Popular or Unique for a baby name?

[mjkacmom]

I like names that are old fashioned, yet unique to this generation...like Abigail(Abby) and other "old" names.

I think you can do unique names that are mainstream as well. For example, my kids names are Landon and Jade. No really common(although Landon is coming around), but not unheard of either. Do whatever YOU think is right for your family though!

I can assure you that Abigail is not unique to this generation. Dd7 has 3 close friends who are Abigail or Abby. Old names such as Olivia, Ava, Isabella, Sofia and Emily are a dime a dozen.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I can assure you that Abigail is not unique to this generation. Dd7 has 3 close friends who are Abigail or Abby. Old names such as Olivia, Ava, Isabella, Sofia and Emily are a dime a dozen.

Yeah...IDK...my kids arn't school aged yet. They seem old fashiond to me and I don't know anyone with those names...LOL

 

[Robinrs]

My former neighbors daughter's name is UNIQUE... yep that's her NAME!

 

[nmmom95]

When I first read the title of this thread, I actually thought you were going to name your baby Unique or Popular. You never know anymore, the name thread that was out a while ago had some real doozies!
I have a Nicholas & a Michael, so I am not that original, but we have a long last name with too many consonants, so I wanted a traditional first name. Also, they are going to be adults someday and I just couldn't stick them with a name that wouldn't grow with them. Would you rather have a doctor named Nick or Rodeo?
I agree with pp's who said stick with traditional spellings for whatever you choose. FWIW, I wouldn't care if the name was popular if I liked it.

 

[ZachnElli]

I prefer older traditional names to trendy names also. We named our oldest Zach and had no idea how popular it was. We didn't check out popular names, it just goes with our last name perfectly. So when we had our 2nd, my DD, I wanted something a little more unique, so I do get wanting to be unique. Zach was in preschool at the time and out of 10 kids (boys and girls) 3 were named Zach! LOL! My DD's name is Elliana, it is actually a very old Biblical name and we shorten it to Ellie. So I got both, old and unique and we all love it! It does get mangled when we go to the doctor's office, but when they do that, I always say, you can call her Ellie.

 

[mrsklamc]

I agree with 'Pick what you want but spell it correctly.' I recently saw a 'Deztinay'- That poor child has to put that on a job application someday, because her parents thought they were being 'cute.'

 

[NY Disney fan]

Old names such as Olivia, Ava, Isabella, Sofia and Emily are a dime a dozen.

I had a "dime a dozen" name growing up and it was hard because there were other girls in my class with the same name. I didn't like it. I gave my daughter an unpopular but beautiful name. Its not unique...just unpopular.

 

[Mermaid02]

This entire post is JMO..

Keep in mind, this name will be a reflection on your kiddo, not you. I think so many parents who choose the "off the wall" or worse yet, spelled wrong, names are selfishly thinking this will make the parent look clever or cute. Forget that little Sigmund or Nevaeh (I'm sorry,. but I think this is the silliest name out there today -JMO) will have to walk around with that name for the rest of his life, it makes the parent look "cool".


This is JMO.


Also, don't spell a common name phonetically or just plain wrong. When I see this, I don't think...oh how clever, or wow, that makes this child stand out. I think, "pitiful parent can't spell or even bother to look up the correct spelling for their child's birth certificate."

This is all entirely MY opinion, so please don't take it personally.

I love a classic name for a girl, like Grace or Isabella.

again..JMO.

There are LOTS of Neveah's around here- and I agree, it's a silly name.

I like names that are old fashioned, yet unique to this generation...like Abigail(Abby) and other "old" names.

I think you can do unique names that are mainstream as well. For example, my kids names are Landon and Jade. No really common(although Landon is coming around), but not unheard of either. Do whatever YOU think is right for your family though!

How about Madeline or Abigail...Abby/Maddy Grace? CUTE!!!!!

Lot's of Abby, Grace, Maddy, Isabelle, Sophia, here too.

I have a unique name- I have NEVER met another adult Loreli (Lorelei) but when I worked at a pediatrician's office there were a couple of baby's. I like my name, but nobody can pronounce it or spell it.

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

So what names are you considering.....if you wanna share

When I first read the title of the thread I thought she was asking about naming her kid Popular or Unique. I've heard of kids named Unique, but Popular would have been a new one!

 

[DVCisME]

I have a friend and her name was a little of both. Mary Ellen, she always used both names as her first name. I'm sure whatever you chose will be the right one!! Congrats on your pregnancy!!

 

[bethbuchall]

I like names that are old fashioned, yet unique to this generation...like Abigail(Abby) and other "old" names.

I think you can do unique names that are mainstream as well. For example, my kids names are Landon and Jade. No really common(although Landon is coming around), but not unheard of either. Do whatever YOU think is right for your family though!

I'm a preschool teacher, and Abigail is actually pretty common in that age group.

 

[Minnesota!]

I am struggling with this too. I have a mommy instinct that my current pregnancy is a girl and our top two contenders for names are Lily Grace or Sophia Grace which both go well with DS's name - Gabriel. However, I think both Lily and Sophia are pretty popular these days and I don't want to use a very popular name. I love that DS's name is strong and classic, but not super common. Anyone have any ideas for me?

While I like the names you chose, I will tell you - both are very over used these days...sadly.

Other names that fit that style but aren't as common:

Lydia
Ivy
Lucy
Chloe
Amelia
Layla
Cecelia
Anna
Violet
Leah
Cora
Noelle
Josie

 

[Jennasis]

Very soon the classlist in every kindergarten is going to read like a character list from Lord of the Rings. Let's not go too crazy with the uniqueness.

 

[peyjax]

So what names are you considering.....if you wanna share

OP here:
That is funny you asked because one of them is close to your name. I am still trying to become thick skinned to people's negative thoughts. But I will share anyways.

My favorite is -Sabriyah Belle with the nickname of Brea. (pronounced
sah-brea-ah) Not sure on the spelling though
The second is Surina Rose with the nickname Suri (although I am not a fan of people connecting that with Tom Cruise)
We have a common last name that is one syllable.
We are adopting and she is due in a few weeks. Unlike most people we have not had months to think about this. It was the same with our boys but that was easier as I had a boy name picked since I was like 11. For some reason when you adopt you are always afraid the birth family is going to hate it. I know its our choice but still.

 

[Mkaz]

My mom's name is Glenda. I think it's beautiful, and it suits her. I have never heard of another person with her name. Except for the good witch of course.

 

[freckles and boo]

Children like finding pencils and keychains with their names. They like knowing people can pronounce their names. Having a "unique" name may be something an adult values, but kids generally want to fit in. As someone else said, the child has to live with the name long after he or she is out of your house. It has to go on a resume and on job applications. Naming a kid isn't something to be done recklessly.

My girls are Margaret (Meg) and Shannon. They are names we love and while not uncommon, they are far less popular than others in our area. The only other Margaret at Meg's school is a teacher, who is also known as Meg. There used to be another Shannon but I think she was older. That isn't really what is important. What mattered to us is that they are real names with legitimate spellings and they suit our children very well.

 

[connorlevismom]

OP here:
That is funny you asked because one of them is close to your name. I am still trying to become thick skinned to people's negative thoughts. But I will share anyways.

My favorite is -Sabriyah Belle with the nickname of Brea. (pronounced
sah-brea-ah) Not sure on the spelling though
The second is Surina Rose with the nickname Suri (although I am not a fan of people connecting that with Tom Cruise)
We have a common last name that is one syllable.
We are adopting and she is due in a few weeks. Unlike most people we have not had months to think about this. It was the same with our boys but that was easier as I had a boy name picked since I was like 11. For some reason when you adopt you are always afraid the birth family is going to hate it. I know its our choice but still.

I like Surina better because it is easier to pronounce. But like you, I would be afraid to call her Suri because of the Tom Cruise thing. But it is a pretty name.

Kristine

 

[Kathi OD]

My former neighbors daughter's name is UNIQUE... yep that's her NAME!

I have a Unique in my class this year. Guess her name isn't all that Unique!

My daughter's name is Kelly. Not so uncommon now, but when she was born, you can't believe all the grief we got over giving our child someone's LAST name. Who'd have guessed that there were lots of other parents our age out there thinking that Kelly was a good first name for a girl?

Much depends on where you live and the age of your child. Katherine isn't all that common now, but gosh, when I was younger there were 6 or 7 of us in my elementary school classroom (not the entire school, just my class).

Just pick something you like, be it popular or unique. You'll be calling DD this name for many years to come.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

While I like the names you chose, I will tell you - both are very over used these days...sadly.

Other names that fit that style but aren't as common:

Lydia
Ivy
Lucy
Chloe
Amelia
Layla
Cecelia
Anna
Violet
Leah
Cora
Noelle
Josie

Ugh, that is what I am afraid of. I love the names Chloe, Amelia, and Cecelia and all 3 are on my list too. Unfortunately DH vetoed Amelia already because he works with a woman named Amelia and doesn't think highly of her. As a side note my DH is ultra picky about names and is way more involved than I ever thought he would be in the naming process. I always thought he'd just let me pick. Not so much....

 

[wdwgal]

When I had my DDs, I wanted "uncommonly common" names. As a previous poster stated, names that weren't super popular or names that would make you think or say "Huh?", but names that you have heard of and would not have to spell for someone everytime. I have a Natalie and an Elizabeth and I have not met another child with these names in 20 years. And yes, they have been called "Nat" and "Liz" but I think that is OK. They don't seem to mind either.

wdwgal