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Original poster

Is it more common than I thought?

37 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 04/03/2014 08:49

Me and DH are having our first baby in 2 weeks, a little boy, and after 15 weeks of deliberation a name has been decided upon. My DH picked the name as it's something he really likes and to be honest I haven't felt particularly strongly about any name. I do really like the name and one of the reasons DH was so keen was because he didn't think it was particularly common but nor is it weird or too 'out there'.

We have decided upon Arran.

However, over the last 2 weeks I have had about 4-5 women say to me, "Oh so-and-so called her baby that a few months ago....." Everyone suddenly seems to know a baby or young infant called Arran (or however the parents chose to spell it).

I wouldn't say it's put me off the name but I'm still a little Hmm

Is it actually quite common??

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DrankSangriaInThePark · 04/03/2014 08:51

Do they think you are saying Aaron?

Or Aron?

Orangeisthenewbanana · 04/03/2014 09:11

I know one Arran and one Aaron, both coming up to 2. They are from 2 entirely different groups of friends and live at opposite ends of the country. Have not come across either name in any of the various baby groups over the last year I've been taking DD so I don't think it's all that common (as opposed to the hundreds of Olivers, Alfies, Sophies and Isabels we've run into!)

florascotia · 04/03/2014 09:13

For 2012

Aaron is in the top 100 in England (around 69)

Arran is in the top 100 in Scotland (around 70)

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 04/03/2014 09:21

sangria - well when the people respond to me they pronounce it the same way I did so I assume the parent's pronunciation of the name is the same as the one me and DH are planning.

flora - thanks for those numbers, I can live with numbers 69-70 Smile

We haven't told anyone in our family yet (we made the mistake of telling them early on what our planned girls name was) as we're aware that when baby pops out we may change our mind anyway Smile

OP posts:
DrankSangriaInThePark · 04/03/2014 09:23

Oh right. Dunno then. I wouldn't have thought any of the 3 were particularly over-used tbh. I know one Aaron who is about 18 and one Aron who is 10 and I think from an Iranian family.

florascotia · 04/03/2014 09:25

Forgot to add, for anyone interested in which names are rising and falling most quickly among the Top 100, here is an article, with facts and figures:

www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/aug/12/top-100-baby-names-2012-girls-boys-list

WowserBowser · 04/03/2014 09:26

I don't know any. I know an older Aaron pronounced A-ron ish.

Raxacoricofallapatorius · 04/03/2014 09:28

I know two Aarons under 5. Both pronounced 'Arran' so it's possible they're hearing 'Aaron' iyswim.

squoosh · 04/03/2014 10:29

To me Arran and Aaron sound the same.

Highlandbird · 04/03/2014 10:31

Arran fairly popular in Scotland, like Lewis, Harris, Iona etc Island names are popular. Wouldn't have thought it was that popular south of the border though?

bakingtins · 04/03/2014 10:49

I know one Arran and one Aaron pronounced similarly (not Air-ron) but I don't think you will be tripping over them.

Theonlyoneiknow · 04/03/2014 10:50

I only know one, and am in Scotland

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 04/03/2014 11:00

DH can't stand the pronunciation Air-Ron so I'm hoping people don't mispronounce Arran, which we want to rhyme with 'Barren'.

highland - I'm definitely South of your border Smile

OP posts:
Highlandbird · 04/03/2014 12:03
Wink I say go for it, it's a lovely name!
Only1scoop · 04/03/2014 12:09

I know two Aaron's pronounced < rhyme with Baron> both In twenties though, not heard of any for a while and definately none at dd nursery.

Only two weeks Writer ....how exciting .... Good luck Grin

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 04/03/2014 12:26

Thanks scoop - I'm getting very excited!!
Nervous and overwhelmed, but still excited Smile

OP posts:
mumbaisapphirebluespruce · 04/03/2014 13:22

The only Aaron I know (and that's how he spelt it) is in his 30s. Not come across any baby ones. Go for it.

Kasey12 · 04/03/2014 13:48

I have an Arran! We really struggled with boy names. We wanted a Scottish name ( we are in Scotland ). It does get mis spelt quite a bit as Aaron. Which strangely enough I didn't think about! I love the name, but it seems my friends south of the border that found it more unusual. Sometimes I wish I'd played it safer and chose a more common name like Lewis. However it does have meaning for us as Argyll is where DP is from, and it really suits our DS. Its a lovely name x

tumbletumble · 04/03/2014 13:50

I would pronounce both Aaron and Arran to rhyme with Barren.

kentishgirl · 04/03/2014 15:01

I pronounce Arron and Aaron completely differently (the first has a as in hat, and the second has a as in hair).

Are you going to spell it Arran though? I know it can be spelled either way but that makes me think of the Scottish Island.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 04/03/2014 15:14

It will be spelt as Arran - purely in the hope of people not pronouncing it Air-ron Grin Fingers crossed!!!

I didn't even know there was a Scottish Island called Arran Smile

OP posts:
squoosh · 04/03/2014 15:17

How could you not have known about the island, didn't you google the name?

mrsbug · 04/03/2014 15:25

I know two baby Aarons, both pronounced arran.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 04/03/2014 15:31

No squoosh - are we supposed to google names?? lol Grin

OP posts:
squoosh · 04/03/2014 15:32

I bet Drew Peacock wishes his parents had googled his name first.

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