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Original poster

Did you choose a popular (top ten) name? Do you regret it?

116 replies

fluzz543 · 05/03/2015 22:49

Just that really. DC 1 due soon and our favourite name for a boy and a girl are both in the current top ten. If you chose a popular name, has this bothered you once the child gets a bit older and you meet many more at school/nursery? I know a lot of people avoid popular names so I'ld love to hear experiences from people who have gone with them. Thanks.

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wigglesrock · 06/03/2015 07:29

I have 3 daughters whose names are all in the top ten for 2014 (in NI). Dd1s name wasn't when she was born (she's almost 10), it's just jumped in popularity. She's not at school with anyone of the same name so it hasn't bothered her. Dd2 has a very popular name, it has been for ages. I think it was top 5 when she was born, she's the only one in her year (she's 7), she was the only one at nursery school. I think it's just one if those strange statistical blips that everyone is called it, except people we know Smile. Dd3 has a top 10 name, but it was always very popular here so I knew that when we used it.

I've never regretted their names, as yet neither have they. I think I'd regret not using a name I loved incase someone else had it. I know 2 separate occasions where people used more unusual names then one moved house and their next door neighbours child was called the same, the kids ended up in the same class in school. And there are 2 children with the same name in one of my dds years, both sets of parents thought they were the only people in a 200 mile radius to use it.

cuphat · 06/03/2015 08:12

My name was very popular when I was at school. There were three in my class/ year. It didn't bother me at all, in fact I loved being able to buy all of the souvenirs with my name on! All three of us were called by our full names; I don't see the current need for everyone to have a different version when they're in the same class as it really wasn't that difficult to work out who people were talking to. I haven't met anyone (irl) with my name since I left school (a long time ago), and I've had a number of jobs. School is for quite a short space of time in your life.

My daughters name is quite popular but we chose it because we loved it. I'd rather a popular name that I love than one that's not popular but that we just like.

M1985 · 06/03/2015 09:22

My daughters Olivia, never regretted it. Despite it supposedly being in the top 3 I've only ever met one other and she's three years older

MsQueenie22 · 06/03/2015 09:28

My husband chose DD2 name, it was and still is in the top ten. I wish that we had chosen something a little less popular and there is at least one (Sophie) in every class at school.

MrsPeabody · 06/03/2015 09:28

Both my dc have top ten names. It doesn't bother me at all. I think it would have bothered me more if I had tried to be different and then the name went uber popular e.g. Ruby

Rjae · 06/03/2015 09:30

Not top ten when I chose them (quite unusual) but became that a few years later

Rjae · 06/03/2015 09:33

Wanted to go with Oliver for DS2 but changed my mind when I told the nursery staff and got a blank stare and 'another Oliver' look!

FiveHoursSleep · 06/03/2015 09:33

Common names for our 4 here. It's not caused any problems and our kids love it when they meet another one with their name :)
I have a really unusual name and hated it!

FreshsatsumaforDd · 06/03/2015 09:35

My own name was number 1 in the year that I was born. There were 5 in my class with that name! So no, I did not choose a popular name for Ds or Dd, and I gave them each a middle name too, as I felt deprived not having one.

manicinsomniac · 06/03/2015 09:37

I think there's a much greater range of names in common usage now (especially for girls) and therefore being top 10 doesn't matter so much.

My name was top 10 (maybe even top 5) the year I was born and there were 5 in my year at school. When I was at university I remember doing a seminar thing where there 4 of us out of maybe 10 girls. We had to have Rebecca, Becca, Becky and Bex (at least there were lots of variations available!)

Whereas one of my daughters has a top 10 (possibly top 5 again) name and is the only one in her year and one of only 3 in the whole school of about 400 children. I only know one other outside of school too.

WyrdByrd · 06/03/2015 09:38

Yes.

My DD's name was number 4 in the top ten the year she was born.

10 years later it has never been out of the top ten, but we have only met 2 children with the same name (in passing) and one with a derivative of it.

wigglesrock · 06/03/2015 09:43

M1985 - that's dd2s name too, she's the only one we know and as I said the only one in her year and there's none in the years above her and I think there's one in the years below her.

Mmmicecream · 06/03/2015 09:45

DD has a top 10 name, and never regretted it for an instant. I've only met one other child with her name, and my first thought is "of course they chose it, it's such a lovely name!" Grin

I think it depends on how much you love the name in the first place.

Also building on what Manic said, just because you have a popular name, doesn't mean that you'll meet others with that name.

Hadron21 · 06/03/2015 09:47

What are the current top ten names?

PandaNot · 06/03/2015 09:50

My ds has a top 10 name and there's only one other in his school. Dd has a top 100 name and there are 4 in the school. I don't think it makes any difference, to me or the children, how popular their names are. Go with the name you love, you'll be saying it a lot.

toptomatoes · 06/03/2015 09:53

DC1 and 2 were top 20 but not top 10 when they were born. I know of others with both names but they are both the only one of that name in their year (3 classes per year, foundation and year 3). Both are known by the full versions but there are lots of shortenings they could use in the future so I am happy.

I'm not sure about DC3's name; I really like it, it was our girl name for DC2 as well and wasn't popular then but it is much more popular now and there are lots of variations and it is similar to a top 10 name. She's only 2 at the moment but I think I might regret it when she's older.

I have a very popular name of the time and its never bothered me except that my parents used the shortening and I always have to explain that the full name is not my name and I do actually know how to fill in a form.

pilates · 06/03/2015 09:54

Yes for both of mine and no regrets.

Peachy27 · 06/03/2015 09:56

DS1 has the same name as his best friend at school and thinks it's great. DS2 also has a top five name but no others in his nursery....

bruffin · 06/03/2015 09:59

Both DC had top 10 names at the time, both classic biblical names which have always been popular. I don't regret it at all. Neither of them had another one in their class at primary school. A few more at secondary though.
Only problem was when dd got to secondary school, there was a girl who had the same first name and the first 4 letters of surname. The computer names were based on first 3 letters of surname and last 3 letters of first name plus the year of entry. DD had a problem with hers as her passwords never worked and had to be constantly reset. Turns out they had allocated computer sign in name to both girls! It got sorted out in the end by adding another number.

There were 4 of my name in primary (very popular 50s/60s name) but not the Karen/Tracey/Sharon, but I don't meet many in nowadays but I do know two of dds age group with that name.

Blazing88 · 06/03/2015 10:02

We chose names deliberately out of the Top 50

Guess what? Every other baby now seems to be called that. I swear i start trends Grin

burgatroyd · 06/03/2015 10:06

I don't mind some top 10 names but I would avoid those with lots of variations. Eg Evie, Eve, Ava, Evelyn, Eva, Evangeline. There are many of these names in a class round here. I would also avoid Isobel, Isabelle, Isabella.

There's lots of confusion between Sophie and Sophia. I would also be a bit wary that I'm influenced by name trends. However if you love a name, go for it.

I personally like my name which is a well known name. However there were no others in my v large secondary school.

funnyossity · 06/03/2015 10:11

My child with a top ten name was aLWAYS QUITE chuffed to see someone who shares the name on TV. It's also a family name which is nice to talk about.

Even with the most popular names there may not be another one in their school year. Names can be quite locally popular but not make top 10 and vice versa.

For example we have known very few Jacks through school, although I know of more through friends and family. It has been popular everywhere for years with nearly every sub group of parents but there have never been a whole lot together. My son was in a sports squad with about 5 Andrews though!

Kaekae · 06/03/2015 10:12

We have the number 1. Oliver. I don't think it was in the top ten when we named him that. I still love the name but there are too many about now. I'm sure people think they are being original when they name their child Oliver (usually 1st time parents who don't know other/many children) and then realise actually the name is very very popular! It is annoying when we go out for the day and we are constantly turning around to the name being shouted by other parents! Flower names are also overused now, same reasons above!

lynniep · 06/03/2015 10:18

Well we didn't make the top 10.
DS1 was #13 and DS2 #38.
In all honesty I have never considered their names to be an issue though, nor did I think about popularity when I chose their names. I did it because I like them.

nobutreally · 06/03/2015 10:18

Dos has a very,nerdy classic top 10 name, but there are lots of shortening options - so whilst one of his gang actually has the same name, they are known by different names iykwim. Dd otoh has a very us usual name - we've only ever met one other person with the same name.

I love both names, and don't regret either. Ds is a quieter soul, so having a 'fitting in' name suits him. Dd is a rebel & an extrovert, so having a more unusual name suits her.

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