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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Naming: everything I choose is super popular

75 replies

Qwerty2000 · 25/02/2022 13:52

Reposting here as accidentally put in pregnancy thread: This is not a major problem but it is bugging me. This is my first pregnancy and every name I think I like, when I google it it appears in the top 5,10,20 of popular names in 2019.20,21 and even 22! For mums that have children already, is this an issue? Are there ten kids with your child's name in their class now, making you regret the choice? I remember there being a massive bunch of John, Sam, Helen, Jennifer and Louise in my school years. I made the mistake of running some names by my mum and the phrase 'too common' keeps coming up. (Although this is apparently not a problem for classic names like Thomas, Charles etc). Help

OP posts:

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Luluuuuuuuuuu85 · 26/02/2022 09:07

I have tried to avoid 'common' names- common due to my experience rather than the top 10, but they do match up sometimes. We know lots of Charlottes, lots of Emilys, lots of Jessicas, though there aren't any girls in my dd's class with those names! My dd is one of two with the same name in her class, she doesn't like it but that's the way it is! I would also probably avoid names that have a strong association with someone famous, but apart from that go for what you like and is important to you!

raspberryjamchicken · 26/02/2022 09:12

My DC both have top 10 names and have never encountered any issues. They like when they meet others with their name and didn't have another with the same name in their class until secondary school (even then there is only one other with that name in the year group of 120 and it was just unlucky they were put in the same form).

I had a name that wasn't popular. I was a very shy child and hated feeling different.

KirstenBlest · 27/02/2022 13:08

@inappropriateraspberry

Why does it matter if it's popular? It's popular for a reason - because they're nice names! If you like it, what's the real problem? There may be one or two others in their class with same/similar names? Is it really a problem? No. A name doesn't define the personality or the person.

Because the name may be so popular that it becomes dated (e.g. Darren, Tracey), and your child might be Firstname Surname throughout their life

I'd say that a name might affect one's personality a little - things like bullying

thewhatsit · 27/02/2022 13:15

As few people have mentioned, 2021 data is not out and won’t be for about six months. 2022 data is obviously not available.
If anything has 2021/22 “data” then it’s just made up click bait.

thewhatsit · 27/02/2022 13:17

And by the way, one third of DS’s class has the same name as someone else in the class. One third!
None of these names are Top 5 names and one is actually outside the Top 200!!

Porridgeislife · 27/02/2022 13:22

My parents (bless them) gave us basically the #1 name in each of our birth years. Apart from having 6 other girls with the same name in my year, it’s been great to go through life with a simple classic name that’s never misspelt.

Plus I could always get personalised pencils, notebooks, key rings, room plaques etc as a kid

Caramelcap · 27/02/2022 20:32

I thought I'd picked an "unusual" name for my now 14 year old (Logan) but there's loads of them around now.

Likewise my 4 year old is called Zayne and I can see it becoming popular (albeit different spellings poor kid)

KirstenBlest · 27/02/2022 20:34

@Caramelcap, Zain (various spellings) is an arabic name, and there was a famous one not that long ago

Caramelcap · 27/02/2022 20:42

@KirstenBlest I know that's why we chose it, my husband is Muslim

timoteigirl · 27/02/2022 20:53

Unisex names are now super popular, so if you chose a boy or a girl name for the baby, that should already make it less common. Are you deciding what you like based on how it sounds or what the meaning is?

Favourodds · 27/02/2022 20:55

My name was relatively rare when I was born, I didn't meet another one of me until I was 23 and now it's top 20 and I hear it everywhere.

Life is long. Anything can happen. Pick the names you like.

MiddleNameJane · 27/02/2022 21:02

"Popular for a reason! They're just nice names!" That's what parents were saying in the 1980s about Gemma, Nicola, Lisa and Joanne.

Yes they are nice names, but funnily enough not so popular right now. It's fashion.

PiesNotGuys · 27/02/2022 23:11

@Caramelcap

Logan was just about to break the top 50 in 2007. No doubt with some credit to the x men films released in 2000, 2003 and 2006. There were 1,468 boys called Logan in 2007, both my teenage DC born mid noughties had one or more Logan’s in their class. It rose reasonably quickly post 2000 but could not be called an unusual name.

MilkWasABadChoice · 27/02/2022 23:20

Ballonz?

Ylvamoon · 27/02/2022 23:24

My DC's name wasn't popular when born, didn't even make the top 100! Now a few years later it's in the top 20 and we know a few younger DC with the name.
If you like a name, just go for it.

Howmanysleepsnow · 27/02/2022 23:37

I have a Dd with the number 1 name in 2007. There was one other with that name in her 2 form entry primary (but 2 years below). In secondary (5 form entry) she’s been aware of 2 others, 1 of whom is in her year (but in none of her classes).
It’s not like the Sarah’s/ Jessica’s of years ago.

greenteafiend · 28/02/2022 03:00

I don't know why people keep telling the OP to pick a popular name anyway. There's nothing wrong with having a popular name. But the OP has made it clear that's not what she wants. I didn't want a popular name either. I have friends who were happiest using popular names--I wouldn't have dreamed of telling them they "shouldn't" call their daughter Sophie or whatever.

OP, get some of the comprehensive ONS lists of names and start looking at the list from the bottom upwards. Make a note of the ones you like that are low down on the list. Also, look at Darkgreener. Names which are not given to large numbers of babies right now but which are becoming popular very quickly might not be what you want either.

Think about "sound patterns/trends" as well. Like, technically "Eliana" might be given to only a small number of girls each year, but it sounds similar to a lot of very common names like Ella, Ellie etc., so it might not fit your criteria.

inappropriateraspberry · 28/02/2022 07:46

@KirstenBlest
But most names will date however popular. Like Zayne/Zain etc. Thjs will pinpoint this era, just as Nora, Darren, Sheila, Albert are of their own times.
I do t think this is avoidable!
Of course you want to pick a good, nice name for your child, and aren't likely to go for Teresa Green, Ben Dover etc! I've never known of someone being bullied because they have a popular name?

bigbadgoof · 28/02/2022 08:31

@Frankiefarr that sounds like nonsense, there are generally just more names like Emma so of course they will account for a proportion of high achievers when compared to more unusual names

Ragwort · 28/02/2022 08:43

I really wouldn't worry about it, my DS has a top ten name, he didn't meet another with the same name at any of his (3) primary schools or secondary schools. Only when he got to Uni and made a 'best mate' with the same name .

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 28/02/2022 09:13

Dd2 has a top 10 name. I had no idea when I chose it because I hadn't met one in years.
I met 2 others within 6 weeks of her being born so was a bit 😱😱😱 but all through nursery & up until yr2 there was never another one in the whole school. There are now 3 but she likes it now.

Pamlar · 01/03/2022 07:15

Pick a name you love and don't ask for opinions from family members who can sometimes feel like you want their suggestions and involvement which makes choosing much more complicated.
2 of mine have very popular names and always get compliments on them. My third has a fairly obscure name there are only 2 in his school and the other one is his best friend. They will most likely go on to high school together and always be known by their surname....
As long as you like it and it won't embarrass them, just choose what you love.

chloboe · 01/03/2022 14:21

I honestly just think it's personal preference on wether you don't mind your baby having a common name or if you do..

For me personally, I tend to gravitate to not as common names just because I have a very common name (Chloe) and there were about 9 of us in my year in school!

Original poster

Qwerty2000 · 01/03/2022 15:59

@TheGirlWhoLived

I chose number 1 in 2010 and number 3 in 2014. With 2022 I went a bit rogue and I think his is 92 or something!

Dd1 never had another girl with the same name in her 3 form entry year, and neither does dd2- I haven’t heard more than 2 or 3 in the whole school!
Dd1 is one of two in the same dance class, and a variant of her name is in the same gymnastics gym as her (not her group) so I’d say go with what you love.
I honestly think that as soon as it hits top 10 popularity then less people name their child that, so it drops in popularity. It’s 10-30 you want to watch out for

I like this logic, makes sense! Thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

Qwerty2000 · 01/03/2022 16:01

@Luredbyapomegranate

What kind of names do you like? Then people will suggest slightly less popular alternatives.

Darkgreener is a useful site, you can see how names are rising and falling so predict how they’re going.

Thanks for the Darkgreener tip, had not heard of it

OP posts:

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