Is it really that bad to name a child an uber-popular name??

General Name Discussion
1

Help. I am one of those people who loves baby names. I have literally been picking names since I was 5 years old. When I was a little girl, [name_f]Ava[/name_f] was one name that I loved, after the actress [name_f]Eva[/name_f] Gabor. However, I have never considered using the name since it is so popular and I have always seen it as so unseemly to give your child a top-ten name. However, now that I am closer to having a baby girl it is the only first name for our baby that SO and I both really like and just feels right. Also, I’m afraid she will feel left-out if her siblings have less common names.

What should I do? Is it just too painfully basic to use [name_f]Ava[/name_f]? If it is, what are some suggestions that might evoke that old-Hollywood glamour?

– [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]

2

Not at all. You can name your child whatever you like, although half the time, I think there should be limits…but there is nothing wrong with popular names. They are popular for a reason! Most of the time, they are lovely! [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is very beautiful. If you are worried about [name_f]Ava[/name_f]'s popularity, could you maybe just go with [name_f]Eva[/name_f] then? I don’t have the stats up right now, but [name_f]Ava[/name_f] has been popular for years, whereas I don’t think [name_f]Eva[/name_f] has been nearly as popular. Maybe [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]? That has the feel you are looking for, at least in my mind :slight_smile:

[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t feel bad about choosing a popular name, if that is the road you go down! I’m a diehard namenerd, but even I think a lot of the fanciful combos that people come up with are ridiculous and scream “look at me!” Names don’t necessarily need to make a statement and with how many people are in the world, it is definitely expected and okay to share a name with someone else!

3

Honestly it’s not a bad thing. Kids grow up fine with common names. [name_f]Greta[/name_f] , [name_u]Joan[/name_u] or [name_f]Grace[/name_f]?

4

[name_f]Ava[/name_f] is lovely - simple, feminine, glamorous. There’s a reason why some names are so popular :slight_smile:

I’d say if you love the name, use it regardless of popularity. As I’m sure many people will point out, even the most popular names now aren’t anywhere near as popular as the most popular names when we were born. People are choosing a much wider range of names now and I don’t know a single child with some of the top 10 names that are supposed to be really popular. You really shouldn’t let it put you off [name_f]IMO[/name_f].

Other Old Hollywood names or names with a similar style in my view:

[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Eva[/name_f]/[name_f]Evie[/name_f]/[name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoya[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Posy[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Ines[/name_f]
[name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]/[name_f]Fae[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Mamie[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosa[/name_f]

5

I love [name_f]Ava[/name_f], but I do find it too popular. I’d also suggest [name_f]Greta[/name_f] and [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], they are beautiful. In my experience, I have a fairly popular name and the only thing I dislike about it is that they are so many people with it. I also have many friends with the same names and they are known by their last names and hate it, and a few that don’t mind.

6

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, especially these days. Like someone else said, the most popular names now are used way less often than the most popular names years ago. In the US, [name_f]Ava[/name_f] ranked #4 last year and was used about 16,000 times. In comparison, the 4th most popular name the year I was born was [name_f]Amanda[/name_f], and it was used about 34,000 times.

If the popularity still bothers you, I think [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is a lovely name and it sounds very similar. [name_f]Ada[/name_f] is another similar option. It was occasionally used as a character name in old hollywood movies, so it still has that connection.

7

In my opinion, yes. But before I launch into my usual rant about how much I hate my popular name for reasons X, Y, and Z, I’ll stop myself and spare you the novel. Basically, I hate sharing my name, I hate how no one thinks it’s cool, and I hate being compared to other (sometimes bitchy) girls named [name_u]Abby[/name_u]. I wish I had a more uncommon name, and I will be avoiding popularity with my kids’ names at all costs.

I’m sorry, I know you wanted people to assure you that naming your kid something common is okay, but I can’t do that. This is just my opinion, though, and everyone is entitled to their own.

8

It’s only a problem if it bothers you. I’d suggest you do some research and try to see how popular the name [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is in the area where you plan to raise her. If she’s bound to be one of five Avas in her general peer group, I could maybe understand wanting to shy away from it. However she could go her whole school career without sharing a class with another [name_f]Ava[/name_f], and then you effectively passed up a name you really love because of nationwide stats that may not affect you or your child at all. If you’re a part of any mommy or pregnancy groups, just ask around to get a feel for how popular [name_f]Ava[/name_f] might be in your location.

Everyone has different experiences with their own name. Giving her a more uncommon name won’t automatically make her interesting or a better person, just like having a common name won’t make her boring.

9

There were about 100 girls in my high school class, & I was one of five w/essentially the same name (two variants & more spellings that you can count). I disliked my name intensely & wanted something more unusual. However, these days I think that happens a lot less, as so many more names are used that even the popular names don’t get used on as many kids. The suggestions given by previous posters—look at state/local usage—is very apt. What’s used often in one place is often barely used in another geographical location. [name_m]Even[/name_m] my very common name suddenly became far less common after I graduated from high school & went to college in another state (& I long ago stopped disliking my name). Good luck! :slight_smile:

10

All that really matters is that you love the name you give your child - if [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is the name for your daughter, you should absolutely go for it. My name is [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f], which I’m pretty sure was the most popular girl name the year I was born. I was always one of three or four [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f]'s (with various spellings) in each class, but I don’t think that’s a problem, or that my parents shouldn’t have used the name. It was the name they both loved and instantly agreed on after they found out I was a girl. I think if you love a name, you should use it. [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is very beautiful.

If you do decide against it, here are some similar names (that you could always shorten to [name_f]Ava[/name_f]):
[name_f]Eva[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Avis[/name_f]
[name_f]Aviana[/name_f] or [name_f]Avianna[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
[name_f]Avalon[/name_f]
[name_u]Avery[/name_u]
[name_f]Avalynn[/name_f]
[name_f]Avani[/name_f]
[name_f]Avia[/name_f]
[name_f]Aviva[/name_f]
[name_u]Avivi[/name_u]
[name_u]Avory[/name_u] (though I prefer [name_u]Avery[/name_u], and there’s also [name_f]Averie[/name_f])

11

Who said I wanted someone to assure me of that? No need to get an attitude about it lol

12

@katbug I like the longer name with [name_f]Ava[/name_f] as a nickname thing! I will consider that! I especially like [name_f]Aveline[/name_f].

Thanks for all the insight!

13

Of course you can use [name_f]Ava[/name_f]! It is popular for a reason. There will, no doubt, be plenty of other little girls with your daughter’s name, but that’s okay.

14

I say if you love the name-use it! As far as naming future siblings-my brother, sister, and I were all given names my parents loved regardless of popularity. My sister has a top 25 name from her birth year (which is no longer in the top 1000) and my brother has a name that was below the top 1000 his birth year (which is now in the top 25) and my name has almost always been in the top 200 since long before I was born. None of us have ever felt left out due to name popularity. [name_f]Ava[/name_f] is a great name!

15

If you love it, use it. Sometimes I think we make too many rules for ourselves when THE name is staring us in the face.

Alternatives to [name_f]Ava[/name_f]:
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]

16

I think [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Ada[/name_f] and [name_f]Eva[/name_f] are very pretty and should be used if you feel it fits your baby, whether or not a few others in town have the same name.

17

I seem to be part of the minority here when I say that I don’t agree with choosing popular names, which is surprising to me since I feel like that’s usually the opinion of most Berries.

Perspective: the year I was born, I was one of 30,000 of my name also born that year. I thought I’d get away from everyone sharing my name and having stereotypes about it when I got out of high school, but my husband has a cousin with my name, and another cousin just married a girl with the same name.

Now I can’t even go to family functions without being confused. It will literally be a problem for the rest of my life. I mean, even Nameberry had something snarky written about my name on its info page about how it’s overused and to stay away at all costs–until I emailed them and asked them to change it because I found it offensive. I didn’t choose my name. My mom and dad did because they felt like it was ‘cute.’ I hate it. I am in the process of deciding whether or not to change it, but literally everyone irl knows me as it and it’s now an unwanted part of my identity that I think will be hard to separate from.

With all of that said, I don’t think it’s possible to pick the perfect name, because anyone could find a reason to dislike their name. ‘It’s too common,’ ‘it’s too rare,’ ‘it’s too x, y, z.’ I think picking names that mean something is more important than just choosing something ‘cute,’ because it will give the name a personal significance that I think will be more likable. I might be a rare case since my name was in the top 10 for like a decade, and it’s the name of a mega famous pop star, and multiple airhead TV characters…

And again, you can never be sure what the kid is gonna think about the name, but this is just my experience and the experience of other people I know with super common names. If you want more of a perspective, this Buzzfeed article is literally my existence. And even though it’s common, it doesn’t mean people know how to spell it. At least I can always find those travel souvenirs on vacation…

OK sorry for the novel. I just thought you should know how one person feels about it. I agree that [name_f]Ava[/name_f] as a nickname is a much better option.

Such as:

[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
Avalia
[name_f]Avalon[/name_f]
[name_f]Avalyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Avani[/name_f]
[name_f]Averie[/name_f]
[name_f]Aviana[/name_f]
[name_f]Aviva[/name_f]
Avonleigh / Avonlea

18

[name_f]Ava[/name_f] is really cute, and if you love it, go for it! You may not find another one that feels ‘right’.

19

I would use it as a nickname if you could. But not for [name_f]Aveline[/name_f], I like PPs suggestion of [name_f]Avalon[/name_f]. No point lengthening it to another mega popular name.

20

[name_m]Ah[/name_m] sorry I mixed up [name_f]Aveline[/name_f] with [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]. Goes to show what you’d be dealing with if you had an [name_f]Aveline[/name_f] though, which sucks.