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 think it’s a lovely name and I’ve not come across many children with the name (and I work with children).

Although I did watch Sex Education, the name made me think of the superhero from The Boys on Amazon, for whom the write-up is:

Queen Maeve (real name Margaret “Maggie” Shaw) is one of the main characters in the Amazon series The Boys. She is a superhero and a member of The Seven. As a warrior, a feminist, a humanitarian, and second most powerful member of The Seven, Queen Maeve is the ultimate role model for little girls all over the world.

I think that’s a good character to share a name with!

Whatever you do I think you should be start calling her by her name rather than baby at seven months!

I've never even heard of the TV show! It's a lovely name, I don't know of any children with that name, only one adult.

Ah from Sex Education I presume. Its a lovely name.

Maeve is a lovely name. I've never heard of the TV programme, a relative watches a lot of television but I've never heard them mention it.

Keep the name, it's a nice name. I did think of Sex Education but I wouldn't think you'd named it after the character in that as it's not really the sort of programme you'd name a child after.

When I named my children it was very important to me that their names not be super popular. Honestly, now they are teens I realise it doesn’t matter. And they are both very clear that they wouldn’t want a very “out there” name. Some of the names I liked that DH vetoed they kids are thanking him for it now LOL.

DS’s name was a character in a book/film that was extremely popular around the time he was born. Maybe one or two people asked me about it. But unless a book/tv show is an absolute classic (which Sex Education is not) nobody is going to remember which shows were popular ten or twenty years ago.

I think you’re having second thoughts about the name and looking for reasons to change it. It’s a lovely name and changing it sounds like a big hassle for not much payoff. If you couldn’t agree on something when she was born, why will it be any different now?

I would say 7 months is a bit late to be changing a child's name. Maeve is a lovely name though.

@Nameregretsagain

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

I've seen the programme and I didn't even think of it when you said the name. Its not a wildly popular show, people won't be naming their baby "after" the character, and in a few years time people won't even remember the show. By the time she is old enough for kids her age to see it (14+) there's no way they will be watching it.

Maeve is a lovely name, and really not that popular.

I love Maeve, and popularity wouldn't worry me. If you're disliking the name I would consider changing it though - but not just over popularity. It's not too late, but you don't seem to have an alternative that you like more. Maybe think what that would be, and try it out for a while before making a decision.

I think people are commenting on it precisely because it’s unusual. And for many, that tv show is the only place they’ve heard it before so they assume the same for you. No one would say “oh, Sophia/ Olivia/ esme, did you name them after that person in program x?” because the name is much more well known and could come from anywhere. Just smile back and say “no, it’s a name from my country, and i named her after my godmother”.

Beautiful name. It’s not that popular at all though it’s enjoying an upwards trend. I wouldn’t change it unless you have another name that’s a really strong contender because it feels like changing for the sake of changing? Or there’s the more unusual Maeva (682 on ONS stats), which would mean you could alternate between that and Maeve as a short form if your baby is used to it and still honour your relative. However, that could also shoot up in popularity tomorrow so I wouldn’t overthink the popularity thing too much because we can’t fully predict future trends. MN forums can give a skewed idea of popularity because the names that have a moment on here does not necessarily translate to real life. Also ONS statistics to be taken in context because there’s not an even spread throughout the country - so if locally you know a few little Maeves under 5 you may have a point, but if not, I wouldn’t worry about your gorgeous choice.

It’s a fantastic name.

In London it probably does seem quite trendy, I would see it as a name used by quite independent, creative people (but not hippyish, woo or whimsical). I recognise it as an Irish name and have never heard of the character.

You seem very keen to not cause issues... potential anglicised spelling, not using your actual favourite name etc.

I presume you didn’t use your actual favourite name because someone else did. Unless it was your sister and within 3 years of your baby being born, just use the name! No one owns or has rights to a name.

If you are not prepared to use your first choice name, and have no alternative to Maeve that you love just get used to saying ‘no I named her Maeve due to my Irish heritage, and have never heard of that character’. Be proud of your heritage and stop cringing in the face of people’s questions. In a year the series will be buried and forgotten.

My friend called her kid Alexa 14 years ago. I really wouldn’t worry

It's a lovely name, and not that popular at all.

I haven't met any Maeves in the SE in two years of going to baby groups. I do know of one toddler with Maeve as a middle name.

I think you're overthinking this. Even if it shoots into the top 100 (relatively unlikely), it would still be well under 1% of babies, probably more like 1 in 500 or so.

That name certainly isn't popular around here.

My dd's name was unheard of 24 years ago. It's top 15 now.

Maeve is a lovely name.
I’ve never even heard of Sex Education before, so no associations for me there.

I know it’s risen in popularity recently, but it’s still a way off the top 100. Maybe it’s a bit more popular than usual where you live, but I still wouldn’t worry too much about it.
I also wonder if you’re noticing the other baby Maeve’s more because they share your baby’s name?

Annoying for you but just say 'no, it's a family name/Irish name/Maeve was a warrior queen of ancient Ireland'. I haven't seen Sex Education but I presume it is a bit like Skins and the characters have a couple of years and then a new cohort arrive? This pop culture Maeve might soon disappear.

I don't think there's anything wrong with changing a 7 month old's name but it seems as though there isn't a specific name you want to change it to. Maybe discuss it with your DP and throw around a few names for a few weeks and see if anything sticks?

Would it cause a bit of upset with your aunt if you said 'actually we've decided not to name her after you, after all.'?

I wouldn't worry. When I was born my name was really unusual - never met another one in my whole school life. It obviously had a moment about a decade later because I started teaching age 24 and had two in my tutor group alone, with a bunch more in the school. You never know what'll happen to a name. Maeve is beautiful and I don't know any.

There are 2 other threads on here with lists of girls’ names asking people to vote for them, both include Maeve and on both loads of people have said it’s everywhere and “faddy”, and on both the other names on the list are really far from the kind of name I’d have chosen for her. I wanted to go with a classic Irish name that wouldn’t date but would strongly identify her as Irish and I feel like instead I’ve given her a “trendy” name that will date really badly 😭

That's a beautiful name ❤️

It’s a lovely name and I’m not aware of it being over popular.

Keep in mind that these threads attract name nerds so perceptions of names that are 'everywhere' and 'faddy' can sometimes be exaggerated.

Maeve is a beautiful name! Keep it! Its definately not faddy and i don't think it will ever be super popular "4 in a class" scenario

I think it makes a huge difference that you are actually Irish. Dh and I have two different ethnic/national backgrounds and I wanted to reflect both of those in the kids' names.