Why did you (if you did) choose a popular name?

[takeitfromyourmumsy]

Just curious really. I'm always surprised when names (eg Olivia/Oliver) stay at the top of the baby name list for years - would have thought that once a name was top 5, certainly number 1, that would put some people off? Obviously not the case, so just wondered, if you gave your child a very popular name, why did you?

My top boy and girl name are both number ones in my country (NZ). I don't like that they are popular and it may make me go with my second choice (mostly like for boys name) but I just really like the name. for reference:

1. Charlotte
2. Harriet
3. Oliver
4. Lachlan

I've always loved the name Charlotte and boys names I really only like about 10 with 5 being really like. Girls names lots more options at least... But still comes back to Charlotte. Classic, beautiful, timeless.

I haven't used a really popular name, but I think the importance of choosing something less popular is a bit overrated. There are such a wide variety of names these days that even the nr one name is only given to about 1% of babies. And they are beautiful names, so popular for a reason.

Our DD has the top name for her year, mainly because it was the only name we could I agree on, and it’s a nice name!

In reality though, I think I only ever came across one other girl with her name at baby groups (haven’t been to any in a while to compare), however there were lots of occasions where I’d met several children with the same, but not so high on the stats, name. So I don’t think it pays to put too much thought into how popular a name is, just go with what you like.

I wanted it to be easy to spell, easy to say across two countries (we were living across two countries at that time).

I also have a theory that names are chosen by two adults so they are going to tend towards the more popular because I hated my husband favourite names and he hated mine so we had to pick compromise names.

Just felt right for our baby and loved the meaning of Oliver. Also he loves his food!

I hated the idea of a lesser known name being a duplicate at school rather than a more popular name.

Example is in dd year 2x savannahs 3x clementine 2x Felix yet she is only one with her top 10 name

Same with 16yr old he had 2 ptolomys in his high school class

Because we liked the names, and knew we would always love them.
Didn't realise just how popular they would be but don't regret the choices. The names are classic ones and haven't dated badly.

I think a lot of people don't pay attention to the top names, they're normally in the news for 1 day a year when announced. You think back to what was popular when you were at school, especially if you don't know many young children, and don't realise the popularity, I've definitely seen this from DH as we try pick a name.

Also they're great names and popular for a reason! I'm very conscious of not picking anything too try hard unusual that would cause raised eyebrows and I'm sure many people are the same.

When I was pregnant 12 years ago ( sadly miscarried) I chose a name - Eva- which I thought was fresh and unique but absolutely loads of Evas were born in that year! So lots of people probably chose it thinking the same.

I remember thinking it was so odd that suddenly it was a popular name.

If it’s a girl the one we’re going with is not quite in the top ten, but a similar one is, and lots of variants hovering in the top 100. I don’t care if there’s others with the same name, not too sure why anyone would tbh! I like the name, and other people liking it too doesn’t put me off at all.

Same with the boys name, currently in the top five. I’d much rather choose a classic name I love than try and pick a weird one so there’s no duplicates.

Both of my sons' names are regularly in the top 10 most popular names list. There were four kids with my elder son's name in his class at school. Beautiful drawings would come home that we knew our son could never have done!

It really doesn't bother me as I like their names and found choosing boys' names quite hard. We all like different things - sometimes I (quietly) cringe at some of the more "out there" names that people give their kids in an effort to be unique. But each to their own..

My son has a classic boys name. There were 3 in my class at school. I hear it now and then in the park for boys of all ages. I would be very surprised if there isn't another one or two in his class when he starts school.

I picked it because I love it and it has a family connection. It really doesn't bother me that others like it too.

@Movinghouseatlast, sad to hear of your loss.

Names that become popular suddenly are usually celebrity-inspired.

Famous Evas from the 2000s could be Eva Hertzigova ( and Eva Longoria.

Because its a classic name which doesn't age and I like it!

I find it strange when people make such a big deal out of other people having the same name. If a name is popular, it's because lots of people like that name because it's a nice name!
If you focus too much on having a name that no one else has, then you could end up feeling very disappointed when another kid in your child's class has the same name and it's been such a big thing to have something 'unique' that no one else has.

Back in the dark ages of the 1980's when my 2 oldest DD were born, no-one considered the popularity of a name - simply whether you liked it!

My oldest DD was 1 of 3 in her class sharing a name, the younger was the only one in her year and hers is a very traditional name. 20+ years later their little sister is the only one we know in her entire large comprehensive school. We chose it for family connections rather than individuality.

Do people really avoid names they like just because they are popular?

I think a lot of people don't necessarily know what's popular name wise until their child is born and they start going to baby groups.

My parents and PIL find the names of our friends children 'odd'. They are names like Freya, Phoebe and Annabelle and Arlo, Arthur and Reuben. Their idea of 'normal, popular names' are very 80s ones like Sarah which are now outside the top 100.

I know my Aunt deliberately chose popular names for her children so they wouldn't stand out and would hopefully avoid name based teasing. Their names are very dated now as they were very 'of the moment' and although they weren't teased for them as children, they have been teased as adults.

It was a family name. Chosen long before the baby existed.

Do people really avoid names they like just because they are popular?

I wouldn't want to pick a popular name unless I really loved it or it was very meaningful for me. I would ignore popularity for Isabel, which I've loved since childhood, but my niece is already called Isabel, so I can't use it.

I have an unusual name (well, unusual in England, it's perfectly normal in Wales, but I was born and raised in England). I have always liked having a less common name which reflects my heritage and want similar for my DC.

As I want a Welsh name for my DC if possible, by definition they are having an unpopular name as there aren't many Welsh names in the Top 100 names in England. Some of the names I like are very popular in Wales, which doesn't bother me.

Most of the non-Welsh names I like are outside the top 100 - Patrick and Juliet for example. They aren't overused but aren't particularly 'out there' either. There are lots of lovely names which fall into that category.

Different strokes and all that.

I didn't look at name lists or consider popularity when naming our children. I don't care. My own first name was really, really popular in my generation, it has never been an issue.

Initially I wanted names that were not particularly popular. Then I realised that many of the names people chose trying to be different and unique kind of blend into one.

Also hate the trend of making up a spelling just to make a name appear special. Jorja for example.

I wanted something timeless, classless, easy to pronounce, easy to spell and I think really there's a reason that names are popular, because they are nice.

Ended up with 2 dc who both have names that often feature in the top 10. It isn't an issue to me, they are the only ones of their names in their class also.

@CaffiSaliMali my DD has a welsh name but we live in England (I was born in Wales) and I was surprised to meet more than one little girl around here with the same name. On the plus side they are the ones who know how to pronounce the name lol. It always surprises me how many people struggle with her name

Because when I first saw his little face he was Oliver. It's hard to explain as that wasn't even on the list. To be fair he's the only one at school and have never met another little Oliver so while yes it is common we haven't come across anyone else with the name.

For DD1 I had chosen my girls name long before I even stated ttc, DH also was in favour. It isn’t top ten popular but is well known and traditional. For DD2 we had 2 names we both loved the one we went with is often in the top 10, she always has at least one friend with the same name, she has never been bothered and is now an adult.
I wouldn’t choose a fad name as then it seems like you are low on initiative but no problem with classics and traditional

My name was more popular in the 60s, 70s so I wasn’t the only one in my year/class at school. But it is still around now roughly one per school year in our area

We were going to go with Olivia for a long time. I have always loved the name. I loved it before it was crazy popular. I also don’t personally know anyone with an Olivia and, although there has been one in every class I’ve taught for the last 10 years or so, there’s never been more than one per class. (For comparison I’ve taught classes with 4 Isabellas (another favourite), 4 x variations of Eve/Eva/Ava/Evie and 2 of lots of other names).

The popularity put me off slightly and is probably partly why we chose another name, but the other reason is that the name we chose had a family connection and also just felt right as soon as she was born.

The name we’ve ended up with is a name I’ve never taught a child with and again don’t know anyone personally with. It rose in popularity last year though and is now top 50, and I’ve come across 2 more in baby groups I’m in (online so not necessarily local) so I’ve a feeling it will be more popular when the figures are announced for this year.

My friend chose a top 5 name for the year her daughter was born. She simply had no idea it was so popular. We joke about it because although according to the figures it was top 5 that year and is still high in popularity now, neither of us have ever come across another one (different ends of the country).