How bad is it to have a popular name?

lmcissne · April 2015

So I'm 19 weeks today and we found out that we are having a little girl! Which I am really excited. But I am completely stumped on what to name her. About 6 or 7 years ago I had this vivid dream that my husband and I had a little girl and we're giving her a bath a my grandma's house when I looked at him and realized that we hadn't named her yet. She was maybe 2 or 3 months old and I looked at her and the name Olivia is what came out of my mouth before I even had time to think about it. So for the last 7 some odd years I have always wanted to name my little girl Olivia. AND THEN I GOT PREGNANT... and I realized that me and 20000 other women all have the same idea. So for 19 weeks I have tried to come up with another name. Nothing is good enough anymore. And then my mother asked me what if I have the little girl from my dream and I didn't name her Olivia just because it's so popular. Would I regret it? How horrible is to have a popular name?

Mufflerlove · April 2015

We are having this problem. Olivia is our #1 but they say it's number 1 here in Canada. I have never heard a little girl named Olivia yet and I've been listening whenever I take my DD to playgroups or activities. I'm on the fence.

I don't want to regret naming her something else when I know we don't like anything as much. Although it may not matter because we are team green.

Taekarate1978 · April 2015

I named my son, Gabriel, fourteen years ago. Turns out two other people in our tiny town had the same idea. The three boys are in the same class at school...lol...maybe a headache for teachers. The boys don't seem to mind sharing a name. Children tend to call them by nicknames and coaches call them by last names. I think Olivia is a beautiful name and I don't think you will regret your choice.

Sematti · April 2015

So we really didn't want to pick something popular but every time we came up with a name we liked we would check to see where it ranked and it was always high on the list! I tried really hard to pick something different but we just didn't like anything as much so we ended up choosing a popular name. We just changed our criteria to avoiding a name if we knew someone named it or if we knew someone who chose the same name for their kid. Actually when we went to look at daycares we were nosey and checked the names of the kids at the facility (they're all over the place...coat hooks, cubbies, art work, etc.) and didn't see any with the name we liked so that helped too. We don't know anyone the name we chose so we're sticking with it!

Also I have a very popular name. There were multiples in my class growing up. I remember it kind of being annoying but not really a big deal. When I got to college it didn't matter anymore. Now I love my name.

Hope that helps!

baker1jm2 · April 2015

Honestly it's just a matter of personal preference. If you're ok with the possibility of her being one of many Olivias in her class then go for it. I work with toddlers and preschoolers and so i run into the common names a 100x a day. My nieces are Emma and Olivia. Super cute names but I'm for less common.. but not off the wall names. My name is Janelle and i liked growing up with a name no one really had. We're going with Ainsley. Unique but not weird. Esp since we have a really generic last name!

str13 · April 2015

I read an article about this recently because my #1 name is also the country's #1 name!! Lol
It said that having a popular name isn't as bad as it used to be. When Mary was popular 1 out of 25 had the name, for names in the top 10 it's more like 1 out of 100 now. So that's not so bad, I don't think.
Even when we were kids and a name was popular there still may have only be 2-3 in our grade.

musicmomma00 · April 2015

We had a similar thing happen with DS. Hubby and I were dead set on Elijah (goes by Eli) and didn't look it up until a few weeks before he was born. #13 boy name for the year he was born. But we were stuck on it! It hasn't been a huge deal so far. Sometimes there is another Eli at the church nursery, and I'm sure he won't be the only one in his grade, but it's not the worst thing in the world. I say if you're stuck on Olivia, go with it! It's a beautiful name and you clearly love it!

FinalyFound · April 2015

DD is named Olivia, I also haven't meant any other Olivas regardless of how popular it supposedly is. My H has a really popular name and it never seems to bother him. Plus side of a popular name is that it's very unlikely anyone will butcher the pronunciation/spelling (as long as you spell it traditionally)

KissMeImScottish · April 2015

I've never understood the aversion to names that are "popular". Popular, by definition, means that that name will, eventually, decline in use. Even if that weren't the case, oftentimes, popular names are just that - popular - because they sound and look attractive. If you love the name Olivia (which, by the way, is a beautiful name), then name your daughter Olivia! This quest for individuality is baffling to me because that child is going to be unique no matter what their name is, and if you've found the one that speaks to you and your significant other, I think you'd be crazy not to go with it. Afterall, no one would give you a hard time for naming your child a "classic" name (Think Hannah, Sarah, Anna), but those names became classics simply because they were popular names that withstood the test of time.

In short, name your daughter the name that you love, not one that you think society is foisting on you.

J0C0TX · April 2015

DD1 has Ava #5 on the list. We picked it in spite of its popularity. We lived it. It went well with her middle name (after my gma) and we wanted an easy first name as our surname sucks. And funnily enough there's never been another Ava in her class... So far!
I love it as much today as 5.5 years ago. She is an Ava

els831 · April 2015

I'm definitely the exception to the rule, but I hated having a common name so much (top 5 for most of the 80s so very common amongst my peer group) that I legally changed my name to my middle name when I was 20.

tamstr · April 2015

I have thought about this also, but just like anything that might be popular today it could be no so common tomorrow. I have a not so common name (Tamara) and I love it....except no one can ever say it how it is supposed to be said and then they feel bad. I don't think a common or not so common name is really the deal breaker for us. We just wanted something that was meaningful to us. I say go for it! Sometimes people even change their mind when they hold their baby in their arms for the first time! If you love it and its meaningful for you then by all means go for it!

verveine407 · April 2015

I think Olivia is lovely. The Social Security site has the most recent year as 2013 and Olivia was #3. But even at that high popularity that equals only 18,256 girls born that are given that name. I say name pick that name you love!

lola2bee · April 2015

I think choosing a popular name is like buying a car. As soon as you drive off the lot you'll see 6 just like yours. As long as you're ok with that go for the name you love!!

WDDCH · April 2015

10 years ago when we were having our first baby we were going to name the baby Caiden if baby was a boy. I had dreams and even had personalized stuff with that name. Well we had a girl and it wasn't until 2011 we had our first boy. Caiden and Aiden and every other variation of them had come out of the woodworks so needless to say we named our son something else. I don't regret what I named him. The dream of the name Caiden was so long ago.

If you are stuck on the name then don't worry about it. I wouldn't say it's bad to have a popular name. Names gain and lose popularity over time. I have an Abigail and didn't even know the name was popular when we named her. It's the name we liked so that's what we chose. You could pick a not-so-popular name this year and next year it's Top 100.

tpete12 · April 2015

I work at a school and out of our 400 students, we only have 2 Olivia's. One in highschool and one in junior high

str13 · April 2015

WDDCH said:

If you are stuck on the name then don't worry about it. I wouldn't say it's bad to have a popular name. Names gain and lose popularity over time. I have an Abigail and didn't even know the name was popular when we named her. It's the name we liked so that's what we chose. You could pick a not-so-popular name this year and next year it's Top 100.

This too!! DD1s name was in the 900s when we picked it. Now it's jumped like 500 spots!! Lol
I already posted, but I was reading through I wanted to add that I didn't want any of mine to get to school and have to be "Clara P." Or whatever. That's the biggest thing stopping me....

I still love the name we've picked and think that we'll stick with it! Ultimately we'll be the ones writing and saying the names a bazillion times! Make it one you like!!

BabyHildebrandt · April 2015

I don't think it matters how popular the name is if it is what you like. I think you will regret it more than being upset if you decide on something else. I went through the same thing when naming my daughter Aubree. It is a male name but in the end I decided I liked it too much not to pick it and I think it sounds very feminine.

Sematti · April 2015

I agree with all these posts. I would hate for you to pick something just because it's unique rather than picking what you really love. Those lists are great for suggestions but I've been frustrated with them lately and kinda wishing they didn't exist! Lol

KYmama9286 · April 2015

I think Olivia is super cute and not as popular as it might seem. I'm around TONS of young kids between my 18 nieces and nephews and all their friends, working in church nursery, etc. I honestly can only think of like 1 or 2 Olivia's. If you like it, I would use it.

I also wanted to add my name is Lauren and growing up it was SUPER popular, I always had at least 2 other Laurens in my class and I played on a soccer team and there were 5 of us named Lauren haha it never bothered me, I actually kind of liked it because we got to come up with fun nicknames so everyone could tell the difference :-)

kate913 · April 2015

If it helps in 8 years of teaching Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades I have never had an Olivia in my class!

urfcerin · April 2015

I work in an elementary school of close to 600 and there might only be a few girls named Olivia. Cute name! You might regret not going with it if it's been something you've been thinking about for so many years. I say go for it!

meggipi5 · April 2015

If you love it, go for it. I'm a Megan and have always had tons of Megans around growing up. It was never really a big deal for me.

JenLovesDesign · April 2015

I had a very popular name growing up. The problems it caused were mostly that sometimes someone called someone else and you thought it was you. There were 5 Jennifer's in my class during school. There are usually more than one at work. You use your last initial a lot with your first name. There were good parts though, like that bond when you meet someone with the same name as you, or that most people know how to spell your name.

AndieTessie · April 2015

If you love the name I would go for it! I was set on the name Violet for years and if this baby is a girl, I plan on using it. I just found out it's in the top 100, which upset me a little, but I'm still doing it. You could pick the most uncommon name and in 5 years a celebrity will use it or Disney and it will blow up. How mad do you think the mom's are who named their daughters Elsa a few years ago are? Lol!

cjstats87 · April 2015

If you love it go with it...our DD1 is Makenna and she's born in jan...right after the McKenna American girl doll came out...the only part I absolutely hate is having to correct everyone's spelling now:-/

DS is Austin, and how I picked it was by asking an elementary gym teacher (travels between 3 schools in our district) which name was the least common on my list...only 1 austin in the 8 years she taught!

MrsT05 · April 2015

meggipi5 said:
If you love it, go for it. I'm a Megan and have always had tons of Megans around growing up. It was never really a big deal for me.

My name is also Megan & in my graduating class from HS, there were 5 other Megan's. I personally don't like having a super popular name. At one point my DH & his 2 brothers were all dating Megan's...that wasn't at all confusing! Lol. With naming my own kids I have tried to come up with names that haven't been so super popular, but that's just me. I would definitely go with what you like best, or you will most likely regret it!

seg6394 · April 2015

I love the name Olivia-- my little sister is named that. She is 11 and in the sixth grade. In her class, there are six Olivia's. So it's definitely common, but if you love it then you should go for it and not worry about it!

ETA: I'm a Sarah and always knew more than like 10 Sarah's. It never really bothered me and I still love my name

PerkinsFam3 · April 2015

I would totally go for it! Olivia is a beautiful name. We chose Noah & Liam years ago when they weren't popular, and now they're the #1 and #2 names! I have always loved Sofia, but having it be #1 was kind of a deterrent for us though. Going with Piper for our princess which is the #97 name currently, but I think it will gain in popularity. Not worried about it though!

sherbear82 · April 2015

A lot of my favourites from over the years have become popular. It's true that I didn't want my child to be one of many Aiden's in their class, but more importantly I got tired of my old favourites (Emma, Ariana) having heard them so much.

I would say if your'e not sick of the name, then use it!

LouLouLove · April 2015

I'm stuck on this too. Our top pick was Silas, then Justin Timberlake used it and it was already on the rise. It's an old name but I worry it will seem trendy. Our second choice is Miles, so we may end up going with that. Very on the fence.

My name is Emma and when I was young there were NO other Emmas. For a long time I actually hated it because I thought it was weird, then I loved it because it was different. Now there are lots of Emmas (though mostly a good deal younger than me). So, yeah, I guess my point is there are good things and bad things about a popular name, and it's hard to predict what will become popular.

Naming humans is hard.

shelbydd · April 2015

My husband and sister in law both have extremely common names. Matthew & Ashley. There's nothing wrong with common names, of course, but even into adulthood we have several friends in our circle that share their names. We've decided to try to avoid doing common names simply because of that experience. My husband says it gets old hearing his name and him and 3 other people turning to respond.

mamadeez · April 2015

My name is Michelle. There was at least two other Michelle's in most classes, over ten in my year, and dozens in my highschool. In university there would still be two or three of us per class/program. Now as an adult I work retail and every older man has an "I dated this girl named Michelle" story. I like my name. My dad sang the Beatles song to me on impulse when he saw me as a baby. Honestly though, I hated having such a common name and I really didn't want to name my kid something that's everywhere.

I am really liking a fairly common boys name right now though. And if a common name fits my baby that's what fits. Don't worry too much.

comeonlilsprinkle · April 2015

I have the #1 most popular name for the year I was born... for me personally it's annoying. I had a class in college where literally ONE THIRD of the class had the same name as me. I ended up going by my middle name in college for that reason, and much preferred it because my middle name is more unique and felt more special - I felt like I stood out more and that I was more memorable to others.

mrscate88 · April 2015

Lots of great opinions here. Our top choice was Emma, but it's just too popular for my taste, so we're changing it. I don't want my daughter to get mixed up with 5 other Emma's in school, just seems annoying to me personally. If you don't mind that popularity, pick whichever name you like most. It's not the end of the world if she shares the same name with some kids in her class, just not something that I personally want to deal with.

bouncypigeon · April 2015

I've been thinking about this lately too because all the boys names I like are pretty common. People are trying so hard to have unique names nowadays that even the most popular ones don't usually stay on top of the charts for that long. I decided not to care about it anymore and just pick a nice name no matter where it is on the charts.

ashleylauriee · April 2015

I had a popular name growing up but it never bothered me, I actually got excited if there was another kid named Ashley haha I thought it was cool. We're going with Madison Grace which I guess is common? I have a few friends that keep telling me to change it but my fiancé and I love it so they can suck it haha if you love the name then that's all that matters. Olivia is beautiful!

chelseajeanene · April 2015

I don't think there is an easy way around it. When my mother named me she had never met another Chelsea in her life, and then once I got to middle school I had 4 of us in one class, and s bunch more in my grade. I never thought naming a baby would be this stressful, it's not fun lol

jbettles · April 2015

It's also important to look at top names for your state - names are very regional! My sister has an Olivia, but she is the only Olivia at her school. I live and teach in a small town, and there is not a single Olivia in preschool or K-12. However, Jackson/Jaxon (our original boy pick) has slid down on the popularity list, yet it is extremely popular in our small town of 2000 - we personally know 6 Jackson/Jaxons under the age of 5 and there are two at the school. I couldn't handle that! Jacob and Tristyn have also been very popular in our town. If you live in a larger town or city, doubles/triples are inevitable, but just remember that the popularity list doesn't mean everyone and their dog will necessarily have your name

LouLouLove · April 2015

Does anyone know when the 2014 social security name list will be released? I was due with DS1 at the end of September 2013 and I remember the 2012 list coming out while I was pregnant.

Also, there was an interesting thread on the baby names board recently where someone asked everyone to name the 5 most recent babies they'd come in contact with to get a feel for what people are actually naming their babies. I was surprised that I didn't see some of the more popular names popping up as often as you would think.

lmcissne · April 2015

It comes out in May

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