Classic vs common - the thin line

[lchats]

I like quirky names, he likes traditional - however, I am starting to get my head around the name James...

Will the poor little one be one of several James' in his class? Or is it better to go for a classic rather than risk something more quirky?

From the threads on MN is sounds like it's the balance a lot of people are trying to strike!

James is the perfect boys name imo. Classic and timeless. I don't think there is a risk of being lots in his class, not like Oliver etc. I'm sad I could never use it - was beaten to it my family member.

I guess it depends on what you mean by quirky - what kind of names do you mean? I think it depends on your surname too, if you have a very common surname then I think it's better not to have a common first name.

I don't know of any boys called James younger than about 12 - it doesn't seem to be overly popular. I love the name.

Quirky can be cute on a baby/small child but bloody awful on an adult. Always think how the name will fit a balding 45 year old.

I love James. It can be Jimmy, Jim or Jamie or just plain lovely James.

I'm pg with DS2 and everyone is expecting me to give him a 'wacky' name. I'm tempted to stick it up all their arses and call him James

There are a lot of children called James in the school my dcs go to. (Scotland) I think it is a lovely name and lends itself to lots of lovely nicknames.

I do think your surname is relevant though - if it is unusual then James works better. If it is more "ordinary" then maybe not.

I think you can go for a traditional, classic name without picking one of the very popular ones. John, for example - I don't know of any at DS's school. Also, names like Lawrence, Leon, Andrew, Daniel. There are plenty that aren't common but are still classic. Does your other child have a wacky name?

:) Stick it to them Cankulzof....

By quirky I'm thinking Humphrey or Fletcher.... James still a favourite tho. We do have a fairly unique surname, so your advice MatLeave is very sensible...

What about James Vs Edward?

I know of a fair few who are ds1 age (7). Tbh I wouldn't worry about the possibility of lots being in his class because you just don't know. Jack was the most popular boys name for about 15 years and yet I have only come across one little boy called Jack. I wouldn't have thought the name Beau was that common and yet there are two in ds1 class.

I personally find James a little dull, sorry. But thankfully we all have different tastes and don't all name our boys James.

There are lots of underused classic names. Look at the names list from 50-150 in the popularity chart to find some.

I think James is a nice name. Handsome. It's hard to guess what will be in vogue. A friend of mine thought she'd found a very unusual and distinctive name and then, after the birth of her precious baby, it was used by a very very famous film star. Now it's everywhere - on both boys and girls. Nobody could have foreseen that.

I really like James. DH and I went through a ton of boys names and couldn't decide. I favoured some fairly unusual ones, mainly olde english type stuff, but in the end we realised we both liked the name John - perhaps the most "ordinary" name ever! Classic can actually be cool imo. (and then we had a girl.)

I like James, but actually know more under 2 than I know Olivers..personally I wouldn't worry though nor would I with Thomas/William/Matthew etc...as, in my opinion all classic and you know where you are as far as popularity is concerned. if you want different then I wouldn't go for any of the above..however as another poster says names can suddenly become popular which could be very annoying if you have tried to be different..

I think it's a great name. Unfortunately, I already have two cousins and a nephew called James, so it's been struck off the list.

I think people on mn over think things. In rl it doesn't matter how common a name is. I know lots of Clares and I never think anything about it tbh, it doesn't stop me associating with them and I really like the name.