Elizabeth, Catherine, Frances, Mary; are they underused now?

[Anonymous]

I love classic names, but it seems like everyone else does too right now. I was wondering for those of you with kiddos, are these names common in your circle? I feel like they were very popular in my generation (maybe not Frances; Mary was because I went to Catholic school), so people might find them "overdone", but not out of style like Jessica or Ashley. What do you gals think?

Right now our top favorites are:
Frances, Mary, Elise, Julia, Clara, Caroline

But also considering Elizabeth and Catherine.

[Anonymous]

I think they are all beautiful names and you couldn’t go wrong with any of them. But if your goal is to guarantee that your daughter will be the only one in her social circle with the name, none of those will get you there. I have a 2 and 4 year old in NOVA and I know at least one child in my kids’ social circles with each of those names. Caroline is probably the most used one out of those.

[Anonymous]

Mary, Julia, Frances, and Clara are the least overdone on your list. Francis for boys seems to be making a comeback (I know a couple of little Frankies with that name) if that affects your decision.

Mary is overdue for a resurgence IMO. If we have another girl it'll be on my list.

[Anonymous]

Clara and Caroline are very trendy. I know so many Carolines. And 4 Claras. All under 10.

[Anonymous]

I have a 3 year old Catherine and have not encountered another one yet at our very large daycare center. It was something like #200 on the popularity list when we chose it.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest Evelyn for a classic name. And I would personally use Evelyn but Evie is a great nickname.

[Anonymous]

Frances, Clara (more Claire), Caroline are POPULAR. Catherine is semi-popular.

Jessica, Elizabeth, and Ashley are not popular among preschool-elementary age kids but many of their moms are named Jessica.

[Anonymous]

Frances is not common. The highest its been in the last couple decades is 2017 when only 715 were born.

Julia is actually also not that popular surprisingly. It peaked in the early 2000s but has been declining and will likely leave the top 100 soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest Evelyn for a classic name. And I would personally use Evelyn but Evie is a great nickname.

Do you ever leave your cubicle, Marty Joyce?

It's the 10th most popular name. It's way overused, the opposite of what she's looking for

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they are all beautiful names and you couldn’t go wrong with any of them. But if your goal is to guarantee that your daughter will be the only one in her social circle with the name, none of those will get you there. I have a 2 and 4 year old in NOVA and I know at least one child in my kids’ social circles with each of those names. Caroline is probably the most used one out of those.

OP here, not my goal. I grew up in the Ashley, Megan, Katie, Maddie, Jessica generation, so I'd prefer if it wasn't popular to the degree of those names. I have a commonish name, but I don't know a lot of people with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 year old Catherine and have not encountered another one yet at our very large daycare center. It was something like #200 on the popularity list when we chose it.

I, too, have a 3yo Catherine! Despite that, I would agree that it doesn't seem to be very popular. I have not yet come across another Catherine in our circle (or among my older DC's classmates and friends).

[Anonymous]

I have a 3 year old, who has two Elizabeths (one Libby, one Betsy) in her class of 18 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they are all beautiful names and you couldn’t go wrong with any of them. But if your goal is to guarantee that your daughter will be the only one in her social circle with the name, none of those will get you there. I have a 2 and 4 year old in NOVA and I know at least one child in my kids’ social circles with each of those names. Caroline is probably the most used one out of those.

OP here, not my goal. I grew up in the Ashley, Megan, Katie, Maddie, Jessica generation, so I'd prefer if it wasn't popular to the degree of those names. I have a commonish name, but I don't know a lot of people with it.

DP. OP from your list Frances is the clear winner of that competition. It is nowhere near the top 100 and hasn't been in the last 50 years but is clearly recognizable as a name.

[Anonymous]

In Washington, D.C.:

#3 Elizabeth
#30 Caroline
#35 Clara
#40 Julia
#49 Catherine
#54 Mary
#60 Frances

not in top 100: Elise

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love classic names, but it seems like everyone else does too right now. I was wondering for those of you with kiddos, are these names common in your circle? I feel like they were very popular in my generation (maybe not Frances; Mary was because I went to Catholic school), so people might find them "overdone", but not out of style like Jessica or Ashley. What do you gals think?

Right now our top favorites are:
Frances, Mary, Elise, Julia, Clara, Caroline

But also considering Elizabeth and Catherine.

I know a lot of Julia, Clara, Elise.