Super common/popular baby names - why?

[Alwaysyoudoyou]

If you gave your baby a very popular name, did you think further than 'I like that'? If yes, what was your reasoning/motivation behind the choice? I'm just curious what makes people choose names from the top 10/20/30 etc? How do you feel when you meet another child with the same name? Or if there are multiple children with the same name in the class or friendship group? I like learning about how people are different and how they make decisions.

Personally I tried really hard to choose names which were recognisable but not overly popular. My motivation was that they would be the only one in their class/of their friendship group, but without it being something outlandish. Basically wanted to avoid the top 100. I'm not sure why it felt important at the time, as I seem to very much enjoy meeting people who share a name with me, but wanted something that felt more unique for my children. Both children also share names with grandparents which added a nice touch for us.

It hasn't worked out mind.... my sons name wasn't even in the top 500 when I chose it and we now know eleven of them 😅and my daughters is appearing on more and more forums so I assume it's catching up!

Anyway as I said, just curious really. No judgement. You do you!

Exactly. I have a very common name and have no issue with it, dh a more unusual name and he hates it. You also can’t predict if a name will suddenly become super popular. Maybe Disney will make a film next year with your dc’s unusual name as the main character, or a celebrity will use the name. Suddenly it’s in the top 10. Really all you can go on is that you as parents love it, and it’s not anything that will embarrass in the future.
Popular names are really not as popular now they used to be either. It’s not as big a deal as some imagine.

Popular names are really not as popular now they used to be either. It’s not as big a deal as some imagine.

This too. My DS's name was the most popular in our area last year but that equates to 7 babies given that name out of around 400 boys born in the area. Not exactly every other kid.

There are almost 30 primary schools in the area. Of course all 7 could end up in the same reception class but really what are the chances of that?

We are Irish but live in Scotland. Both dc have traditional Irish names, though neither were anything like top 10 in Ireland the year they were born. Dc1 was 96, last count, not in top 100. Dc2 was unlisted for years in top 100, but weirdly, year she was born it was up at 70.

As we live in Scotland, both names are very unusual, but we are over in Ireland often and then it is more common to meet others. The children enjoy that, but I believe also like being unique and reflecting their culture when they are at home.

My children are 18 and 21, both of their names are more popular now than they were then, dd’s has probably peaked but still lots of babies called by ds name. Most women with my name are older than me. Maybe when my dc are in their 40’s their names will suggest they’re 30 whereas mine suggests I’m 70.

I gave my DC a name the was Top 20 when I chose it. For me the benefits of the name - timeless, internationally used, lots of interesting namesakes, link to my own family, choice of nicknames etc; far out weighed that there will likely be others with the name in school.

I also think there are many benefits to a popular name - unlikely to ever be teased about it (as the name will “fit in” with their peers), most people should be able to spell and say it, most people will quite like the sound of it (or it wouldn’t be popular in the first place) and many kids love to be easily able to get things with their name on them from shops as a bonus.

What I initially thought could be a negative in a name (too popular), I actually now see as a benefit- to the point that if I had a second child, I’m a bit annoyed that the rest of the names I like aren’t very popular! 🤣

My only caveat would be to make sure not to go for a name that is very recently popular - as you can’t tell how it will date. Nobody wants to be the Gary or Tracey of 50 years time (apologies to those with those names!)

DS was born in 2019 and his name wasn't even in the top 50, I think it's nearing top 10 now, which I'm a bit annoyed about.

DD has a rare and somewhat OTT name (along the lines of Esmerelda or Raffaella) and it's not even in the top 1000. Both sets of grandparents were extremely bemused but they seem to have got used to the idea.

@IggyAce is it
Odie?

I am like you OP and I've always checked popular names lists when I was choosing a name. My dcs names have never surprised me in being more popular or common than I expected. DC1's name had 9 babies in England & Wales named that last year, DC2's name had 29, DC3 had 250. I've come across a couple of dcs with DC3's name (and more middle aged adults) but not DC1 or DC2.

I went with names I liked that were also family names. In one case, this meant a name that had been in the top ten for years and in another, a name that wasn't even in the top 500. Weirdly, both met one other child of the same name in kindergarten.

@Tristar15 yes

DH and I have classic names everyone can spell and pronounce. Think: everyone knows a Sarah or a Dave. We tried to do the same with our DC but apparently Robert is well outside the top 100. I still love it obviously, but that wasn't the plan and I do sometimes feel guilty he won't know anyone who shares his name. Unlike our eldest DC who we know about 5 of.

FWIW I have difficult to spell (and pronounce) maiden and married names so an easy and well known first name was important.

I hate it, I have a really unique name and have only met two others with it. I would hate to have a name like everyone else. It was terrible at school when you had to differentiate people by their surname initial

I have an unusual name and went to school in peak Claire/Sarah/Joanne/Andrew/David/Chris era. I was jealous of the people with popular names, I wanted to fit in. People tended to be teased for names more back then, perhaps. In naming a baby I’d probably avoid the top 10 but I would want something in the top 100.

DC1 has a name that's not even in the top 500. Not totally 'out there' but definitely not a common name.

Pregnant with DC2 now and so far the only name we can both agree on is a top 10 name!! We both really like it.

I have an unusual name and liked the fact I was the only one at school etc (although I've met others in adulthood). I always hated that I couldn't find my name on a keyring or stick of rock though!

There are so many “normal” names that are under used but so many choose the same. Eve/isabe/olivia/Lily guess humans are pack animals who want to stay with the crowd!

We just went for names that we liked and worked well in multiple countries (husband is from another country)/ pronounced not too differently. Didn’t care about popularity.
to be fair I could never find thing with my name on as a child and people always mistook it for another name so quite liked the idea of it being fairly popular

Also to add, I have an unusual (foreign) surname as DH is not from the UK so having a 'normal' and easy to pronounce first name seems more important

Well, nobody can guarantee the thoughts and personality of their future children so, when considering a name, parental preference is ultimately the most important thing. That phrase will usually be said in response to someone fretting over other people's opinions (mainly family). We all have different tastes. The only taste that matters when naming a baby is that of the parents, unless they can magically see into the future to know what type of name their offspring may prefer?!

For every child who hates being known as their first name followed by surname initial (if indeed they are, not a given these days), there is another who is relieved to easily blend in with the crowd. For everyone who loves how their unique name makes them stand out, there is another who cringes when other people say it out loud because of how different it is. For everyone who loves being the only one of their name they know spelt that way, there is another who curses their parents every time they have to spell it out. For every kid who likes being the only one at school (if indeed they are), there's another who wishes there were more people with their name to confirm it is indeed a nice, universally liked name rather than an odd choice their parents plucked from obscurity in an attempt to be different.

As long as people have considered how their future child might like their name, it's ludicrous to suggest their decision is selfish. What you're failing to consider is that everyone has different preferences. Just because you may prefer different, does not mean that every parent to be will want that for their child, or that every child will appreciate that. We have no way of knowing, when picking a name, whether it's the right choice for our child. How many people pluck for the exact opposite type of name to the one their parents gave them? We can only please ourselves when picking a name. Whether our offspring actually like it or not will be down to pure chance.

I find it an odd concept that some on here seem to think those who pick popular names have put little thought into it. For them, it could absolutely be the perfect choice after much deliberation, just like any name anyone chooses. Equally, something completely out there doesn't always require great thought, just a desire to be different (without any idea whether the child will actually like it or not).

It never occurred to me to look at the top 10/20 etc names when choosing. We just chose names we liked. As it turned out, both DS and DD’s names were in the top 10 for the year they were born.

However, they were the only ones in their class and year group at primary. I think there may have been another one or two in their year groups at their huge secondary.

The Office for National Statistics release the data every year of most popular names in England and Wales, based on actual registrations (as opposed to lists released by parenting websites, which are just based on trends and don't actually reflect names on actual birth certificates that year). Every country will have an equivalent and they're easily searchable online. It's not some top secret list you're being kept out of the loop for!

I actually like trying to guess the names people used based on their descriptions! I don't think anyone needs to reveal personal information such as their actual name or the names of their children (unless they want to).

Just have a quick read through the replies on this thread and you'll see posters who love having an unusual name and others who hate it.
Then posters who love having a well known name and others who hate it.

That's only a tiny snapshot of people across the globe, but I think demonstrates that none of us have absolutely any idea how our children will feel about their names in the future.

With that in mind, what else is there to do as a parent other than give your child a name that you like?

And yet nearly everyone currently choosing it still seems to think they're being different! 😂

Personally I'd rather choose something I know is popular, than attempt to be different but research it badly and end up hitting on the fastest growing trend. Each to their own though.

I have nothing against people wanting something uncommon, but I do admit I find it quite humorous when people realise that apparently uncommon name is actually far from it. At least research the stats and growing tends properly if you intend to be different!

Like how people on here still list Willow and Arlo on the list of potential names they are considering, when they have specifically said they want to avoid the top 20. Umm, hello?! If it's that important, do your research then!!! 😂

I remember someone admonishing me for thinking so hard about names I liked (especially as I'd have to hear/say it a hundred times a day for years!). She said 'Why are you thinking so much about you? It's your childs name. Surely their opinion on it should matter most!'

Umm...yes...but right now that child is in utreo, and will have a name for quite some time before they are able to articulate an opinion on it soooo....I'm going to focus on choosing one I like?

Absolutely this!

How on earth can an unborn or newborn have an opinion on what they should be called! 🙈🤣