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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Regretted a popular name?

98 replies

stellarfox · 22/06/2021 19:43

Has anyone given their child a top 10 name and regretted it as there are so many around? We’re finding it hard to agree on names but both quite like one that’s in the top 10. My worry is there will just be so many around, although I don’t personally yet know anyone of this name! I had a fairly uncommon name so I had the opposite growing up. My partner had a fairly common name but says it didn’t bother him and there weren’t that many others around

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Nohomemadecandles · 22/06/2021 20:58

I am friends with people whose names were hyper popular when they were kids- think Sarahs, Helens, Janes, Jennifers, Katherines - it bears no relation to how I (or anyone else) view them! If you love a name, use it! The popular thing passes! So quickly

Yika · 22/06/2021 21:01

I chose a name which had a major popularity spike in that year, unbeknownst to me, and I do sometimes regret it. There are many with the same name in my DD's year at school. She quite likes being one of many but I suspect it will date as a result.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 22/06/2021 21:02

My nephew signs birthday cards as ‘Jack W’ for the same reason!

Duvetdweller · 22/06/2021 21:03

I think it’s different now, back in the 80’s there weren’t that many different names so you had loads of same (Susan, Katherine, Elizabeth etc). Now, even the most popular names don’t have nearly as many kids actually named that! My niece (18) is an Emily and has never had another one in the same year all through school.

BadgeronaMoped · 22/06/2021 21:13

I have a James and an Oliver. Really regretted Oliver for the first few years, I used to joke to DH that I'd shout "Oliver!" in the park and half the boys there would look round. My regret has lessened with time, he doesn't mind the popularity of his name and it doesn't bother me these days. There are far fewer Jameses where we live so his name was never regretted.
One thing I do remember from school (this has probably already been said) was that there were lots of Christophers, Rachels, Sarahs, Davids and Matthews. It never made a difference, as each person was an individual and their name was just that, a name. Individuality comes from within, not from a name.

BettyOBarley · 22/06/2021 21:17

DS had a top 5 name. It really didn't bother me as I loved the name and it really suits him. I'm probably biased though as I have an uncommon old fashioned name and I hated not having a popular name when I was growing up! Always upset me when I went to the seaside and couldnt find anything with my name on Grin

Anyway he's been at nursery for nearly 4 years (3 different settings) and there hasn't been another child with the same name yet, although we know a couple who are a little older.

Nohomemadecandles · 22/06/2021 21:20

@BadgeronaMoped

I have a James and an Oliver. Really regretted Oliver for the first few years, I used to joke to DH that I'd shout "Oliver!" in the park and half the boys there would look round. My regret has lessened with time, he doesn't mind the popularity of his name and it doesn't bother me these days. There are far fewer Jameses where we live so his name was never regretted. One thing I do remember from school (this has probably already been said) was that there were lots of Christophers, Rachels, Sarahs, Davids and Matthews. It never made a difference, as each person was an individual and their name was just that, a name. Individuality comes from within, not from a name.
I only know one Oliver, despite it being so popular. I don't think there have been any in DS school in the 6 years we've been there.

And getting a job - nobody questions a popular name on a cv.

If you love it, use it!

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/06/2021 21:21

In infants my eldest knew 3 other people with his name, by secondary school it didn't matter because he was it 8 classes not 2 in a year. Now his name is well known but not top 10 and you don't come across many young ones. Basically, no matter how popular a name is you don't notice it much once they get a bit older.

sammyjoanne · 22/06/2021 21:23

My eldest Rhiannon was picked as its not popular and a beautiful name which is Welsh. few months later Rihanna came out with umbrella. Everyone calls her Rihanna and she hates that and always corrects them.

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 22/06/2021 21:29

I picked two simple, classic names for our double barrel. I didn’t realise they were so popular until too late. I still like them but they (old teens) both moan that their names are too boring- cheek. To be honest, if I had a child now, I would be a bit more adventurous than I was.

BunnyRuddington · 22/06/2021 21:39

Thanks all I kind of wish I’d not looked on the ONS and just picked without knowing the popularity. There are some less popular names we like too but I think I’ll try not to think about it and see what suits them when they arrive

Names can be very regional. I'd run it past the MW and if she says "that's lovely, I've met 3 today" you'll know if it's popular where you are.

I know a few Rossi's locally and I've never come across any others.

SE13Mummy · 22/06/2021 21:41

Until I was 12, I'd never met anyone else with the same name as me (within the top 20 for the year I was born). We moved house to an area 200 miles away and there were three others in my year group. One of my siblings has a name that didn't feature anywhere near the top 100 for their birth year but these days it seems to have a permanent place in the top five.

ChilliChaos · 22/06/2021 23:05

@Violetlavenders

They’ll be going to separate reception classes in September and Sod’s law there’ll be another one in his new class

There were only 5 born in all of England in one year. And 3 of those 5 live in your town?Shock

No! I said it’d be Sod’s law if it happened.
PinusSylvestris · 22/06/2021 23:11

It was a family name so very special in a personal way but we did have misgivings with it being popular.
It was interesting how our child enjoyed recognising their name on TV for example. And of course we could buy personalized stuff easily! So it's only been positive to be honest.

Nannyamc · 22/06/2021 23:14

My dgd was born in canada and her name was unusual.
Moved back to ROI and has 3 in a class of 10.
My dgs has an usual name and there are 3 in a school of 100.

douliket · 22/06/2021 23:59

Mia
Amelia
Ellie
Emily
Ella
Annie
Ava
Olivia

These have to be the most common girls names ever, and none of which is even that nice imo,Every second child in dd's school is called one of the above. Will people please stop following trends and become more original when naming you own little unique person 😊

Todaytomorrowyesterday · 23/06/2021 00:07

Both of our children have popular names - I didn’t really realise/think about it when we named them were just liked the names! We had a different name in mind before the birth both times and when born they just didn’t suit them!

Even in a year group of 220 there was only 2 of them. With my second she is in primary class with a child with the same name. But her name can be slightly changed so one has the slight alternative.

Todaytomorrowyesterday · 23/06/2021 00:13

Reading other comments you can probably guess my age range - Within my group of friends we have a few Katie/Jo or Emma’s!

I know 6 Jo’s!

Justilou1 · 23/06/2021 01:54

My eldest has a unique name. The next two are twins. I’m the first to admit that I’m not a kid person and didn’t do my homework. When I named them, I didn’t realise that they were popular names beginning virtually simultaneously with their birth. (Not claiming credit) I hadn’t heard of any kids with their names, so assumed we were good. My DS couldn’t care less, by my DD would rather something more exotic like her big sister.

pantonepenny · 23/06/2021 08:04

You won't regret the name because it will be your child's name

The thing about really popular names is that they will date and go out of fashion

MaMelon · 23/06/2021 08:33

Mia
Amelia
Ellie
Emily
Ella
Annie
Ava
Olivia

In my three DCs years (they range in age from 24 to 14) there was 1 Olivia, 1 Ellie (spelt Elle - cringe), 3 Emily’s, and 1 Ella. Hardly popular names and they were all unique. Remember also - what’s unique and spesh in your area might not be 20 miles along the road or at some point in the future - stop worrying and give your child a name that you love.

waterlane · 23/06/2021 08:45

DD has one of the most popular names in the year she was born but haven't met another one in her age range, only older children and they're not close friends. Maybe because a lot of my friends had boys that year?! DS also has a popular name and know one other in same year group. Whereas other perhaps less common names such as Emilia, Noah, Kit, Finley.. several in our baby groups/swimming clubs etc so it doesn't always seem to translate to real life how popular a name actually is!

Fyredraca · 23/06/2021 09:14

From the child point of view I was at school with 5 other girls in my class that had the same name as me.
Never bothered me, we were all known by nicknames.
Can't say it has caused me any problems in life.
Also once on a works night out i shared a taxi with 3 other women and we all had the same first name. We just thought it was funnyGrin

Medianoche · 23/06/2021 09:22

My youngest’s name is fairly common and it’s been fine. There’s one other in his year group and a few more scattered through the rest of the school.
I started a new job after he was born, though, and now have at least 5 colleagues with that name, which can get a little confusing.

JustPootlingAlong · 23/06/2021 09:24

My DD has a very popular name according to the stats but I have only met one other with the name and she is 23 years old.
I don't care about her having the same name as others in the class. I was one of 3 when at school and it never bothered me.
All that matters is I love the name and I think it suits her.