Just how popular is Harriet

[Anondonkey]

Expecting first baby - love the name Harriet but don’t want to choose a common name where DD will end up one of three or more in the class at a school.

I can see Harriet does feature albeit not too highly on popularity lists (#51 on ONS England and Wales) but I think it’s hard to gauge from a list of statistics just how popular a name actually is.

For those of you who already have young children, how many Harriets are there kicking about at baby groups / nursery / primary school? Would you say it’s growing in popularity?

I think its really hard to gauge popularity even by "how many you know". My sons name is number 5 on the ONS statistics. I never checked it before I had him. I chose the name because I loved it. And we never met another one until recently in he moved up swimming class and there was another Noah. Yet its meant to be the 5th most popular name. So I think if you like the name, go for it.

I only know one and she is in her 20's.

I am a Harriet ... there were none when I was growing-up then a spate of them about 20 years ago. I know of one or two Children called it, but not many.

I know three under one but that could be coincidence!

It's a well known name but it's not on the same level as Olivia/Isabella/Ava type thing.

I think Harriet is lovely.

I know a couple, but you’d be very unlucky to have three of any name in one class. I definitely meet more Lilys, Islas, Isabels, etc. Go for it! She can always choose a different nickname if there is another in her class (Hattie, Hettie, Etta, Harry...)

I know one that is 20yo and a few that are around 10yo

I haven't heard of any recent baby Harriet although admittedly most people I know have older children so I don't know a huge number of babies/toddlers

I agree with a PP that is not 'unusual' but not hugely popular either, I'd put it on a par with Imogen and Lucy

I haven't met any Harriet's.

This is really useful insight - thanks everyone!!

Love Harriet

I know two. One is just under 1 and the other is just under 3

Fab name. I know one and she's in her 40s.

I know a couple under 5. More Ava's, Eva's, Evies, Lily's & Amelia's though.

Compare it to the data from your own birth decade to get an idea of how it feels.

For example, Harriet is #51 currently (and has been fairly steady).

In 1984, numbers 47-53 were:
Natasha
Rachael (that spelling)
Amanda
Kathryn (that spelling)
Karen
Alexandra
Jodie

Now, I know a few of each of those, but there was maybe one of each in my year group at secondary school. Maybe 2 Natashas.

Keep in mind that more different names are used now too, so #51 now is a lower percentage of people than #51 in the 1980s.

Harriet is currently more popular than say 30 years ago, But it's always been in use. I put the current popularity down to Harry being so popular.
It won't date badly - it's a classic name.If you love it use it.
Even if you choose the most unusual name you can think of, you can't guarantee that there will be more than 1 in her peer group.

Charles Dickens had a sister called Harriet, Harriet Walters, Harriet Harman, etc shows it has longevity.

I love it but won't use it due to popularity. There is one in dds nursery class and two in our toddler group.

It isn't overly popular but seems to be getting more so, it's just more popular than I would like.

There are three in my daughter’s year at primary school.

I only know one, she's mid-20s.

I know 1 baby called Harriet. Love it. DD was nearly Harriet (nn Hallie - old English shortening). Changed our minds the week before!

Congratulations and good luck.

I know five, all aged 5-15. Plus one who's about 50.

I think it's a lovely name, btw.