Cannot pick between these two names for daughter

[Anonymous]

you could always name her charlotte sophie and see what sticks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sophie is overused.

They BOTH are

Who cares?? I know like a hundred Carolines and still think it’s a lovely name. Better than Braxleigh just so you can be ✨unique✨

You clearly don’t have a highly popular name in your era. Trust me - it sucks. It’s not just about being one Charlotte out of three in daycare. You’re in high school, college, the work force and eventually the old age home with at least four other Caroline’s. When I was first married there were three other Katie’s in my office so they started calling me by my married last name which I didn’t answer to because it was new. My MIL is a Susan and when anyone my age forgets her name she says, “it’s probably the same as your mother in law or mother. My dad’s three brothers were all married to Susan’s (one divorced the bad Aunt Sue).

It matters.

My kids have traditional names - just not on trend ones.

OP, please rethink both Sophie and Charlotte.

This just doesn't happen anymore, not to that degree. The most popular names now are nowhere near as popular as the most popular names back in the 70s and 80s. There is no equivalent to Susan or Jennifer or Emily for this era. There are no juggernaut names. Not even Olivia. If you pick a top 20 name, it's likely your kid will run into other kids with the same name, but it will never be like it was back when you were in high school and had to go by Jennifer #4 or whatever. I know a lot of Gen X and Millennial women are scarred from having a really popular name, but there is way more diversity in names now and it's just not anything close to the same situation.

Some people want to give their kids less common names, which is fine. Many people don't mind a more common name. Neither approach is right or wrong. Remember that your kids names are only less common because of all the Charlottes and Sophies in the world. There will always be more popular names (and they are usually more popular for a reason -- OP is giving her child a name that lots of people have positive associations with). It matters waaaaaaaay less than you think.

NP here. There are 3 Sophia’s in my DD’s class of 14 girls. Are they simply going to disappear once they all hit the workforce?

Fashion and trend is the only reason for trendy names. Sophia not more inherently beautiful than Susan. Susan simply isn’t in fashion.

[Anonymous]

I'll just toss in a vote for Sophie.

[Anonymous]

Oh man, I was kind of hoping for 2 really terrible names, because the comments on those kinds of threads are always fun. But you really can't go wrong either way. I know a ton of Charlotte's but only one Sophie, although my kids are teens so trends may have shifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have daughters ages 13 and 8 and I opened this post thinking it would be fun to see what today’s expecting parents are thinking about re names. I used to love thinking about names, etc but obviously my day is past, so, I will live through you all vicariously!

So, yeah, I was a little surprised to see two names that I hear alllllll theeeeee tiiiiiime in both my girls’ age groups. Well, on the positive side: everyone will know how to pronounce and spell your daughter’s name, no matter which one you pick! And your daughter will never have to correct anyone or feel like she is the one with the “weird” name! Cheering for your daughter on the soccer field, “Go Charlotte!” Or “Go Sophie!” — they may be one of many Charlottes/Sophies or, maybe not, by that time, if most Charlottes/Sophies are older?

It’s so weird but my kids are 8 and 5 and neither of them has ever had a Charlotte or a Sophie in their classes, teams, or extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have daughters ages 13 and 8 and I opened this post thinking it would be fun to see what today’s expecting parents are thinking about re names. I used to love thinking about names, etc but obviously my day is past, so, I will live through you all vicariously!

So, yeah, I was a little surprised to see two names that I hear alllllll theeeeee tiiiiiime in both my girls’ age groups. Well, on the positive side: everyone will know how to pronounce and spell your daughter’s name, no matter which one you pick! And your daughter will never have to correct anyone or feel like she is the one with the “weird” name! Cheering for your daughter on the soccer field, “Go Charlotte!” Or “Go Sophie!” — they may be one of many Charlottes/Sophies or, maybe not, by that time, if most Charlottes/Sophies are older?

It’s so weird but my kids are 8 and 5 and neither of them has ever had a Charlotte or a Sophie in their classes, teams, or extracurriculars.

Another 5 year old here, and same. Randomly we’ve had 3 Hazels and 2 Josephines though. I actually think there’s a certain counter programming at play, where a lot of people are determined not to give their kid a top 20 name, but then gravitate towards similar names. It just goes to show how hard it is to game the system unless you choose a reeeeeeeally unpopular name, but that carries its own risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have daughters ages 13 and 8 and I opened this post thinking it would be fun to see what today’s expecting parents are thinking about re names. I used to love thinking about names, etc but obviously my day is past, so, I will live through you all vicariously!

So, yeah, I was a little surprised to see two names that I hear alllllll theeeeee tiiiiiime in both my girls’ age groups. Well, on the positive side: everyone will know how to pronounce and spell your daughter’s name, no matter which one you pick! And your daughter will never have to correct anyone or feel like she is the one with the “weird” name! Cheering for your daughter on the soccer field, “Go Charlotte!” Or “Go Sophie!” — they may be one of many Charlottes/Sophies or, maybe not, by that time, if most Charlottes/Sophies are older?

It’s so weird but my kids are 8 and 5 and neither of them has ever had a Charlotte or a Sophie in their classes, teams, or extracurriculars.

Another 5 year old here, and same. Randomly we’ve had 3 Hazels and 2 Josephines though. I actually think there’s a certain counter programming at play, where a lot of people are determined not to give their kid a top 20 name, but then gravitate towards similar names. It just goes to show how hard it is to game the system unless you choose a reeeeeeeally unpopular name, but that carries its own risks.

Yep. We once had a small class with only 6 or 7 kids and there were 2 Vivians…it was tense lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sophie is overused.

They BOTH are

Who cares?? I know like a hundred Carolines and still think it’s a lovely name. Better than Braxleigh just so you can be ✨unique✨

You clearly don’t have a highly popular name in your era. Trust me - it sucks. It’s not just about being one Charlotte out of three in daycare. You’re in high school, college, the work force and eventually the old age home with at least four other Caroline’s. When I was first married there were three other Katie’s in my office so they started calling me by my married last name which I didn’t answer to because it was new. My MIL is a Susan and when anyone my age forgets her name she says, “it’s probably the same as your mother in law or mother. My dad’s three brothers were all married to Susan’s (one divorced the bad Aunt Sue).

It matters.

My kids have traditional names - just not on trend ones.

OP, please rethink both Sophie and Charlotte.

This just doesn't happen anymore, not to that degree. The most popular names now are nowhere near as popular as the most popular names back in the 70s and 80s. There is no equivalent to Susan or Jennifer or Emily for this era. There are no juggernaut names. Not even Olivia. If you pick a top 20 name, it's likely your kid will run into other kids with the same name, but it will never be like it was back when you were in high school and had to go by Jennifer #4 or whatever. I know a lot of Gen X and Millennial women are scarred from having a really popular name, but there is way more diversity in names now and it's just not anything close to the same situation.

Some people want to give their kids less common names, which is fine. Many people don't mind a more common name. Neither approach is right or wrong. Remember that your kids names are only less common because of all the Charlottes and Sophies in the world. There will always be more popular names (and they are usually more popular for a reason -- OP is giving her child a name that lots of people have positive associations with). It matters waaaaaaaay less than you think.

NP here. There are 3 Sophia’s in my DD’s class of 14 girls. Are they simply going to disappear once they all hit the workforce?

Fashion and trend is the only reason for trendy names. Sophia not more inherently beautiful than Susan. Susan simply isn’t in fashion.

I mean, most people don’t care about having a more common name once they hit the workforce. This is literally only a real issue for kids. I have a common name and went by a nickname in HS to differentiate me (and hated it). But I haven’t thought about the commonness of my name in years. I sometimes run into people who share my name, and we just kind laugh about it and move on.

I did seek to give my DD a less popular name to avoid the issues I had, but I’m realizing it doesn’t matter as much these days. It’s a different environment and there are sooooo many more names in circulation. I think your Sophia problem is a weird microcosm (like a run on that name in your area) not a reflection of most people’s experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See what she looks like and how it feels holding her saying both names.

Can't go wrong either way.

Congrats!!!!!

I wanted to caution against doing this. I was in a similar situation and decided to wait to see her to decide. Since both your names are a similar style (mine were also) she likely wont look more like one than the other. And you have a lot of hormones on board after birth and you are very sleep deprived. Plus the clock its ticking to fill out the birth certificate before you leave. I found it really hard to make sure a monumental decision under these conditions. I will never do that again.

I vote Charlotte. It seems more substantial, less cutesy. More professional for when she is older. Will age better with her across her lifespan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See what she looks like and how it feels holding her saying both names.

Can't go wrong either way.

Congrats!!!!!

I wanted to caution against doing this. I was in a similar situation and decided to wait to see her to decide. Since both your names are a similar style (mine were also) she likely wont look more like one than the other. And you have a lot of hormones on board after birth and you are very sleep deprived. Plus the clock its ticking to fill out the birth certificate before you leave. I found it really hard to make sure a monumental decision under these conditions. I will never do that again.

I vote Charlotte. It seems more substantial, less cutesy. More professional for when she is older. Will age better with her across her lifespan.

My name is Sophie and I have two masters degrees. The idea that someone is hindered by a "cute" name is sexist bs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sophie is overused.

So is charlotte.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sophie is overused.

So is charlotte.

Why don't people say this about boys names? Everyone I Greg up with was named Matt or Ryan. Who cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sophie is overused.

So is charlotte.

Why don't people say this about boys names? Everyone I Greg up with was named Matt or Ryan. Who cares.

I care. The Ryan-explosion was ridiculous about 20 years ago especially in my Jewish school.

Personally, I do an internal eye roll when someone tells me their child’s name and it’s ridiculously popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sophie is overused.

So is charlotte.

Why don't people say this about boys names? Everyone I Greg up with was named Matt or Ryan. Who cares.

I care. The Ryan-explosion was ridiculous about 20 years ago especially in my Jewish school.

Personally, I do an internal eye roll when someone tells me their child’s name and it’s ridiculously popular.

You need to take a hard look at why you care so much about what other people name their kids. Seriously, what a nasty way to go though life. Find some inner happiness and you might not be such a negative hag.

[Anonymous]

OP - you are not down to the wire. Wait till she's born. Decide then. She may "look" like one name or the other.