Too Popular?
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Too Popular?
| Tue, 01-23-2007 - 10:44am |
I really like the names Katelyn or Lillian for first names, but I'm wondering if they are too popular right now. If I go with those names, Kate and Lillie will probably be used as nicknames, but not necessarily. Are they too popular right now?

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Katelyn (any spelling) is wildly popular - Lillian less so. I am so biased towards the name Kate - I just adore it, so I may not be much help. Personally, I would just go with Kate as a name - Katelyn is overused, IMO, but if you love it and plan to call her Kate, I wouldn't let the popularity of the name stop you.
They are too popular for my taste, IMO. Neither name will come up in the top 10 because of all the spelling variations (Lily vs. Lillie vs. Lilli, etc), but they are everywhere. If you are set on one of these two, I'd use Lillian but not shorten it to Lillie. Lillian in the full form is heard a lot less often, and is 49th in popularity, which isn't bad.
All forms of Katelyn/Caitlyn, etc are heard all the time right now. In fact, I think Kate is heard less often, but would still have the same sound as all the Katelyn, Kaylins, Kylees, etc. So you have to take in account not only the actual name you've chosen, but all the variations that are so popular right now.
Just my opinion, since you asked. Good luck deciding!
I think it depends on how much popularity bothers you. Personally, those names are WAY too popular for me. But then I like names that are quite uncommon.
Part of the reason those names feel so popular is that there are so many similar names. Your daughter might be the only Katelyn or Lillian in her class, but there will likely be a Kate/Kaitlyn/Caitlin/Kaylen/etc and a Lily/Lilianna/Lilah/etc.
Here is my thought on popular names in general: popularity doesn't make a name bad. It's just one factor to be considered. If you love a name or you have an emotional connection to a name, you should use it despite its popularity. However, if you hear a popular name and like it, you should probably keep looking and see if there is a less-popular name you like just as much.
In this case, it sounds like you like Kaitlyn and Lillian, but aren't absolutely in love with either. If I were you, I'd keep looking. You don't have to give up on them completely, just hold them in reserve while you look for some more options.
I agree with what Annie said about popularity. Here are some alternatives to the popular Kate and Lily:
Lila
Calla, nn Callie
Iris
Ivy
Cora
Maisie
Caroline, nn Carly
Camille, nn Cami
Joanne, nn Josie
Elizabeth, nn Libby
Sarah, nn Sadie
Rosalie, nn Rose/Rosie
Good luck,
Brooke
To answer your question in a round about sorta way...my cousins daughter is named Lily Kate and my sister is naming her daughter (due next month) Katie.
michele
^emma^ 8-31-00
patrick 12-10-01
m/c 6-7-02
alexandra 8-26-03
ava-lynne 4-20-06
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joanne
maman2goons@aol.com
joanne
maman2goons@aol.com
Yep, at least for me I would never use either because of the popularity. Lily seems to be more up and coming... it will be the next big name. Kaitlyn isn't as popular as it was, but Kate is also a nn for Katherine, and a name on its own. If you go with Kaitlyn, I would stick with the original Caitlin spelling. To me, it looks prettier and more feminine. Kaitlyn is just the Americanized version, but it doesn't look nearly as nice. Caitlin would also differentiate her from all those popular K names. Katelyn, the spelling you chose, looks even worse to me. Almost as if you are trying to make the nn Kate more obvious, but it doesn't need to be spelt right in there for her to use it.
-Nikki
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