US popularity vs State popularity

2-Step

When looking at names do you consider the US popularity or State popularity to be more important? I was wondering because one name we like is not super popular in the US, but is in the 20's in our state and I do know a few kids with the name.

The other name is the complete opposite, in the 20s and climbing in the US, but in the 50s in our state and I know no one with the name right now.

We are just totally stuck on these two and looking for reasoning on why we should pick one or the other! PS- I'm posting here because DH thinks I'm crazy for overanalyzing this so much!

PhilsWife07

State. But overall popularity matters less to me than a) how much I love the name and b) whether or not I have people in my life with that name. We named DS2 Andrew which is pretty darned popular, but we love the name and there are no Andrews in our family and close circle.

Mrkyrain

I would look at both but probably U.S more.  Most likely, at some time in his or her life, your child will leave the state that you live in.  That's how I look at it anyway.  However, it sounds like both names are popular so I would just go with your gut.  Good luck.

slukd79

Overall matters more to me. We have lived in St. Louis, Denver, DC and we will be in Chicago in a few weeks. So based on our current moving-- I can't focus on one state at a time.

Plus when my daughter goes to college, she will hopefully go somewhere more diverse and meet others from many other states. When she is in a larger pool like that, it will matter more what the overall popularity of a name is, not where she grew up.

plunderb

I look at both, but the state popularity matters more to me personally.

For example, I would never name a child Wyatt, but then again, neither would most of my wealthy, highly-educated, liberal Massachusetts neighbors (it's not a top 100 name here). If I lived in Wyoming, though, it's the #3 name for boys, and that would be worth knowing.

mlf625

US.  We've moved states too much to concentrate on state popularity.  If we planned to live here forever and ever (we may, but who knows?) then I'd probably more seriously consider state.

sugarpumpkin716

i was sticking to state (mine and the one we might move to) and then recently started to consider overall popularity. luckily it didn't make too much of a difference for me!

alohamora

I consider both.  We probably won't be living in many other states, but my child might.

tusshie2004

I don't pay attention to U.S. or State popularity when it comes to picking names. If I like a name, I go with it. I usually try to pick names that I know are not too popular where I live though. Grew up with a lot of Brittany's and Nicole's. I don't want my son or future LO's to have duplicate names in their classes.