So lately I’ve been stuck between two names: [name]Viggo[/name] and [name]Finn[/name]. [name]Finn[/name] is more popular and familiar where I live (but not incredibly so) and [name]Viggo[/name]…is only recognized as [name]Viggo[/name] Mortenson’s name and as far as I know has never been used in my province. Its got me wondering about the pros and cons of both popular and unusual names, and I was wondering what you guys consider are the pros and cons of each one?
And also would you let the cons of having a popular or very-out-there name stop you from using a name you love?
I think the main thing to consider when you choose a very unusual name is whether it’s so unusual that your child will have to explain it every time he introduces himself to someone. Many people are looking for that perfect name that is not common but not so uncommon that it will produce puzzled reactions in others.
The other thing to consider is whether the unusual name is strongly linked with one particular celebrity or well-known historical figure. As you note, the name [name]Viggo[/name] is strongly associated with [name]Viggo[/name] Mortensen at the moment, because there are no other currently famous Viggos and it’s a very rare name in the general population. Personally I’d avoid names like that, even though realistically, by the time your child is in school his peers likely won’t have the same associations their parents do. Only you can decide whether the association bothers you or not.
[name]Finn[/name] is more common but it is also very tied to the current generation. It was an extremely rare name only a couple of generations ago, and now it definitely isn’t. Again, only you can decide whether this is an issue for you - to some people, it’s important to choose a name that is a ‘timeless classic’, i.e., a name that can’t easily be pinned to a specific decade or generation - but there is really nothing wrong with having a name that is in line with current trends.
Looking at your signature, I actually think [name]Dimitri[/name] is one of those names that most people have heard of but you don’t hear it everywhere. It also works well in many different languages, and it’s just a nice name all around. But my advice would be to not get to wrapped up in overthinking things - go with your heart, and if there’s a name that you and your fiance both love, don’t let popularity or lack thereof prevent you from using it.
I would break this question down into 3 categories - top 10 names, popular names, and unusual names.
I have a name that was in the top 10 the year I was born and for several years before and few after. This meant that I have always known several people with the same name. While this wasn’t horrible and I do like my name, I don’t think this is ideal unless the parents so love the name more than any other and can communicate that love of the name to their child. I must say I know several men with top 10 names and they don’t have the same concerns as I do, they generally seem to like the easy recognition of their names.
I think popular names that are not in the top 10 can be a good choice. People will generally recognize the name but there won’t necessarily be several with same name among your child’s contemporaries. The tricky part in selecting a popular name is there is no way of knowing if several people are going to “find” the same name the year your child is born (or shortly after). My son was named after an uncle who died shortly before we conceived and I thought a chose a name that was trendy up but not top 10. The year after my son was born, his name hit the top 10 and a few years later, it was number 1. While it still is the perfect name for him, I do think I might have chosen a different variation of it had I known how the name was trending.
I like unusual names as long as they are real names and not almost completely associated with one person e.g. [name]Oprah[/name] or Whoopi.
The pros of popular names is they are generally well liked. The con is obvious- there will be others in your child’s life. The pros for unusual is that he/she will be the only one but probably not everyone will like the name. Some will think it is awesome & some will think it is strange, not pretty, etc. I have 1 child with a top 10 name (but a classic) and 1 with an unusual name. I geta little annoyed when people say “oh my niece has that name” etc. But I usually get more “oh that is one of my favorite names” more.
With my other child, when I chose the name, I deep down thought I would get more reactions like “wow that is such an awesome different name”. I haven’t gotten that very much. I love both girls names equally. I wonder when they get older who will like their name more
I am very partial to unique names… although [name]Amelia[/name] is now popular, it wasn’t while I was growing up, and neither were my mother, father, sister or husband’s names, although they’re all recognizable (with the possible exception of my husband, Ferron, who often gets mistaken for [name]Aaron[/name] or pronounced fur-ON). I think that’s what everyone is looking for, as another berry said… a name that will be recognized when shared, but not common. There were a few names when I was growing up that I knew several people who had them, and that can cause just as much confusion as an overly-unique name, and more long-term ([name]Danielle[/name] said that. Which [name]Danielle[/name]? [name]Danielle[/name] E or [name]Danielle[/name] S or [name]Danielle[/name] M? Well [name]Brittany[/name] said… [name]Brittany[/name] who? Britanny [name]Smith[/name] or [name]Brittany[/name] South?). When you’re dealing with an extremely unique name, like Ferron, the confusion is only an issue for new acquaintances, while the commonality issue is always an issue with people who know them well… a bigger problem than repeating your name a couple times when you meet someone in my opinion.
I’m very pro-popular. Doesn’t mean I have to love every popular name out there but I don’t think people should write off names just because they’re in the top 5000, or whatever ridiculous cut off point people have. Here’s my reasons for why:
Popular names are popular for a reason
They will almost always be spelt and pronounced correctly
Generally, most people like popular names. Not everyone will get behind [name]Myfanwy[/name] or [name]Naphtali[/name].
There’s no guarantee that they will become [name]Jacob[/name] A. or [name]Ava[/name] H.
And there’s no guarantee that they won’t become [name]Nicodemus[/name] A. or [name]Phaedra[/name] H.
Top names are getting increasingly less popular percentage-wise
For people bothered about personalised items- they’re easier to find
Some unusual names are very much associated with one person as PPs have said
What’s so bad with sharing your name? I thought it was quite cool as a kid
I’d never rule out a popular name if I liked it. Look at my signature (save [name]Morwenna[/name])! But in my whole life I’ve only ever come across [name]ONE[/name] [name]William[/name] and no Josephs, Roses or Elizas
I think it may also be worth noting the relative commonness or obscurity of your surname. For example I have an incredibly uncommon surname (as in, if you have it we’re definitely related) and I feel like that probably allows more freedom to choose a relatively common name because the likelihood of the child sharing their full name with someone else is basically zero. My SO on the other hand has an extremely common (think top 10) first and last name, and there is actually a group on Facebook someone started of just people that share that FN-LN combo and it has hundreds of members. While he doesn’t seem to mind that I know I would hate it as it seems somehow lacking in identity and thoughtfulness.
The surname consideration is a good point. It’s not necessarily a good thing to be the only person in the world with your first name-last name combination, because every stupid thing you do on the Internet will be easily found with a Google search, and for an indeterminate amount of time. I do think many common names sound more interesting when paired with an unusual surname than they do paired with a common one.
I have never found anyone explain my sentiments quite so perfectly. If you love [name]Naphtali[/name]… use it. By the same token if your child is an [name]Emma[/name], use it as well. My own favorite names, [name]Zoe[/name] and [name]Lucas[/name], are 31 and 29 respectively, yet I have yet to meet one. I hated that no one had my name when I was growing up.
I prefer “uncommon but heard of” names that people can easily pn and spell. The only one of our children where we missed the mark with that was [name]Bronwen[/name]. And weird as it is, there is a [name]Wolfgang[/name] who just started at school with my big 3 (private school of about 70 kids) but there are no boys named [name]Aidan[/name] or [name]Jacob[/name].
There are different perception of every one to give names to their baby. As per their choice and feeling parents decide the names. But here you describe such a nice information about pros and cons of popular names vs unusual names. Some names are easy to remember and some are awkward to speak as wells as remembered, so the best option is that to give name simple to speak.
The whole popularity thing doesn’t make any sense to me. I mean, the worst that will happen is that your kid has the possibility of meeting someone else with his or her name. It’d not like they’re going to have an identity crisis if they meet someone with the same name as them. lol. I’m [name]Madison[/name], and I was born in 1999 when that name was #7, but I’ve only ever met 1 other [name]Madison[/name], and she’s a year or two older than me. I thought it was cool that someone else had the same name as me. It’s not set in stone that your kid will meet someone with the same name as him, if you give him a “popular” name. Plus, if you give them an unusual name, they might have to explain it every time they meet someone. No one would bat an eyelash if they met a [name]Damien[/name], but meeting a [name]Myfanwy[/name] would be another story. For example, I was looking at the member directory for my co-op (I’m homeschooled), looking for names, actually, and I saw a Zoah, a [name]Boaz[/name], with younger twin sisters [name]Shiloh[/name] and [name]Abigail[/name], a [name]Kellyn[/name], a sibset that went from extremely common to unusual, as you got to the younger kids. It was [name]Micah[/name], [name]Caleb[/name], [name]Eliana[/name], [name]Noah[/name], [name]Silas[/name], [name]Tirzah[/name], and [name]Petra[/name].
Popularity is not something you can control. I named my daughter [name]Adele[/name] when it wasn’t even in the top 1,000 in the US and before the singer [name]Adele[/name] was even heard of in the US. Now it is gaining in popularity and people ask, “Did you name her after the singer?” So, even if you choose an uncommon name today, it could be in the top 100 in the next couple of years. I think it is most important to choose a name you like, with a special meaning, and/or a name with a family connection, instead of worrying about popularity.
