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Baby names

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

Original poster

DH has chosen a really popular name. Tell me it doesn't matter?

87 replies

HowAboutNo · 01/03/2014 12:16

It's a top ten name for our soon to be DD.

I couldn't decide on a name, he came across it and fell in love with it, and I agreed because I couldn't find a single alternative (and still can't). It was so nice to see him so happy about it.

Does it matter that it's so popular? Every other baby is called this atm - though I don't personally know any, I'm sure this will change as I'm not on the mum/baby scene yet.

Will it do my head in? Gah.

OP posts:
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WeeClype · 01/03/2014 12:21

What name is it?

I have a Chloe and when she started school there was 4 other Chloe's, didn't bother me......her best friend is called Chloe too lol

LeslieKnope · 01/03/2014 12:22

It doesn't matter to a lot of people but it does to me.

I am hugely put off by popular names. It helps that I don't actually like any of the top 20 names Grin.

I want my children to have uncommon names (without straying into the wacky or made up).

I don't want them to be one of x amount of kids with the same name at school or at social groups.

Original poster
HowAboutNo · 01/03/2014 12:24

I wanted her to have an individual name too! Something not used much.

He's too in love with it now. It's Isla.

OP posts:
GertBySea · 01/03/2014 12:25

Kids love having the same name.

However if it's Isabella or Amelia then I would find the spelling variants annoying. 9 times out of 10 people will pick the wrong one. (With Amelia, I mean Emilia, Milly, Millie).

eurochick · 01/03/2014 12:25

I have a popular name (although my parents didn't realise at the time). There were 5 of us out of 30 in one of my classes at school. TBH I didn't like it at all.

Amrapaali · 01/03/2014 12:26

A compromise with spelling? Aylah, perhaps?

LeslieKnope · 01/03/2014 12:26

I don't know where you are OP but Isla is ridiculously popular here.

To the extent that I know SIX of them under 4 Shock. And I don't even have a big social group.

I wouldn't.

MarthasHarbour · 01/03/2014 12:26

I love Isla. I know it is v popular but, meh. If you both love it then dont worry about it.

i have a friend who has always been insistent on having 'individual' names for her DC's. Her eldest has one of the most popular names in the world now - she still reckons she set the trend (she didnt!!)

i just mean that no matter how individual you try to be there will always be others with he same idea (and i actually only know of one Isla - there are none in DS's class at school)

SpottyTeacakes · 01/03/2014 12:29

I only know of one round here and she's just turned two. I think it's a lovely name Smile

CalamitouslyWrong · 01/03/2014 12:30

It doesn't matter how unusual you think a name it. It doesn't mean there won't be another one in their class, etc. in fact, you're more likely to notice every time you encounter another child with the name.

Pick a name you like and don't worry about what other people are doing.

MissMilbanke · 01/03/2014 12:30

If you like it then you should use it.

I have quite an unusual name I think, yet when I was in junior school in the 70s there were quite a few similar sounding names, corrina, kyra, katrina and a kara ( im one of these ) yet I don't know anybody ( of my age) with one of those names now !

RosegoldRuby · 01/03/2014 12:33

I have an unusual name. I was nearly fifty before I met another woman with the same name. That was in Italy.
My parents always shortened it, to something which was quite popular but which I hated. So when I was 17, every time I met someone new I used my full name.
I quite liked having an unusual name, until I recently realised that maybe it was unusual because people actually don't like it all that much Sad.

sybilfaulty · 01/03/2014 12:33

I think it's pretty. Islay is the Scottish spelling although pronounced the same. Worth a thought?

PollyCazaletWannabe · 01/03/2014 12:33

I have never met a baby Isla and have never taught one despite teaching for 10 years. I think it's a lovely name. Go for it.

cece · 01/03/2014 12:35

I think you should chose what you like and not worry about how popular it is.

My DC3 has a top 10 name. At the cm that he used to go to there were 6 children and 3 with the same name (he was one of them). Meh.

Now he is in school and there are 90 kids in his year group. There are no other children with his name - he is the only one.

My DC1 on the other hand has a name that was about number 350 at the time she was born. It is now top 50 and I know quite a few of them. Obviously they are all at least 6 years younger though! However, she likes that it is now more popular. She really didn't like how 'unique' her name was when she was younger. (That is not why we chose it - we just liked it!)

Chose what you like.

insearchoftheFlumFlumTree · 01/03/2014 12:37

It is lovely, but there are really a lot of them around here. How about Iona? Similar feel, not nearly as popular.

cece · 01/03/2014 12:37

I should add that in DC3 reception class there are several double names - some of which I would consider slightly unusual names.

Original poster
HowAboutNo · 01/03/2014 12:38

It would really upset DH if I wanted to change it. He's so laid back about everything, but this is something he got really excited about. Gaaaaaaaaaah bloody baby names!

I like it, it's nice, I just thought she'd had something a little less popular. I just hope it doesn't do my head in if I start hearing it everywhere. Not that I expect her to be super individual but if it's as popular as some posts on here say..!

OP posts:
TheSumofUs · 01/03/2014 12:39

We called our daughter a beautiful name - traditional but not in top 100. Then we moved. And on the playground it's like everyone is calling my daughter Grin

Go for a name you love
Ignore the popularity rankings
Good luck

EverythingCounts · 01/03/2014 12:39

I don't know any. It's a pretty name. If you love it, go for it.

WaxingGibbon · 01/03/2014 12:41

Isla is a beautiful name and I think I have come across just one in the last 7 years

pineapplehedgehog · 01/03/2014 12:42

It's a nice name as long as your surname isn't White.

OneMoreThenNoMore · 01/03/2014 12:42

I don't know any. It may be a top 10 name nationally but it's not necessarily top 10 in your area.

I really like it btw Smile

Norem · 01/03/2014 12:44

If you want something similar but much less common go for Ailsa, just as lovely IMHO :)

Mintyy · 01/03/2014 12:45

All 4 of us in our family have massively over-used names. I can't say it has ever caused any of us a problem.

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