How popular are popular MN names in RL?

[fairyfeatures]

I often see lots of names being considered regularly on MN or suggested to other posters regularly but all of the ones that are often considered/mentioned, I have never known used in RL?

For example, I love the name Thea. It is often the topic of conversation/suggested on here, which makes me think, it must be popular. However, I have never met or heard of one in RL and neither would the majority of people I have spoken to?

How can it be such a commonly commented on name on MN but not in RL?

I've never met one. Also am ashamed that I am not sure how to say it!

I think it's THEE-A but suspect it might be TAYA or something odd.

I know one Thea (and she says it 'Thee-a' - with the soft/unvoiced 'th')

I struggle with it because to me,a short name like that "Thea" sort of rhymes with "tea" in my mind.

I know two Theas and it was on our list for a girl when we were having no 1, but number one was a boy who we called Theodore. He is now 16, and despite still liking the name Thea we obviously couldn't have a theo and Thea so our dd is Merryn.

And yes to Thee a pronunciation.

I know a Thea in real life, she's in her 20's, its pronounced like Theo but an 'a' sound at the end like 'Thee ah' without dragging out the 'ah' if that makes any sense.

Yes, I am fairly set on the name and the pronunciation is as AuntieStella says. Definitely not Taya TheHouseOnTheLane

I'm hoping to have a Theodore if it's a boy 5madthings - just need to persuade DP - he likes Teddy, but doesn't like Theo. But I think I would like to have Theodore on the birth certificate for him to have something to fall back to if he preferred a name that he could adapt if it bothered him later in life.

I think my question was more about MN popularity v Real Life popularity though, not just about Thea.

Like I see 'Clementine' or 'Alfred' or 'Matilda' talked about on here all the time too, which to me, would seem they are popular as lots of people are considering them or suggesting them, however, I have never encountered one of these in my life!

I wonder if they are the names that are becoming popular, and by the time my baby hits school, will it be full of Theas, Clementines, Alfreds and Matildas?

ah I understand you,

not sure on its real life popularity purely because I'm not around children to know, and as I said I only know one Thea who is mid 20's.
I'm 13 weeks pregnant and Alfred is my boy choice, I have asked friends with children and they've said locally there are a lot of Alfies about 3/4 years old but no Alfreds that they know of.
I know of no Clementines or Matildas, or any children by the 'out there' names I see on here, but we are from a small working class town in the North East and here I think everyone really tends to go traditional biblical names, lots of Joshuas, Jacobs, Daniels, Evie, Ava, Amelias etc.

Thea has definitely had a sharp rise in popularity.

It's gone from 222 in 2012 to 79 in 2014. Still only 678 babies in 2014 so not massively popular but likely to increase further I'd say. Theo and Teddy are both names that have surged in popularity too.

But yes there are definitely names mentioned on MN though with a frequency that would make you think their are swarms of them in the playgroups of Britain when in actual fact they're still fairly niche names.

I think a lot of it is regional too, you get pockets of names. And some names that are commonly heard in North London are less likely to be heard in places like Norwich for example.

I agree that the popularity of names varies hugely depending on region, and depending on social groups as well.

I also wonder if some MN posters sometimes suggest unusual names that they like in theory but that, when it came down to it, they wouldn't be brave enough to actually give to inflict upon a child.

My final theory is that the people who post on here are a self selecting group who are slightly obsessed with baby names for whatever reason (I count myself in that!) and are therefore less likely to suggest or pick very popular names.

FWIW I know two Theas, I think it's a lovely name.

I remember coming on here 2 years ago asking for opinions and everyone told me that the name Evelyn was terribly common and every child they knew was named Evelyn. Two years down the road I still have yet to meet anyone under the age of 70 with the name Evelyn. :)

I know two Theas. One is in her 30s, the other one was born a couple of months ago. I also know someone considering it for her baby a few years ago but chose something else in the end.

I also know two Matildas (one is 8, the other is 1) and an Alfred who is 3 but he's known as Alfie. Don't know any Clementines though. I really think some of it is regional. I only know one little Olivia and one little Ruby but apparently they're everywhere.

Cucumber Alfred is lovely and I much prefer Freddie to Alfie - Alfie is very popular here but also know a few dog Alfie's who were around before the 'Alfie' boom.

Great website link there squoosh - thank you!

I must live ''out in the sticks'' more than I actually think I do!

Great theories cheddar - I may also be in this select group And thank you, I think if she is a she, she will definitely be Thea.

Agreed fitfatty - It's a beautiful name, would be a strong rival for Thea for me if the older fashioned 'E' names weren't so popular now. I also have a DD Ella (before the popularity surge). Evelyn is elegant and classic! Did you name our dd Evelyn in the end?

I think you might be right about names that are potentially becoming popular that seem to be mentioned on here. Except for Clementine which seems to only be used by the yummy mummy Primhose Hill set (or perhaps that's just my stereotype of a mother of Clementine). If you look at the birth announcements in the Daily Telegraph they definitely have their own set of popular names that aren't as used so widely out of their circle - such as Clementine, Arabella, Hermione etc.

I wouldn't say Matilda is up and coming though - that became popular about 10 years ago. When the 8 year old Matilda I know was born I wasn't surprised by it, I remember thinking it was one of the new fashionable names.

fairy I did, she's Evelyn Audrey. I'm really glad I ignored the thread actually, because Evelyn suits her to a t.

our DD? Sorry fitfatty - I doubt you & I are biologically connected to your 2 year old - although that would make a fantastic MN thread!

Oh gosh, I must confess I have never read the Daily Telegraph's birth announcements or the Daily Telegraph but they don't seem to suit my taste anyway!

Oh really? see that's it again, I have only heard of one Matilda that has been born to a 'celebrity' recently. And my only other connection would be the delightful Matilda Wormwood - I would love a DD like her though!

Well, we are actually considering Theodora (nn Thea/Teddy) for DD! I do think it's regional, though. We're swimming in a sea of Hermiones, Hazels and Alberts here in SW London, all of which feel very MN to me.

I love the Telegraph announcements. It's another world!

www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/zebedee-has-a-nice-ring-to-it#.mmoProBK6

Just cross posted with you on your thread Lingua - we have great taste!

Just had a browse squoosh There are names on there that I would consider to be the opposite of posh too! Interesting!!

All the Evelyn's must live near me! Most families with girls here have an evelyn or a grace.

I know one Theodora (nickname Thea) and think it is reasonably popular but is likely to rise further up the popularity lists.

Some names are more popular in some areas than others. There are quite a few little Clementines and Clements around here, for example.

I also know a lot of little Alfreds (Alfies), Alberts (Albies) and Archies.