Some help with baby girl's name

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2006
Some help with baby girl's name
14
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 6:54pm

I have been lurking here for the past couple weeks and I really need some help. I am due December 18th and I am starting to freak out about our names. We will be having a baby girl and we would like her mn to be Hope (it's also my mn). The biggest problem we are having with our names is that they are VERY VERY popular. Everyone says the same thing "Pretty, but you know that's REALLY REALLY popular right now right?" Then they usually follow it up with "But, if you really like it you should use it." I feel so torn b/c we like the names but I don't want my daughter be 1 of the 5 girls in her class with that name.

As a side note, I have been trying to do a little research of popular names in my area (Long Island, NY) and the woman I spoke with that works at Babies R' Us said the ones she hears the most are Sophia, Ava, Gabrielle & Isabel.

So with all that said...here are the names that are at the top of our list:

Ava
Abigail
Mackenzie

Thank you all SO much!
Daniele

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2003
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 7:10pm

IMO if you go with Ava or Abigail she will most likely have another in her class most years, especially Ava which is at the top of the list of most people I know who are pg right now. Mackenzie she most likely won't have to share because most of the other Mackenzies are in the 4-8 year old range now. It just sounds tired and dated at this point.

Some other options that might sound fresher and be a bit less common:
Tessa
Audrey/Aubrey
Miranda
Lucy
Delaney
Calla
Meredith
Elise
Stella
Annika
Nora
Julia
Ivy
Daphne
Lila
Eliza

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2006
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 7:25pm

Maybe you could make Ava longer -
Avalon, Avaline, etc

Other names that are similar to the ones on your list, but not as common yet:
Adeline
Alice
Bridget
Beatrice
Camila
Danielle
Iris
Lana
Mallory
Phoebe
Sadie

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2006
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 7:59pm

I have to agree about Mackenzie: don't do it. It sounds awfully dated alrady, and unlike the other two names on your list, it's doesn't have the staying power that a classic name, however popular, will have. It won't wear well.

Of your choices, I like Abigail. But if you're truly concerned about over-popularity, perhaps you should look farther afield. Adele and Audrey are good suggestions, and I would add Anabel, Mercy, Josephine, Clara or Clair. Those have something of the antique feel of Abigail without quite as many namesakes these days.

For more unusaul fare, what about Adelina, Aurelia, Bronwyn, Guenivere (nn Gwen or Vera) or Genevive?
If you want a name substitute for Mackenzie, what about Maxine?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 8:25pm

Oh, Gosh. If I could pick the 2 most popular girls names (at least in my area) it would be those Ava and Abigail. Mackenzie WAS popular awhile again, now has peaked and has become outdated. I would avoid all three names, even though I love both Ava and Abigail.

Carissa

Ada

Essie

Bridget

Tabitha

Liesel

Clara

Lauren

Hailey

Miranda

Leah

Celia

Bethany

Stella

Fiona

Alyssa

Kendall

HTH!
-Nikki

P.S. Let us know if you like any of the suggestions!


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 9:47pm
I am confused...should you avoid popular names even when they are classics? Ava and Abigail(esp.) are both classics! I know Abbies of every age! McKenzie is dated and not really a classic like the others. I think if you both agree, (which can be so hard to begin with) go for it!
Good Luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2004
Wed, 10-25-2006 - 11:35pm

I love the name Ava b/c, well, that my 19 month old daughters name! We live in Canada and it is gaining popularity here (esp. since she was born) but not NEARLY as popular as people in the U.S. are making it seem. I still have tons of people say, "What a unique, classic name." So, just depends on where you live I guess. As for Abbie and Mackenzie, I'm not a huge fan.
JMO!

Amanda
Mommy to Ava 02-22-05
EDD #2 06-22-07


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2006
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 12:04am
Ava
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 12:56am

I'm sure my mother really loved my name but I hated having to share it with classmates all the way through school.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 7:50am
I think Ava is the nicest name on your list-- McKenzie is my least fav. Yes, they are all popular, but if you love them, use one. The alternative is to name your child a name you don't love (and that's not much of a solution). Good luck!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2005
Thu, 10-26-2006 - 11:44am
I think Ava is more popular because that's what Reese Witherspoon named her daughter. At least I think that's what started the trend.

AJ, enjoying life with C.

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