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Baby names

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

Original poster

Does it MATTER if the name you choose is top 5 / top 10 / whatever? DH thinks so - I don't!

62 replies

MamaG · 02/04/2008 11:59

what do you think?

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SirDigbyChickenCaesar · 02/04/2008 12:01

only that the higher in the top whatever list the more there are likely to be in the LO's class at school.

NatalieJane · 02/04/2008 12:04

We had 4 Natalies in my last class at school, didn't bother any of us one little bit.

What name you thinking of MamaG?

Original poster
MamaG · 02/04/2008 12:04

of the Top 10 from year DS was born, there is ONE child with Thomas and none of the other names!

OP posts:
tiredemma · 02/04/2008 12:05

Lots of Emmas in my class at school. I dont think it affected us.

Original poster
MamaG · 02/04/2008 12:05

Do you think I'd be daft enough to say on MN, NJ? hahahahahahaha no way, I will choose my names and stick to them, will NOT give anybody the chance to say "ewww" and try to put me off!!

OP posts:
NatalieJane · 02/04/2008 12:10

DS1 is a Thomas, there is no one else in the whole school called Thomas.

You are no fun you.....

Original poster
MamaG · 02/04/2008 12:11

No, I know

OP posts:
SirDigbyChickenCaesar · 02/04/2008 12:11
scorpio1 · 02/04/2008 12:13

my DD, due any day, is going to be called a top 20 name. infact it may be number 20. i don't care. FWIW i only know one Jack.

Original poster
MamaG · 02/04/2008 12:13

Yes, I only know one Jack

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Original poster
MamaG · 02/04/2008 12:19

I have a slightly porn-star surname, so need to be VERY careful with first names!

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 02/04/2008 12:20

I think it's a bit boring to have the same name as lots of other people. Variety is the spice of life

scorpio1 · 02/04/2008 12:22

and i think that certain names are more common in different areas of the country - when i was asking about dd's name on here, lots said they knew loads - but i don't know any, neither does a friend and thats from 2 schools and several toddler groups.

Original poster
MamaG · 02/04/2008 12:24

Anna, did you choose unusual names? I have v unusual surname so went traditional!

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 02/04/2008 12:30

MamaG - my daughter is Flora. We needed a name that worked in both English and French (which severely limits choices); a name that hadn't been used in either family by cousins or second cousins (more severe limitations); and I wanted a name that wasn't in the top 100 in England, France, US, Australia, Canada (even more severe limitations).

And of course we had to like it too . We are very happy with it, btw. No regrets ever.

My daughter's surname is my partner's surname followed by my surname. They are hyphenated.

My partner's surname is a bog standard French Ashkenazy surname but totally unpronouncable in English; my surname is a boring sort of English surname, very easy to manage in French.

I doubt anyone else has the same name as my daughter and I think that's fun

VictorianSqualor · 02/04/2008 12:41

DD is Ella, had never met another Ella when I named her, then as she grew up we met LOADS, and a ton of Ellies, we moved about a year or so ago though, and she is only one of two Ella's in her whole school so it obviously isn't that common where we live.

I asked about Alexander on MN as it's what we like for this LO and everyone seemed to know about 5, I know none, and DP knows one, that's including schools.

I think if half your friends kids are called the name, then it matters more, but I wouldn't really worry. I named DS Bobby and then about 3months later a friend had a LO and called him Bobby too but we know no others so in one respect to us it's common but it's quite unusual at the same time....

Twinkie1 · 02/04/2008 12:43

Oh Anna please call your kid Tallulah or Coco - goes so well with porn star surnames - I know a Tallulah Star - now that is a porn star name!

Original poster
MamaG · 02/04/2008 18:08

No WAY am I giving my child a porn name! Poor DS has the same name as a (female) porn star

I don't think I'll tell him (he is only 4 after all!)

OP posts:
branflake81 · 02/04/2008 20:09

I think too may parents strive for different or unuual names often at the detriment to good taste. And, actually, lots of "commmon" names are not as frequently used as you would think as a result.

popsycal · 02/04/2008 20:10

both ds1 and 2 have top 5 names. Not intentionally. They have names we loved which also happen to have family connections.
If you like the name, does it matter?

MrsMattie · 02/04/2008 20:13

I wouldn't knowingly give my child a very common name, no.
I've always liked unusual names, but I can understand people who prefer something a bit more 'vanilla'.

Also, there seem to be trends for names that people don't always predict. Isaac was incredibly unusual when my friend gave her son that name 5 years ago. Now north London is flooded with little Isaacs. I would never have guessed it, and my friend certainly didn't think she was going for something popular.

hatrick · 02/04/2008 20:16

This reply has been deleted

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kategarden · 02/04/2008 20:16

You can't win anyway - I got called Kate cos my mum didn't know any other kids with the name - by the time i got to primary school 6 out of 15 girls in my class were called Kate or Katie . Nothing wrong with having a common name (i would say that wouldn't i) but it means that no-one can take the mick

Hulababy · 02/04/2008 20:18

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. I chose a name because I like it; don't bother looking at its position in the lists, etc.

DD's name is in teh top 20 although her speling of the name is lower done th list. She is still the only one with her name in her school, and the only child with the name we know amongst family, friends and colleagues, etc.

popsycal · 03/04/2008 06:52

Incidently Hula, we may be using your dd's name if we have a girl....the 'common' spelling though