Lyla- too popular, at least stylistically?

Girl Names
1

So I’ve posted a couple of recent threads about my dilemma with what had been our #1 name choice, [name_f]Lana[/name_f]. I won’t repost it all here, but if we are unable to get past the pronunciation/spelling/backwards spelling hurdles with [name_f]Lana[/name_f]/Lahna, then the next name on our list is [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] - a name that DH and I both love. I think it’s gorgeous, and I love the simplicity of it.

But my fear is that, although [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] is currently “only” 153 on the charts, it wasn’t even in the top 1,000 until 2005 and skyrocketted up from there - though it seems to have stabilized and even slightly dropped starting in 2009 (see below), so maybe it shouldn’t be such a huge concern. However, when you combine alternate spellings ([name_f]Lylah[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f], and [name_f]Lilah[/name_f], though I know the latter two can also have the “[name_f]Leela[/name_f]” pronunciation so it’s probably not fair to lump all of those spellings together), that could arguably bump it up to somewhere in the upper 30s in popularity. Of course I know that’s not an entirely reasonable analysis, since many of the other names on the charts would also jump up when alternate spellings are included. It’s not anywhere in the top 50 of the “combined spellings” rankings in this list (2013 Playground Analysis: How combined spellings change the rankings | Nameberry), so that makes me feel better.

Year Rank
2013 153
2012 146
2011 127
2010 134
2009 154
2008 223
2007 367
2006 641
2005 864

Additionally, I also wonder if the style of the name in and of itself is just too trendy right now, given the popularity of names like [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], etc.

In general, like a lot of us, I like names that aren’t common but that aren’t weird or too far “out there”, perhaps familiar even. For instance, my son’s name has been in and around the 200’s in popularity for every year that the social security database has existed. Aside from just loving his name in and of itself, I love the fact that it’s remained steady over time and never had any drastic dips or surges in popularity.

One of my big concerns is that I will choose a name that will “date” my daughter in the future or easily allow her to be lumped into the decade or generation in which she was born (think [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], [name_f]Brittany[/name_f], [name_f]Nancy[/name_f], etc.). Am I completely insane to have this fear with a name that is currently sitting at 153 on the charts?

2

This was my exact hesitation with using [name_f]Lila[/name_f] for my DD last year. I love the name but I was scared of its rising popularity. Plus [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], etc is hot right now.

I’d go with your original choice of [name_f]Lana[/name_f] if you’re worried. People will generally meet her by you saying her name aloud, so choose the spelling you want and be prepared to correct people sometimes.

3

[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] - does it matter if accidently it gets more popular? You risk that with any name - it just takes one tv show. And in a way that popular name is a reflection of a place and name, therefore the child’s identity. Go for it if you like it.

4

I think it’s worth pointing out that Jennifer, Brittany, and Nancy were all at one point in the Social Security Top 10. And while Lyla may be popular, I don’t see it becoming a Top 10 name anytime soon.

5

“Additionally, I also wonder if the style of the name in and of itself is just too trendy right now, given the popularity of names like [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], etc.”

[name_f]My[/name_f] opinion is that if you love the name then go for it, but be aware that you and your daughter will have to correct people a lot. I personally know a [name_f]Lily[/name_f], a [name_f]Layla[/name_f], a [name_f]Lyla[/name_f], a [name_f]Leila[/name_f], a [name_f]Leia[/name_f], and a [name_f]Leah[/name_f]. Oh! And a [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]. They all report the same exact phenomenon: people mix up the pronunciations of these exact names, constantly. It never ends. They do not know each other, they’ve never met. But they all have this EXACT bunch of names thrown at them all the time. [name_m]Just[/name_m] FYI.

6

I personally know the following under-5s:

[name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_f]Lilla[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Lilly[/name_f], [name_f]Mara[/name_f], [name_f]Mala[/name_f], [name_f]Milla[/name_f], [name_f]Mira[/name_f]

That’s just off the top of my head.

If I was naming a baby girl in 2014, I would stay far, far away from any 2-syllable names ending with -a and containing lots of Ms and Ls. They’re lovely, lyrical names, which is why they’re overused, but…man, are they overused.

7

Yup, that’s basically the name of all the other little girls at my daughter’s daycare. They all sound very similar. Her own name, [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], stands out - a little - by being longer, but today’s popular names do seem to share all the same sounds… I still love [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]'s name, but we’re definitely looking for a name that’s more different for our second little one. :\

8

don’t worry about how popular it is. [name_f]My[/name_f] name wasn’t in the top 200 when I was born, but now it is one of the top names. I know a [name_f]Lyla[/name_f], a [name_f]Lilah[/name_f], a [name_f]Leila[/name_f], a [name_f]Layla[/name_f], and a [name_f]Lila[/name_f], it’s getting to be pretty popular in the neighborhood I live in. If you love the name don’t worry about the popularity. The [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f] names are trendy right now, but I think [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] is stylish and sophisticated, I don’t think it will become a decade name like [name_f]Brittany[/name_f],[name_f]Nancy[/name_f] or [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f].

9

I wouldn’t worry about it becoming the next [name_f]Brittany[/name_f], [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], or [name_f]Nancy[/name_f]. Have you checked popularity in your specific area/where she would grow up? For example, [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Sophia[/name_f], and [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] are really popular but I know only one of each. I know more Harpers, Braylons, and Kaitlyns (including all the different spellings) than some of the top names for girls. That being said, I’ve never met a [name_f]Lyla[/name_f]/[name_f]Lila[/name_f]/[name_f]Lilah[/name_f]. I know plenty of Laylas, though. I think it’s a really pretty name that is also sophisticated as the previous poster said. I also love the name [name_f]Lana[/name_f] and have seen it spelled [name_f]Lanah[/name_f] to avoid the backwards spelling. She may have pronunciation problems if someone is reading her name on paper but as long as she corrects them right away I don’t think she’ll have problems.

10

These are all excellent points for me to consider. Thanks everyone for the feedback so far!

Great point about [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], [name_f]Brittany[/name_f], etc. having been in the top 10 in the past. I wonder if we could be entering a period of time where STYLES of name could date our children as opposed to just a name itself - since everyone is looking for a unique twist on a fresh name sound? But I can obsess and do all the analysis in the world, and at the end of the day I know I need to pick something I love.

I hadn’t thought to check the names in my state until someone suggested it, which I just did. [name_f]Lyla[/name_f]/[name_f]Lila[/name_f] et. all are not anywhere in the top 100 (can’t see beyond that), so that’s good. But of course the Lillys, Laylas, etc. are ranked high where I live just like everywheree else. :slight_smile: I hadn’t thought about the potential for the name being misheard, so that’s definitely something to consider as well.