How popular is Grace?

[legallyblond]

DH and I really like the name Grace, but are put off by its popularity. I know it is very high up on the official most popular names lists, but I actually don't know that many. I know that it is the default middle name of choice, but how about for a first name?

So the question is: How many Graces (first name) do you actually know?

Thanks!

1. All aged 8 and under. I think it is in the top three most popular names or something like that?

There are a lot about in my neck of the woods, for sure - always at least one in any playgroup/baby group setting I've been to. But it's a lovely name so if you like it, use it

I know six under five.
Very risky IMO- I'm glad I'm not a Grace as it (sadly) wouldn't suit me.
Is Clumsy a name, though?

I met a Grace yesterday - a friend of a friend's little girl who is 2 1/2 yo. And I know another one who is nearly 4yo - DH's workmate's DD.

Dd's a Grace and while I still adore the name I wish we'd called her something different. It is very common.

Well, it's all a question of perspective. In 2008 in England and Wales 345,700 baby girl births were registered. Of those, 4,700 were called Grace - i.e. still only 1.4% of baby girls had this name

My dd1 is Grace - I love the name and when I chose it was nowhere near as popular as it is now - she is nearly 7. There are two other Graces in her school - one of whom is in her class.

I know 3 under 5

that's the thing about the 'now' names - when you chose your baby's name at the time, it probably wasn't that popular (maybe 5 or 6 years ago) but after you name your baby suddenly everywhere you go, there are children with the same name!! Perhaps it's because you are more aware of it.

This situation happened to me. I chose a quite unusual name for DS (well, it was at that time!) but now everywhere there are boys with the same name. You can't win, really.

I don't know any (Herts) It's a lovely name!

I know 3 including my dd.

Does it matter? It's a beautiful name and you both really like it. Don't choose something you like less because it's a bit less popular, as no doubt she'll end up with 3 of those in her class anyway.

Although popular, I know only 2 under 6 and 1 in her 20s.

Only 2, ones 18 and the other is 9.

Its a lovely name but I have to say the 9 year old is a rather above average sized 9 year old and I tend to think it suits a more svelte and graceful person !

I know one aged 7.

Know lots with it as a middle name.

My DD (nearly 4) is Grace and I don't know any others and we come in contact with loads of children. I know its popular but I am glad I didn't not choose it because of its popularity.

Dinah - I agree and that was kind of my point. Even the most popular names only belong to one or two girls per hundred. What's the real difference between that and a name which belong to 1 in every 200 girls?

FWIW, my DC have unusual names (talking low 100s per year with that name) and one of them shares a nursery class with a child of the same name...

I love the name (know 2) I chose an old fashioned name for my eldest but used a foreign spelling of it, which I love. With my younger my hubby insisted on keeping the English spelling (another old fashioned name) and there are so many, I wish i'd pushed harder to get my own way with it!

Thanks guys - it really is my favourite name, and DH LOVES it... so I think that's probably the most important thing.

I know quite a few here its very popular. Its a very bold choice IMO. Although a a nice name I would worry that if the girl wasnt graceful and waiflike she will face of life of sniggering. But then I went to school with a plump Willow and she did not have an easy time of it.