Popular but love it. WWYD?

LastMango · September 2016

We are expecting baby #2 in January and DH and I are really not agreeing on many names. We are also Team Green so having to come up with two is proving impossible.

Anyway, DH loves the name Cameron for a boy. I actually really like it too but I'm hesitant due to it's popularity. I've never been a fan of super popular names but I'm considering giving in to this one. Just finding it hard to commit.

What would you do? Does popularity of a name bother you? Especially if you really love it?

Middle name will probably be Graham or Barrett no matter what first name we choose for a boy.

SnarkasaurusRex · September 2016

If you genuinely love it, I wouldn't let popularity sway you too much. Looking at the SSA info, it was ranked 56 last year, and was 0.331% of all live births (6,713 babies). To contrast, DS's name is in the top 10, with more than twice as many born as Cameron's last year, and I've yet to hear another kiddo with DS's name. Top 100 names are not as common as they once were.

FWIW, I haven't heard the name Cameron on a kid in ages. Maybe I'm missing something, but it's definitely not a name that strikes me as "super popular."

ETA that I love Graham, but not with Cameron. Cameron Barrett is a solid name.

thatcma · September 2016

I agree with PP I cannot recall the last time I ran into someone named Cameron, or someone who named a baby Cameron. I would go with it if you both love it.

FWIW I think Cameron Barrett works better

emilyalso · September 2016

I don't know if I have ever known a Cameron. I am also a member of several mom's groups, and haven't come across one. While it is recognizable (and certainly a good choice!), I wouldn't call it popular.

I LOVE Graham in the middle spot! It's one of my favorites!

bbiutmcph · September 2016

Cameron isn't that popular and it's also not trendy. It has a history of steady use. I see no reason to avoid it. Trendy names are the only ones I think would lead to possible use regret due to timestamps

LastMango · September 2016

Thanks for the input! I guess it just seems really popular in my area (NC) and I happen to know 4 Camerons ranging in age from 2-15.

PhillymommaX2 · September 2016

If you love it, use it! Popularity never bothered me. My daughters are Madison and Alexis. Fwiw, I only know one "kamryn" and she's a girl.

kmvisioli · September 2016

I also only know two Camerons, both girls and both in elementary school. I think it's recognizable but not super popular- a good choice! Agree with pp that Cameron Graham is a bit repetitive sounding, but I like Cameron Barrett.

klirwin82 · September 2016

I like Cameron. Sounds like there's a pocket of popularity where you are but elsewhere not so much. I know 2 Camerons, in their 30s, one male and one female.

hey&june · September 2016

Popularity doesn't bother me. I know there can be pockets of popularity, but, for example...

In my state, the number one boy name was used 700 times last year. If you divide that by counties in the state (assuming equal distribution), that's not even 4 per COUNTY. If you take those 700 kids with the same first name and divide it by the number of elementary schools in my state (over 1300), you end up with only one child per every 2 schools with the number one name. And that's just the number one boy name. The girl names are used with even lower frequency in my state. Try it with the numbers for your state and see, but it will probably make you feel better. Popularity just doesn't mean the same thing as it did in the 70s and 80s when the top name would be used thousands of time in the same year.

TheMcC3 · September 2016

Cameron is a well known name, but i wouldn't say it's overly popular. I work with kids under 5, and we don't have a single Cameron in the whole program. Conversely, I names my some something I'd NEVER heard of in real life, and we've now met a dozen in 3 years. Id you love it, go for it!

magsugar13 · September 2016

i dont liike cameron
i dont think its that popular just very trendy

LoveLee85 · September 2016

I know loads of male and female Cameron's!! Lol Ranging in age 10-30. No little ones. Good name choice. Always enjoyed it but I have one in my family so it can't be used.

devinsmommy31115 · September 2016

I like Cameron. I have taught a boy Cameron and a girl Kamryn.

nurse714 · September 2016

I really like Cameron. I know a boy Cameron who is 5 and a 15 year old girl. I don't think it's that popular, but if I really loved a name, popularity wouldn't bother me.

FreshBakedBrownies · September 2016

I don't think Cameron is overall a super popular name, but it's not unusual if that's what you prefer.
I know 2 Camerons, both boys, one a 4 year old in my son's preschool class last year and my cousin's 5 year old.

Sarah1253 · September 2016

I actually only know one Cameron and it's my doctor who is like 63. Otherwise I haven't met another. I like the name though.

CaboBride2015 · September 2016

I wonder if you're hearing it more in NC because of Cam (not sure what/if he has a longer first name) Newton? I can think of only 1 and he's probably near 50.

Graham is awkward with Cameron so I'd skip it and go with Barrett.

LastMango · September 2016

CaboBride2015 said:

I wonder if you're hearing it more in NC because of Cam (not sure what/if he has a longer first name) Newton? I can think of only 1 and he's probably near 50.

Graham is awkward with Cameron so I'd skip it and go with Barrett.

I'm sure that has something to do with it. We actually live IN Charlotte where the Panthers are so I feel like I may be in a pocket of Camerons. I told my husband I'm afraid it's only going to get more popular around here as long as Cam is our quarterback (and I hope he is!).

I guess that's my main question. Would this bother you or deter you from using a name knowing it was gaining popularity and will probably continue to do so. I do like the name.

bbiutmcph · September 2016

LastMango said:

CaboBride2015 said:

I wonder if you're hearing it more in NC because of Cam (not sure what/if he has a longer first name) Newton? I can think of only 1 and he's probably near 50.

Graham is awkward with Cameron so I'd skip it and go with Barrett.

I'm sure that has something to do with it. We actually live IN Charlotte where the Panthers are so I feel like I may be in a pocket of Camerons. I told my husband I'm afraid it's only going to get more popular around here as long as Cam is our quarterback (and I hope he is!).

I guess that's my main question. Would this bother you or deter you from using a name knowing it was gaining popularity and will probably continue to do so. I do like the name.

I wouldn't avoid a popular name if you love it/m especially one that's not that popular. I would only avoid a trendy name that will be time stamped. Something like Aria, Aubrey, Harper that is going to be like a Ashley, Jennifer type name. Cameron might be kinda popular and more so in your current area but it's not incredibly trendy and you can't guess someone age when you hear it.

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