A couple of questions regarding name popularity, etc

Girl Names
1

[name]Hi[/name]!

The S.O. and I are still in the midst of a naming crisis for our coming girly, and we can’t find any girls names that appeal to us as much as our boys names did/do ([name]Bishop[/name] and [name]Ulysses[/name]). We tend to prefer traditional/older names, but with a little pizzazz and pop, and aren’t overly popular. Mythological, especially [name]Christian[/name]/Biblical-inspired names, are a plus.

Anyway, [name]Bethany[/name] seems to be the highest contender at the moment. It was ranked under 100 back in the early to mid eighties, and has decreased in popularity since then. In the last few years, it’s been in the 300s. Can anyone give me a sense of how popular that actually is? I’ve met one little [name]Bethany[/name] in my whole life, and it was years ago. The name fits all of our criteria (religious, doesn’t end in “A”, not super trendy).

Other contenders, many of which were suggested by people here: [name]Mary[/name] and [name]Ann[/name] (I love these, but [name]Mary[/name] might be a little too popular…or maybe not? It’s hovering around 115, and like I said, I have no real sense of how popular that actually is; and [name]Ann[/name], though I love it, may be a little plain?), [name]Susana[/name] (the A ending is a bit of a turn-off for us, but we prefer it to [name]Susanne[/name], and we think it’s still very lovely), [name]Winifred[/name] (a bit stuffy?). [name]Tabitha[/name] (too witchy?)…

[name]Deborah[/name] is my favourite figure, next to [name]Jael[/name], but unfortunately, I’m not a huge fan of the sounds of those names.

[name]Lois[/name]?

We both like [name]Anne[/name] [name]Beth[/name] or [name]Anna[/name] [name]Beth[/name], but not big fans of using nicknames ([name]Beth[/name]) as full names. Sorry, just not our style.

Names that have been nixed: [name]Eve[/name], [name]Tamar[/name], [name]Rachel[/name], [name]Rebekah[/name], [name]Sarah[/name], [name]Maura[/name]/[name]Moira[/name], [name]Annie[/name], [name]Hannah[/name], [name]Abigail[/name] (loveeeee the sound, but too popular : (…

MN will likely be [name]Aster[/name] or [name]Louise[/name]. But nothing’s for sure!

Thoughts on any of these names, or suggestions of other names or combos?

2

I feel like [name]Tabitha[/name] & [name]Susanna[/name]/[name]Susanne[/name] feel more popular or of the moment than [name]Bethany[/name] which feels rare to me. It’s in that realm of almost-dated mom name that I think is kinda cool. I heard in a thread here that a lot of those names- [name]Ashley[/name], [name]Jessica[/name], [name]Jennifer[/name], ect are still up there in popularity but they don’t seem to be in use here in [name]Brooklyn[/name].

[name]Lois[/name] feels most rare on your list. [name]Lois[/name] [name]Aster[/name] feels a bit S heavy & just…off.

[name]Winifred[/name] feels really perfect with your boy’s and [name]Winifred[/name] [name]Aster[/name] is really just regal, stately & strong. Easily cutened up with [name]Winnie[/name] or [name]Wendy[/name] or like a great aunt of mine, [name]Fritzie[/name]!

I am all about [name]Winifred[/name] over [name]Bethany[/name]. I don’t want to bash a name that you’re considering but [name]Winifred[/name] is super cool & I pair it with [name]Ulysses[/name] in my head! [name]Bethany[/name] doesn’t stand up as strong imo.

3

Congratulations!!

I don’t think you need to worry at all about the popularity of [name]Bethany[/name]. It’s a very lovely name! [name]Bethany[/name] and [name]Susana[/name] are my favorites of the names you mentioned. I live near the [name]Santa[/name] [name]Susana[/name] Mountains in southern [name]California[/name], so I am exposed to the name [name]Susana[/name] a lot (a road and schools with the name, etc.) and I just adore it. If I’d had a second daughter, she would have been [name]Susanna[/name]. I love the spelling [name]Susana[/name] too.

4

In the US last year, these were the numerical breakdowns. I would advise you to go on the Social Security website. They have name popularity for the last 100 years and they breakdown numbers by state as well. My favourites from your list are [name]Susannah[/name] and [name]Winifred[/name] and they’re the most uncommon.

[name]Bethany[/name] - No# 352 - 905 girls
[name]Mary[/name] - No# 112 - 2,671 girls
[name]Ann[/name] - No# 996 - 252 girls
[name]Susana[/name]/[name]Susanna[/name]/[name]Susannah[/name] - Neither spelling is in the top 1,000 names
[name]Winifred[/name] - Not in the top 1,000
[name]Tabitha[/name] - No# 676 - 413 girls

Other Biblical/Mythological Name Suggestions

[name]Dinah[/name]
[name]Delilah[/name]
[name]Miriam[/name]
[name]Jerusha[/name]
[name]Lydia[/name]
[name]Martha[/name]
[name]Claudia[/name]
[name]Aquila[/name]
[name]Drusilla[/name]
[name]Junia[/name]
[name]Magdalene[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Jemima[/name]
[name]Salome[/name]
[name]Judith[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Lilith[/name]
[name]Eden[/name]
[name]Evangeline[/name]
[name]Raphaela[/name]
[name]Athena[/name]
[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Diana[/name]
[name]Juno[/name]
[name]Persephone[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Thalia[/name]
[name]Sybil[/name]/[name]Sibyl[/name]
[name]Rhea[/name]
[name]Lorelei[/name]
[name]Niamh[/name]
[name]Cassandra[/name]
[name]Aurora[/name]
[name]Freya[/name]

5

^Not that I match [name]Bethany[/name] with super 80s popular names listed above! To me, [name]Bethany[/name] is more along the lines of [name]Monica[/name], [name]Erica[/name], [name]Chelsea[/name] popularity-wise!

6

I think [name]Bethany[/name] is a lovely name. I’ve never met a [name]Bethany[/name] before, so I think that today, there’s a chance you could meet a few other Bethanys. It’s not very common but not completely obscure. I think it’s a nice choice.

[name]Mary[/name] does seem a bit common to me. It’s not ridiculously popular today, but it’s a classic throughout all of history, so it’s likely that you will meet many other [name]Marys[/name] of all ages.

[name]Ann[/name] is nice, but I agree that it does sound a bit plain. [name]Do[/name] you like [name]Anne[/name], [name]Annette[/name], [name]Annabel[/name] / [name]Annabelle[/name], [name]Dianne[/name] / [name]Diane[/name], [name]Julianne[/name], [name]Anneliese[/name], or [name]Breanne[/name]? [name]Susanne[/name] is all right, but I prefer [name]Susanna[/name]. What do you think of [name]Susette[/name] / [name]Suzette[/name]?

I agree with your concerns about [name]Winifred[/name] and [name]Tabitha[/name]… neither are really my style. [name]Tabitha[/name] reminds me of witches and / or tabby cats, and [name]Winifred[/name] does seem a little stuffy to me.

I think [name]Annabeth[/name] is a lovely name in itself. Would you consider it as a full name ([name]Annabeth[/name]) as opposed to [name]Anna[/name] [name]Beth[/name]?

Other ideas you might like:

[name]Grace[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name] / [name]Elizabeth[/name] / [name]Betty[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name]
[name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Molly[/name]
[name]Danielle[/name]
[name]Amelie[/name]
[name]Madeline[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Jane[/name]
[name]Candace[/name]
[name]Katherine[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Hope[/name]
[name]Judith[/name]
[name]Joy[/name]
[name]Lillian[/name]
[name]Miriam[/name]
[name]Maren[/name]
[name]Olive[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name]
[name]Rose[/name]
[name]Ruth[/name]
[name]Sharon[/name]

Good luck!

7

I’ve met only one [name]Bethany[/name] - and she is about 10 years old now. I love the name! [name]Bethany Louise[/name] would be very pretty. Or how about [name]Annabeth Louise[/name]?

8

I’ve only met two Bethanys in my life. I live in the midwestern US. [name]One[/name] is around 26 and the other is probably 16.

If you like [name]Mary[/name], but dislike the popularity, what about a variation of it?
[name]Maureen[/name]
[name]Mariel[/name]
[name]Marian[/name]

9

Thank you for all of your thoughts! This is very helpful so far!

@peppersprout: We like [name]Marian[/name], but it’s the S.O.s grandmother’s name, and I’d honestly feel a bit salty about honouring her before my own gran ([name]Elizabeth[/name], a name I love, but we’ve already got one in our very close family). LOL, is that a bit tacky of me? I mean, [name]Marian[/name] is a fantastic woman and I adore her, but Girly is already getting Boo’s last name, and it seems unfair. I’m so petty, alas.

@taz: [name]Do[/name] you think [name]Bethany[/name] sounds tacky? I’ve heard it so little that I don’t have any strong associations with it. I like that it’s a city name, but old enough that people don’t think of it as a city name. Sound-wise, it’s similar to [name]Tiffany[/name], which I’m not a fan of…and all those other 80s names. But I don’t know, it seems separate from those, too? I agree that [name]Winifred[/name] is more classic and stately, but it seems a little stuffier than some of those other traditional names getting popular right now.

@consultantmeghan: I adore [name]Annette[/name]! Thank you for that suggestion.

Does anyone have thoughts on [name]Annice[/name]/[name]Annis[/name]?

You’re all so lovely, thanks for taking the time to respond.

10

Here are some biblical names you might be interested in:

[name]Abigail[/name]
[name]Chloe[/name]
[name]Lillith[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Judith[/name]
[name]Eve[/name]
[name]Galilee[/name]
[name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Rachel[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Eden[/name]
[name]Abilene[/name]
[name]Bethel[/name]
[name]Carmel[/name]

11

[name]Annis[/name] and [name]Annice[/name] are variations of [name]Agnes[/name]. I think that they aren’t the best names for your little girl to wear. A nicer variation is [name]Anisa[/name], but I read before that you dislike -a endings.

12

I prefer [name]Anais[/name] to [name]Annis[/name]. I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Annette[/name]! In this group [name]Anya[/name] is cute too.

[name]Bethany[/name] doesn’t feel tacky to me. I do group it with [name]Tiffany[/name] sound-family wise. And [name]Stephanie[/name]. But it isn’t as overexposed and the [name]Beth[/name] part connects it to the classic versatility of [name]Elizabeth[/name].

[name]Bethany[/name] lacks the liveliness of [name]Tiffany[/name] & [name]Stephanie[/name] who sound like 2 party girls & wet blanket in this trio. If I had to be called one of the three I would pick [name]Stephanie[/name] which I think is saved by [name]Stevie[/name] & feels a bit more modern.

I also connect [name]Bethany[/name] to [name]Laura[/name] & [name]Claire[/name]. Names that feel serious & earnest and girlish to me.

13

[name]Winifred[/name] reminds me of [name]Wilhelmina[/name] a bit stuffy, a bit frilly & strong & stately for sure. And with fun nicknames too!

I think this is a more sophisticated side of vintage names than the sweeter dusty bouquet that I’m a little bored by lately.

14

I thought of [name]Phoebe[/name] for you. As far as [name]Bethany[/name] goes, I know a teen with this name and that is it.

15

I don’t care for [name]Annice[/name] or [name]Annis[/name], but I love [name]Anais[/name]. Would consider that? [name]Anais[/name] [name]Louise[/name] has a beautiful ring to it.

16

I actually know six Betheneys. Three are 2-6. And the others in their teens. [name]Annis[/name]/[name]Annice[/name] is gorgeous btw.

17

As an '80s baby who went to a [name]Christian[/name] high school, I know about 5 Bethanys all born in the '80s. I don’t find it tacky, and it wasn’t up there with [name]Ashley[/name], [name]Danielle[/name], [name]Nicole[/name], etc. in terms of ‘80s-era use/overuse, but I don’t find it very interesting either. Not as cool as your sons’ names.

[name]Susana[/name] sounds much more this generation to me, and [name]Susana[/name] [name]Aster[/name] is a great balance of classic and funky. I also love [name]Winifred[/name], though it seems like you’d have to meet the baby before you could officially deem her a [name]Winifred[/name]. I loooove the nickname [name]Winnie[/name]–oh so much. However, I don’t love it with [name]Aster[/name] or [name]Louise[/name] as the mn. I think it needs something to offset its antique dignity. I like [name]Winifred[/name] [name]Claire[/name], [name]Winifred[/name] [name]Anna[/name], [name]Winifred[/name] [name]Ella[/name].

I’m also a huge fan of [name]Mary[/name] and [name]Ann/name–so generationless because of their long history of use. That kind of popularity over time doesn’t bother me.

I think it would be rare that anyone in your daughter’s generation would make the witch connection to [name]Tabitha[/name]. I think it’s a great, soft, substantive name. [name]Tabitha[/name] [name]Aster[/name] is gorgeous.

[name]Lois[/name] is really refreshing to me, too–the kind of name that’s going to have another time in the sun once the popularity of frillier names fades. It sounds jazz-age and spunky. Not as great with [name]Louise[/name] or [name]Aster[/name] as mns, though.

18

I absolutely love [name]Susanna[/name] and [name]Tabitha[/name]! [name]Anne[/name] is so immensly boring. [name]Mary[/name] is steadilydecreasing in popularity so I think it would be fine to use. I like [name]Winnie[/name] but [name]Winifred[/name] is too much. Also [name]Lois[/name] isn’t ready for a comeback.

19

I dont know any [name]Bethany[/name]'s except [name]Bethany[/name] Frankel. she might adopt the nn beth though - something to think about if you dont like nns. what about [name]Naomi[/name]? has alwyas been around adn is religious and doesnt end in a. getting more popular but i feel like it has never been below 500 but is fairly rare and will alwyas be around

20

I would suggest [name]Dianne[/name] [name]Aster[/name]! Very classy!