Accidentally chose a popular name...should I change it?

[Nameregretsagain]

I named my baby after my godmother who is also my aunt. I really struggled to choose a name I liked and in the end decided to honour her. I do like the name but it was a compromise choice really as I couldn’t use my favourite name for other reasons and DH and I couldn’t agree. I’m not from the U.K. and it’s a name from my country. I’ve since discovered it’s having a total moment here and know of lots of other babies called this, apparently because of a tv series where one of the characters has this name. I’m gutted because people keep asking me if I’ve named her after this character and/or telling me how popular it is. I really don’t want these associations for my baby. She is 7 months old. Should I change it?

I wouldn't bother. I gave my DD an unusual name 10 years ago now it's in the top 20 girls names. Name popularity goes up and down.

No. At 7 months she is a little person and suits that name. It would be strange to change it now. What is it? Is there a nickname you can use for a bit? The when you’re not surrounded by babies all the time as they get bigger, you are far less likely to come across as many

I had a name that was rare when given but extremely popular about four years later. I don't see anything wrong at all with a popular name. It proves it must be lovely. I wouldn't change it unless I felt it was wrong for my baby or I had my heart set on another one.

Is the name Aria?

It’s Arya isn’t it?

It’s a lovely name and people will forget Game of Thrones one day.

I was just going to ask what the name is

Don't change it just because of a TV series. Current popularity is annoying but imo the fact that it's also a family name and one that you like the sound of is more important.

It’s Maeve. I think if I’d loved it from the start I wouldn’t care about the popularity but it was always a compromise so I still feel very uncertain about it. I wanted a connection to my heritage but lots of the people I know who have used it don’t even realise it’s Irish.

Maeve is beautiful.

I’m in Scotland and can’t say I’ve heard of any babies named that recently and I couldn’t even tell you what tv program it was from. Don’t over think it, it’s a beautiful name.

Maeve is gorgeous
I don't know any

I wouldn't change it unless you have another name youre 100% set on. Do you?

It's absolutely lovely. I wouldn't change it if you like it and are happy with it.

If you aren't then do change it. But not because you think it's too popular.

Say the name to your baby and maybe a couple of other names. If she recognises it and you like the name I’d keep it. If she doesn’t recognise it I’m not as sure.

Maeve is a lovely name and really not very popular (in the nicest way). Don’t change it

I only know one Maeve and she’s 37! I don’t know any TV programmes which has a character of that name. I think you’re overthinking it.

It seems to be one of those names that has come from nowhere. I have a 4 year old so know a lot of young children and never came across any, but since she’s been born there suddenly seem to be loads. There’s another thread on here asking about it where people have commented how popular it is. I would never call a child after a tv character in a million years and I’d hate people to assume that about her when she’s older. I don’t have a frontrunner alternative. Tbh we just call her baby most of the time anyway and she’s hardly met anyone because of covid.

Don't.

I am in a similar position. DShas a name that was fairly unusual 11 years ago... 3 years later it's made it into the top 20 and is now in the top 10 names.
I'm gutted, as DD has a unique name and wanted the same for DS.
But such is life, just go with the flow!

It’s one of the main characters in Sex Education apparently...I’ve never seen it myself.

Don’t worry about it. Really. If it’s popular, it’s because a lot of people like it. It’s her name and you chose it for reasons personal to you. Just go with it.

It’s really not that popular, OP. It’s #218, joint with Leila, Maia, and Pearl.

No baby Maeves among the millions of under twos I know.

It would be a bit weird to change her name now - she probably knows it. I'd only do it for a very very good reason (perhaps like all those little girls called Isis a decade ago), not because of a TV show that will soon be forgotten.

It is definitely growing in popularity

names.darkgreener.com/#maeve

Lovely name though

Lovely name. I think it is a coincidence you met so many. It has gone up in popularity lately but it's still not in the top 200. names.darkgreener.com/#maeve

For comparison, there are 10 Sophia's for every Maeve.

Also, won't anyone be offended if you named her after a relative and then changed it?!

DD (15) was born and named a couple of months before a certain v v v popular book was published and her name was one of the main characters.
I taught her from a v early age to say NO when asked if she was named after this character!
Now her name is v v popular with younger girls but not her immediate peers (there are always threads about it on Mumsnet- it is v divisive!!)

@ZoyaTheDestroyer

It’s really not that popular, OP. It’s #218, joint with Leila, Maia, and Pearl.

I think that must be 2019 data though? I think it’s one of those that have risen super fast so expecting it to be well within the top 100 in 2020. I’m just basing this on the fact that every baby group I’ve brought her to has had at least one other one and several people I’ve told her name to have said that their niece/friend/cousin/neighbour has a baby called that, born in the last year. I’m in London.