Why do people rule names out on popularity?

[19thJune2017]

I don't really get it

There are lots of reasons:

First, names are meant to identify. Being named Steven, Jack, Sophie or Ellie makes this very difficult if not impossible (without adding a modifier)

Second, fashionable names eventually fall out fashion and become dated.

Third, common names just sound a little dull after hearing it all the time by so many!

It's a nightmare for teachers, having 4 Harrys in class, 2 of which share the same (common) surname!

I've taught umpteen classes with multiples of the same name (including one with 3 boys called Harry this morning). If you look at the one you're talking to, they tend to know it's them! It's really not a big deal, and each child is very much their own person. I'd much rather call my child a classic name than a try-hard, 'unique' one.

I have a very popular surname now that I've married, so I don't want to curse children with the same problem I now have with my top 10 forename.

It causes mass confusion at the doctor, dentist, hairdressers and even at work as I'm not the only one of me.

No, of course it's no 'big deal, having 3 Harrys in a class, but it would be a lot easier if all children had their own name.

And the argument that the only alternative to a common name is a weird unspellable one is ridiculous. There are literally thousands of lovely normal easy to spell/pronounce names to choose from!

Agree Eolian, but there's also a very wide middle ground between being called an overused top 10 name and calling your child FiFi-Trixie-Pixie-Mae-Belle.

There are hundreds of lovely 'classic' names which aren't used. A friend just called her little girl Claudia. Probably not a name I'd pick, but most definitely a real name and not ridiculous or try hard, but also unlikely to have 6 in her class.

My Dds names seem to have missed the popular year iyswim although dd1s name is probably a bit dated now

Exactly gruffallo!

I have a top ten from the 70's name, 6 of us in my class at primary, 6!
Have several friends who share my name (aged 25-45) they are all married to guys called Ben....

There's a much wider variety of names used now than there was when I was a child 30+ years ago, so I feel that people often worry a bit too much about the "don't want him to be one of 4/5/6 [name] in the class".

Not saying that name duplication doesn't happen, but I don't think it happens as much now as it used to.

but it would be a lot easier if all children had their own name

A little tricky to implement though. "Oh no, can't call my child Sebastian - there might turn out to be another Sebastian in his class when he goes to whichever school he might end up at! Better call him Flumpwaffle - that should be safe."

Yes I realise there are plenty of middle ground names. But of course if everyone stopped using fanciful unique ones or boringly popular ones, and all went for the nice normal middle ground ones.... then the middle ground ones would become the boringly popular ones!

I have a dd with a reasonably unusual name and a ds with a very classic name. Haven't regretted either or had any issues. Their names are their names. People usually only get het-up about all this when choosing the name, then it's just who they are.

Eolian, no you can't completely eliminate the chance of your child sharing their name, but you reduce it greatly by choosing a name that is not already a top 20 name!

And there are thousands of beautiful names, so lots to choose from.

Popular names just don't appeal to me. I find them dull and unimaginative. Dh and I are musicians and what you would probably consider "alternative " so run of the mill names would never be our thing. We all like what we like though and I fully appreciate the people who like popular names would probably hate ours and think we were try hards. I don't take any offence though.

To be fair, I went through a long phase of signing my name Spike S. in primary school and I was the only kid in the school with my name. Not sure if I was trying to join in with all the Rachels and Jennifers but it always had a full stop after my initial too. Confused my parents somewhat in cards etc.

The only thing is,it doesn't have to be a top 20 name for it too be popular.It just takes 2 or 3 people within your area to give the kids the same name.Then theres3 Sebestians or Edna's in the same class.

Exactly, dustarr73. I've certainly taught classes where there are multiples of names which wouldn't rank among the most popular.

It pisses me off when people assume the only reason you might choose a popular name is lack of imagination. My DD has a name which is currently in the middle of the top 20 and has been popular for decades (I'd describe it as classic rather than trendy). We chose it because it has been my favourite name since childhood - it has a lovely sound and a lovely meaning. If it had been number one the year she was born I might have reconsidered; also if DH's surname (which DD has) was something very common like Smith. Luckily he has an extremely uncommon surname!

Names are often popular simply because they are nice names. Lots of people thinking the same name is pretty doesn't necessarily mean they lack imagination.

Not sure why any adult needs this explaining to them?

How do yo see it OP?

It does make me smile when someone says, without a hint of irony, that they chose Maisie, or Ruby, or Ellie-Mae because they wanted something unique for their child.

I have a really popular name. The fewest of us in a class at school was 3. Most was 7. For that reason, I never actually got called my name and was known by a variety of nicknames or just my surname.

For this reason, we steered clear of popular names.

*Not sure why any adult needs this explaining to them?

How do yo see it OP?*

Good point and good question. The op hasn't come back at all....

Sorry I was just wondering because surely how much you like a name is more important

Because I was at uni with 'big Dave', 'little Dave', 'cardboard box', and 'hairy Dave'.

'Cardboard box' was very gracious about being the third Dave of a reference to a dance move more usually involving fish, but still.

Our school tries to put a max of two children with same name in each class so the lilys and Harrisons are spread around.

DD has a "boring" classic name. Because it's so boring,she's the only one in her year group and amongst our friends.