Is it really that big of a deal?

[Kelsey28]

Is it really that bigger deal if a child has the same name as other children in the class? I see so many people on here give that as a reason not to pick a name and just wondered what the general consensus is? My mum called me my name and very few people had heard of it in the early nineties yet when I started school there was another girl with the same name sat next to me. It never bothered me.

DD has the same came as someone in her class. It's not even that common. She rather likes it.

DS had the same band as his Sixer at Cubs and later vex it. They have the same surname initial too, DD looks up to this other lad, and I'm sure a lot of this respect comes from having the same name.

I had the same name as 3 other boys in my year of 130 people. (4 of us out of 65 boys).

Never bothered me in the slightest and pretty sure it didn't bother them either.

My DC's both have names that aren't really "out there" weird, but they are quite unusual so will probably be the only ones in their classes.
My mum and dad gave me a name that was very popular in the early 90's and I was one of five in my class alone. I went through the whole of primary school being known as "First name + last name initial"

I do think it screams a certain lack of imagination and individuality to name your child, say, Jack. We've got enough Jacks now. Honest.

I named my DS an older but not unusual name to avoid the '3 in a class' and he loves meeting others with the same name so I now realise it doesn't bother the kids. When my next DC is born I won't let it put me off a name as much like it did the first time.

It doesn't matter at all. If you like the name, go with it.

No it's not a big deal. But given how many lovely names there are to choose from, it seems a shame if so many of share the same name, having to add a modifier (surname initials or big xx, little xx, etc). There are 4 Harrys in our local sports team that it can get a little annoying/confusing. It also lacks of imagination imo.

It's also not always correct. For example, we have a son called Jacob. When we named him the comment was passed that it's common nowadays. He has attended three primary schools and two nurseries (military reasons, we aren't flaky!) and has never had another Jacob in his class and only ever had one other in the school. It doesn't matter even slightly anyway. If you like it, use it.

There are more little Olivers than Colins because Oliver is a better name than Colin. Even if everyone tried to be super original something would be bound to be the most popular.

Popular/common because good is different from popular/common because trendy as the latter will date, but it can be hard to tell the difference.

And even if you choose a super popular name, the chances aren't that high for duplications in a class of thirty - in my children's classes the repeated boys' names are top 50, not top 10. It's just chance.

Even if you do end up being Oliver H for your entire school career, you're your mother's only Oliver and uniquely yourself etc etc.

There's also an interesting conversation about the relative benefits of a unique v common name (Benedict Cumberbatch v John Smith) in an Internet world.

It does matter. Its not just about who is in the class, I know of no little Amelias but even just the word is done to death! if there was a birth announcement with that name it really would be boring. There are so many lovely choices beyond the top 100

It does matter. Its not just about who is in the class, I know of no little Amelias but even just the word is done to death! if there was a birth announcement with that name it really would be boring. There are so many lovely choices beyond the top 100

The most important thing about naming your child is keeping name geeks from getting bored

The plus side of popular names is they'll always find souvenirs with the name on

That's the main thing I never liked about my unusual name.

True, harder. And ought to have less trouble with giving names over the phone.

If you also have a common surname it can cause problems having the exact same name as others.
I've had this numerous times. Worked with someone with exact same name. Got medical records muddled (same DOB and name), had to sort out claiming job seekers when working (I wasn't, another name DOB muddle)
Not sure why my parents gave me such a common name combination tbh seeing as Dad had sane problems - CRB check, health records and apparently going awol from the army!

Needless to say I've got outside the top 100 for the DCs

My DD is the only one in her class with her name. My DS is one of 3 in his class with same name

I think the popular and common names are more likely to sound dated in 20 years.

I was one of 6 in my school year and one of 3 in my uni friend group. It annoyed me as we all had nicknames to tell us apart so I was never my name. I am one of 3 at work too. Each of us are always firstname surname all the time. Also annoying.

Lemony - there are some really interesting charts showing the popularity of names over decades/centuries. Certain names such as Jack, Harry, Elizabeth, Katie etc have never been out of the top ten or twenty. Some like Ruby or Poppy have peaks and troughs of popularity. They're the ones which are likely to sound dated.

I think some children do care. DC1 had a very popular name. She insists the teacher at reception to call her by a not so popular short form of her name. She's now known by the short form at school.

*MrsHathaway
*
Exactly what I mean, classic names (King and queen names I usually think of) will never go out of fashion, but the faddy ones which have only been popular for a few years will sound dated when they reach adulthood.

That's a reason not to choose a now popular name where there will be 5 others in the class.

Think William as Bill instead of Will. Mines a girl so she isn't William. But you get the idea.

My step nieces and nephews had really, really unusual names. In turn, they refused to go to secondary school unless they were allowed to change them. They each chose names that began with the same letter but which were short, simple and very well known.

The names that feel trendy round here are Finlay, Lucas, Oscar; Ruby, Evie, Lily.

I hated being called my name + initial as there were a few others in my classes with the same name.