i grew up with a unique name - no one I personally knew with my same name and I want that for my kids. When naming our first we set a rule not to choose a name above 200 on the popularity list. We had a boy, [name_u]Dexter[/name_u], which was in the 390s. So far so good.
In looking at baby girl names we are really liking some above 200 and even some between 50-100!! I am probably being over analytical but if you look at names in the 70s the number one name, [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], had over 500k kids named that in the decade where in the 2000s [name_f]Emily[/name_f] had between 200-300k kids named that. So the use of the popular names is at a lower percentage.
So to avoid having 5 kids (or 2) in class with the same name how far down the list do you think you really need to go?
I wouldn’t worry about it too much as there are no guarantees. The list changes every year. Sometimes a name shoots up incredibly fast. I’d just avoid the top 10 or so names & leave it at that. Go with a name that you like.
Yeah, I don’t judge names based on any list…it’s different everywhere you go. So, I judge the popularity of names on what I see/hear all the time in the area I’m living. There are some supposedly popular names that have never been on a person I know and some that would be further down the list but I know three or four of them…
H, you’re right that a popular name nowadays is less popular than a popular name in the 70s and 80s. I think we have the internet and celebrity culture to thank. We get people’s names thrown at in the news all over the internet, constantly. I also think that growing up as one of 3 kids in your class with the same name proved to be a cautionary experience for the Jennifers and [name_m]Nicoles[/name_m], etc., who are naming babies now.
When I read the top 1000, I noticed the bulk of the names I have on my list are from 500-800. I like unique names that are still familiar and readily considered beautiful, so that’s where I’d look.
As a personal rule, I won’t use anything in the top 100 for a first name. If I were absolutely in love with a name, I would consider using something in the 80s or 90s. (I base all of this on the Social Security lists.) Ideally, though, I’ll find a name I love in the 200s or 300s. I know name lists change every year, but if you’re in love with a name, you can go to the Social Security site and see how the name has moved around for the past decade. I think that’s really helpful.
For some perspective, my name is [name_f]Molly[/name_f], and I was born in the late 80s. I was the one of two [name_f]Molly[/name_f]'s in my 2,500 person high school. [name_f]Molly[/name_f] was #97 when I was born.
[name_u]Unique[/name_u], to me, would mean absolutely no one else in the world has the same name haha :p. I’m not too familiar with the U.S. list, but I’d assume there’s always a possibility there’d be another child with the same name, and that chance would probably be increased by going further up the list. But as pps have said, popularity is always changing, and it might depend on popular names in your area too.
For me I know lots of people having babies and DS is in preschool. I try to avoid the top 100 AND I like to avoid naming my child any name I’ve ever heard recently in my circle of friends/at DS’ school. I basically like names that you’ve heard before, but not often.
You’ll never know for sure. In my high school class, there are 3 girls named [name_f]Chantal[/name_f], which was all the way in the 800s the year i was born, yet i only know one girl named [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] and that was #7.
to me, i usually won’t use a name that i’ve known someone with, which pretty much takes up quite a bit of the high rankers.
I’m personally very picky about popularity. I wouldn’t use a common or too popular name up front (I’m a lot more lenient with middle names though). Like misslis said, unusual/unique to me is not on the list at all, but definitely nothing above 900. Sometimes if I really love a name I might stretch that rule a bit, like with [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] (it’s becoming more popular than I’d like, but I still haven’t taken it off my first name list), but normally I don’t seriously consider anything in the top 1000’s for a first name. I know that might be a little extreme to some people, but that’s just my preference.
It all depends on where you live. I hear people on these forums say that they hear [name_f]Clara[/name_f] all the time. It’s my daughters name, and we have never run into another one that wasn’t elderly.
I think you are probably fine if the name is in the 200-300’s.
It’s hard to tell, and it changes based upon where you live.
To get somewhat of an idea, go to the social security list (make sure to check the box "Name rankings may include percent of total births), and select the year you were born.
Scroll down the list and about where the names start to feel less familiar (you had one or none in your classes), stop and look at what percent of babies were given these names. (for me this happens around 0.183% for girls and 0.2262% for boys)
Then go to the 2014 list and scroll down to the same percent range and you will get somewhat of an answer.
For me this would mean anything outside 87 for girls and 57 for boys would be less likely to have doubles in a class.
This is by no means perfect, but it can give you a better idea.
Thanks for the thoughts all - looking like the winning name will be in the 700s so I am good - we decided we liked it better than the top 100 name we were considering.