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Baby names

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

The baby name Noah

61 replies

RedLampshade · 28/10/2024 21:13

Crap, Noah is our favourite and just found out it’s no.1 in the U.K. Didn’t have a clue and always didn’t want a top ten name. Are there millions of Noah’s? What else would I like?

OP posts:
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Frozensnow · 28/10/2024 21:15

There are a lot but doesn’t mean you can’t use it. Do you like biblical names? There’s also- Asher, Jonah, Reuben (although that is getting popular), Jacob, Caleb, Samuel etc

Nikitaspearlearring · 28/10/2024 21:15

Joel?

TerfTalking · 28/10/2024 21:18

We were talking about this name yesterday, DIL is a teacher, she has three in a single form.

I do like it, it’s been popular for ages, Chris Evans’ son is called Noah and he’s 15.

resm · 28/10/2024 21:20

I have a 10 year old nephew Noah, but my kids (2-8) don’t have any Noahs in their class, clubs or creche so don’t let popularity put you off.

Similar names you may like:

O sound —
Jonah
Joseph
Joel
Noel

Biblical —
Matthew
Jude
Isaac
Ezra

Lookingtofind · 28/10/2024 21:28

Absolutely hoaching wi' Noahs around here. I love the name too but it's so ubiquitous I wouldn't choose it.

RaspberryBeretxx · 28/10/2024 21:29

I didn’t realise it was number 1. I don’t actually know any, my dd is 3 and at a big nursery with none, didn’t know any at baby groups. I know lots of Arlos, Arthurs and Alexanders.

wafflesmgee · 28/10/2024 21:32

V common in the schools I have worked in in the last 5 years. Similar names...
Nathan, Nate for short?
Caleb
Theo
Ethan
Howell

Orrinocc0 · 28/10/2024 21:33

Flooded here too.

What about Moses or Solomon?

peonym · 28/10/2024 21:37

I have a Noah from this year and he's the only one I know. We struggled so much with boy's names - I didn't realise it was that popular this year!

meganna · 28/10/2024 21:52

I wouldn't let that put you off. I have a DS with the 2nd most popular boys name the year he was born and he's now in P2 and he's always been the only one in his class the whole way from daycare through nursery and primary school!

Mumofgirls2017 · 28/10/2024 22:37

I’ve met a few. Can’t really deny the stats but if you love it don’t let it put you off. Other suggestions….

ezra
jonah
elijah
elias
tobias
nathan
jacob
joel
toby
adam
koa
luca
caleb

Moreteaandchocolate · 28/10/2024 22:38

My son has a top 5 name and is the only one in his year. I only know a few Noah’s (but a zillion Oliver’s)! So maybe check the ons data for your region to see how popular Noah is for your area? Within reason I’d rather a name I loved than changing my choice due to popularity, but I think I would think twice if it was the number one name in my area.

Do you like

Leo
Nathan
Jonah
Oscar
Joseph “Joey”
Max
Alfie
Henry
Ted (Edward)
Theo
Arthur
Freddie
Jake / Jacob
Finley / Finn
Owen
Rory
Evan
Louie
Lewis
Ellis
Eli
Luca
Liam

TheMummyJade · 28/10/2024 22:57

You might like Noel, Nova, Nathaniel, or Nolan :)

Atishooo · 29/10/2024 06:18

There’s only 1 in my DC’s school year. However there are multiple George’s, Oscars, Samuel’s and Jacks.

selly90 · 29/10/2024 07:10

There are quite a lot of Noah's in my son's school. He has 2 in his class. My neighbour also just had a baby Noah. So it's popular round where we live.

KirstenBlest · 29/10/2024 07:19

If you love it, use it. Yes, it is popular, but nowhere near as popular as Jack was 20 years ago. Theo/Theodore and Mohammed (various spellings) are probably far more popular.
Babies called Noah in England & Wales since 1996
Babies called Jack in England & Wales since 1996

Manchesterbythesea · 29/10/2024 07:34

I only know 2. Both are around 20 now. Lovely name.

daisypond · 29/10/2024 07:37

I know loads of Noahs, all in their mid-20s. It would seem a bit odd to call a baby it nowadays. I think those Old Testament names for boys are v dated now- names like Joshua, Ethan, etc.

standaloneinthecity · 29/10/2024 07:40

Old Testament names are really popular @daisypond , it’s just a different than Joshua, Daniel and the like. Ezra, Elijah, Jude and Noah are very popular.

MinPinSins · 29/10/2024 07:54

daisypond · 29/10/2024 07:37

I know loads of Noahs, all in their mid-20s. It would seem a bit odd to call a baby it nowadays. I think those Old Testament names for boys are v dated now- names like Joshua, Ethan, etc.

It's top of th charts in the UK - the furthest thing from odd you could call your baby.

ChocolateGanache · 29/10/2024 08:35

Just makes me think of an old beardy man on a boat.

Why so popular?

MissyB1 · 29/10/2024 08:38

What about Jonah or Joel instead?

RedLampshade · 29/10/2024 09:06

Thanks, other options we had were
Kai
Caleb
River
Zeke
Zachary
Jude (DH likes but I’m not a fan)

OP posts:
BoleynMemories13 · 29/10/2024 09:21

RedLampshade · 28/10/2024 21:13

Crap, Noah is our favourite and just found out it’s no.1 in the U.K. Didn’t have a clue and always didn’t want a top ten name. Are there millions of Noah’s? What else would I like?

The key for me here is you "didn't have a clue" until looking it up. So clearly your area isn't absolutely overrun with little Noahs, otherwise you would have worked it out a lot sooner.

Popularity varies from area to area. Some of the top names around me seem to be Arlo, Caleb, Harper, Luna, Mila, Aria... none of which are in the national top 5. Some of the national top 5 names are popular around me (Oliver, Noah, Olivia, Isla) but hardly an Ava, Amelia or George to be seen).

Point is, it really doesn't matter what is popular across the country as a whole. It doesn't necessarily mean it will be popular near you. Even if it is, who cares? Days of 3 in a class are all but gone as people choose from such a larger pool of names now than ever before. If it does happen, it's just a coincidence and can happen to any name. Imagine picking something you love much less and there being another in his class at school, and no Noahs. It could easily happen. How would you feel?

It's much more important to go for something you love. There really isn't much difference between names in the top 10 and names in the top 20 in terms of usage. There isn't much difference between the top 20 and the top 50, top 50 and top 100 etc. I could go on. Why limit yourself to silly rules that you won't pick it if it falls in a certain position nationally?

You love Noah for a reason, and until you read that list you were oblivious that it was currently the most popular name in England and Wales. That proves to me that it really can't matter that much.

RedLampshade · 29/10/2024 09:32

First child and not huge amounts of children in friendship circle so I’m not really exposed to kids/parks/schools to know what other kids are called.

OP posts: