I’m new here and expecting a daughter in [name]May[/name]. My two-year-old son is named [name]James[/name]. I tend to like pretty simple, shorter (two syllables and under) girl names in general, but one exception to this that I’ve had on my imaginary list since maybe around 2005 or so is [name]Eliza[/name].
With boy names, I didn’t really care about popularity as long as the name was classic and appealing to me, but with girl names, for some reason, it matters to me a lot! I’ve been reading more and more about [name]Eliza[/name] on message boards and see it increasing in popularity, but do any of you naming experts care to weigh in on how you see the popularity going for this name? I know it’s totally subjective and no one can really predict these things, but I’m curious about your opinions anyway!
Other girl names on my list, FYI: [name]Tessa[/name], [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Jane[/name] (can’t use due to DS [name]James[/name]), [name]Molly[/name], maybe [name]Clara[/name]. It’s a pretty short list!
Oh, and I should add that I realize some of the other names on my list are more popular than [name]Eliza[/name], but [name]Eliza[/name] is somewhat of a front-runner at this point, so its popularity concerns me more than most of the others’.
I wouldn’t be worried about popularity. If you mind it so much, use [name]Elizabeth[/name] and nn. her [name]Eliza[/name]. [name]Elizabeth[/name] is a timeless classic that won’t seem dated or too popular at any point.
You seem to like nicknamey names. I would length your other favorites a bit:
Absolutely [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Clara[/name]. That was my one and only pick for this baby had he been a girl - which is probably the reason I am having so much trouble with boys names, nothing appeals the way [name]Clara[/name] did for me and by the sounds of it, the way [name]Eliza[/name] does for you. Where I live, [name]Eliza[/name] and [name]Clara[/name] are far less popular than [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Tessa[/name] and [name]Molly[/name] - I think all three of them are in the top 50 here (maybe even Top 20), whereas [name]Clara[/name] doesn’t feature in the Top 100 and I’m pretty sure [name]Eliza[/name] doesn’t either. They are all lovely names though.
[name]Hi[/name]! As a [name]Catherine[/name] born in 1973 I had four other [name]Catherine[/name]'s in my class and a [name]Kathryn[/name] so I worry about popularity too. I found this UK site very handy in giving a snapshot of how fast a name was on the rise - it only has data up to 2010 so you have to assume continuing trends: Baby Names in England & Wales
I think [name]Eliza[/name] is moving up in popularity, understandably so, it’s gorgeous yet sassy!
I see your list as being pretty on-trend/up-and-coming names so I don’t know if any are more rare than the other. I would suggest [name]Liza[/name] or [name]Leeza[/name] which I can’t see catching on quite as hard. I think [name]Liza[/name] is pretty great.
Congratulations! I find [name]James[/name] and [name]Eliza[/name] a perfect sibset. Yes, I have seen a lot of buzz, mainly on nameberry, about [name]Eliza[/name] rising in popularity and it is in the top 300 names…but that as it is there are also quite a few other “[name]El[/name]-” names that are rising now. So I personally wouldn’t worry too much about [name]Eliza[/name] becoming the next [name]Isabella[/name] or [name]Emily[/name]. Good luck!
In the US, [name]Eliza[/name] ranked #255 last year, which was actually slightly lower than the year prior. It’s much-loved on nameberry but still seen as antique out in the real world.
I don’t think it’s headed too far up. Names with "z"s in them catch on, but don’t usually explode. It’s a great name, goes well with [name]James[/name]. It’s great.
I could see it gaining in popularity more, but given it’s numbers I don’t think it will get too popular. I do like how it sounds with [name]James[/name], as well.
Other suggestions:
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Claire[/name] (I prefer this over [name]Clara[/name])
[name]Sarah[/name]
[name]Elise[/name]
[name]Anna[/name]
[name]Nora[/name]
[name]Iris[/name]
[name]Elsa[/name]
[name]Cora[/name]
[name]Lena[/name]
[name]Celia[/name]
No suggestions for alternate names, but I do find popularity to be a valid concern. My name was in the top 5 during the 80s, and at one point I had 6 little girls in my class with the same name. As an adult, I switched to one of my uncommon middle names (I have two) and found it not only to suit me better, but to be far less confusing.
I don’t understand woman who suggest [name]Elizabeth[/name] nn [name]Eliza[/name] when op think [name]Eliza[/name] is too popular.
[name]Eliza[/name] might gain popularity, but I don’t think that will happen any time soon and I don’t think it will be very popular. Same with [name]Clara[/name] and [name]Jane[/name].
[name]Eliza[/name] is 255 currently. Like many other names such as [name]Atticus[/name] and [name]Seraphina[/name], they are common favorites on Nameberry and other message boards, but have yet to hit the mainstream. Most names that are popular on name boards usually aren’t popular [name]IRL[/name] at the moment.
The popularity on name message boards is often opposite of the real world. The more common names on forums don’t rank high on the charts, and the more common names in real life aren’t mentioned as possible choices as often.
I personally love [name]Eliza[/name]. It’s a classic beauty that will fit a nine month old and a ninety year old. [name]Ellie[/name] is a nickname with spunk, while [name]Liza[/name] is for the calm. It is a great name.
We have very similar styles! I have a little [name]Clara[/name], so obviously I love that. However, [name]Eliza[/name] was higher on my list, but my husband vetoed it. If you love [name]Eliza[/name], go with that. I have yet to actually run into a little [name]Eliza[/name] or another [name]Clara[/name].
Thanks everyone for the feedback. [name]Just[/name] to address a few things:
I kind of like [name]Elizabeth[/name], for a long name, but since I love [name]Eliza[/name] so much more, I think I can see it as a stand-alone name and don’t feel the need for [name]Elizabeth[/name].
I don’t like [name]Theresa[/name] due to a negative association, and though [name]Tessa[/name] is a bit nickname-y, I suppose, it doesn’t seem wrong as a given name. To me, nicknames like [name]Maggie[/name] or [name]Katie[/name] seem like they shouldn’t be given names, but [name]Tessa[/name] feels okay for some reason.
[name]Do[/name] people find [name]Tessa[/name] to be trendy? I really don’t want to pick a trendy name, but its popularity seems to be somewhat steady since the 1990s (between 200 and 300), so I don’t think I see it jumping up a ton of spots or sinking down quickly.
As much as I like [name]Clara[/name], my hesitation there is that our last name is two syllables starting with the same sound: K***ler. Does that sound too singsong-y?
I love [name]Eliza[/name] and it sounds great with [name]James[/name]. I would use it. I think [name]Liza[/name] is more popular in my area. From your other names [name]Tessa[/name] is my favorite. I have [name]Tessa[/name] on my short list.
As a mother of a four year old, a pediatric nurse, and a citizen of a soccer mom community, I have never met a little [name]Eliza[/name]. I don’t think [name]Eliza[/name] is very popular, but maybe that’s just me. I think you should go with [name]Eliza[/name], the name you love. If not, you might regret it! If the popularity really bothers you, I would use [name]Elizabeth[/name] because there are so many nicknames- [name]Eliza[/name]/[name]Libby[/name]/[name]Betsy[/name]/[name]Beth[/name]
I have a [name]James[/name] (and I also have a daughter named [name]Maya[/name]). From your list I like [name]Clara[/name] the best. Beautiful sibset! I’m not a fan of [name]Eliza[/name]. As far as popularity is concerned though I only know of one [name]Eliza[/name] under 5.
