Would You Use a Top 5 Popular Baby Name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as it’s not a weird made up “name” - whatever you both pick will be ok!

Well, maybe not Hortense or Prunella.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to this page and select DC from the state list. It’s still not perfect, but you’ll get a much more accurate list for this area:

https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/namesbystate.cgi

NP- I just put in each of my children’s birth years and these lists are so funny for kids in their classes. In some cases we know a million of the popular names (Vivian/Vivienne etc) but I don’t know any child with some other popular names (Luna). So it will definitely be hit or miss.

[Anonymous]

There are so many more names used that even top five names probably will only have one other kid in the class with the name. I live in a diverse area and there are three Daniels and two Srirams in my kid's class. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids has the most popular name in our state for his birth year (the #1 name) yet he was never in a class or on a team with anyone with the same name.

This really isn’t an issue anymore given how diverse our communities are and how creative many people have gotten when it comes to names.

Name your kid whatever you like…as long as it isn’t a ridiculous name ;0)

[Anonymous]

In both my family and the in-laws we have many repeated names (Sr, Jr, IIIs). If you yell two or three names at a family event, you can have four or five people turn your way.
I didn’t look at the SSN name list but all kids have top 20 names. Thankfully they have names that easily lend to multiple nicknames.
The child with the least popular name had the most DC in their grade. Our school has many traditional Christian names- I think there were 7 girls with Katherine/ Catherine/ Kathryn - but with Kate, Katie, Kate T, Cate M, KZ and C Cate it all worked out. No one was scarred.
Use the name you love.

[Anonymous]

Like the OP, I like having a distinctive name myself, so I wouldn't choose a super-popular name. That said, DH and I tried to choose "sweet spot" names -- not too popular and not too unusual for our kids. When our youngest started in college, they chose to go by their middle name, which is more unusual than their first name.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Use your favorite name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. My name was SO popular in 80s/90s and there were always at least 4 of us in every class with the same name which was very annoying.

Same. And I know all the arguments about it not being the same now, but I had such a horrible experience with my own name that I searched far and wide for names nowhere near the top of any lists, unlikely to have a rise (I researched all of this) but also known names that were nice/not too out there.

OP can do what she wants, but I personally would NOT use a name that high on popularity lists.

Hi Kristin, Christine, Christina, Kirstin, and Chris

[Anonymous]

I’m an Erin (genx) and there was one other Erin in my grade.

Now I work with three Erin’s on my team. We are always getting included in the other “Erin”s emails/messages/requests. It’s so crazy and I can’t imagine how the Laura’s/Jennifers/Heathers/Isabellas/Sofias go through

So it’s not just elementary school, but also work scene where there can be many of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is actually a hyperlocal decision.
Of the top 10 baby names from my kindergartener's birth year we have one Isabella, one Sophia, and that's it in his class. None of the top 10 boy's names. However we have two Maeves and two Cecilias (and I know of two more Cecilias in the school) and a bunch of multiples of less common but classic boys' names (what I call Thomas the Train names.) I have actually never even met a Liam.

Please tell me there's a Percy!

We were just ahead of the curve on that one, and we love the name we chose - DC does, also! We receive many compliments - because of DCs age, it is obvious that the name was ahead of the curve (same as other PPs).

[Anonymous]

Check out these alternatives to the most common baby names.

Here’s a great name list of “try this instead of ___”: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKrh76h9Ot/?igshid=Y2NkYjk0MDhjYg==

[Anonymous]

I have a daughter whose name was not even in the top 300 the year she was born and there are two other girls with the same unpopular name in her friend group. Go with what you like

[Anonymous]

Of course. Who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My toddler is James. I knew it was popular (apparently #5 his birth year) but I really like the name and I consider it classic, so am fine that there will be lots of them. I also have a popular/classic name and usually had another kid or so in my grade with my name (but not always). Didn’t care about it at the time. Just choose a name you like.

I have a 17-year-old James and he has never had another in his class/grade! Smaller class sizes in private but still!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m an Erin (genx) and there was one other Erin in my grade.

Now I work with three Erin’s on my team. We are always getting included in the other “Erin”s emails/messages/requests. It’s so crazy and I can’t imagine how the Laura’s/Jennifers/Heathers/Isabellas/Sofias go through

So it’s not just elementary school, but also work scene where there can be many of you.

Oh, hey, I am also an Erin! Millennial. There were 2 other Erins in my middle and high school growing up, but I don't encounter many Erins as an adult now, only Aarons.