Is Noah as popular as stats suggest??

[Charis1503]

Already have a DS called Reuben and his brother due in July.

I love the name Noah.

Literally know no children called this... Have asked every health visitor, midwife, friend if they know of any and NO one can even think of a baby being called Noah. The midwife at the hospital thought it was really unusual.

Statistically though it's unbelievably popular?! So I'm wondering if its a regional thing? We live on the South Coast.

If it's really popular where you are... Please tell me where you are?!?

I'm a midwife and class it as hugely popular, sorry! That's in both the SE and the SW.

I have a Noah - he's 15 now though. Only Noah in his year at school.

I think there's 1 or 2 in my DDs primary school. We are in the south west.

Yes! I've no idea why but Noah is the modern equivalent of Stephen or Mark, every single class in my daughter's school has one. In fact one class has 3 Noahs which is a sign of it's popularity.

There's a Noah in my daughter's year at school. He's a lovely boy. I love the name. The most popular boys names around me are Jack, Harry, and Thomas. Max seems to be on the rise too.

P. S There's a Reuben in year below my daughter. I wouldn't say Reuben is unusual. I don't think it matters.

I have a Noah.
Only ever met one other since I've had him. Im in East Anglia region.

In the SW
Massively popular here. I know about 5.
It’s still a lovely name though

Yes it is. But I like it.

The ONS break it down by region, so you can check for your area:
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsboys
See Table 4 of the spreadsheet.
Depends on which part of the South coast but if you're South West it's less popular there, #10 (whereas it's ranked 4th overall in England and Wales).
It's a lovely name btw. Popular for a reason!

It does seem fairly popular at the moment which is good, surely. It means it isn't an 'odd' name. Funnily enough I know someone in East Anglia (Norfolk), whose daughter had a little Noah just over a year ago, I think. I really like the name, it's classic.

My DD’s school is full to the brim with Noahs. Hear the name everywhere I go. We are south east.

I have 4dc in Primary school. Rec, Y2, Y4 & Y5. 3 have 1 Noah in their class, 1 has 2, 3 in the year (3rd is in the other class). 2 Reuben's, both in the same class. I'm Midlands though. I know 1 Noah who would be 9 now, in the South West.

Even the most popular names account for less than 1% of babies. So statistically, your baby will be the only one with their name in their class at school. Or with their birthday (if their not a multiple!).

Reality is, there are often repeated names and birthdays in classes. But it can't be predicted. I've met one Noah in the past 9 years of being a parent. At one point, my DD had 5 boys with the same name in her Reception/Preschool class (3-5 year olds mixed age class). That name wasn't even top 50.

It’s not popular where I live, only Noah I know is a 5 year old.
Names are definitely regional! Several children have the same names in my DS school, names which are out of the top 100. For example Spencer, Wilbur, Wilfred, Romilly..

There's a Noah in DS's class. He's 6....

I know 1 Noah and he's 10.

But I mean who cares. My son has what is deemed a very common name (though it's not in the top 20 for boys names this year), and I can't imagine him as anything else.

North east and I know lots! I would say it’s massively popular. But, then again, I also teach at least 10 Reubens...!

SE here and now lots of Noah's!

I have taught a few Noahs. I wouldn't class it as massively popular - in my area Henry, Joseph and Thomas/Tom are waaaay more popular. I'd say if you love the name then use it - I have 2 DS, one whose name is in the top 20 and the other whose name is really rare. I love both names equally though!

Know*

I have a Noah and an Eli... we know no other noahs yet 4 other Elis/Elijahs! It's all relative!

Ds knows two noahs however they are 15/16. Don't know any young dc called noah.

In the Midlands, we have 4 in our 1 form entry primary school, along with William it is our most popular name.

I'm in SW London, and although I know Noah is popular, I don't know a single Noah (we have lots of Henry, Sebastian, Arlo, and Milo).

It’s very popular and alongside other Old Testament boys’ names is having a bit of a moment, so although it is a very old name it will date a bit as late 2010s / early 2020s. Remember that it’s not just about the Noahs that your son may or not have in his class, but the ones that he will encounter at university and in the workplace throughout his life.

It’s a lovely name but if it’s important to you to choose a relatively uncommon name then it might not be the one.