So I know this is a topic that’s been discussed already on Nameberry quite a bit - but I’ve really come to enjoy and value the opinions of my fellow 'Berries so I wanted to post again anyway. I don’t remember what the previous consensus was anyway!
Also, this is a big issue for me currently as one of my very favorite names, for my current baby-on-the-way, is pretty darn popular. So hubby and I are discussing this question quite a bit right now! Anyway, so for all of you, how much is the popularity of a name a factor in whether or not you’ll actually use it? I know we’re all “name nerds” and we all prefer something unique… but what if you fall in love with a name that’s in the Top 10? [name]Add[/name] in one more factor - what if that name also works as a name you can use to name your baby after her grandmother’s? So it also has special meaning to you. Would you absolutely not even consider it?
I was born in '79 and my name was in the top 10 back then. I was always “my first name + the first letter of my last name” in every class because there were 2-3 of us. But it didn’t really bother me, it was just the way it was.
Anyway, so I want to hear your thoughts! My 12 week ultrasound is now 2 days away (it’s this coming [name]Wednesday[/name] morning, 5/29) and I am absolutely scared to death and trying to distract myself with happy thoughts. So have at it! <<hugs>>
I like fairly unusual names, but big popularity no-no is classic names like [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Mary[/name], [name]Linda[/name], [name]Jessica[/name]…
I really don’t understand why a popularity no-no would be a classic one? I think, if you’re going to go for a popular name, I’d go for one that stands the test of time, rather than one that will sound dated and awful in a couple years (imo, [name]Jessica[/name] and [name]Linda[/name] aren’t classic, though…).
Personally, I have no qualms whatsoever using a popular name. I was born with a number 2 name, and it went to number 1 the year my sister was born 4 years later. So what? I didn’t even go to school with another [name]Ashley[/name] until my junior year of school. Besides, naming has become much more diverse–the average is that there will be no more than one [name]Sophia[/name] per class, if that. Popularity doesn’t affect me. If I like a name, I’ll use it. [name]Just[/name] because 20,000 other parents used the name (in this year alone) doesn’t lessen the significance or importance of my [name]Olivia[/name], or [name]Jack[/name], or [name]Caleb[/name], or [name]Isabelle[/name], or [name]Hannah[/name], or whatever.
However, when I fall in love with a name that I think is unpopular, then I am less hesitant to use it as it gains popularity. I mean, I fell in love with it when I thought it was rare, and so now that it’s not, it just doesn’t seem special enough for my child. [name]Eliza[/name] used to be one of my favorites, but it just keeps growing in popularity and just isn’t special anymore. If [name]Emmeline[/name]/[name]Emmaline[/name] ever makes it big, it’ll probably drop off my list, as well. The same thing happened with [name]Noah[/name]–I was fine when it was around the 20 mark, but once it reached top 10, I just can’t get behind it anymore. Especially if it’s being poised to take [name]Jacob[/name]'s spot for number one, which wouldn’t really surprise me.
But sure, I would have used [name]Isabella[/name] when it was number one. I loved it that much. I think Berries put a lot of stock into using a rare name, but you miss out on a lot of lovely gems by ruling out all those names.
I think that most of the top 10 names are really classic choices right now. Names like that are always a classy choice with history, in this case even family history. I think that popularity is a personal thing. The timelessness of names like [name]Anna[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name], ect makes popularity not much of a concern for me. Popular as they get I can still imagine them on a girl in 1920 or 1950 or 1990…[name]Madison[/name] or [name]Aubrey[/name] feel more popular than classic. Right now classic is trendy so trendy is ok by me.
Thanks for the feedback! @ashthedreamer, what you said really resonated with me. It’s pretty much exactly how my hubby feels about it - we found a name we love, it has personal meaning for us, he doesn’t understand why it being popular makes me hesitate. And you’re both right, it’s a silly reason! Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts!
For me, something changed when there was an actual little person who would be attached to the name…and a husband who had to love the name too. A lot of my more obscure favorites were crossed off because we didn’t agree on them or somehow they didn’t feel quite right. Our current frontrunner—DH’s definite #1 favorite and one of my top picks too–is in the top ten and honestly, it’s not bothering me. So many popular names right now are truly lovely classics. Probably the only place I’m even a little self-conscious about it is on nameberry because I know some people would judge it as a boring choice! I love the name, DH loves the name, it just feels like her name already.
Going on name threads on some of the more popular birth boards (babycenter, etc…) are also reassuring…out of 500+ posts, I was shocked that only one other person was using “my” name. Many many more kreativ spellings than anything from the top 10 which reenforced what we always say around here, that popular names today are not the popular Jennifers and Jessicas of the past when you look at the actual numbers. It feels silly to choose a name that was our third or fourth choice because we’re afraid there might be another in her class or that our #1 is somehow a lesser choice. Besides, you never know how a class is going to break down…a few years ago I taught a class with two Amayas…bet their parents never saw that one coming.
For me it’s a pretty big factor, because I was one of those people who had a letter behind her name. My name was number 6 in the country the year I was born, and there always seem to be 2-4 of us in the room at the same time. I’ve run into multiple people with my first and last name combo and one with my first, middle, and last name. Talk about frustrating.
On the other hand, naming is more diverse now. The year I was born, there were over 24,000 girls born with my name. The number 6 name this year… around 13,500. That’s a big difference in actual human people running around with a name. [name]One[/name] thing I would suggest is check the state data if you are in the US and see how many kids are born with your chosen name in your state.
Having said all of that, [name]Sophie[/name] is my favorite girl’s name. [name]Will[/name] I use it if I have kids? Yeah, maybe. But if I do, my girl will be getting a very distinct middle name.
I chose a name for my 6.5 year old that was in the 200s for popularity the year she was born. Her name is [name]Elena[/name] and here she has an Elyahna (prn [name]Eliana[/name]) in her class now, but NONE of the girl’s names in her class this year were top 10 the year they were born. Go figure. So, I wouldn’t let it deter me. We don’t even know any [name]Emma[/name]'s, for example, but I know more than one of each of these: [name]Piper[/name], [name]Peyton[/name], [name]Riley[/name] and [name]Annika[/name]. Also, people who are not currently naming babies don’t realize which names are popular and won’t think it’s a boring choice. All of the Top 10 names right now are gorgeous and likely to be widely recognized as such.
It’s a huge factor for me, because I’m not planning on having a child for another decade at least. So, for example, if I see [name]Violet[/name] dipping under the top 100 line, I’m going to assume that in 10 year’s time, it will be ridiculously popular. I’m likewise cautious about the 200-300’s range because I don’t want to hit on the next big name by the time that I’m ready. It’s sad because I lose a lot of great names - 10 years ago, my favorite name was [name]Violet[/name]. Go figure! On the bright side, I become more diligent in my name searching and more open to names. I didn’t think I would ever like [name]Sybil[/name] and now I love it (now, to convince my mother of it’s virtues!).
It matters to the extent that I am not personally a fan of the most popular names. The only one I like is [name]Jacob[/name], and I’d use [name]Jacoby[/name] instead because I like it more. I don’t dislike them because they’re popular, which is silly, I just like other names a lot more.
Besides, naming has become much more diverse–the average is that there will be no more than one [name]Sophia[/name] per class,