Interesting re: baby name popularity

Nicole731 · August 2009

I've read on hear how our girl name (Harper) is sooo popular and overused, which has made me second guess the name at times. It's ranked #297 on the SSA website. I decided to look up my own name for my year of birth. It was ranked #6 that year. I have only met like 3 people with my name in my whole life, which I think is kind of odd if the name was so popular. I'm thinking I will take my chances.

NewYear2004 · August 2009

With so many people coming us with you-neek names these days, I wouldn't worry about popularity.

KatiesCats · August 2009

My name (Katherine) is 34 from 1983 and I had a physics class senior year of high school in which I was one of FIVE Katies. I don't want a youneek or trendy name, but something a little less common would've been nice. Harper is pretty trendy for now and has been growing in popularity.

starsmaycollide · August 2009

I would check out your state's list if you're curious-it's funny how some are more popular in certain areas than nationally.

That being said, some names are repeated here on the bump, and that makes them seem more overused/popular. Another good example is Charlotte. I have seen it a lot on the boards, but it is #87 nationally and it is not even in the top 100 in my state.

sunnyday016 · August 2009

For the year I was born, my name was #1 (Jennifer). My sister's name (Stephanie) was up there for her year too. I've known TONS of Jens throughout my life!

meganet22 · August 2009

I say if you really like a name use it. I was way too concerned about popularity when I was naming dd and it really doesn't matter to me now that she's here. Her name is popular and some say it's overused (Michaela) but it has meaning to me. In the grand scheme of things does it really matter if you know four or five other people with your name?

ubermoose · August 2009

If you look at the percentages on the SSA list, it will give you the percent of boys or girls born that year that were given that particular name. In 2008, Jacob and Emma, which topped the list, each were only at roughly 1%.

Now, it varies from community to community, and it's not perfect math, but lets say you tally up all your kid's different classmates, teammates, bandmates, etc. from K-12. Let's say the number is about 400. Your kid will have interacted with roughly 4 Jacobs. That's really not so bad!

RE Harper: I think it's distinctive name that many people have heard of, so when people see an instance where it is used, they remember it, and anecdotally, it seems popular. And it is rising in popularity: It has jumped by AT LEAST 100 spots each year since 2004. Why so much momentum now? Who knows. I think it's gotten popular partially as a go-to surname name that isn't as common as Payton, Madison, Taylor. Also, if you look at the generation of people who are having (and thus naming) babies in the 2000's... many went to high school and jr high in the 90's and encountered To Kill A Mockingbird. True, the book was written much earlier, but I would venture to guess it's read more now, and until a few years ago, surnames for girls weren't as common. You combine the trend with the very noble association, and it picks up, one baby at a time.

EastCoastBride · August 2009

I don't know any other Harpers.

I did the same thing- looked up my name (sarah). From 70 (when I was born) to '78 it started about #74 and moved up. By '78 it was in the top 10 until 2002, and it's still been in the top 20 since.

I've known a few other Sarah's, but not SO MANY that I feel it was ever overly popular.

PunkyBooster · August 2009

I only know 1 kid named Harper, actually. She's around 6 y/o.

getnmarried910 · August 2009

I think overall some names are very popular, but it may vary by region when you break it down.

kate930 · August 2009

This is interesting b/c I was just discussing w/ my husband how odd it is that the names I picked out as a kid are now all top names. These popular names must be coming from some common generational element. The only thing I can think of for Aidan, is Legends of the Fall must have had a much bigger impact than I realized at the time!

As a side note, last names as first names are very common in the South. In fact, its a bit of a tradition to name your oldest daughter your maiden name.

shabang21 · August 2009

It's not so much that it's popular and overused, it's just that it gained much usage in such a short period of time. Which leads people to think it will be the next big popular name.

I like it! It will probably get more popular, but I don't think it will be the next Hannah or anything like that.

wheelenl · August 2009

Harper is trendy, not popular.

Why? It wasn't even in the top 1000 nationally until 2004. Since then, it has jumped more than 140 spots each year.

While it's still only 297 nationally, so it's not that popular, it's seeing the kind of meteoric rise that makes a name "trendy." Lots of people confuse the two. Elizabeth is a very popular name, but it's not trendy. Harper, going from obscurity to #297 in 4 years, that's trendy.

(I like the name; I'm just sayin'.)

FutureMrs.Steen · August 2009

It's really trendy. That's my biggest issue with the name.

hereandthere119 · August 2009

Surnames are really trendy right now, as first names. If the names have staying power, they'll become classics. If they don't, our grandkids will be laughing about the weird names their parents have....

At least Harper is already classic! It think it will hold up well over time.

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