four in a class - really?

[mogandthecat]

I've noticed on here that many people seem to dread the possibility that their child may be one of 'four or five' in a class. Just thinking about this when my friend showed me the list for her dd's reception class intake the other day. Of thirty children there were only two names replicated, each with two children with the name (one of these being Ruby, which was the most popular name for the year anyway). When I was at primary school in the seventies when there were probably fewer names used overall there was only one duplicated name in a class of 20 girls (Claire). So, just out of interest, what names are there more than one of in your dc's classes and are there often '4 or 5' of one name or is this actually an extremely rare occurrence?!

My son is too small for school, but at one of the playgroups we go to, there are 5 Sophia/Sofias and two Sophies.

my mum's a reception teacher and there were 5 finn's/finleys two years ago out of 15 boys!

My cousin Yasmin is also one of three in her class (aged 8 or 9). We all thought it was really original when she was born!

I shared a name with three others at primary school. And two others at the last company I worked.

So yes, it does happen, and my name has never been #1 on the list or anything.

I never found it a problem though so it wouldn't stop me choosing a popular name.

I had a popular name and was one of 3 in my class throughout school.

However my daughters have top 5 names and my son has a top 15 name and none of them have ever had a duplicate in their classes,

DD1 has 3 Daniels in her class and DD2 has 2 Keiras and 2 Reeces.

You cannot be certain what names will be in your children's class and should base naming your child on what you love and not to be individual because others may have the same idea as you.

I once taught a class with 4 Bens in and they were known (by the other children) as: tall ben, ginger Ben, sporty ben and thick Ben.

In my next school I taught 3 Amys in the class. They were known as Amy X, Gobby Amy and Amy Microphone head (due to her unfortunate hair style).

That said, I don't think you can predict what names are going to turn up loads. My DD recently went to a gymnastics competition with 40 other girls her own age. In the competition there were 4 girls with her name (Eloise) which was ranked 78th the year she was born and never went higher than 75th in the 5 years before or after her birth. In contrast, there was only one Chloe there - the single most popular girls name in the year when she was born!

2 Harrys 2 Williams, 2 Jacks and 2 Olivers in DD's class and a few Evies all out of a class of 30.

I was one of 5 Jilted in my year at school and there are now 3 of us at work. It is just rubbish as a name because it doesn't do its job, ie identify me!

Yes, Mary you win. Just make sure you spend the rest of the day waiting in for your prize otherwise you might miss it .

Actually feel quite sorry for them, thought being one of 5 was bad enough.

"I once taught a class with 4 Bens in and they were known (by the other children) as: tall ben, ginger Ben, sporty ben and thick Ben." .

Gosh, this thread really makes me hope we all become a little more encouraging of less popular, less fashionable, less overused names. Name suggestions are often critisised on here for being too 'dated', too 'foreign sounding', too 'poncy', too whatever, when in fact they would make a refreshing change to all the popular top 50/100 names.

And I agree with those above who say that a name that's very widely used doesn't really do a good job, i.e. doesn't IDENTIFY someone. And I wouldn't want to end up as 'thick Ben'.....

There are 2 Sophies and 2 Williams in ds's class - the problem is that the two Sophies share the same surname initial, so it can get a little confusing apperently.

Yes, more name diversity woud be great!

I remember the 1970s Sarah epidemic. At one point in my class (of 12) we had 3 Sarahs and 2 Emilys (I have another e name, but answered to Emily anyway as the teacher never could get his head round it....) 9 other Sarahs in the year.
In Ds year (of 60), 3 Hannahs, 2 Freyas, 2 Harrys, 2 Lilys, 3 Isabels but NO Sophie

5 Josephs in ds3's primary school class all called Joe. ds1 had 4 George's in his secondary tutor group.

ds3 now has 2 boys in his class who not only share the same first name but have the same surname too! Not particularly common names either!

DS1's class

2 Tadhgs
2 Lukes
2 Aislings
2 Kates
2 Lauras

DS2 class there is just

2 Juliets
2 Hughs

I used to work in a small office with two Rachels. They were known as Alcoholic Rachel and Fat Rachel. This was by adults, not schoolchildren. I felt for them, I really did.

2 Matthews and 2 Emilys in dd1s class.
2 Thomas in dd2's class.

Three Harrys in ds's swimming class (out of seven!). Not many nickname options there either... Har? Ry?

Yeah, I do think we all need to be more supportive of more name diversity - it really would make life easier (and more interesting).

My mother once taught a sixth form class of 8 girls of whom 6 were called Helen.

Elder how confusing must that have been for your Mum and the class?

DSs class is actually ok. There isn't any repetition, the closet they come is a Will and a William.

As well as all the repetition in DD's class she shares her initial and last name with one of her best friends.

DD1 (yr3) She's the only one in the country i suspect.

2 Molly/Molli
2 Oliver
3 Beth/Bethan
2 Harry
2 Harvey
2 Sophie

DD2 (yr2) Only one in school

several Charlies
5 Lily/Lily-mae

In DS's age group we have an awful lot of Thomases!

Am curious to know what DD1's one name is now Tonks. Is she one of the rare ones that they miss off the National Statistics spreadsheet?

DS is Y3 too and I'm sure I can remember seeing a Peppa registered the same year. Have I guess correctly? [hgrin]

Not Peppa! :o Her name is Merren. None on the register her year or since!

i have a Merryn which is similar tonk :) and not met another yet :)

I know a Merryn! Lives in the Scottish Highlands. Went tos chool with her mum.

Even if you think you ahve a rare name you will likely get six in the year- Mum went through a claire and a nicola before hitting on a rare name LOL; OTOH common names can be hugely regional so if you move- ds1 was a Sam in 1999 when every otehr boy at home seemed to be named that, only one otehr in his primary when we moved.

Stirling was a winner for rare both back home and here in wales though. Clearly The Moss had little effect on baby naming in 2001

You should try being an Anne! There are never any other Annes!