Is it important not to have a popular name?

[OverwhelmedandUnderpaid]

DH and I are considering the name Sophie if DC is a girl. We've since found out that it is a very popular name. I'm not keen on DD sitting with 5 Sophie's in class, but DH says that doesn't matter if we like the name.

The other name that we are considering is Felicity (Kate for a middle name for both, as is a family name). Felicity doesn't even register and so appeals to me more although DH doesn't like it as much as Sophie. My name is unusual and I quite like not being one of thousands that you meet.

Does it matter as much as I think it does?

Forgot to add, I love Felicity.

Am less keen on Sophie - just find it a little dull and quite common/popular.

I had a name that was common but was the only one in class at school with it, and I consider it to be so dull. Even now!

I'd rather give a child a name that is less common, use a big imagination, there are so many nice names out there to choose from. So many books to help!

Sophie is one of those lovely 'timeless' names - if you like the name it doesn't matter how many others have it, surely? Each person is an individual and you don't need a 'unique' name to proclaim your individuality or 'imagination'

This time round DH and I have spent some time wrestling with the concern that the names that we tend to like are incredibly popular and "classic." We tried to be a bit unusual with our DS's name - its still classic but ranks about number 64 in the charts yet in every single playgroup/music class etc. we know at least another one. We were at a wedding on Saturday and there was another one!

Basically you can't win. Geography has a lot to do with it I think. The boys name we like the most (Oliver since you ask) is number 2 in popularity lists I think but I don't know a single one. Pick a name you love and don't worry about popularity. This is what we have decided to do this time.

'It almost lacks imagination to choose a name so many others have already used... '???

What a load of cr@p, and rather insulting too - what's important is that you choose a name that you and your other half love - that's all that matters and sod what anyone else thinks.

Incidentally my sister and I both had fairly unusual names for growing up in the 70's .... both have consistently been in the top 20 for years now, I can't move for bumping into toddlers with my name (which actually I quite like). Anyway my point is what's unusual now, won't necessarily always be, so why worry about it?

I think both names are lovely. But I am biased as my dd has the more 'boring and popular name!' I think some of the posters are a bit mean and snobbish to infer that if you chose a popular name you are lacking in imagination. Well I don't give a stuff what others think about chosing a relatively common name and nor should you. Chose the name that you like, although I do agree perhaps Felicity Kate does flow better, perhaps because felicity has more syllables?

When we chose DD name we didn't know a single other one. She is Olivia middle name Kate. Obviously it is really popular but it doesn't bother me as i still think it's a lovely name.

It really mattered to me that my children had unusual names. I was gutted when my own name became really popular recently and I hear it getting yelled out whenever I'm in the supermarket!!
My ds is at school with 2 Sophie's but I only know of one Felicity who is always called Flic..

Both my children have popular names, we have a common surname as well. I think it's fine! The reason names are popular is because they are nice and lots of people agree.

Anyway, your child could easily end up in a class where someone has the same name, even if it is not one of the most common ones.

I would just pick the name you like best and not worry about who else is picking it or not.

I think choose the name you like . The name we chose for DD has turned out to be quite popular. At the time we knew no one with that name, it turned out to be one of those trendy names and there are quite a few around now... (all younger than DD I might add).

With DS1 we chose what you might consider a common name, so far we have met no other child with his name. With DS2 I had given up trying to second guess which names will be common/popular so we just chose one we like! LOL

It doesn't matter to me particularly, more important is to choose a name I love. There's always a risk you're at the cusp of a new trend anyway. My parents thought they had given me an unusual name, but there was a sudden rash of us at that time and I was always one of many at school. I can't say it ever bothered me at all though, my best friend at first school had the same name as me and we loved that. I've also met other people with my exact first and surname, I found it amusing rather than any great disaster.

Both of my DC's names are in the top tens but they have an unusual surname. I don't think the popularity of a name should put you off. If you really love a name, you should use it, not search for something unusual that you like less.

I think Sophie is a fabulous name, because that is my name, and I'm not just "a little dull and quite common/popular." Well saying that i am popular, but mainly because I'm wonderful.

Felicity is also lovely, i have a spectacular friend called Felicity.

I approve in a completely non-judgemental and rude way for both of your choices.

When it comes down to it, it's your choice and no-one else's, do what you think is best.

I love the name Felicity, but I do like Sophie as well.

I tried to choose names for my DC's that weren't in the top 100. I went wrong with DS2, his name was 30-something but he's still the only one in his school and 2 of the others names have since got really popular and are now in the top 100. So far they don't share their name with anyone else in their school.

Both names are lovely. Popular or not popular - doesn't really matter, IMO. Just choose whichever you prefer.

My 9 yo is Sophie. At the time it was popular but I had loved it for years. The no. 1 names in 2000 were Jack and Chloe. My Sophie is the only one in her year and there isn't a Chloe or a Jack. Ds has only one Sophie in his class. He has a top 100 name and there were 2 of them in his class last year . I say if you love it then go for it.