Tell me all your thoughts on popularity!

dandy_orchid · March 23, 2021, 3:07pm

Popularity seems to come up quite a bit on NB in various ways, and I’m so curious to hear more perspectives on it! I won’t say too much more before getting to the questions, except please keep this kind! Try not to single out individual names for negative commentary or to make sweeping dismissive generalizations about large swaths of names. I know everyone has different opinions on this, and I’m so excited to read them! [name_f]Answer[/name_f] as many or few questions as you want, of course. Thank you, Berries!

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up?
How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name?
When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”?
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
Any other thoughts on popularity and/or trends* that you didn’t get to share already?

*By trends I purely mean names and naming patterns that seem to emerge relatively quickly and prominently and then dissipate, although obviously every part of that is subjective. However you interpret it, please try to use it here as a descriptive rather than dismissive term!

futuremama · March 23, 2021, 3:16pm

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Not whatsoever
How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Not whatsoever
How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name?
Absolutely hated/hate having an uncommon name, but if I met someone else with my name, I’d be mad lol
When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”?
No rules. I generally prefer when they’re less common, but all my favourites are pretty up there
Do you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
Yes! Usually statewide and international
If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
[name_u]Oliver[/name_u] (already on my favourites list) & maybe [name_u]Harper[/name_u] or [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] from the girls
What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] (favourite) & maybe [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Lydia[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], or [name_f]Nora[/name_f] for a girl
What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
[name_m]Don[/name_m]’t think I have one!
If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
[name_f]My[/name_f] favourites are all in the top 1000, so for boys [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], [name_u]Oliver[/name_u], & [name_u]August[/name_u]. And girls, [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] & [name_f]Eloise[/name_f].
If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
I’ll go with 1880. I can pick at least 2 names for boys and girls off the top 20.
Any other thoughts on popularity and/or trends* that you didn’t get to share already?
No

EagleEyes · March 23, 2021, 3:23pm

I saw my name as uncommon but very well-known. It ranked in the US top 100 but not my state’s top 100, so I only knew a few others growing up, and never had a classmate with the name.
I don’t think I knew anything about trendiness growing up. A lot of other girls had names that rhymed with mine, or other “2 syllables and ending in an A sound” names, but I don’t think I thought of it as a trend, just a common pattern for girls’ names.
I love my name’s popularity! I think it’s in the perfect spot where almost everybody has heard of it, but it’s never been too common, at least where I live.
Popularity doesn’t play much role in my lists. I think my ideal name for an actual child would be about the same popularity as my own – well known but not too popular. However, I’d be okay using a popular or super unusual name as well if I loved it.
I love researching name statistics! I usually use the US national data, but sometimes my own state’s data as well.
So many options, as I like a lot of top ten names! Probably [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] for a girl and [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Benjamin[/name_u] for a boy.
Sadie [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] (one of my actual top combos) or [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u].
I’m not sure! I love the name [name_u]Antonia[/name_u] which (shockingly to me) doesn’t currently rank in the top 1000. It has ranked in the past, though.
Top 100! I love all sorts of names, but at least for my future kids I’d like to choose better-known names.
Probably the current top 20! I like a lot of choices from it.

ethelmary · March 23, 2021, 3:25pm

1 - pretty popular. Most [name]s are older than me but I still know some my age.
2 - pretty trendy. It didn’t exist before late 1990s, became super popular, and now it’s out of fashion!
3 - hate it tbh.
4 - don’t really care about popularity unless it’s very popular. Wouldn’t be like “oh no it entered top 100!!” but try to avoid top 30
5 - ooh yes! I use Behind the Name’s country popularity lists all the time.
6 - honestly??? I don’t like any… probably [name_m]Yusuf[/name_m] & [name_f]Asel[/name_f] but I really don’t like [name_m]Yusuf[/name_m] actually.
7 - [name_u]Miran[/name_u] and [name_f]Leyla[/name_f]! Those are my favourite Turkish names, actually.
8 - [name_f]Josepha[/name_f] Most of my favourites never ranked
9 - we don’t have a top 1000 list. So I guess no answer
10 - USA 1892!
11 - n/a

planetnames · March 23, 2021, 3:31pm

1. How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Until I found out how popular my real name really was, I thought it was very popular. First school, another person with the name in my class. Second school, two more people with the name in my year. I’ve been ‘real name [first letter of last name]’ for as long as I can remember, but my name isn’t actually as popular as this experience suggests.

2. How trendy did you perceive your name to be growing up?
A little trendy, maybe. [name_f]My[/name_f] name contains a few A’s and also ends in A, which is a fairly common pattern.

3. How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness of your name?
I didn’t/don’t mind the fact that I’m one of many, but the fact that I’m addressed with the first letter of my surname as well because of other people with my name does get annoying sometimes. I’d love to be just [name_f]Etta[/name_f], not small [name_f]Etta[/name_f] or [name_f]Etta[/name_f] M. (using internet name and different initial)

4. When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? Do you have any popularity “rules”?
To be honest, not really. If I love a name, I love it. I’ll definitely wish that a common name I love wasn’t so popular, but that won’t really stop me loving it.

5. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I do enjoy doing it! It’s always interesting to see how other people’s taste compares to mine. I mostly prefer country or regional statistics.

6. If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
[name_u]Oliver[/name_u], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] or [name_f]Freya[/name_f] (I noticeI do like quite a lot of them!)

7. What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_f]My[/name_f] dear [name_m]Hugo[/name_m] [name_u]Ellis[/name_u]

8. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? Do you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
Some that come to mind now: [name_f]Mari[/name_f], [name_u]Brave[/name_u], [name_f]Imogene[/name_f], [name_m]Faraday[/name_m]

9. If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
Oof, good question! Most of my favourites are within the popularity charts, so I think I’ll go with Top 100 on this one.

10. If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
Probably something after 2000, I’m not sure. I actually quite like [name_f]England[/name_f]'s current Top 20.

may.rose · March 23, 2021, 3:32pm

[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Megan[/name_f], by the way!

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Actually, I didn’t think my name was that popular! I knew it was a somewhat common/normal name, but I never ran into very many people with the same name!
How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Well, now I know that it was more trendy 5-10 years before I was born. One “trend” (I guess you could call it that) is that my siblings and I (and some of my cousins as well) had names ending in -an. I perceived that ending as being very common because of this.
How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name?
I still don’t know many girls with the same name, so it doesn’t feel overdone to me! I’m pretty happy with it in general!
When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”?
It doesn’t play much of a role at all! I have [name_f]Emma[/name_f] on my list, but I also have [name_m]Linus[/name_m] (which is outside the top 1,000!) It’s more important that the names are somewhat well known and are easy to spell and pronounce!
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I don’t look at them very often, since I don’t care about it too much. Sometimes I get curious and see where it ranks in the US top 1,000.
If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
Well, obviously [name_f]Emma[/name_f]! I do kind of wish she wasn’t quite so popular, but I love her nonetheless!
What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] [name_m]Dominic[/name_m]
What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
[name_m]Linus[/name_m], [name_m]Casper[/name_m] and [name_f]Lisette[/name_f]! I think all of my names have probably been in the top 1,000 at some point!
If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
In the top 100! I just like names that are familiar!
If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
Somewhere in the late 1800s!

SparkleNinja18 · March 23, 2021, 3:37pm

1. How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
I don’t remember knowing a lot of people with my name until I got into elementary school. One of my best friends had another best friend named [name_u]Abbey[/name_u], and another friend had a little sister named [name_u]Abby[/name_u]. It made me a bit uncomfortable knowing that my best friend had another best friend with my name—first of all, it got confusing, but I also felt a bit insecure when I was around them, even if I had no reason to be.
When I got to middle school, there was an awful [name_u]Abby[/name_u] in my grade, which is when I realized how I didn’t like having a popular name. I also had a lot of Abbys at my dance studio and I hated having to be known as an identifier ([name_u]Abby[/name_u]-blonde, [name_u]Abby[/name_u]-blue shirt, etc).

2. How trendy did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Actually, not trendy at all. I thought my name was horribly old fashioned and dated throughout middle school.

3. How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness of your name?
I hated sharing my name so I hated how popular it was. However, I wished that I had a more modern and trendy name.

4. When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”?
Oh yes. I’ve heard all the arguments against having popularity rules but ultimately, it comes down to how much I dislike my name and how much of that dislike comes from years of sharing it. I feel like my name makes me see basic and boring, and that everyone already has an idea about what an [name_u]Abby[/name_u] is like before they meet me. I don’t want to use a top 100 name but my rule will probably be more about popularity in my own circles.

5. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I count down the days to the SSA data release every year.

6. If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
[name_f]Mia[/name_f] and [name_u]Oliver[/name_u]. I’d call them by their middle names though because I don’t like any top 10 names (I like quite a few top 25)

7. What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
This one is much easier. I could happily name a family using these names (you know, if they weren’t so popular). [name_f]Mila[/name_f], [name_u]Piper[/name_u], [name_u]Willow[/name_u], [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], and [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] are my favorite girls. [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_u]Asher[/name_u], [name_u]Declan[/name_u], [name_u]Kai[/name_u], and [name_u]Luca[/name_u] are my favorite boys.

8. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
I have lots! Probably [name_u]Fable[/name_u]

9. If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
Out of the top 1000. I wouldn’t have to worry about popularity and there are familiar names outside of the top 1000 so I wouldn’t be limiting myself to names that might be hard to pronounce.

olivevienna · March 23, 2021, 3:49pm

Quite popular, it was in the top ten in the US for most of the 2000’s; however, I only knew a few other kids with my name
I wouldn’t say it was trendy, at least it doesn’t seem like one of those trendy names imo
I don’t really notice it, it’s less popular than some other names that were popular around the time I was born
Meh, not really, most of the names I like seem to be popular on here, but I’m not sure in the real world. I just avoid any names that were popular in the early 2000’s/90’s
Sometimes, I just look at stats in my country/state
In the US, I would probably chose [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_u]Oliver[/name_u] from the top 10
I would chose [name_f]Violet[/name_f] (which is already a top name for me) and [name_u]Evan[/name_u]
Hmmm, I don’t think any of the names on my current list are not from the top 1000, at least none that I could think of
Just taking a quick glance at the SSA website and there’s a lot of names that I like from the top 100 (girls: [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_f]Athena[/name_f], [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f]) (boys: [name_u]Eli[/name_u], [name_u]Liam[/name_u], [name_u]Oliver[/name_u], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_u]Ezra[/name_u], [name_u]Kai[/name_u], [name_u]Miles[/name_u])
Probably 2018, I prefer the most recent years than I do the earlier ones
I don’t like any of the -lynn names or the -ly (ex: [name_u]Everly[/name_u], [name_f]Adalyn[/name_f], [name_u]Blakely[/name_u]) a lot of them feel trendy imo

halinka · March 23, 2021, 3:50pm

1. How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Not popular at all. I had only met one person with my name growing up. It was only last year where I met other people with my name.

2. How trendy did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Not trendy at all.

3. How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness of your name?
I didn’t really think too much about it.

4. When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? Do you have any popularity “rules”?
I really don’t like popular names. It just ruins the name for me when it starts to get too popular. I guess I just like being original, plus it gets tiring hearing certain names so often. The majority of my names are in the lower top 1000 for my country (the US) and some aren’t even heard of.

5. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I like looking at popularity, but I’m not that into it.

6. If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
For a boy, [name_u]James[/name_u]. For a girl, [name_f]Ava[/name_f].

7. What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
For a girl, [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]. For a boy, [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u].

8. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? Do you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
Some of my favorites outside the US top 1000 are [name_f]Vaila[/name_f], [name_f]Avonlea[/name_f], [name_f]Naida[/name_f], [name_f]Oona[/name_f], [name_m]Octavius[/name_m], and [name_m]Torben[/name_m].
Yes, many of my favorites have never been inside the US top 1000!

9. If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
Outside the top 1000! I’m sick of many of the top names. They just aren’t my style either.

10. If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
I’m not sure.

11. Any other thoughts on popularity and/or trends that you didn’t get to share already?
No.

josieaitken · March 23, 2021, 4:10pm

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
I though it was pretty unique but I knew it was familiar. I’ve never met anybody with the name.
How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up?
I think the nickname [name_u]Josie[/name_u] is on trend but I didn’t think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] was trendy (I complained that it was too old)
How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name?
I guess I thought it was fine but I really wanted something that would fit in because whenever I had to introduce myself they had to do a double take.
When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? Do you have any popularity “rules”?
I always look at the popularity but half of my names are in the top 1000. I’ve always like [name_u]Willow[/name_u] and I LOVE the nickname [name_m]Wills[/name_m] but now that it’s so popular I have refrained from adding it to my list. I don’t have much popularity rules since I still so young and it’s not like I’m having a baby any time soon.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I don’t really research popularity statistics unless it’s about specific names. I do look at other country statistics for those names though.
If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
[name_f]Mia[/name_f] or [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_u]Mason[/name_u] or [name_u]Noah[/name_u]. (I actually have [name_f]Mia[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Emiliana[/name_f] and [name_u]Noa[/name_u] for a girl on my list)
What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_f]Stella[/name_f] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] (these are like some of my FAV names omg)
What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? Do you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] is actually like my absolute favorite name. [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] has never ranked in the top 1000. I can’t find any data that says [name_f]Haviland[/name_f] was ever in the top 1000 but I’m not sure.
If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
[name_f]My[/name_f] favorites from the top 100 for girls are [name_f]Mia[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_f]Layla[/name_f], [name_u]Riley[/name_u], [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], [name_u]Paisley[/name_u], [name_f]Savannah[/name_f], [name_f]Isla[/name_f], & [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]. For boys they are [name_u]Mason[/name_u], [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Matthew[/name_m], [name_u]Wyatt[/name_u], [name_u]Grayson[/name_u], [name_u]Dylan[/name_u], [name_u]Asher[/name_u], [name_u]Ezra[/name_u], [name_u]Elias[/name_u], [name_u]Hunter[/name_u], & [name_u]Connor[/name_u]. For girls under the top 1000: [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], [name_f]Juno[/name_f], [name_f]Avalon[/name_f], [name_u]Indigo[/name_u], [name_u]Echo[/name_u], [name_f]Marigold[/name_f], [name_f]Sybil[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f], [name_f]Constance[/name_f], [name_u]Campbell[/name_u], [name_f]Eugenie[/name_f], & [name_u]Hero[/name_u]. Boys: [name_m]Emrys[/name_m], [name_m]Evander[/name_m], [name_u]Jules[/name_u], [name_m]Stellan[/name_m], [name_u]Gray[/name_u], [name_m]Fintan[/name_m], [name_m]Niles[/name_m], [name_m]Wystan[/name_m], & [name_m]Willis[/name_m].
If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
1890’s

VioletMoon · March 23, 2021, 4:20pm

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
I didn’t think it was popular at all! I didn’t meet another [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] until I was in 6th & 7th grade. After I moved, I don’t remember hearing of any other [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]'s from 8th through 12th grade, so that always made me feel good about my name.

How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up?
I wasn’t very aware that names could be “trendy”, even though I was a name enthusiast. But overall, since I hadn’t met many people with my name, I definitely didn’t think it was a popular name.

How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name?
I still have yet to meet any more [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]'s, besides [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f], & a popular soap opera. I used to feel a bit left out from the pretty names ([name_u]Ashley[/name_u] & [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] were my favorite) but having grown up, I learned to appreciate my name and the lack of [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]'s I have met. It didn’t occur to me to appreciate the rareness? of my name until maybe High School. Now, it’s #66 in the US, so it makes me happy that there are more little [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]'s running around

When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? Do you have any popularity “rules”?
Popularity is huge for me if it’s in the top 50 I would say. With the exception of [name_f]Emilia[/name_f].
When the time comes for a baby, I may not even care about the Top 50. I have learned that, yes, the popularity of a name sucks, but they are popular for a reason. If I really wanted to use [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] or [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] or [name_f]Isla[/name_f], I would if they turn out to be the one. However, I am dreaming of using a more unexpected option

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I do! For now I worry more about state and country statistics, but international statistics is also very intriguing. [name_f]My[/name_f] SO and I love to travel, and one day we may perhaps move abroad, so keeping up with their name statistics sounds right.

If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
Excellent question! Because if I had to, I’d choose [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] or [name_f]Ava[/name_f] in a heartbeat. For boys I love Noah, Liam, & James

What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
Well [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] is already one of my top fave names, but for a middle I would do [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], or [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f] & Declan James!

What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
[name_f]Alba[/name_f], [name_f]Aveline[/name_f], & [name_f]Adeliza[/name_f] are my favorite for girls. Evander is my favorite for boys! [name_f]Alba[/name_f] was in the US Top 1000 about a century ago.

If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
I would choose names from the Top 1000 because I do love plenty of names from that list. There is also more variety, and they are less popular anyway.

If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
I would still say if it’s going to be Top 20, then I’ll keep the ones from the 2019 list

Any other thoughts on popularity and/or trends* that you didn’t get to share already?
If it’s a name you love, choose it. It’s hard for me to accept that as well, but as long as there isn’t any other [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] or [name_f]Isla[/name_f] in my family, then I’ll be fine, and I’m sure my future kids will be fine

findemaxa13 · March 23, 2021, 5:33pm

My name is [name_f]Julia[/name_f] (born in 1990s) and I didn’t have any others in my school until high school and then there were three other [name_m]Julias[/name_m] in my grade. Then in college I got an on-campus job and 2/5 of my student coworkers were other [name_m]Julias[/name_m]! Now there is one other [name_f]Julia[/name_f] in my workplace of about 50 people. In general I would say it’s familiar but not omnipresent.
I was born at roughly the peak of the use of my name, but it’s got a long history and has never been hugely popular or extremely unheard of, so it doesn’t feel as trendy as other names.
I don’t love sharing a name with someone in my class/working environment, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world, and I do like that my name is pretty timeless.
I don’t care that much about popularity. Most of my top names are more common than those of the average [name_u]Berry[/name_u], because I have pretty traditional taste. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite boys’ name, [name_u]James[/name_u], is top ten and I’d still use it, although ideally I wish it was slightly less popular. [name_f]My[/name_f] one biggest situation where popularity is a drawback is [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], which is one of my top girls’ names but which I also feel like is by far the most common female name I know across several generations so sometimes it feels like I’ve been overexposed and it makes me like the name less. Almost all the ones I know under 40 go by [name_f]Katie[/name_f] though which is not a nickname I really like so maybe that’ll make my potential future [name_f]Cat[/name_f]/Cathy feel a little less part of the crowd. Plus [name_f]Catherine[/name_f]/Katherine are definitely trending downward more recently, while still familiar.
I love researching popularity stats and trends, for all different countries and locations! [name_m]Even[/name_m] for names I have no interest in ever using, I think mapping trends is so cool.
For a boy, [name_u]James[/name_u], and I would be very likely to use it anyway! For a girl, [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] or [name_f]Olivia[/name_f].
James [name_m]Anthony[/name_m] or [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f].
For the American top 1000, my favorite is [name_m]Ciaran[/name_m], which has never been in the top 1000 (although [name_u]Kieran[/name_u] has).
I would definitely choose names in the top 100, because a lot of my favorites including some names that I would regret not using are already there.
Maybe 1970? [name_u]Michael[/name_u], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Robert[/name_m], [name_m]Brian[/name_m], [name_m]Daniel[/name_m], and [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] for boys, and [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Laura[/name_f], [name_f]Amy[/name_f], and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] for girls.

elanorelle · March 23, 2021, 7:39pm

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up? [name_f]My[/name_f] name is a fairly common late '90s-early '00s name – not Top 10 common, but it may have been without us knowing since everyone and their second cousin used a different spelling of it!
How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up? Definitely very trendy. There are several trends from my generation of names that my name fits perfectly.
How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name? It doesn’t bother me too much, but it is definitely tied to its era, which I dislike. I would prefer a more timeless name.
When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”? [name_f]My[/name_f] rules are generally just no top 10 names from the last several decades (though this really only applies to girl names which seem to shift in trend much more frequently – obviously, as my top boy name is super popular). I wouldn’t want to use a name that’s going to feel dated in 20 years the way mine does, for example. I also don’t love the idea of my child being one of 4 in their class. But it’s not the biggest factor. I do genuinely believe in using the names you love regardless of popularity. It’s just that sometimes popularity makes me not love a name as much as I might have had it not been everywhere. Additionally, the more common it is, the more chance of negative associations – in pop culture and just personally.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else? Yes, all of them!
If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose? [name_f]Emma[/name_f] or [name_m]William[/name_m] – sweet classics that I do genuinely love and would probably love even more if they weren’t so popular.
What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle! Let’s go with [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] & [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f].
What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? For girls: [name_f]Lilia[/name_f], [name_u]Antonia[/name_u], [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_f]Polly[/name_f]
For boys: [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], [name_u]Kit[/name_u], [name_u]Freddy[/name_u], [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m], [name_u]Valentine[/name_u], [name_u]Hadley[/name_u], [name_u]Gus[/name_u]
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
Yep! [name_f]Mariella[/name_f], [name_f]Heida[/name_f], [name_f]Romi[/name_f], [name_f]Petronella[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] (this spelling), [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f], [name_f]Amabel[/name_f], [name_f]Verity[/name_f], [name_f]Serafina[/name_f], and [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] (this spelling) for girls; [name_f]Blythe[/name_f], [name_u]Winn[/name_u], [name_m]Alasdair[/name_m], and [name_m]Fitzwilliam[/name_m] for boys.
If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why? Outside the Top 1000 because I think more of my favorites are in that range.
If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose? 1902 – oddly specific, I know, but it is one of the best Top 20s, imho. It includes so many of my vintage favorites – [name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_u]Marie[/name_u], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Bessie[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f] – as well as several strong classics. And the boys side is super classic, too.

MagnoliaE · March 23, 2021, 8:03pm

I was the only one in my elementary school (which, not saying much since it was a very small school) but once I got to middle/high school I was one of 3-4 in the grade. Not as popular as [name_f]Emma[/name_f]/Emily/Liam/Jacob but still common.

Very trendy. It was a “family name” so I know it had a story behind it, but that doesn’t stop it from being like that.

I disliked it, so when I picked out my deadname I purposely picked one that I hadn’t 1) met anyone named that and 2) was decreasing in popularity for boys.

I do like a lot of trendy and currently popular names, but I wouldn’t use a very popular name myself unless it’s an honor or it’s an enduring classic like [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. I’m not close to expecting though so I don’t really think about popularity when making combos.

I like looking at national stats for the US and for [name_u]Israel[/name_u]. Otherwise tbh I don’t really care about popularity in say Spain or [name_u]Britain[/name_u] personally.

Keeping honor initials, [name_m]Ethan[/name_m] or [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. I do actually like [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]! I used to love [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] but I prefer [name_f]Eve[/name_f] now. Otherwise, [name_m]William[/name_m] (keeping [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] the same).

[name_m]Ethan[/name_m] [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] or [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Sadie[/name_f]. Without honor initials, [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] [name_u]Asher[/name_u] or [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f].

Most of my Hebrew name options? I would be very surprised if Tzufit or [name_m]Nehorai[/name_m] have ever been in the top 1000.

Top 1000 because I could use most of my most meaningful Hebrew names.

[name_m]Samuel[/name_m] [name_m]Edward[/name_m] and [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] aren’t ideal but I could manage

[name_m]Long[/name_m] time popularity is more important than short term!

mololy · March 23, 2021, 10:32pm

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Very Popular! For dogs…I knew so many people with dogs named [name_f]Molly[/name_f], but it didn’t really bug me I thought it was funny. I did know a handful of people around my age with the same name but only had them in the same class once
How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Maybe a little trendy because of all of the names that end with “ie/y” sound
How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name?
I appreciated being the only one for the most part. It’s so much easier then trying to identify which [name_f]Katie[/name_f]/Katy/Catie/ Caty/Kati/KT you’re referring to
When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”?
I prefer names that are less popular but it’s not a deal breaker for me
Do you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I love looking at the stats that come out each year because I love looking at which names popped up in which States and what is more popular where
If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_u]Oliver[/name_u]
What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and [name_f]Clara[/name_f] are the only others girls I could see myself using
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]Elias[/name_u] (did not know [name_u]Elias[/name_u] was in the top 100), [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] [name_m]Wesley[/name_m]
What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
[name_f]Edelweiss[/name_f], it’s a guilty pleasure name i probably wouldn’t use
[name_m]Clifford[/name_m] also isn’t currently in the top 1000 and I plan to use that as an honor name
If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
Probably out of the top 1000, though a lot of my favorite names fall somewhere in between
If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
1887 and the 1920s had names I’d probably use

kasatka · March 24, 2021, 5:45am

1. How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
When I was a kid, my name was basically unheard of, aside from one somewhat well-known celebrity who is about a generation older than me.
2. How trendy did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Not at all!
3. How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness*of your name?
I feel good about it now, sitting in the top 100 in most countries, I believe. It’s far more popular for the younger generation (born >2008), so my parents always say that they were ahead of the curve when naming me. As a kid, I wished it was more popular. It’s sad to look back on how - I wanted so badly to fit in and be like everyone else, that I resented the fact I was not named [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Emily[/name_f], etc.
4. When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”?
I don’t have any rules, however, my general “rule” is that it can’t be something that literally no one will have heard of or have a clue how to pronounce. However, at the end of the day, whether the perfect name is [name_f]Emma[/name_f] or [name_f]Scheherazade[/name_f], what matters most is that you love it, so I don’t let popularity influence my decisions too heavily. I would potentially be hesitant to use a name if it was in the top 5 in my country, though.
5. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I do! I love all things meanings, origin, popularity, etc. I like to research country, state, local, and international statistics. It’s great to get the full picture and see how much region plays a part in determining what is popular!
6. If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
I would choose [name_f]Lily[/name_f] or [name_u]Willow[/name_u] for a girl, [name_m]Leo[/name_m] or [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] for a boy.
7. What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f] for a girl (yes, I’m cheating the system by splitting my beloved name into a first/middle combo ) and probably [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] [name_m]Matthew[/name_m]/Matthew [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] for a boy.
8. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
Definitely [name_f]Evaluna[/name_f]! In addition to [name_f]Evaluna[/name_f], there is [name_f]Elska[/name_f], [name_f]Marijke[/name_f], [name_f]Behati[/name_f] & [name_f]Rivkah[/name_f], (there are more, but these were the first 5 for girls I could think of…) And for boys, [name_m]Endymion[/name_m], [name_m]Iver[/name_m], Lajos, [name_u]Noor[/name_u], [name_m]Sigmund[/name_m], and [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m].
9. If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
I think I would have to do out of the top 1000. I love so many names in the top 100, but my most precious and beloved names do fall out of the top 1000. I simply couldn’t manage to let go of [name_f]Evaluna[/name_f]…
10. If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
Bit of a boring answer, but probably 2018? Has some lovely ones, like [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] and [name_u]James[/name_u].

gracegillian · March 24, 2021, 6:41am

1. How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Honestly, despite my name being very popular, I never felt it was. There wasn’t ever another [name_f]Grace[/name_f] in my year level. Nowadays I know alot more, but again, never another [name_f]Grace[/name_f] in my year.
2. How trendy did you perceive your name to be growing up?
I don’t think it’s trendy, or did I find it trendy when I was younger.
3. How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness of your name?
Hmm, I don’t love that it’s so popular people find it boring and overdone, I just get sort of sad when people say it’s boring :,)
Otherwise I don’t really mind all that much.
4. When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? Do you have any popularity “rules”?
Nope, I just like what I like, I rarely even consider popularity if I’m honest.
5. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
I usually prefer to look at country statistics! Again I’m not super interested in popularity, so I don’t do it too often, but it is fun every now and again.
6. If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
[name_u]Willow[/name_u] and [name_m]Jack[/name_m]!
7. What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_u]Eden[/name_u] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] and [name_u]Beau[/name_u] [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u]
8. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? Do you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
Actually, I think I’d have to go… Top 100. Because although one of my most favourites is out of the top 1000, there’s a larger number of names that I like within the top 100 than in the 1000+ rankings
9. If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
Out of the top 1000! I do like a few names in the top 100, but they aren’t quite my favourite or what I would definitely choose for a baby… Although [name_u]Eden[/name_u] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] and [name_u]Beau[/name_u] [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u] would be sweet…
10. If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
Probably 2021! So many lovely gems in there, like [name_u]Florence[/name_u], [name_u]Frankie[/name_u], [name_u]Eden[/name_u], [name_u]Willow[/name_u], [name_u]Beau[/name_u], [name_u]Gabriel[/name_u], [name_f]Freya[/name_f], [name_f]Sienna[/name_f], [name_f]Heidi[/name_f], [name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], [name_u]Finn[/name_u], [name_m]Hugo[/name_m], [name_u]Kai[/name_u], [name_u]Owen[/name_u], [name_u]Darcy[/name_u], [name_u]Jude[/name_u] and [name_m]Leon[/name_m]!

_thelittlefairywren · March 24, 2021, 6:51am

1. How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?

0% popular! [name_f]My[/name_f] name (specifically my spelling) is currently ranked in the 14,000s! I was about 16 when I met another person with my name (but different spelling).

2. How trendy did you perceive your name to be growing up?

Again, 0%. I don’t think my name has ever been on trend. Although I always get comments on how people love, apparently it never took off.

3. How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness of your name?

I love the uniqueness. I used to hate it as a child because I didn’t think it was pretty, but I really appreciate how different it is now (since I was a late teen).

4a. When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play?

Yes, I really get put off by high popularity. Most of our baby names are ranked in the thousands, and I love it that way. I was so sad when one of our top girls names entered the top 1000 (I think it’s about 960). I still love it and we’ll probably still use it, but it did make me do a double take and question if I still want to use it - silly, I know!

4b. Do you have any popularity “rules”?

We are pretty anti anything in the top 500. I guess there are no hard and fast rules, but we have ditched names because they climbed too high.

5. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?

Yes, I enjoy looking up meanings and rankings. I tend to look at international rankings more so than local ones.

6. If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?

[name_f]Isla[/name_f] & [name_m]Lucas[/name_m]

7. What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!

[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f] & [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]

8a. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000?

Endelyon, [name_f]Kalliope[/name_f], [name_f]Xanthippe[/name_f], [name_m]Ignatius[/name_m], [name_m]Othello[/name_m], [name_m]Phoebus[/name_m], and more!

8b. Do you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?

Most of them!!

9. If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?

Definitely out of the top 1000! They basically are anyway. As for why, individuality is so important to me. I am drawn names that feel artistic and unique (as is my hubby).

10. If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?

Whenever [name_u]Rome[/name_u] and Greece were in power and everyone’s name ended in -ius (or similar)!

11. Any other thoughts on popularity and/or trends that you didn’t get to share already?

I’m not a fan of naming trends, in the sense of “we called him [name_m]Jack[/name_m] became else was into it at the time”. It seems so unimaginative to me. When I hear that, I find it hard not to think “But there’s thousands of amazing names and you just went with what everyone else is doing? Isn’t your child more important than that?” I know that’s a bit harsh because there are people that genuinely do love the names in the top 10, etc, but that’s how I feel. A world full of names, why pick the one everyone else also picked?!

alatari · March 24, 2021, 8:28am

1. How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Not at all, I was the only person I knew with my name and still am

2. How trendy did you perceive your name to be growing up?
Not at all

3. How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness of your name?
It was challenging to have a name that was hard for people to pronounce/people were generally unfamiliar with. I went through a stage as a preteen/young teen when all I wanted was to fit in and be as basic as possible, and I would have killed to be called [name_f]Emily[/name_f] or [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] then! I never saw my name on any of those cute cups. But now I feel happy having a name that is so unique, even though I have to go by a more manageable nickname 99% of the time.

4. When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any popularity “rules”?
I have a personal popularity rule of nothing inside the top 50 for the first name. I have no popularity rules for middle names other than to not use [name_f]Rose[/name_f] for a girl. Personally, I feel that since a wider pool of names are being used than ever before (I mean, even the #1 girl’s name in the US was only given to 1% of female births in 2019), I can afford to use things that are still reasonably well known. And I’d like people to be at least familiar with my children’s names, even if they don’t hear them often. I can almost guarantee that when I introduce myself using my full name it’s the first time the person has ever heard it, and that has caused some problems for me. [name_f]My[/name_f] personal goal is to find the balance between familiar and underused, so something like [name_f]Enya[/name_f], [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] or [name_f]Arielle[/name_f] is fairly unheard of but not a complete blindside for people. But I have to be careful with this! I used to have [name_f]Luna[/name_f] on my list for this very reason… Alternatively I’d go for something super duper uncommon but with a very intuitive spelling and pronunciation, like Ostara.

5. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else?
When I’m particularly worried about the imminent rise of a name I will go on a manic researching quest (I did this recently with [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], even down to scrolling through every single baby name TikTok and noting down how often [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] was mentioned by [name_f]Gen[/name_f] Z Teens…) and this helps me to get a feel for what’s coming in terms of changes on the charts. But for my absolute darlings ([name_m]Caspian[/name_m] and [name_f]Arielle[/name_f]) I know I can’t really ever convince myself not to use them, even if they do rise ([name_m]Caspian[/name_m] is on the rise as we speak, waahhh) so I try to avoid stressing myself out too much about it.

With NZ data there is less to look at, but we tend to follow quite closely alongside the trends of the UK, so I usually look at UK data for my personal favourite names.

6. If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose?
Ooh, what a fun question! I’d choose [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] and or [name_m]Leo[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m].

7. What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle!
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_f]Athena[/name_f] or [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Flynn[/name_u].

8. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000?
I really like Ostara, which doesn’t even feature in the nb database at all! And [name_m]Azriel[/name_m] for boys - it’s so dark and magical. As far as I know neither have ever been in the top 1000, but [name_m]Azriel[/name_m] is definitely heading into it in the next decade I’d wager.

9. If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why?
I’d go outside the top 1000, but if it was inside the top 500 I’d go inside. The top 100 is fairly bland to me, but a lot of great names (and most of my everlasting loves) sit between 101-999, and I’d hate to miss them all!

10. If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose?
I have a rather fanciful, magical taste and I don’t think my favourites have ever been top 20 material. But for the sake of the question, I’d say around 1920 because there were so many lovely names in use then that are just coming back into style now, and we’re all a sucker for the trends to some extent

Wandarine · March 24, 2021, 1:53pm

How popular did you perceive your name to be growing up? Not very. I knew it was well known but hardly met anyone with it.
How trendy* did you perceive your name to be growing up? Not at all.
How do you (or did you) feel about the popularity/trendiness* of your name? It’s very tied to a different generation than mine. That puts it in the sweet spot of know but not popular, but it has made one or two people stare in disbelieve (which I mostly found funny).
When you’re making your lists now, what role, if any, does popularity play? Do you have any popularity “rules”? Not an active, and I don’t have fixed rules, but rising popularity might still make a name boring to me and thus rule it out indirectly.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you enjoy researching popularity statistics? If so, do you prefer country statistics, state or local statistics, international statistics, or something else? I do, both national and international! I don’t follow as closely as I used to though.
If you had to name your child from your country’s top 10, what would you choose? [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] or [name_m]Felix[/name_m], but I ouldn’t be happy with it.
What about from the top 100? Maybe even first and middle! [name_f]Mara[/name_f] or [name_m]Adam[/name_m]. I would leave out the middle names, for me it’s honor or nothing!
8. What is your favorite (or multiple if you prefer!) name that isn’t currently in the top 1000? Do you have any favorites that have never been in the top 1000? [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] is 1163 and I don’t think [name_m]Cassander[/name_m] ever ranked.
If you had to make your entire list either from names that are in the top 100 or out of the top 1000 in your country, which would you choose? Why? Either would rule out most of my favourites but I think inside the top 100 would be ultimately easier to wear.
If you had to make your list from names that were in the top 20 in some year, what year would you choose? 1989! That way I get [name_f]Svenja[/name_f] and [name_m]Matthias[/name_m], and [name_f]Annika[/name_f] and [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] as backups.
Any other thoughts on popularity and/or trends* that you didn’t get to share already? No name is so popular that you should expect there to be 5 in a class. [name_u]Or[/name_u] even 1. If that is your only concern, you’ll probably be fine! On the other hand, it can totally still happen with non-top names. For example, if you were to add a boy to my high school class, a [name_m]Niclas[/name_m] would be the only one with the number 3 name, but a [name_u]Max[/name_u] would be the 5th although the name was outside top 35 (that’s as far down as the list goes).