I’ve always loved the name [name]Benjamin[/name]. I’ve known several Bens in my life and even though I was never particularly fond of any of them, I still love the name just the same. I love the idea of a baby/toddler/kid named [name]Benny[/name]…
The thing is, I would never consider naming my daughter a name that was in the top 20 popular names. But being unique feels less important for boys. My husband has a pretty equally common name, but it fits him well, I love the classic quality of it, and he says he’s never been sad about having a common name. (The other names we are considering are [name]Theodore[/name], nn [name]Theo[/name] for a boy and [name]Louisa[/name], [name]Wilhelmina[/name] nn [name]Willa[/name], or [name]Beatrice[/name]/x for a girl.)
What do you think? Is [name]Benjamin[/name], nn [name]Benny[/name] too popular? [name]Do[/name] you know a lot of little boys with the name?
My brother in law is a [name]Benjamin[/name], and he goes by [name]Ben[/name]. Other than him, I have never met any other [name]Benjamin[/name]'s in my life. I think it is a nice strong name, and since you don’t care too much about being unique for boys you should use it if you want to. I also love [name]Theodore[/name], and [name]Beatrice[/name] for the girls. Great choices!
Off of the top of my head, I think I only went to HS with one [name]Benjamin[/name]. I only know of one other personally. And, I don’t even really Know him, he’s the son of a woman I know from “back home”. Though, a quick search puts it in the Top 20’s for the last handful of years in the US. I wouldn’t worry about it, even being in the top 20. You never hear of as many [name]Ben[/name]'s as you do [name]David[/name]'s, [name]Mark[/name]'s, [name]John[/name]'s, etc… I think it’s a lovely name.
My first son’s name (or a version of it) is Very popular here in [name]Ireland[/name] and is always on Top lists in the US too. Our soon-to-be son’s name is popular here, but not at all back home. And, our soon-to-be daughter’s name isn’t on a Top list anywhere. So, maybe our thinking was like yours that it’s less important for a boy’s name to “stand out”.
I think of it as a classic name that has always been around and will always be around. And there’s a reason for that…it’s a wonderful name.
WOuld you consider [name]Benedict[/name] to make it slightly more unusual? I love [name]Benjamin[/name], but there are so many that I’m now considering [name]Benedict[/name]. That way, he can have a normal nickname, or choose to make himself more distinctive / distinguished. I think it works very well on children and adults…
I love [name]Benjamin[/name] with the nickname [name]Benji[/name]. I’ve never actually met a [name]Benjamin[/name] in real life despite it’s apparent popularity.
If it’s [name]Benny[/name] that you like but don’t want such a popular name then try:
Thanks for the suggestions of other [name]Ben[/name] names. Actually, I really love [name]Benjamin[/name] in it’s full glory, just as much as I love the idea of the nickname [name]Benny[/name]. It’s true, there certainly aren’t as many Bens as Johns, [name]Matthews[/name], Davids, and I still think those are fine names…Is it weird that I don’t think it’s as important for a boys name to be unusual, but it’s one of my top priorities for picking a girl name?
I don’t think that’s weird! Or maybe I do, but I am exactly the same way. My DD’s name has never been anywhere near the top 1000 in the US, yet all the boys names we’re thinking of this time around are in the top 100 (most in the top 20). I am kind of struggling with that disparity, but I really just don’t like the less common boys’ names and think they all sound like we would have picked them just for the sake of being unique.
I’m reading this post because we’re considering [name]Benjamin[/name], actually, and I wondered if people would think it was too normal or boring.
[name]Benjamin[/name] is one of my favorites, so I might be biased. However, I don’t think [name]Benjamin[/name] is as popular as he appears. Where I live Biblical names for boys are everywhere, and it’s rare that I come across a [name]Benjamin[/name].
I know 1 [name]Benjamin[/name] and 1 [name]Bennett[/name] that are both 5 years old and that is it despite the popularity. I [name]LOVE[/name] it and feel exactly the same way about the popularity of boys vs girls names. I would go for it!
If you love it, then go for it. Your DH’s experience with having a common name ought to prove that it’s not the worst thing in the world, even though people here sometimes act like it is. For everyone who hated being “[name]Ben[/name] X.” to differentiate him from his classmates, there’s someone who’s glad he has a name other people can easily say and spell, or who never really cared to begin with.
My DD’s name has never been anywhere near the top 1000 in the US, yet all the boys names we’re thinking of this time around are in the top 100 (most in the top 20). I am kind of struggling with that disparity, but I really just don’t like the less common boys’ names and think they all sound like we would have picked them just for the sake of being unique.