I would think of this name the way I think of or thought of the name [name]Olive[/name] a few years back. It is similar enough to a popular name or a few popular names so parents who want to be distinctive but like [name]Olivia[/name] or [name]Chloe[/name] or [name]Ever[/name] or whatnot find the alternative version. So it manages to blend in the world- like [name]Magnolia[/name] is distinctive but [name]Maggie[/name] is familar so it works. [name]Chloe[/name] & [name]Ever[/name] make [name]Clover[/name] feel more familiar. Not a bad thing imo. It might get popular or it might not.
No that’s a very, very bad thing imo. I really LOATHE the (super popular) trend of “Oh I like how that extremely common trendy name sounds, let’s find a name that’s a few letters off and pretend we’re original.” That’s EXACTLY what I was afraid of with this name. The last thing I want is a name that feels familiar and blends with the top 10/top100 gals. I didn’t even think of [name]Ever[/name]. Uch.
I know what you mean with [name]Magnolia[/name] but I think it’s not nearly as bad on the trend because [name]Maggie[/name] is familiar but not at all trendy and not really popular right now. I really like the name [name]Magnolia[/name], it would even have some meaning for my husband and me because we met in college in the deep south, but a close friend’s dog is named [name]Magnolia[/name] and we could never do that!
For the love of god [name]JUST[/name] USE [name]CLOVER[/name].
You love it. You can’t stop talking about it. And that’s a good thing! That means this is a name you can’t get out of your head. Use it! Use it! [name]Just[/name] USE IT!
I don’t mean that I would assume you liked [name]Chloe[/name] or [name]Ever[/name]. I just mean that it’s kind of a natural progression that we are drawn to the familiar or a more interesting version of what’s familiar. I think [name]Clover[/name] is cute. I also like [name]Chloe[/name]…[name]Ever[/name] is not my style at all. I really love [name]Claudette[/name] nn [name]Claudie[/name]…but the popularity of [name]Chloe[/name] probably is a part of what makes [name]Claudie[/name] / [name]Claudette[/name] feel usable & current to my ear.
Hahahaha, yeah but I don’t talk about what I love, I talk about what I’m not sure of! Also I’m working out my anger at the universe that I’ve loved this name for years, all the while fearing it turning into a blendy trendy name, and now that I can finally use it, THIS is the year it decides to take off! You know how in “The Shawshank Redemption” (well in the story version at least) the guy had that safe deposit box at the bank that held a whole new identity and the cash to fund it should he ever escape prison, but the key was hidden under a random rock on a random stone wall in a random field? And he had to sit there all those years in prison, not knowing if and when he’d ever get out, not knowing if when he did get out the key would still be there or if some force out of his control would make it be gone (like a kid took the rock and a squirrel took the key, or the wall got knocked down and a road got built over it)? And it was all out of his control and the narrator said it must have been sheer agony? Well, on more than one occasion in the past few years, THAT is what I used to explain how I felt waiting to use [name]Clover[/name]! And it looks like a squirrel might have taken my key!
I think the trend forecasting aspect of naming is what interests me the most…but when it comes to picking a name for your kid you can’t base your decision on popularity but on what you truly love and think she will want to live with.
Oh yeah, I know what you mean, I didn’t think you meant I liked [name]Chloe[/name] (which is okay, I used to think it sounded pretty before it skyrocketed) or [name]Ever[/name] (don’t like at all). The trend is using a more interesting version of the familiar, and that’s the trend I most want to avoid. I don’t want a name that sounds current because it’s similar to other, more popular names. I want one that totally stands out, especially sound-wise, and that’s what drew me to [name]Clover[/name] when I first added it to my list eight years ago, and chose it as my number one girl name six years ago. But that’s totally the opposite of the truth for the name right now
I guess you never know, but in my mind, [name]Clover[/name] has a completely different feeling and sound from [name]Chloe[/name] or any other popular name. It would never occur to me that [name]Clover[/name] would be a less popular alternative to [name]Chloe[/name], or [name]Ava[/name], or anything. It does hit on the botanical trend, but to me it comes close to sounding like a name you’d give a bunny or a cow and for that reason, I have trouble imagining it in the same pack with the Violets and Ivys of this world. I think, too, that the “er” ending also sets [name]Clover[/name] apart from the botanicals that have more feminine sounds.
That being said, I think that the effort to pick a totally unique, non-trendy name is itself completely on-trend. I mean, a girl named, say, Ballerina would stand out for sure, and yet we’re so used to seeing strange, surprising names at this historical moment, that she would also blend in with the weird-word-names trend. So I’m not sure that what you’re going for is wholly attainable. Further, try though we might, we can’t really predict future trendiness, so if possible, I would try to worry about it less and instead stay true to your affection for whatever name you love best.
I let go of my high school favorites cause they just didn’t feel right once I got pregnant in my late 20s. In. 1999 [name]Sloane[/name] & [name]Maisie[/name] seemed so fresh & distinctive…
Names I had never heard on anyone before…and [name]Esme[/name] when it was from a [name]Salinger[/name] story/Jawbreaker song not a Twilight novel! But I don’t think I would’ve let them go if I really loved them! It comes down to what matters more- the name [name]Clover[/name] or the image you want to project through your name choice.
I know! That’s what’s so frustrating! Sometimes it’s like, do I just throw up my hands and name the kid some totally boring name that’s been around forever? But that would feel so wrong. IDK, too, I mean strange and surprising names are a trend, but they’re not the top trend. There will probably be a couple of random-named kids in my kids’ school classes, but the majority will still be named the kind of names that don’t raise any eyebrows and date them to this time period.
Oh yeah! My original list where I thought of [name]Clover[/name] was from right after I got engaged then graduated college. [name]Isobel[/name] was on it, as was the actual name Twilight! [name]Violet[/name] and [name]Pearl[/name] were both on it. My oldest son [name]Eli[/name]‘s name was on it (I think as [name]Elijah[/name], but we just used [name]Eli[/name] as the full name), but my other two sons’ names were not. Maybe I should take the hint and not use any names from that list (my other top contender is not on that list). It’s funny how an entire generation of moms can end up crushing on the same group of names years before they have kids. It’s like we all have the same reaction to the current crop of popular names, and find the same things tired about them that leads us to seek a certain sound that we hear as “fresh,” which leads us all to the same group of names. It’s like salmon swimming upstream to spawn!
I said this before in a previous thread but I think it may have gotten lost in the many, many other replies berries gave, trying to offer their help and advice.
I don’t really think [name]Clover[/name] sound at all like [name]Chloe[/name]. They both have the c beginning and both have an e in the name but [name]Chloe[/name] has the h which really softens the first syllable and it has the very soft e ending where as c at the beginning of [name]Clover[/name], followed by the harder ver sound gives it a completely different look, feel and sound IMHO. The only similarities is that they have a couple of the same letters, but many names do. It’s a lovely name, not likely to be overly popular or even very popular but it’s not so out there that it would mitigate unwarranted amounts of teasing like say, [name]Moon[/name] Unit or [name]Dweezil[/name]. I doubt [name]Clover[/name] would sound dated either. I think a name has to be one of those ultra popular “in the moment” names to sound dated. I have synesthesia and see name and many words in color. Because of this, I prefer names that evoke strong, vivid, rich colors or that bring richer imagery beyond just a plain color. [name]Clover[/name] has that beautiful image of a morning dew-laden meadow full of sweet scent and golden sunshine. [name]Chloe[/name] just sounds pink to me. Ya know, like baby pink. [name]Just[/name] regular, nothing special about it pink. A completely different image and feel than [name]Clover[/name].
As was mentioned before, [name]Clover[/name] may hit the flower/botanical naming trend but I think think it has a very seperate, distinct feel from most other flower names. [name]Rose[/name]'s and [name]Lily[/name]'s of the world have a much softer, frillier sound than [name]Clover[/name] which I think sounds new and fresh (I really just don’t see the similarity to [name]Chloe[/name], they are such different names to me). [name]Clover[/name] would have to have a HUGE jump in popularity to bring it up to a popular, much less trendy spot. I just don’t think right now it sounds at all trendy or blendy as you seem to fear.
I remember your previous post, I really appreciated and enjoyed it! Sorry if I didn’t directly reply. I particularly appreciate your response as someone with synesthesia. I don’t have synesthesia myself, but I do like names with strong imagery and prefer a name with a certain type of imagery that I’ve talked about in previous posts. I’m glad that [name]Clover[/name] evokes the image of a meadow full of sweet scent and golden sunshine, that’s exactly what I loved about it.
I think [name]Clover[/name] is going to be the next [name]Violet[/name]- a celebrity or two have used it, so it will become more common in the next few years. Then another name will take its place and you won’t hear of all that many Clovers. This is a time where you have to decide if the current popularity of [name]Clover[/name] bothers you enough not to use it. I think that since it’s not in the Top 10, you should go for it.
While I don’t think [name]Clover[/name] will ever attain top 100 status, it does seem to meet a lot of current name trends. It’s uncommon (I think looking for a name that one perceives as “unique” is a trend in itself), is a nature reference, and has a short sweetness that reminds me of the current crop of nickname names. It’s not my style, but I can definitely see why it’s appealing.
Edit: I have an acquaintance whose 1 year old daughter is named Clover who is adorable. My friend reports that people seem to love her name or be confused by it. Of course, my son has an “old man” name and I get the same responses, so go figure.
Voted “It might get more common in the next few years but won’t blend in.” I agree with those saying it has a very different feel from popular or stylish names with similar sounds. I do get what you’re saying about how it has similar sounds to both [name]Chloe[/name] and [name]Ever[/name] and is a potential replacement for these names (for parents who are inclined to do that), but [name]Ever[/name] isn’t overwhelmingly popular anyway. And [name]Chloe[/name]'s popularity hasn’t boosted [name]Clothilde[/name] and variants, which unlike [name]Clover[/name] have much history of use as names (for people).
I don’t think you should worry about [name]Clover[/name]'s popularity/trendiness at all. It does fall in with the nature/flower names, which I suppose makes it on-trend, but as others have said, it sounds and feels different enough to remain distinctive. So a couple of celebrities have used it- [name]Chris[/name] [name]Martin[/name] and [name]Gwyneth[/name] Paltrow used [name]Apple[/name] (which also fits in with “trendy” names such as [name]Clementine[/name] and [name]Plum[/name]) and it hasn’t gained popularity or trendiness. [name]Nicole[/name] [name]Richie[/name] and [name]Joel[/name] [name]Madden[/name] used [name]Sparrow[/name] (à la [name]Wren[/name], [name]Lark[/name], [name]Hawk[/name]) and it didn’t catch on in a big way. However, even if it does reach the top 1000, that does not by any means mean that it will blend in, become dated and not stand out. [name]Damaris[/name], [name]Willa[/name], [name]Gwyneth[/name] and [name]Juniper[/name] are all top 1000 but none of them are trendy blendy in my opinion. They also all share sounds with more popular, trendier names to the same extent that [name]Clover[/name] does ([name]Damaris[/name] with [name]Marissa[/name] and [name]Damien[/name], [name]Willa[/name] with [name]Willow[/name], [name]Gwyneth[/name] with [name]Gwendolyn[/name] and [name]Meredith[/name], [name]Juniper[/name] with all the [name]Jun[/name]- names, [name]Julia[/name], [name]Jennifer[/name] etc) and still manage to stand out. It would be such a shame if you discarded the name you have loved for so long on the grounds that it might become a bit popular or trendy, especially as it probably won’t anyway.
On a side note, I’m curious to know why you feel so strongly about choosing a name that is so completely different from everything else. There’s nothing wrong with it, and I feel the same way to a certain extent, but I just wondered why it is so important to you. You mentioned that your eldest son is called [name]Eli[/name], which is a relatively popular name at the moment. Does his name work for him, or do you wish you’d picked a more unusual name?
All in all, I’d say use [name]Clover[/name]. It IS distinctive and it DOES stand out, even though it fits in with a current trend and shares sounds with popular names. The slight similarity to [name]Chloe[/name], [name]Ever[/name] and the like will probably just make it that bit easier to live with. You never know, your daughter might appreciate a name that doesn’t strike people as completely out of the blue every time they hear it.
Good luck and I hope this helps. I’m sure you’ll make the absolute right decision when the time comes
I think although it does have that trendy flower theme, it’s not going to skyrocket. While reading the Hunger Games, my friends were saying, “[name]Clove[/name]? That’s such a weird name!” In the baby-naming world, it may seem a bit trendy, but I doubt I will meet a baby [name]Clover[/name] in the real world anytime soon.
[name]Clover[/name] was at the top of my list but it dropped for 3 reasons. 1- I have a very Irish last name so [name]Clover[/name] ---- would just have been too much. She might as well be born with a shamrock tattoo and wear green all the time (not unlike many extended family members)!
2- I met a sibset in the park named [name]Sunshine[/name], [name]Clover[/name] and [name]Birch[/name]. I love nature names but don’t love the hippy vibe. 3- Met a couple with two dogs named [name]Clover[/name] and Rover. <Sigh>
