What are the most overused baby names you know at the moment?

[caffeinejunkie24]

Trying to decide on a name for DC2 at the moment and would like something that won't seem "dated" in so many years to come.

There's a few names I keep hearing pop up at baby groups etc that feel a bit "faddy" and "of the moment" and would like to avoid that if possible. Hoping to avoid a name that becomes the Tracey, Sharon, David or Gary etc of this generation.

I've noticed a lot of names hyphenated with Rose, (which is an absolutely beautiful name) but kind of has the shine taken off it when its so overused in various combinations.

What names make you think "oh, not another one!?"

My daughter’s nursery has a Cosmo, a Cosimo and a Cozmo

Think is, ‘classic’ ‘biblical’ names go in and out of fashion like anything else.

How many Mary’s under 20 do you know?

I don’t know why people are so terrified of names dating. I mean, I’m 40 year old Karen is... 40. And that’s fine, why wouldn’t it be?

Jack isn’t timeless - it was a diminutive of John for most of its usage. It’s only recently been popular as a given name in its own right. Much like there were virtually no Harry’s until Prince Harry (actually Henry) was born. It was a diminutive of Henry.

Jack was the start of the “old man name” trend. Granted a gentle one.

Since becoming a parent I have lived in a few different areas so I have overthought studied this carefully.

Lily
Annabel (various spellings)
Emily
Megan
Hannah (at one preschool gym class there were 3)
Zara/Zahra

Teddy
Henry
Ralph (I know 6 including my DN)
Toby
Oliver
George

Jack is this generation's John.

John used to be everywhere, and now no-one's calling their boys John. It's Jack instead.

Even Elizabeth is relatively out of favour.

There's one in DS's (9) year, and I was struck by how out of current synch it seemed. Her siblings are called Mary, John and George (they're all under 10) - basically some of the most well known names you could come up with - but not quite in vogue right now (except George).

It's refreshing amidst all the Evies and Sophias.

Oliver, Jacob, eve, Isabelle.

I don't think it's those that will be dated though. It's the "hipster" ones that will date

I also don't really see the problem with a name 'dating' someone. I think for most of us, whatever our names, our faces give our age away far more than a name.

I'd also like to stick up for popular names.The great thing about having a name that is ubiquitous for your generation is that no-one pre-judges you based on your name. Chris and Claire could be absolutely anyone from any walk of life. I have an unusual name. I would much prefer to have been Sarah or Joanne and have people judge me on actually who I am and what I do rather than on their assumptions about a name that was decided before I'd even taken my first breath.

That graph is really interesting! It's interesting to see how some names that were really popular for my generation (I'm 26) are really uncommon now for new babjes- for example, Rebecca.

You also have the names that have remained pretty constant (eg Emjly) and ones that have sprung up from nowhere (e.g. Arlo)

Names common in my DC’s school are:
Evie
Ellie
Ella
Jack
Oliver
Harry
Theo
Noah
Gracie
Charlie
Lily
Violet

Name fashions do come and go though. Names that were common when I was at school really aren’t now. Daniel has stood the test of time, there’s two in my DD’s year anyway. But Rebecca, Sarah, Jessica, Emma, Bethany, Samuel, David and Benjamin aren’t as fashionable now like they were when I was at school.

Oh and Joshua, that hasn’t stood the test of time. I went to school with three and I know two now that are my age but there are none in my DC’s school.

It all seems to be the dead members of royal family 'traditional' names for boys and the (what the parents think are) 'cutesy' girlish names with hyphens for girls.

All the girls are Eva Ava Amelia Olivia Ella Nancy Brooke/Brooklyn Wynter/winter summer, autumn round here. With hyphenated rose/mia/miah/mai/May/Rae/Lou. Boys are Oliver, Charlie, Oscar, Logan, mason and Benjamin.

I swear an angel dies every time a mother screams the name Benjamin at a park, bloody horrible name that and Theodore, it's such an ugly name for a baby.

I don't think anyone has said Imogen yet. I've met quite a few, ranging in age from babies to late teens.

Evelyn/Evie is also very popular around here.

@Mousefunky yes every male teenager is Josh or Daniel! And the girls are Shannon/Megan!

Lily
Phoebe
Oliver
Reuben
Ella

TwoSweetenersImBitterEnough what a horrible thing to say about the names Benjamin and Theo!
OP was simply asking most overused names- not for you to give such a vicious added comment on them. I happen to think both are lovely.

@TwoSweetenersImBitterEnough that's what I hate about these threads
It's hard enough finding a name you both love without over complicating things by worrying if it's over used... If you LOVE it use it and don't worry about what other's think! 😀

Jensen
Theo
Elizabeth
Alice
Alfie
Harry
Henry

Jenson, Lewis and Sebastian are fairly popular now. Wonder what the connection is between them.
Theo was unusual 15 years ago. How did that one start to get popular?
Amelie. Was it popular before the film?

I really don't like Theodore. It's very American
Theo and Theodore both appear in the top 50 of the name popularity charts. Finn and Finley both top 100 too.

Joshua is still pretty popular around here as is Emily.

The newest baby boy in our family has been named John, it suits him.

Ava Evie Olivia

Teddy for a boy and Luna for a girl. People think they are being so out there and original but every other baby is called one of these names now 🤔 horrendous

Glad my choice of name doesn't feature here! Spent 6 months thinking of a name that won't be 1 of 5 in his class in school!

Ezra, Noah, Theo, Jaxon (and all the spellings of it)
Amelia, Isla, Evie, Ava, persephone but a lot of older names like Elsie, Florence, Edith.

All the Theos I know are French/English families looking for a French name that works in the uk!

I much prefer the names on this thread to completely 'unique' ones...river-sky, honey-poppy, buddy-bear. Yuk