I’m due with our second child in [name]March[/name] and we’re not finding out the gender because we’re trying to avoid ultrasounds if at all possible. I just KNOW it’s a girl, but I have a boy name picked out just in case. Our 2 year old son’s name is [name]Benton[/name] [name]Grover[/name] and the boy name I have picked out is [name]Conrad[/name] [name]Elisha[/name]. I FINALLY found a girl name that I really like, but it’s so much more popular than [name]Benton[/name] and [name]Conrad[/name] and I’m just not sure they “go” together. [name]Do[/name] they have to go together? The name is [name]Alice[/name] [name]Imogen[/name]. Something else that’s kind of bothering me is that both boy names, including middle names, are family names. [name]Alice[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] is not connected to family at all. In fact [name]Alice[/name] is inspired by the [name]Alice[/name] Abernathy character of the Resident Evil movies and video games and [name]Imogen[/name] is inspired by the musical artist [name]Imogen[/name] Heap. Yes, I’m a nerd. lol So should I let no family connection and popularity bother me? Should I try to find a different first name, one that’s not shooting up the charts and has family significance? These are the questions that are running through my mind right now. HELP!
If you love the name and think it is the one just go for it. Obviously, the name still has meaning to you because it is related to things you enjoy, even though there is no family significance to the name. [name]Benton[/name] and [name]Conrad[/name] are great names together, by the way. Good luck!
Thanks for your input! I really do love the name, but I’ve always said I wouldn’t give my kids popular names and it scares me that [name]Alice[/name] is on the rise. Hopefully it won’t become uber popular.
Thanks for the comment on [name]Benton[/name] and [name]Conrad[/name] too! My sister and I enjoy studying our genealogy and she recently discovered that [name]Conrad[/name] was the maiden name of our great X7 grandmother. I know that’s not a strong connection, but I just think it’s so neat to use our personal history as inspiration for my kids’ names. [name]Elisha[/name] was the name of our first ancestor to move from [name]Tennessee[/name] to Arkansas. That’s cool because I was born and raised in Arkansas and my husband was born and raised in [name]Tennessee[/name]. [name]Benton[/name] was my DH’s great grandfather’s name and [name]Grover[/name] was my great great grandfather’s name. 
[name]Alice[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] is a beautiful name. I wouldn’t worry about popularity. It’s a classic old name so there’s bound to be some, but it’s not the trendy sort where there’s gonna be dozens in every school. She could always go by [name]Ali[/name] or Lice or Cece if she knew another [name]Alice[/name]. I’ve never known a single one though, so…
If you truly love the name,popularity/the fact that it’s not a family name shouldn’t matter. :] While it is steadily growing in popularity, I wouldn’t label it as trendy, simply a beautiful classic name that is coming back into style. Go for it!
[name]Alice[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] is absolutely gorgeous and goes wonderfully with [name]Benton[/name] and [name]Conrad[/name]!
I agree that [name]Alice[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] is a beautiful choice and perfect with your other names. And just because [name]Alice[/name] is getting more popular doesn’t mean it will ever be a trendy name ala [name]Kylie[/name] or [name]Tiffany[/name]. It’s a classic with deep roots, especially in literature. That gives a little girl a lot to hang onto!
I think it’s beautiful. [name]Alice[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] sound beautiful together. My oldest daughter’s first name is [name]Alice[/name]. I do see that it’s becoming more popular but I don’t think it will ever be considered trendy since it’s such an old, classic name.
I agree with everyone above me. Sure it’s rising, but it is also a beautiful vintage classic. I have always love its [name]Alice[/name] in Wonderland connections and there are tons of other amazing writers, political figures, and other strong females to back this name up. I think it fits great with [name]Benton[/name] and [name]Conrad[/name] (and I like that you’ll have children ABC, haha. That’s cute!).
I think its a lovely name. I agree that it has the weight of a “real” name that is classic, vintage and timeless and while it may be popular it will never sound trendy. I think the [name]Imogen[/name] MN is a great choice and they both sound lovely with [name]Benton[/name].
If it were me, the popularity rise would be a deal-breaker but that is because I have a complex from being named one of the most common names of the last century ([name]Sarah[/name]) and constantly having to be identified as my first and my unfortunately dreadful last name as a child. I think [name]Alice[/name] is getting popular enough that depending on where you live (rural/urban etc) she could easily have another [name]Alice[/name] in her classes in school.
As for the family name thing to me the question is whether or not you think you or your family will talk much about [name]Benton[/name]'s name. Is she going to grow up hearing from grandparents and aunts or whoever “[name]Benton[/name] your name is very special because you were named after your great great grandfather and he was a great man and we really loved him and you are going to grow up to be great and wonderful too” That could maybe make her feel like her name is not as special (but maybe not, I mean all the siblings of boys named ____ [name]Jr[/name]. are doing just fine) Or is it something that people don’t think of much and it is not going to come up much in front of her? If so than I definitely don’t think it matters.
[name]Just[/name] my thoughts. Good luck!