Trendiness Question

I’m an [name]Emily[/name], born in 1992. I want to change my name, but do not want to chose a name that is trendy now, or then, and want to avoid a name that might seem “dated” overall. Could you berries review my current list and perhaps let me know if any of these are in danger of just that? Should I chose a name that is not in the top 1000 now, or is it ok as long as it’s not something like [name]Alice[/name] or [name]Scarlett[/name]?

Here’s my list;

[name]Cordelia[/name]
[name]Eloise[/name]
[name]Gwendolen[/name]
[name]Livana[/name]
[name]Persephone[/name]
[name]Fiona[/name]

(I’m into names that are classy but unusual. So some of these fit the bill)

Thanks! :slight_smile:

The ones I like are:

[name]Livana[/name] and [name]Fiona[/name]

Instead of [name]Cordelia[/name], [name]Cecelia[/name]?

I love [name]Cordelia[/name]. There’s so much culture in that name. And it’s never a super popular name.

This is why I chose [name]Bianca[/name] - it’s a classic girl’s name. Could be young, could be old. It’s got roots in literature ([name]Shakespeare[/name] :wink: [name]Just[/name] like [name]Cordelia[/name]). And you don’t hear it very often. I didn’t have access to databases and such when I named her but I’ve always noticed peoples names and I’d never really met any Biancas…except in a movie or two. Most people agree it’s a nice name, but it’s underused. But now that I do have access to databases, I know it never goes anywhere near the top 20 in my state/country.

[name]Bianca[/name] is pretty, I get the Shakespearean vibe and also a rocker vibe from Mrs. [name]Jagger[/name]!

So I guess it’s safe to assume that any name outside the top 1000 can’t be seen as dated…but what about the names on my list that are?

See, to me, [name]Emily[/name] is a classic. It has only briefly ever dipped below the top 200. It did hit a burst of particular popularity around when you were born, but, if you look at its chart since 1880, it’s pretty consistent over long stretches of time. This is not to be a slave to charts: I have known grandma Emilys and baby Emilys. I do know a cluster in their 20s, so I sense the trendiness, but it’s less pronounced than with some other names with the same 20s-heavy effect.

Nonethless, let’s turn to your list.

[name]Eloise[/name] and [name]Fiona[/name], to me, are rather trendy…but not in a way that I think you shouldn’t consider them. Not in a made-up or overly modern way: they are grounded, historical/literary, and beautiful names. Nonetheless, I know a toddler [name]Fiona[/name] and no one else: I see it discussed (and used) on name boards. Same with [name]Eloise[/name]. If you look at the charts. [name]Fiona[/name] just emerged in the 1990s - [name]Eloise[/name] is in fact an older name in terms of top 1000 use, but completely fell from grace for a while.

Of course, that might not be so bad for you: you might end up “dated”, but to an age 20 years younger than yourself : D.

[name]Gwendolen[/name] (this spelling) has never been in the top 1000, I know young and old Gwens of various longer names (or not), [name]Gwendolyn[/name] (this spelling) has always been in the top 1000, varying between 900 and about 100. it’s recovering a bit from its second recent low point, but I have a hard time imagining it climbing super high soon - even if it did, it seems like that wouldn’t be the first time around it did so. I think you’re pretty set with either spelling of this name.

[name]Persephone[/name] and [name]Livana[/name] are lovely and so odd as to be timeless in a sense currently - although the nn [name]Liv[/name] for [name]Livana[/name] will be mildly associated with the recent [name]Olivia[/name] rise (but [name]Olivia[/name] to me is a lot like [name]Emily[/name]).

I have a list called “stable not too popular” that I think might be a good place for what you’re going for, on the more conservative end of naming taste though. These are names that have always been in the top 1000, but, to my eye, have never had some incredibly wild swing upward or been too high up (although some have had some kinds of swings, and some might be too high up for your taste):

https://nameberry.com/userlist/view/25717

I think all of your names are attractive, so go with one if you’re ready, but hope that list is useful if not!

Your names are FAR from any trendiness imo.

[name]Cordelia[/name]
[name]Eloise[/name]
[name]Gwendolen[/name] are my top picks.

Thanks! My mom has mentioned that [name]Gwendolen[/name] is an old lady name, but I’d rather have an old fashioned name than a recent name-invention. I’m favoring [name]Eloise[/name] at the moment because of the E initial, but [name]Gwendolen[/name] and [name]Cordelia[/name] never manage to leave my list, either! I really like [name]Charlotte[/name], except for the two syllable status.

I’ve decided [name]Persephone[/name] is too out there for me!

[name]Gwendolen[/name] is so not old ladyish to me! And I’m super sensitive to those types of names.
What about [name]Eloise[/name] [name]Charlotte[/name] [name]Rose[/name]?

From your list I think that [name]Fiona[/name] and [name]Eloise[/name] are the most difficult to place in a particular era.

Why don’t you try using some of the names and see what reaction you get from people (order a pizza!) that should give you an idea if you ‘match’ the name and give you a better idea how you feel wearing it.

What about [name]Emilia[/name] or [name]Amelia[/name]? It is super close to [name]Emily[/name], but with extra flair and you could stick with the E initial. You wouldn’t even have to change your name. [name]Just[/name] start telling people that is what you are going to go by and then down the road after your twenties you may decide that you liked what your parents had chosen for you after all and there would be no complications with changing it. [name]Just[/name] a thought. Good luck.

I like a lot of your choices! To me, a lot of these kind of fit the trendiness thing. Not that any of them are really trendy, but [name]Fiona[/name], [name]Persephone[/name], [name]Cordelia[/name], and [name]Eloise[/name] are very in-style right now and I can’t imagine my parents (who also happened to have a daughter in 1992) or many of their contemporaries, would have considered those names 20 years ago. I think you could probably get away with them but I think [name]Livana[/name] and [name]Gwendolen[/name] work much better. I know Gwendolens/Gwendolyns/Gwens of all ages (not many, mind you, but I know one who is in elementary school, and I had a coworker with the name, and literary connections make it seem pretty much loved the same amount no matter the year), and [name]Livana[/name] is unusual enough that I don’t think it’s really dated to any one year. I think either of those would be lovely options!

Good luck!

Wow, we’re in the same age! You know, I also once thought to change my name. I think my name is too popular (at least in my own life, I know a lot of namesakes). But I think again, and again, I know my name has a great meaning and it already fits me. (personality, etc. I always believe that name could affect people’s character), so I try to drop that thought.

So my suggestion is, think again. Why do you want to change it so badly?
Or if you’re already 100% sure, try something close… or keep emily as a part of your name. However, your name is your parents’ prayer and hope.
what about [name]Amelie[/name] [name]Livana[/name]? I think it’s pretty.

I have a daughter your age, and so 20 years ago, I was busy choosing names (just like now-having number 6!). Back then, it seemed everyone was naming babies [name]Nicole[/name]. Or [name]Ashley[/name]. Or [name]Ashley[/name] [name]Nicole[/name]. None of the names on your list strike me as having been popular at the time. Here’s a strange fact though: I promise, no kidding, I have never, ever known an [name]Emily[/name] in real life, not even through my adult daughters who were both born when [name]Emily[/name] was apparently all the rage. I also have younger kids, and I haven’t run into any in their peer group, either. [name]Plenty[/name] of Emmas, but no Emilys. Weird, isn’t it? Anyway, I think [name]Emily[/name] is beautiful. If you really, really want to change it, though, I’d choose something similar. Getting everyone to call you by the new name will be a challenge as it is. I’ve spent a couple of decades just trying to shed a childhood nickname, and even that is tough.