Hunger Games & Twilight Problem: NN suggestions?

mork · May 2012

Hi ladies! We have a couple of names we like, but are facing a name popularity problem due to these movies. Let's start with the basis that we're not big fans of popular names because we don't want there to be 12 other kids in the same school with the same name. (My husband had this problem and hated it.) That noted, it's important for us to use family names, which, of course, is what brought us to this problem.

Boy: Jacob, my father's name. We hate Twilight with a passion. I know this a really popular name right now, partially due to the movie. If we do go with this name, does anyone have suggestions on a nickname that isn't related to the movie and/or isn't very popular? (We will not be using Jake, as we want a different nn than my father.)

Girl: Katarina, my mother's middle name. Hunger Games doesn't bother us as much, but we'd still like to stay away from the popular thing. I'm afraid Katniss is going to become a hugely popular name over the next few years, and I really wanted to use the nn Kat, but now I'm thinking too many girls will be Kats in the near future. Any other nn suggestions? (I've thought of rE-na and a-rE-na, but I'm not sold on either.)

Thanks for the help!

Aligator28 · May 2012

You don't have to worry about Jacob being popular solely based on Twilight. It's been the number one name for several years now.

For a girl name, how about Corinne or Corinna.

stahlop · May 2012

Jacob is a popular name, regardless of Twilight. It's been popular much longer than those books have been around. A nn you could use is Coby.

I really doubt Katniss will be come popular, it just isn't a pretty name. Primrose and Rue I can see, but not Katniss (especially since the author specifically states that it sounds like cat piss). I known many Kat's over the years. It can be a nn for Katherine, Katrina, Kathleen (pretty much anything that starts with Kat). Rina (Reena) or Rini (Reeni) could be good nn's instead.

MicahBaviere · May 2012

Can you use Jacob as a middle name and find a first name you both like that's not so popular? Or, if you must use it as a first name, just call your son by his middle name, whatever you choose that to be (or a nickname thereof).

Kat has always been a nickname - it's been around forever. I don't see the likeness between Katarina and Katniss, personally. Honestly, while I know a bunch of dippy teenagers who are in love with the name, I can't think of anyone I know who's of child-bearing age (and mentality) who has actually chosen this name for their child. While it's trendy on certain name sites, I don't think it will rise to the stardom of Jacob or Isabella. IMO, you're safe with Kat - and Katarina is a beautiful name; such a refreshing change from Katherine.

LouRN09 · May 2012

I agree with other posts that Jacob will always be popular. It's a classic, bibical name. You stated that you didnt want there to be alot of other boys named the same name in your son's class, and you might run into that with Jacob, whether it came from a Twilight reference or not.

And with Katniss, I dont see that becoming overly popular either. Katarina is a great name!

plunderb · May 2012

#1: Jacob has been in the top 10 since 1993, long before Twilight. If you don't want a Jake-related nn, I think your best bet is initials (JR, JT, etc.). That or Cobbie.

#2. There is virtually a 0% chance that Katniss will become "hugely popular" over the next few years. That's not how name trends work. Kat is a perfectly fine nickname and will be utterly unaffected by The Hunger Games. If you like Rina better, that's fine, but there's no reason to give up on Kat.

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · May 2012

Jacob has been popular for years and years, so don't worry about twilight. I would either call him by his full name, or you could probably get away with Jay or Jack.

As for Katarina, you could call her Trina (I had a cousin named Trina), or Ina (pronounced Eena), or Rina as well. I think Kat would be fine and wouldn't be associated with Katniss as her name isn't Katniss, it's Katarina and Kat is a common nickname.

krissyh21 · May 2012

What not use Jacob as a middle name. Problem solved.

There is no getting around Jacob's popularity. You can call him something else, but there is no guarantee he will prefer that nn when he can speak for himself.

zaramarie81 · May 2012

Jacob was popular long before Twilight (check out the SSA stats) and will continue to be popular for awhile, I suspect. It's a great name, though. I am blanking on nn's I like for Jacob other than Jake, but I suggest you keep looking if popularity is a concern because Jacob is about as popular as a name gets.

Katarina is definitely an underused name. I doubt The Hunger Games will have that much influence on names since most of the names are very odd. I would go for Katarina!

LottaLattes · May 2012

You can also use Kate or Katy for a nn, doesnt have to have the same A sound.

I always liked Jacob too, but it was top ten with both my older boys too.

AprilAngie · May 2012

Aligator28:
You don't have to worry about Jacob being popular solely based on Twilight. It's been the number one name for several years now.
For a girl name, how about Corinne or Corinna.

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Cynthia1207 · May 2012

Both are pretty popular and have been so for many years...

As for a NN for Katarina, how about Nina? It has a completely different sound and still holds with the name.

g8trkim · May 2012

Jacob has always been popular. I'm a teacher and we have a lot of Jacobs in our school. Personally, I wouldn't use it but it would be a great MN. I can't think of any reasonable NN for Jacob other than Jake.

I really wouldn't worry about Katniss becoming popular. I think Rue and Prim might pick up, but not Katniss. I think Katarina is very pretty and I love the NN Kat. I wouldn't worry about an abundance of Kats.

ObLaDi · May 2012

mork:

we're not big fans of popular names because we don't want there to be 12 other kids in the same school with the same name. (My husband had this problem and hated it.)

I'd say that this is reason enough to veto Jacob. It's the #1 boy's name in the country, and has been in the top 10 for many years. You can't get any MORE popular. If you want to honor your dad, though, I'd middle name it.

Katarina is lovely and I don't see Katniss booming in popularity at all.