Am I being a snob?

[notlettingthefearshow]

I've fallen in love with a boys' name which I have only just found out is in the top 20 for 2010. It's really put me off as I didn't want to know lots of other little boys with the same name.

It's not like I want to choose a really out-there name, but I grew up with a fairly unusual name and I have always liked being the only X in the class/group.

But am I just being a snob because the name is more 'common' than I thought? Would it bother you?

But the higher ranked a name the larger the number of children given a particular name. I think the top name (was it Jack or Oliver, can't remember) was used over 8,000 last year alone if I remember correctly. Then you need to add all the previous years' Jacks & Olivers for example as these will be growing up together (even if not in the same year group).

More importantly, there are so, so many lovely underused names available - wouldn't life be more interesting (and easier) if we had more name diversity .

"I have only just found out is in the top 20 for 2010. It's really put me off as I didn't want to know lots of other little boys with the same name."

OP, seems like you've answered the question yourself already. If you don't want your ds to grow up with lots of other boys with the same name, I'd suggest you look outside the top 100 or even top 250 names. There is still no guarantee that these names don't rise in popularity but at least you're avoiding a name that is already very widely used.

Our ds's name was used 13 times last year - that isn't why we chose it 6 years ago. We chose it because we loved it and still do . In other words there are indeed lots of lovely normal, classic well known names that aren't as well used already as top 50 or top 100 names.

I called my son Alexander not realising it was in the top 20 last year. I am a bit pissed off that everyone was thinking the same way as me but I still like the name better than any other boy's name so there we are.

Ds has a name that is now in the top twenty however it was the only boys name we agreed on (lots of girls names but ofcourse Ds was a boy!)

Tbh it wouldn't bother me if the name was popular - after all you will be the one screeching the name across the playground as your child wrestles another to the ground! Might as well be a name you like!

Where do you find the frequency (not just ranking) data mayanna?

I don't know if 8000 times is high because I don't have a feel for how many babies were born.

I am a 1970's Sarah and bloody hate it. Sick of being surrounded by them all my life. So I've tried to give dd1 and soon, dd2 names that aren't massively popular. There are no guarantees of course but at least I'll know I tried to save them from a lifetime of having their initial after their name.

No, you're not being a snob. You are being sensible. A name has a purpose: to identify a person. That is achieved much more easily if the name isn't already used by lots and lots of others. If I remember correctly there were over 5,000 boys' names given last year alone, so lots of names to choose from .

TrillianAstra, the ONS produce a spreadsheet which shows ALL the names given for boys and girls each year (actually all names which were used more than twice as a first name). I haven't got the link to hand but have seen it on other threads before.

I know but I can't find it!!! I was hoping you would have it because it'd be really interesting.

I have a theory that girls names are more diverse than boys names so the top 20 boys names might be 50% of all boys but the top 20 girls names would only be 20% of all girls.

It wouldn't bother me. A name only becomes popular because it is a nice name that peope like after all. DD's name albeit a diff spelling) is relatively popular but she is still the only child in her school with the name and we don't know any others.

I grew up in the 70s with the most popular name ever, inc midle name. Was one of 3 or 4 in my class at times. Never bothered me in the slightest then or now.

Trillian - if you look at this link (ok I know it's Australia but the principle is the same) it gives the most popular names of 2011, boys and girls together. It doesn't give numbers, but the top 3 names are girls'; the top 10 comprises 6 girls' names and 4 boys' names. I think by the bottom of the page the numbers even out but anyway, it gives a hint of what you were saying.

i know what u mean i was the only is our school and have only ever met 3 other * i loved being different and am struggling to find a name thats different but not WFT?

No, you're not being a snob at all imo. As others have said you are being sensible. Surely how frequently a name is already in use is an important factor whan NAMING someone. I too was one of 3 in my class in the 1980s and found it annoying at times - I wish my parents had tried a little harder to pick a more unique name, not one of the THE most popular name of the time.

But kiki22, have a look at the national statistics and you'll find thousands of normal nice names that weren't used thousands of times but 10 or 20 times last year. In other words different doesn't have to mean 'WTF' .

I think some people are more concerned about popularity than others. Perhaps those who have first hand experience of having to share a name are keen to avoid giving their children a very popular name. But I don't think it has anything to do with being a 'snob'. It is just a personal preference imo and I don't think it is right to 'judge' someone on that basis.