How common are the most popular baby names?

mj0413

Hey all - 

I apologize if this has been discussed before. I looked to see if I could find a thread about this, but didn't see anything, so I figured I'd start one. 

Anyway, my husband and I are completely undecided on a name for our first, due in January. I REALLY want to avoid more common names so that our baby isn't one of fifty "whatever name" in her class. I hate the idea of her being known as her first name followed by her last initial to set her apart from other people with the same name. Know what I mean?

I have looked over the most popular baby names all over the internet (here, babycenter, SSA, etc.). They all give ranks, but I'm wondering just how common those names are? Does anyone know how I can figure this out? If we like a name that's #15 on the US list, I wonder what the odds are that she'll know several other girls with the same name.

If anyone has any knowledge about this, I'd really appreciate it! 

Thank you!

Mrs.G123

You can search ssa data by state. GL.

Zimger

I'm not sure what the exact odds are but I think much of it has to do with how popular the name is in your area. You can see if it is in the top 100 in your state by visiting the SSA site. If it is ranked higher in your state it may be more likely that she will share the name with a classmate.

allardr

I agree check state. I was shocked how different my names ranked in my state vs. nationally. 

It's hard too to look at 2012 and say oh but I dont know any "Isabellas" because they're all infants of course you dont know them. 

Look up your birth year and those top 10. Then see how many of those you knew in classes growing up. That'll give you a better understanding of how popular those top 10 are.

YummeeCookee

Good thread . . . I feel similar to you and have used the pp's method of checking names popular during years near to my birth. At minimum, i would stay away from anything in the top 20, but you may want to go even farther down.

thetheisens

Here's a good link from name nerds that combines all the alternate spellings of a name and then ranks them. Boys- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aul5rjpfI_qvdE9RQVdWTEpsM2NoS3FhMGUzRnlZSEE#gid=0

 Girls-https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aul5rjpfI_qvdEtjUXVaRmJRMjVWaG9kdU1sTWFOZ0E#gid=0

Informative and entertaining to see all the terrible spellings.

Scarlett&Gatsby

Like PP said, searching by state is a good indicator, and looking at number of births vs. number of births by a name from your birth year is pretty telling, too. People are using a wider range of names than they were in the 80's, so even the highest ranked names aren't nearly as common as the most popular names of our generation. That said, be sure to check out the link above that collapses spellings. This is especially telling for boy's' names, when the top names change completely to Aidan and Jackson. Another thing to consider is trends. Nicknames like Addie and Ellie are really popular for girls, so while your daughter might be the only Adele in her class, she could easily be one of a couple Addies. Names that rhyme with Aidan are mega popular for boys. Even if your son is the only Brayden, he could very well have an Aidan, Jayden, Caden, and Zaiden in his class, too. At the end of the day, you can garuantee nothing. DD2's name was given to like 130 babies in the entire country, all spellings combined in her birth year. But my friend who works at a nearby daycare has a baby Tallulah. It's a bigger coincidence than if my daughter's name was Ava, but still---she could be Tallulah R. if we end up staying in this area and those kids go to the same school. Find a name you love and do a little research. You're sur to find something that has a popularity level you're comfortable with.

BC&LM

Mrs.G123 said:

You can search ssa data by state. GL.

What she said. And also, as a teacher I have sometimes had two or three kids with a less common name in a year, and only one with a common name. So rankings are no guarantee. Just choose a name you love.

allardr

Oh I also agree with Scarlett&Gatsby that think nn. I love the name Madeline but to me Madison is top 10 and so that would group her with all those "Maddys" and I dont' like that thought.

Also agree with popularity in our day is different from today there are just sooooo many different names now, wider variety.

It's all a balance, you got to love the name but also be comfortable with the name&popularity from all angles.

BC&LM

allardr said:

I agree check state. I was shocked how different my names ranked in my state vs. nationally. 

It's hard too to look at 2012 and say oh but I dont know any "Isabellas" because they're all infants of course you dont know them. 

Look up your birth year and those top 10. Then see how many of those you knew in classes growing up. That'll give you a better understanding of how popular those top 10 are.

This is not entirely true. The popular names of the 80s were much more popular than the popular names of today, if that makes sense.

For instance, in the state I grew up in, there were 1,605 girls named Jennifer born the same year as me; that was the number one name in the state that year. In comparison, there were only 641 girls named Sophia born in the state last year, and that was the number one name for the state last year. The population has not decreased since my birth year; if anything, it has grown.

So even if you name your kid a top 20 name, they have less of a chance of being one of three in their class than they did back in the 80s.

marsiay

You will surely find perfect baby name here https://www.babynology.com

tiffanyohio1228

I would def try your state listings... and I get what you're saying - I was one of 5 Tiffany's in my graduating class and we had 7 Brittanys!