Really popular names

[DeeDeeDaisy]

What is your opinion on super popular names? I'm talking top 10...Olivia, Amelia, Ava, Freya etc.

Some of the only names we can agree on for our baby girl are super popular but I don't know how I feel about that! Just curious to see what others think.

My partner had a popular name growing up and said it never bothered him. I was the only one of my name at primary school and didn't meet another one until secondary - I always wanted to meet another person with the same name as me, weirdly!

My given name was very popular and about somewhere in the 80’s of the top 100 girls names the year when I was born. It was a classic old fashioned name, so doesn’t date, but I HATED the name as even though I changed schools 4 times there were always at least one other classmates with my name and at least 4-5 in my year group. I changed my name as soon as I turned 18, to something unusual that fits into my ethic heritage. I get compliments on my new name everytime I’m introduced to someone new. Best decision I’ve ever made.

Now I’m pregnant I won’t go near names on the top 100 for this years or the previous 5 years, I won’t inflict the same thing on my child.

The reason they are so popular is usually because they are great names!

My kids have names in the top 20.

Top 10 names for 2021 here are:

Oliver
Oscar
William
Noah
Archie
Jack
Henry
Leo
Max
Thomas
George

Isla
Olivia
Charlotte
Amelia
Mia
Willow
Sophie
Grace
Ella
Evelyn

From the boys list, I love 6 of them, and from the girls' list I love 6.

In adult life you’re working with mixed generations so the effect of popular names is much less. And a name might be unusual for your generation but still very common. Unless u you ou have something incredibly rare there’s likely to be others with your name.

Also those fashionable names become unfashionable, names like Karen, Paula, Jacquelyn, Angela, and Amanda date to boomers and names like Stephanie, Tracy, Tiffany, Melanie and Kimberly date to millennials. Names like Ava will be deeply unfashionable and dated in 30/40 years.

Sometimes I’ll comment on a name as something to say more than anything, I really can’t say I give anyone’s name that much though or attention as an adult!

I can’t say I’ve ever met someone and thought ‘your name is deeply unfashionable and dated’. Are people that bothered? Many of the names are actually quite nice, I might presume they’re from a certain generation but it’s generally very evident on meeting them how old someone is.. the names of other people are just something to call them by and not really anything that I’d give much thought to. Anything that’s a recognisable and mainstream name doesn’t make any particular statement to me

@BungleandGeorge yes a poor choice of words, apologies. myself and my friend group were all saddled with popular names of the early 80’s, which all of us loathe/loathed. Some of them changed their names like I did, and others are known by unrelated nicknames than their actual names by choice. It colours my thinking on baby names - especially as I’m coming up with my own baby names list at the minute.

Im 50 and have a name which wasnt that popular at the time I was born but took off hugely in popularity 10 to 20 years after i was born and was the number one name at one point. I quite like having a name which is more associated with younger people!

Also those fashionable names become unfashionable, names like Karen, Paula, Jacquelyn, Angela, and Amanda date to boomers and names like Stephanie, Tracy, Tiffany, Melanie and Kimberly date to millennials. Names like Ava will be deeply unfashionable and dated in 30/40 years.

Yes, anything that's overused/fashionable will inevitably fall out of fashion and sound dated.

People saying 'top 10 names are popular because they're great' are wrong imo. They're simply in fashion Right Now! They'll be unfashionable and dated in 10-20 years

Many people are not keen on their name whether it’s too popular, too unusual, has developed other connotations along the way, was given to a celeb- the list goes on! Of course how you feel about your own name will influence the choice you make but there’s no guarantees whatever you choose. If the child really dislikes it they can change. It’s true that there are a much wider variety of names and even a popular name is nowhere near as popular as the equivalent in the 80s. There aren’t that many names that I’d say are so unusual across the generations that I haven’t heard them before. If you manage to find a name that you love and that your child also loves I guess you’ve hit the bulls eye but for many reasons I don’t think it’s the most common scenario!

If it’s something you’d rather avoid you could try similar but not as popular names. For example Emilia instead of Amelia or Olive instead of Olivia

I really can’t say I give anyone’s name that much though or attention as an adult!

I actually often struggle to remember which adult Steve or Clare are referred to as I know sooo many.

However if a meet an adult called Conrad or Antonia, for example, I'll think 'what a lovely and memorable name'!

In my class next year I’ve got 2 Bella’s, an Annabelle and an Isabel, 2 Ollie’s, an Olivia, two Theo’s and a Lila and a Lyra.

😵‍💫

my children have much more unusual names!

In my class next year I’ve got 2 Bella’s, an Annabelle and an Isabel, 2 Ollie’s, an Olivia, two Theo’s and a Lila and a Lyra.

That will be confusing !!

They're fine just a bit meh

Do what you want unless you have a super common surname?

Good point about the surname - I know 2 Steve Smiths and 3 Harry Jones...!

If you pick a first name and have a common surname, and use a filler middle name, your child could be one of two Arlo James Smiths or Orla Grace Smiths in his/her year at school.

I’ve often wondered why parents with the surname Smith call their son John.

Or Sarah or Steve or Harry.....

The top names often have some I think are lovely.

having said that, I was keen to avoid:

• high likelihood of multiples in their class (although there’s no guarantee either way and names are far more distributed now, so unlikely to be loads of any particular name)


• names I already knew someone with - I just didn’t want existing associations.

BUT, I think if my favourite name for my kids had been super popular, it wouldn’t have stopped me using it. It’s not worthy passing up on your favourite because it’s too popular/unpopular.

It's difficult to think like this, but, it's your child who is going to be identified with the name and who will find it a pain if there are many with the same name. Probably best to go for something not too popular; not too unusual; not too hard to pronounce; one with possibilities to shorten or pick variations

It's difficult to think like this, but, it's your child who is going to be identified with the name and who will find it a pain if there are many with the same name

It seems we sometimes forget WHY we name things and people... so they can easily be identified.

Having a common name also makes online reputation management much more difficult than if you have a unique name.

I can't fathom being so unimaginative as to call my child Oliver, Theo, Amelia, Ava, etc.

I literally know 5 Isla’s.. ranging from baby to 13 years old.. similar with Isabelle/Isabella/Bella and Lily.. all beautiful names but it does take the shine off for me. But you have to love the name you choose and they’re popular for a reason.