DH and I have only 1 name we've agreed on so far for DS 2 (due in Sept): Nathan. It's not set in stone yet, but we wanted something that was easy to pronounce and recognize, but not super common. I didn't know any kids named Nathan... Until about a week ago. Now they're popping up everywhere! I heard it on tv, saw 2 at the peds clinic where I work, a Facebook friend just named their newborn, and a lady from church is planning to name their baby (due in January) Nathan. It's making me flip out. I don't want our baby to have the same name as 10 other kids in his class. Am I being irrational, or has there been a sudden upsurge in the name? How many Nathans do you PERSONALLY know?
Poll: How many Nathans do you personally know? 130 votes
Fwiw anytime we have picked a name for the next month or so I would always hear it. My kids have names that tank above 1000, above 500 and then just below 100. In reality IRL everyday we don't know anyone with their names.
Hey, I named my son Nathan. Good choice. I personally only know 2 Nathans other than my son. I'll bet the name seems to be popping up more now just because you have the name "Nathan" on the mind. I don't really think the name is "trending" at the moment, though.
I'm sure it's the same as when you choose a new car and suddenly see that model all over the place. I only know 2, both in the late 20s-early 30s age range. Stick with it!
As you see, Nathan and Nathaniel are actually trending down. You as an individual feel like you're hearing it everywhere is known as the Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon.
I only know 3 or 4 and I've taught elem school for 10 years. Any time you pick a name you will suddenly start seeing it everywhere. Just how it goes. :-/
I clicked 3-4 but they are all adults over 30 years old. And most of them are Nathaniel. I actually love the name and only reason I couldn't use it was because 2 of those 4 that I know were ex's hahahah.
Have you ever heard of Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon? It's when you get, or hear about, or see something and then it keeps popping up after that. It happens to me when I get a new car. Suddenly I see that car everywhere! It's just a greater awareness of it that makes it seem that way though.
Me: 29, DH: 32
Married: July 22, 2008 Fur babies: Phoenix and Yeti (both cats).
TTC#1 since: May 2015 September 2016- Infertility Testing dx: Low Progesterone, Vitamin D Deficiency, Borderline PCOS Treatment: October 2016-January 2017- Metformin, Clomid/Letrozole, hcg trigger, progesterone IUI- 2/17/2017 BFP 3/2/2017!
I know one baby named Nathan, but he was named after his dad. I only know 2 adults named Nathan. And just because a name looks popular based on numbers doesn't mean it's going to be popular in your area; some names are very regional. If you love it, I say go for it. It's a good, solid name.
Nathan is my brothers name and he is in his early 20's. He was named after a friend who is in his 40's. I have been a teacher for 10 years and have only had one student named Nathan. If our last baby had been a boy we were going to use it in the mn spot. I like it and don't see it trending right now.
Thanks for all the reassurances! I think we're going to go for it. It won't be Nathaniel, just simply Nathan, because our last name is an ethnic 4-syllable mouthful. I don't want him to take an hour to tell everyone his name! ;-)
The only Nathans I know are older kids or adults. I had the exact same thing happen when we chose a name (ranked in the 400s) and I heard it popping up all over. Your brain is probably really attuned to the word right now. I'd consider Nathan a well known but not a common name.
Re: Poll: How many Nathans do you personally know?
Nathan is great!
Low progesterone
Baby boy born 01/2016
Currently: NTNP
As you see, Nathan and Nathaniel are actually trending down. You as an individual feel like you're hearing it everywhere is known as the Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon.
Married: July 2015
BFP: 5/20/16 | EDD: 1/28/17 | Twin boys born 1/16/17
My furchildren, Dorothy and Johnny
Have you ever heard of Baader-Meinhoff phenomenon? It's when you get, or hear about, or see something and then it keeps popping up after that. It happens to me when I get a new car. Suddenly I see that car everywhere! It's just a greater awareness of it that makes it seem that way though.
Fur babies: Phoenix and Yeti (both cats).
September 2016- Infertility Testing
dx: Low Progesterone, Vitamin D Deficiency, Borderline PCOS
Treatment:
October 2016-January 2017- Metformin, Clomid/Letrozole, hcg trigger, progesterone
IUI- 2/17/2017 BFP 3/2/2017!
Right after my oldest was born there was a law & order marathon where every criminal had my son's name.
2010: Infertility
October 2015: missed miscarriage #2 at 11 weeks (trisomy 22)