Sticking with "popular" names

brandyavick

Husband and I both didnt want to use over popular names..BUT..I have fallen in love with Ella Harper (Harper is a family name) and I always like Ella..I have had this name picked out for awhile.. Its not popular where we live.. but I know its really popular every where else and now I ve seen a lot of Harper... But I love it. And We picked out Samuel Sawyer for a boy (Samuel is a family name for DH side his first name is Samuel but goes by middle) Again.. Sawyer is starting to become popular.. And my husband is in love with Sawyer.. Its grown on me also..And we don't know anyone around where we live that has these names.

 So even though some would disagree and say they are too popular(like many people on other sites have).. We are sticking with them! lol We love them and that's what matters when choosing your name.. And I hope no one else lets that effect the way you see the names you pick out or second guess them!! You'll know when you picked the right name!

krissyh21

If you like them that is all that matters. Popularity turns me off in a name, but that is me and my naming style. The bonus with popular names is you know the majority of people will like them.

As for Sawyer being popular, I don't think this name will ever rise above 100 name status.  Sawyer gained popularity in 2005 with the premier of the hit TV show Lost, but it only climbed from being in the 450-500 spots to 200's in the years the show aired. It was a slow climb too, nothing overly dramatic. Now that the show is off the air, it will slowly decline in the next couple years. That said, however, it is trendy, and there is a big difference between trendy and popular.

aec22

Brandyavick, you're post is so refreshing. I feel the same way. I have love, LOVED Jackson for 6+ years and now it is popular all of a sudden. So I was thinking about not using it. But then I thought "who cares if it is popular, me and DH love it and that's all that matters". I think we are sticking with it. Who knows, maybe we will have a girl first and then by the time we have a boy maybe it won't be so popular anymore. haha.

Speaking of having a girl, Grace has been my favorite name since I was a little girl (it has family significance). But now, Grace seems to be getting popular, too. But, we're sticking with it.

Me and DH seem to like traditional/classic names that will probaly never truly be unpopular, so I guess we are going to just have to get used to the idea that our kid will have another kid in her/his class or team with the same name.

MelodyKate

Atta girl! We will probably go with Ava Katherine because they are both family names and I have loved Ava since before we met! It may be popular, but DH's grandma Ava is a wonderful person and it is a beautiful name, so we will most likely go with it anyway!

kayjay10

I agree - this is very refreshing.  We are using the same girl name!  I just love Harper, but didn't want it for a first name.  There are several Ella's in my area, but Harper isn't popular here at all.  I love your boy name also!

LoveMyGirlz

I do think if you love the name then go for it. It's hard enough to come up with a name that both parents like, so if you find one go for it. I have an Emma, and I LOVE it. I could care less that it's popular/common/whatever. However, I also really like Isabelle but for some reason the popularity is effecting me this time around and I don't want to use it. I probably just don't like it as much as Emma. Anyway, congrats on choosing the names and I really like both of them.

DarrenAndMelissa

We'll be right there with you! The great thing about the more popular names is that there is less of a chance that their name will be mispronounced in class, and according to some sources they may have a better chance of getting a job in the future. I don't think you're doing your baby girl a disservice by naming her Ella AT ALL. I love the name...

tct1219

popularity makes me not want to use a name but sometimes i wish i could just name all of my kids elizabeth, margaret, william, etc. i kept going back and forth before my daughter was born and i couldn't do it but i think if the popularity doesn't bother you, then go for it.

ella and sawyer are cute and i like that you're using family names as well.

CTri17

good for you, I love Ella and Samuel!

CatfishAnn

"Popular" is a pretty relative term, too.  According to the SS website, Ella is #14 for girls, but fewer than 0.5% of girls born in 2009 have that name-- that's fewer than one in every 200 girls! 

happilyever888

I am so jealous your husband loves Sawyer! It's my fav and husband won't have it.

JillaBreeze

Good for you!  I like your names!  You never know what will turn out to be popular later too.  My Emma Grace is 12 years old and it wasn't popular at all in 1999.  Emily was though.  My Caroline Noelle is 7 and Caroline has gotten more popular since then too.  We're naming our son Carson, despite the flood of 'son' names out there. 

apc1929

So nice to read this.. coming from a Mom of a Jackson!  Have always loved his name and although was a bit disappointed to see its popularity shoot up the last few years I don't regret it at all.  Its just important you guys love the name.

Ella Harper is a beautiful mix of classic, elegant and a little modern!

Quiksilver620

I also love Ella (see siggy) and it's not at all popular with anyone I know. Everyone around me seems to love the name