avoiding popular names? would you?

[missytequila]

I always have liked being unique, and hate the idea of following everyone else. I really wanted to find a pretty but unusual name for my little girl on the way. I hate the un-original route...

Problem is this is the list I have come up with:

Isabelle
Ava
Isla
Georgia
Liliana
Sophia

I like these names, but hate that they are so popular!
Would you avoid a name based on its popularity?
Why is the name such a dilemma for me?
Anyone else out there with this problem?

No, DD has a reasonably popular name (Mollie) but this did not put me off at all. As it happens we don't actually known anyone else with the name (bar an adult friend of my mum) and there are non in DD's school.

I would chose a name you like and not worry about popularity.

Isla is gorgeous and I didn't think it was that popular? I would have thought about it for DD1, but since our surname is Whiteley it would have been utterly ludicrous!

It might be worth going through a names book (the Oxford name dictionary is excellent) and trying to find names with a similar meaning or derivation.

For example, Isabelle comes from Elizabeth, so other possibilities could include:
Elizabeth/Elisabeth
Elisa
Elise
Elspeth
Beth
Bethan

We avoided all names due to popularity, went for an old fashioned name from an historic book and film we both loved. I told it's making a comeback which is slightly worrying but not met another one as yet.

yeah, I did avoid names because of popularity actually. except ds2 who is Gabriel, which, while not that popular is certainly heading that way. esp round these parts.
I did have a waver when i saw that it was "just" in the top 100

My husband and I crossed off everything that was on the previous years top ten. I didn't want them going into a class and being one of 5 with that name. This eliminated some of my favorite names but she is the only one in her year with her name (it was number 11)

I'd avoid a name that's in the top 20 but not worry about it after that. Also I suppose it depends what's popular in your area - I see a lot of threads inherent where people know loads of babies with particular names, but I never seem to come across them (north/south divide?).

I think the only really popular name on your list is he first one (sorry typing on my phone so can't see if it was Isabelle/Isabella). Liliana strikes me as unpopular tbh - I think Lily is v popular but have never heard of Liliana.

The ONS lists are v good for finding less popular names (can be a hard slog though as there are thousands of names on there!)

This must be the most frequently-debated topic on the names forum! Some people are really put off by popularity of a name, other people don't care. The only way you're going to get a truly unique name is to make one up, so why not just choose a traditional name that's fallen out of popular usage? My son's name was in the top 100 in 1880, but is very rare these days - so it's unusual without being silly.

I don't know any Georgias. I don't think it's as popular as the others.

There is only one Georgia in my dd'S school
Loads of Isabelles and Sophias
Haven't heard the others at school yet

I think it's all down to the area you live in as to what's popular. There definitely seem to be regional differences. I know of four baby Islas (about number 38 in last years top 100) but I haven't come across a single Olivia or Ruby (both in top 5)

I'd say go with a name you love first and foremost or maybe choose a more traditional name that has plenty of nn possibilities eg Elizabeth (Elsa, Betty, Libby etc) or Katherine (Kate, Kitty) so you have plenty of options if you/she wish to make it a little more unique later on.

we avoided all the names in the top 20 - like paula. then our child's godparent choice it for theirs - so all a bit pointless.

Ask your midwife if they are v popular near you this year.

I too hate the idea of there being another kid with the same name as my kid in class. Also we have a v common surname. But if the name had special meaning to us I might have compromised.

Variations:
Aoife (eefa)
Georgina
Lilianne / Ariana / Lilia / Sylvianne
Seraphina

our DD2 has one of the overpopular names you've mentioned and she is the only one in her school and the only one we know of

we chose a less popular name for DD2 and we know of 3 and it has become the fastest growing girls name in 2009

you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't - use a name you love for that very reason and not because you're worried over how many there might or might not be in her class

We avoided the top 100 names for both our dd and ds and are very happy with their names! Of course, names can rise or fall in popularity, but if you avoid the top 50 or top 100 names, you're pretty safe .

I think there is a difference between popular because it's timeless and popular because it's a fad. The latter (Ellie, Evie, ad infinitum) I would avoid like the plague. The former no.

The only one of yours I'd put in the faddy box would be Ava.

Sophia and Liliana are lovely.

Ava, Isabelle (that spelling, particularly) and Isla are faddy imo.

I agree, there is a difference between 'trendy' names - those that rise in popularity quickly and everyone jumps on the bandwagon - and classic timeless yet fairly popular names.

From your list, Liliana is lovely, not 'trendy' and just beautiful!

(I'd definately avoid Ava, Isla, Isabelle!)

Does anyone know whether the 2009 ONS names data is out yet? The list which shows ALL names given and the number of children given a particular name.

I doubt it. The 2008 data only came out towards the end of last year.

I wouldn't avoid popular names just because they are popular. The whole reason they are popular is because a lot of people like them - ie they are really nice names!

My kids have popular names and I was OK with other kids in the same class having the same names. In fact, it hasn't happened!

There are 2 kids in DS's class that have the same name (won't say what it is as it may identify me) - this name was not even in the top 100 and obviously both sets of parents didn't want a popular name, but these girls have ended up in the same class with the same name!

Furthermore, the only person who has passed comment on my DS having a common name has given his own DS a name that is unpopular (not in top 100, don't know how far down the list it is) - the reason why this name is unpopular is that it is horrible!! (I didn't pass comment obviously). Obviously not all of the names further down the list are "horrible", but this particular one is.

"The whole reason they are popular is because a lot of people like them - ie they are really nice names!"

Yes, names are popular because, just like fashion, we follow trends and lots of people like certain names at a particular time.

But whether a nice is "really nice" or "horrible" is in the eye of the beholder. It is also is very likely to change over time. Everyone loved the name Sharon and Stephen in the 1970s - are they therefore "really nice names" because of this?

"The whole reason they are popular is because a lot of people like them - ie they are really nice names!"

Yes, names are popular because, just like fashion, we follow trends and lots of people like certain names at a particular time.

But whether a nice is "really nice" or "horrible" is in the eye of the beholder. It is also is very likely to change over time. Everyone loved the name Sharon and Stephen in the 1970s - are they therefore "really nice names" because of this?

dd has a name that was no 82 when she was born, ds has a name that was in the top then. I've met a few little girls with dd's name, no little boys with ds's. Point being depends where you live but for my money going for something you love is the most important thing. My mum thought she was giving me a name she'd pretty much made up and I've never been in a classroom or workplace where there isn't at least one other!

Fraid we have a Georgia next door and one in DD2's class. But I don't know how you avoid popular names, given that names of a particular era have a particular style. Thus, these days Helena (know 3), Emily (4) and names of that ilk are more fashionable than plain old Helen and Emma. Incidently I think Liliana is trying just a bit too hard - prefer Lilian(e). But then I don't like too many bells and whistles. As suggested by another poster on a thread like this, Melanie is a 70s/80s name (and therefore unlikely to be too popular for a while!) that is also very pretty.