regardless of whether they share a name with someone else in their classroom.

pregnantpause · 04/07/2011 08:50

I wa advised against Eva as it was too popular. But then i decided itss popular because it beautiful and I didnt want to settle for a name that i liked less just because others like it too.
I LOVE my choice. And tbf i only know one eva(mine) and one ava. Go with it if it feels right. I think that to drop it just due to popularity is ridiculous. And all of this 'but it not unique!' is equally ridiculous, a child is an invidual regardless of whether they share a name with someone else in their classroom.

bigbluebump · 04/07/2011 11:47

Of course you have to choose a name you love and that goes with your surname. But we sometimes forget that a name is there to serve a purpose, namely to identify someone or something. And if that someone or something shares a name with many others that job gets more difficult and you need to add a modifier (e.g. initial, adjective like big Ava, small Ava or whatever).

And I'm talking from someone who has had to share a name in many parts of my life and quite frankly I wish my parents had chosen something a little less widely used. Nothing to do with wanting to be 'unique', by the way.

sonniebonnie · 04/07/2011 12:15

Yes, very widely used already.

pilates · 05/07/2011 16:22

No not that popular where I am, sounds lovely BTW.

Ariesgirl · 05/07/2011 16:24

What's wrong with a popular name? Confused