My son is called Finn and...

[NotFrazzledAtAll]

I want to cry every time I read the baby names forum. He's one and I didn't realise it was so 'common' and 'over used' when I named him. I also didn't really think abound dating so badly... Probably should have done though!

I seriously want to change his name now but I won't because he knows it...

I need to stop thinking about his name but I can't!! Am I being over sensitive or should I really think about changing it to something more sensible and safe?

"I don't understand this. We pick a name that we love for our dc. Whether it's popular is irrelevant."

To some people popularity is relevant. Perhaps those who've grown up with a very popular name and didn't particularly like having to share the name with lots of others or having been known as little or fat X. Depending on which field you work, having your 'own' name can be very helpful, as is being able to find you on the internet.

So whilst I understand that some people are not bothered about popularity, others are. Both attitudes are fine and the OP has to decide how much it bothers her (taking into account how popular her surname is imo).

I love the name Finn too - a really strong name. I think people are suggesting it might be lumped in with Callum, which tbh I also think is a great name, just overused in some areas.

Howvere, as so many peopl have said here - I think I have met one Finn but that is all, so you know many others.

Please don't let MN ruin this name for you

For goodness sake get a grip! Finn is a lovely, traditional name that you liked before all these people started banging on about it. So what if it's become a bit popular lately? You don't like it if people don't like the name you chose; you don't like it when they do - what do you want??? I have only ever met 3 Finns in my whole life and I am Scottish for heavens sake!!! and 2 of those were Finlays!!! FinnMacCool is one of the greatest heroes of Irish mythology: tell your son those stories and he'll feel like a king forever!! Finn is a great name!! Love it!!

lockets, if you will call your child Fido......

I really wouldn't take much notice of what other people say.
Ask your son what he thinks of his name, he is the inportant one and if he likes his name then you have nothing to worry about.

important

debi, the op's son is still a baby.

I love Finn, it's popular for a reason. Ignore what other people say.

Yes, Finn has become very popular in the past 2-3 years. I don't think the op is no longer liking the name, nor is anyone else implying the name isn't nice. Yes, it is popular for a reason - namely that lots and lots of people love it at the same time. Just like fashion, names rise quickly in popularity as lots of us choose similar names/clothes etc (but just like fashion popular names also fall out of favour again, as people tire of them).

However, a very popular name has two potential disadvantages - it can mean that you have to share your name with lots of others (depending on your surname this can be a pain in the *) and it can also mean that the name dates you to a certain period, probably the 2010s, just like a name like Sharon dates you to the 1960s and Steve to the 1970s. This may bother some more than others, of course. I think the op needs to decide for herself how much it bothers her, regardless of what we think or how much we like the name itself.

I know how you feel.

I posted here, sometime ago, about my DD's name and my concerns about its popularity. I had received a couple of comments about how disappointed I must be about its popularity. I then checked on its popularity and was quite surprised at just how popular it was... I had thought it was pretty unusual. I started to take those comments to heart and I felt a bit embarrassed.

I then started worrying about it and thinking that I had let my daughter down in some way and about what others would think. I was always looking at naming forums and naming sites and that got me worrying even more. I broached the subject of changing her name with my DH... he was not impressed to say the least!

Anyway I got some good advice here and realised that my concerns about her name were a kind of smokescreen for other issues I had about a very difficult birth and how good a mother I was being. I stopped looking at naming sites and concentrated on the fact I had a healthy and beautiful little girl who could be whatever she wanted in life with a sane and happy mother who loved her unconditionally - whatever her name. I also do my best to ignore other people unless I ask for their advice on something. One thing we have to remember that other peoples opinions are formed because of their own personal circumstances and experiences and they are very unlikely to be personal when they form judgements about our names or our children?s names (or anything else for that matter) ? we shouldn?t take it personally. It?s not your problem, it?s theirs.

I'm expecting again and I have been looking at name sites. This has brought up some old feelings but I soon move on.

Also I think a child is an individual, for many, many reasons not just because of a name.

Finn is lovely BTW.

"mumsnet is not indicative of RL opinion!"

I actually think it is MORE indicative of RL opinion. In real life nobody is going to be rude about someone's name (or proposed name) but here people can be much more honest imo.

I really like Finn, it has unfortunate family connotations for me though, that's the only reason it wasn't on the shortlist for ds-to-be.
I've never met a Finn, which is part of my naming criteria.
Don't change it, how confusing would that be for him?!

My youngest son is a Finbar, often called Fin(n) by friends and family alike. In his 9 years, I have lost count of the number of times he or his siblings have been told how "cool" his name is. There is an entire year group of 14 year olds in the neighbouring secondary school walking around admiring ds2 solely because he has a little brother with the cool name of Fin(n)(bar).

Relax in the knowledge that you have chosen a great name for your son.

my mums a year 1 teacher and currently has 5 finns/finnlays etc in year one out of 40 children. say 50/50 boys girls so 5/20 or 1/4 or all boys in year 1 are called finn at her school in year 1!

it's very popular round here (surrey) but then again so are harry, oliver, joshua and all the otehrs in the top 10!

I'm with Cece!

It's popular because it's nice

I don't really get the whole not wanting a name because it's too popular....you either like it or you don't!

My ds1 is Finley, Fin for short. There was one at his nursery and we have never met another. I wouldn't care if we did! I love the name. Our midwife chose it after she saved his life

It would really bother me. But I am in the avoid popular name camp - its very personal doesn't seem to bother most people. Most of the girls in DDs class have the same name I would hate that having had a popular name myself. And btw you can easily avoid popular names without resorting to Fifi Trixibelle or some such. In your shoes though I would stick with it if you liked the name originally and have got used to it I wouldn't change.