I’m in love with this name (and yes, I already know a lot of 'Berries don’t like it, so I’m not looking for other suggestions or reasons why you hate it), and it’s one that I’ve liked since childhood but only within the last few months have I actually considered using it. And now I seem to be seeing it everywhere and I can’t tell whether I’ve become more aware of it or whether it’s becoming more popular. I know it was the most commonly searched name on here for the first part of the year, so do you think it’ll shoot up? It’s currently in the #1800s in terms of popularity and I’d really prefer it if it stayed off the top 1000 altogether. But with names like [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] being in the top 10, I worry that all my favorite vintage names are going to shoot up.
What do you think? Is [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] safe?
I honestly think that depends on a lot of things, in particular, pop culture. If a singer (other than [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] Heap, she isn’t that popular even though she’s wonderful) or a book/movie character or a popular celebrity’s child have the name [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], I can see it shooting up. However, I don’t see it ever being a Top 10 - even a Top 50 - name, unless that movie character is REALLY popular. It’s like the article that was on [name_u]Berry[/name_u] Juice recently about [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] and the other Divergent Series’ names; though I think [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] is a little more familiar and more likely to jump up than [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], it’s the same concept. I love [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], and [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], and my friends used to think that was weird (“WHY would you use such an old lady name?!”) until Divergent came out (which I have not read) and now they all love [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f].
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is popular where I’m living now, in Australia, but my friends back home in the States find it clunky and harsh and “hard to say” so I think it’s safe. In the US, it doesn’t have what [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] have, which is a wealth of great-grandmas by that name so they have a “long ago, but familiar” quality. I’d more cautious of low-ranking-but-known names like [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] or [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] coming back than [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], if that makes sense.
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] was #44 in Australia last year. It’s not really getting more popular here from what I can tell, but I suspect you wouldn’t get bad feedback on it from Australia. It’s quite a safe name here. So… hard to answer your question.
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] in my area (south east [name_f]England[/name_f], UK) is very popular, and has been for ages it seems. I know many [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]'s and I absolutely understand why parents in the UK flock to this name, she’s gorgeous very sweet and has lovely connotations but if you live outside of the UK I wouldn’t worry about popularity of this name. In the UK are naming style (it seems) is very different from other countries for example nickname names like [name_m]Archie[/name_m] are so common it’s slightly boring whereas in [name_u]America[/name_u] nickname-names are very new and considered slightly out-there.
I don’t know anyone called [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]. Personally, I love the name. It’s underused and vintage, but it has a slightly futuristic feel to it as well. Also, the nicknames [name_f]Immy[/name_f] and [name_f]Jen[/name_f] are really sweet
I know a couple little Imogens (we live in a very large US city) but I don’t see it getting SUPER popular. I do think it’s on the rise and probably will continue to rise for a few years, but I bet it will level off relatively soon provided there aren’t any pop culture Imogens that turn up.
You never know, but I really don’t think so (at least in the US). I think it’s too unusual and harsh-sounding for most parents. It might become relatively popular among a certain trendy set who like clunky old-lady names, but I don’t see it gaining widespread popularity.
I’m guessing you hail from the USA, but here in Australia, [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is already #55!
It’s a bit sad as I do love the name too. I know a 19-year-old [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], 17-year-old [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and baby [name_f]Imogen[/name_f].
I love [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]. Sweet, demure, down-to-earth, cute for a little girl but also sophisticated for a woman. To me it’s one of the most “quintessentially British” names, as in I associate it with [name_m]Britain[/name_m] right away. I’ve wondered too if it will get more popular, though I’ve never met one of any age. I’m in [name_f]Canada[/name_f].
Ok can’t comment on other countries sticking with my homeland USA!
In [name_u]America[/name_u], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is not 1000 right now, and never has been. I do think it could make the top 1000.
That being said there’s gigantic difference between top 1000 or top 500 or top 100 or top 50 or top 10 or #1 ([name_f]Sophia[/name_f]!) The bottom 500 really isn’t that popular. I can’t see at least not for a long time this name going top 300 let alone top 500. Certainly not top 100. [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] is the number 1 name in [name_u]America[/name_u] and it’s given to just over 1% of all babies. [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] is also very different in style. It’s a multicultural name that sounds good in English, Spanish, Greek, and Italian, which many Americans claim as their heritage.
Now [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] another name you love, is #19 and is given to .00384 or .384% of girls born in the US. I do see going top ten very soon (within the next two or three years). [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] also has multicultural appeal, its a form of [name_m]Charles[/name_m], another popular name, and has a variety of cultural appearances.
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f], on the other hand, is a very British name. It isn’t used too often and doesn’t have too many cultural references. The Shakespearean play is not one most Americans are familiar with compared to [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_m]Hamlet[/name_m], MacBeth, etc. yes there could be a best-selling book or movie, but so far [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] hasn’t reached the top 1000. Your favorite is safe.
Good [name_m]Luck[/name_m]!
@emilyva- Oh right, the [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] connection! It’s from [name_m]Cymbeline[/name_m], one of the most rarely performed [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] plays, though I can’t see why. I saw a production of it where she was called [name_f]Innogen[/name_f], so I forget most know her as [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]. Apparently (don’t quote me on this) [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] meant for it to be [name_f]Innogen[/name_f], but there was a misprint or something and it caught on.
My best friend all through out elementary school up to high school has a little sister named [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]. I have always thought it suited her very well, unique but elegant. I don’t find it to be clunky or old lady like at all, however, that being said, I still don’t think it will become super popular in the US any time soon.
@bonfireazalea Yes I have heard too it was a printer’s era. Interesting that you went to a production of [name_m]Cymbeline[/name_m], and even more interesting that the production changed her name back to [name_f]Innogen[/name_f]. I see [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] on Nameberry quite a bit, but have never seen any say they love [name_f]Innogen[/name_f] for a name.
If anyone was worried about popularity in their area, [name_f]Innogen[/name_f] might be a good alternative.
I also have never read the play [name_m]Cymbeline[/name_m]. I think [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is a nice name though.
