Would you drop a favorite name.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Would you drop a favorite name.....
15
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 5:10pm
because it's too "popular"? My DH and I really like a certain girls name, but everyone says "I like it, but it's way too popular", like it's something really negative. So many people have said this, even on this bored, that it's starting to make me not want to name her this (if it is a girl). I'm a little irritated by it. I know I shouldn't care what others think, but on the other hand, do I want a more unique name? I'm so confused! Luckily I'm only 13 weeks and we have lots of time to think about it. Thanks!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-29-2003
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 5:29pm
Personally, I wouldn't let the comments about popularity bother you. I think some people are just concerned about their child having the same name as "everyone else" or being one of five children in a classroom with the same name.

I don't care about uniqueness as much. I would go with a name I loved, even if it were on the more popular side. I really love the names Allison and Alexandra, and both are fairly high up there on the popularity charts, but I would still use one of them if I had a daughter. I think its better to name a child a more common, mainstream name than something like Moonstar, anyway. I'd rather see another Elizabeth or Caitlin anyday! From a child's standpoint -- no one wants to be made fun of for having a really odd name -- so I don't think a popular name is so much of a detriment.

Also, the odds of having 5 Ashleys in one class are really slim. I think people on this board are very focused on statistics like the Social Security Administration rankings and such, but in real life, people use a variety of names. Especially with girls -- there are SO many names to choose from. So, just because Emily may be the number one name, does not mean that half the population is naming their child that! It is probably still a very small percentage of the population that use the name (less than 1%!)

So bottom line: I myself don't see popularity as a negative. I think if you love a name, you should use it! And everyone has opinions, so I'm sure if you chose an unusual name, people would say "What?" and point out the negatives of difficult spelling/pronounciation, etc.

Hope this helps.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 5:41pm
No, I wouldn't. Everybody thought that Tyler was too popular when we named our ds, but we have yet to run into another Tyler his age at school or church. I think if that's the one and only reason you drop the name, you'll probably regret it down the road. Good luck!

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2003
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 5:41pm
Well I would, but only because I have a really common last name.

If your last name is long and/or difficult to spell or pronounce, your child would probably be grateful to have a first name that is well known and easy to spell. A friend of mine felt it was very important to give her children names that were popular enough that they could always find pencils, stickers, Christmas ornaments, etc., with their names on them. Her name is more uncommon, so she had never been able to get those as a kid without special ordering them. That stuck with her, and influenced her decisions, and there's nothing wrong with that.

I think people are just pointing out how common the names are, because many people choose a name without checking popularity lists, think it's unique because they've never heard it, then are shocked when there are 10 other kids with the same or similar names in their kindergarten class! Since popularity isn't a factor for you, take those suggestions with a grain of salt, and choose the name you and your DH love most.

Just my $.02!

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 5:45pm
Thanks all! I guess I just get frustrated sometimes! :)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2004
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 5:48pm
It depends. Popularity doesn't bother me, but trendiness does. If I loved the name Emily and couldn't see my dd with any other name but Emily, I would name her that in a heartbeat, #1 name or not. Emily has been around forever. Sometimes it was more popular than other times, but it has a history and legs to stand on. Then there are names like Madison. These names appear out of nowhere and shoot up in popularity only to fade away faster than they came, which is something you may want to consider. Can you picture your dd growing into this name, or is it so "new" that you have yet to hear of an adult with the same name. I can't for the life of me picture an adult with the name Madison, but that's JMHO. I'm not trying to offend, it's really an argument about personal style. I obviously like classic names, popular or not, that will not be a "flash in the pan", but other people like trendy. These differences make the world go 'round.

The important thing is that you name your baby something you love. If you love the name Emily, Madison, or Tatonka, and can't imagine naming your dd anything else but that name, then go for it. Trendiness, popularity, creativeness, be darned.

Good Luck!!

Jorie

Lilypie Baby Birthday
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 6:21pm
I'm one of those annoying people who's always saying that something is too popular. This is partly because I used to teach preschool, and I always felt sorry for the kids who had to be Michael L., Michael B., Michael R., and Michael G., plus one Mike, all in the same class. But I'd go for a whole class full of Emmas and Emilys over a bunch of the cutesier trendy names, each spelled five different ways. If the name you've chosen is popular because it's fairly classic and easily spelled, I'd say ignore all of us blathering on about popularity and just use it. If it's one of the ultra-trendy names that will be gone in a few years, think twice, but still use it if your heart is set on it. Definitely don't go for uniqueness for the sake of uniqueness unless that's your style anyway.

The other reason I keep harping about popularity is that we named our DD Olivia last year, having absolutely no clue that it was popular at all, let alone number 5 for 2003. If we'd known we might still have named her that, but we might not have. There are plenty of names that are in the top 50 or 100, but not the top 10, that everyone will recognize. That's what we're shooting for with DD#2--popular enough, but not excessively so.

I know you probably don't want us all to ruin your name for you, but if you feel comfortable sharing, do tell us what the "certain" name is.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2004
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 6:37pm
That's the problem with asking opinions (or in my case telling everyone the name we'd chosen before the birth) someone's gonna say ew! All you can do is try not to let it bother you. My daughter's name is Jadalyn and when I told my mother what it was to be I got the same reaction!(But I was prepared after tossing it around on a board similar to this!)

If you love a name use it! I still love the name Ashley, it's really nice, but I do feel it's everywhere so I wouldn't use it MYSELF.(and I prefer it when it was a boy's name!)

Really, your the only one who needs to like your child's name anyway (and your child too unless you call them moonbeam! or something)

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2003
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 7:09pm
Probably not. If it is the only one I really love, it doesn't matter if it's that popular. Now, if I like several, I think it's better to choose the least popular of the group. That's usually what I mean when I'm telling people one of their name choices is popular----just as a way of whittling down the list. The only thing is, if the name you are choosing is very popular, it may hurt your feelings a bit when it doesn't make a big splash at the announcement, or if you overhear someone saying, "another one?"---I will charitably think they wouldn't say it to you, but many people tend to say such things when they think you can't hear them. Also do be prepared for there to be another one in a class, playgroup, etc. If it's that popular, it'll probably happen at some point. That may not bother you, but I'll never forget the mother that threw an absolute fit the first day of school when she found out her daughter wasn't the only Sydney........as if that had anything at all to do with me!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-15-2004
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 7:25pm
Popularity is planning a major role in what I will decide to name my children. I grew up with a very common name (Michelle). Once in elementary school, I was one of Five Michelles in a class of about 25 kids. When I went to college there were over 30 Michelles or Shellys in a class of 217. It was horrible. Every time I left my room, someone was calling my name, and it usually wasn't for me. Since I was 15, I have loved two names Kaitlyn Emma and Alexis Kieran. Kaitlyn is far too popular now :( and Alexis has been growing in popularity in the last several years :( I have alternatives but those two have been on the "list" and I have had my heart set on them for ten years now.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2004
Wed, 06-16-2004 - 7:42pm


I would just pick my favorite name and not think twice about it.

I've never met a Kaitlyn and I've never met an Alexis even if I had would you like the name less? No. So go with it. FYI: Katilyn Emma is my favorite of the two names.

Actually Alexis went down from 5th to 7th in 2003. We may have a downward trend =)

And Kaitlyn (that spelling) is all the way down to 32 in 2002 and 2003.

Caitlyn was 145 in 2003! All-in-all Katilyn doesn't seem *extremely* popular to me.

-peggy

Peggy

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