Today, out of sheer curiosity, I decided to look up the popularity of my name in my country during the year of my birth. I was surprised to find that [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] was in the top 10 that year, and even more so to find that the number 1 belongs to a name that I’ve never met a kid my age with! Despite being in the top 10 ive only met one [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] my age. This got me thinking, are popular names that bad?
All too often, I find myself dismissing names that are in the top 100, yet my own mother gave me a name I love in the top 10 and I’ve never felt it was that popular or had issues with it.
Of course I don’t know everyone my age, but regardless, in my area the name isn’t awfully popular. Keep in mind though that I’m from a very small town.
So I guess what I’m asking is having a name in the top say 50 really that bad?
I won’t lie. It does matter a bit to me. Most of the names I like aren’t really rare, although they are somewhat uncommon. I suppose I’d use a name regardless of popularity if I really loved it that much, but I haven’t quite crossed that road yet. Anyhow, it gets so tiring hearing the same names over and over again…which is the issue, in my mind. I know some people don’t like popular names because they want something unique, but for me, it’s definitely the over-exposure thing…
Not the end of the world, but something I take into consideration.
I have a popular name (I used to be in a class where there were four of us), and I never cared.
Also I think you have to remember that nowadays way more names get used so popular names are only used for a few thousand people in the whole US usually, which isn’t really that many compared to how many births there are (eg 19,000 babies were named [name_f]Emma[/name_f] in 2016, which was the number 1 name that year, but there were nearly 4 million births). So to me popular isn’t really that popular, but I know a lot of people disagree with that.
So basically no, I don’t think popularity matters. [name_u]James[/name_u] is in the top 10 and I want to use it.
Having been born in the early 90s, we had 5 Rebeccas and 4 Jacks in our class and it was a pain having to refer to them by their full name. The kids themselves got sick of it, as did the teachers, and some had to go by their middle names to help out. I’d never want that to happen to one of my kids!
That being said, I’m tolerant to an extent. I’d probably limit it to top 10, maybe even top 5. It would depend on the prevalence of the name in my area. I know lots of Olivias, Noahs, Charlies and Amelias in my neighbourhood, but surprisingly not any Lilys or Islas (which are in the UK top 10). If I really loved a name (take [name_f]Lily[/name_f] for example) I’d consider it as a middle name but I would want the first name to be a bit more unusual just to balance it out.
Coincidentally, I had this conversation with DH recently and he said it wouldn’t bother him in the slightest, all that matters is that we like the name. He does seem to like simple, popular names though so maybe it’s just the style. I got in trouble for saying his niece’s name was common (he thought I meant low born ‘common’ when I meant over used)
I think it depends on how many kids you are actually hearing with that name, rather than numbers themselves, honestly.
There are so many names being used nowadays than ever were, so even the most popular names of today can’t hold a candle to the popular names from when I was born (80’s); I don’t think it’s an enormous concern.
I have a popular name, in the top ten for when I was born, and that stayed in the top ten for years afterwards. It got irritating going by initials, but my name is nice enough that I don’t hate it now I’m an adult. I would avoid top ten names and those that have shot up in recent years to avoid too much naming conflict, but apart from that, I think I’d be tolerant of it - especially for middle names. My boyfriend really likes names that I find too popular, so we have this debate quite a lot.
It can be an issue
In my class there are two boys named [name_m]George[/name_m], two girls named [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and two girls named [name_u]Penny[/name_u] and it’s pretty annoying always having to explain which one you’re talking to/about. The teachers usually call them “[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] 1” and “[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] 2” and both girls are pretty annoyed by it and tell me that they wish their parents had given them a less common name.
Plus, names that aren’t so popular just feel more interesting and unique. I have an uncommon name and while I do have to correct people a lot I’m glad it’s uncommon and I can make it part of my own identity, if that makes any sense. Not sure how to word that but I hope you can understan anyway
During the year of my birth, in [name_f]England[/name_f], my name was number one. My name, at least when I was in School, was very popular. However, it never bothered me. I just accepted it, you know? To me, personally, popularity doesn’t matter. If I liked a name, and so did my future partner, I would use it!
that is really up to you. it matters to me, but I look more at the regional popularity than national. also if I know of several kids with the name its to popular for me. not only does it feel worn out or over used, but I don’t want my kid to be one of 3 or 4 in their class.
It depends on the person. I have a popular name and hate it so much, I could never do that to my own kids. But it doesn’t bother everyone so to each their own.
It matters as much as you let it matter. There are pros and cons to either side. I think if you like the name it’s popularity shouldn’t be the deciding factor.
As lots of people in this thread have posted about struggles with popular names, so I’m going to share what it’s like on the other side of the story. My name ‘[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]’ was around the 60th most popular name in the UK in the year I was born. I wouldn’t say it’s popular but more commonly used than some, and I’ve met a handful of other Harriets. I’ve sometimes liked having a name that’s a bit more individual, but its also given me a few problems. People never know how to spell it and sometimes as a kid I wished it was a bit more common. I also have gotten the distinct impression that some people think my parents made it up!
I have a name that’s been relatively popular for a long time and which sits comfortably in the top 50 and has for a while now, I’ve met other people with the name, my age and younger mostly but it never bothered me.
(fwiw, I actually did have 4 people with the same name in my class and the name really wasn’t popular, I don’t think it ever really bothered one of them
others had far more popular names and were the only ones in the entire grade).
For myself I made the rule that popularity isn’t allowed to be a factor in deciding what name to pick as a name can quickly increase in popularity and then what?
I also think that as with clothing trends the more people try to be different and stand out, the more similar they look. Sure they’re not all wearing the same exact thing but they can still be grouped together easily.
Maybe [name_u]Wren[/name_u] is more unusual than [name_f]Emma[/name_f] but if I already know a juniper, a willow and a lark, wren (or either of those names) doesn’t really feel that special after all.
It definitely matters to me—I’m glad my name is unusual, and did not at all enjoy being [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] [Last Initial] in the one college class where there was another one. That said, when naming a kid it’s impossible to guess whether they’ll care about that stuff—always a toss-up. Personally, I plan to err on the side of “too unusual” because that’s where my taste leans anyway.
For me popularity lists are the only way I can gage how often a name is used or the likelihood I am to come across another child with the same names I intend to call my own children I’m the future. I enjoy having a more unusual name, and whilst I can’t gaurantee that for my kids, I try by choosing less popular names. It helps keep my options under control too. Popularity’s important to me, but definitely not for everyone.
To me popularity is quite a superficial thing. People try way too hard to be unique/different. I believe it’s more important to give your child a name you love than one that’s out of the top 50, 100, or whatever. People seem to think that if someone names their child a top 10 name that they have no creativity or they’re trendy. What if they simply love the name?
I have always absolutely hated the popularity of my name. I despised always being unsure of whether someone was talking to me or one of the other five girls in my class that shared a first name. I also just really dislike feeling very un-special every time I consider my name. However, I love several names that are quite popular and in the top 100. While I wouldn’t love to give my child a popular name, all that matters is that the name I give my babies are ones that mean something to me.
