Popular or Unique for a baby name?

[4greatboys]

I just went with names that I liked. My 2 oldest are more traditional, Michael and Matthew. Though when I named them they were in the top 10 of popular names they never really went to school with that many other kids with those names. A few but not a lot.

My 2 youngest have more contemporary names, Evan and Connor. When Evan was born (he will be 10 on Sunday) I never heard any other Evan's. Now in his school there are several. OTOH I knew Connor was more popular but I still loved the name. There are a few other Connor's in his school but not a lot.

Just go with whatever name you love. There will always be someone else with the name.

 

[connorlevismom]

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

We call our Natalie "Nat" too. She is only 5 months old though so she cannot tell me if she hates it or not.

Kristine

 

[Eeyores#1Fan]

I like different names or unpopular common names (ones that you don't hear as often). DH and I have unique names although mine has become more common since I was a kid just spelled differently. My DDs all have different names too and my oldest has yet have a teacher or coach say her name right. She use to get mad but now she likes correcting people. She likes standing out. I do think people are starting to go a little crazy with the weird spellings though. My only have two suggestions to people these days:

1-Don't name your kids after cars or places or objects (my DD9 is in school with a Rain, Seven and Alexus...lol).

2- Make sure their initials don't spell something crazy. I went to a school who's initials were a cuss word...hehehehe

And yes, I can testify...if it's unique get ready to personalize stuff when your DD wants a pencil or pillow with her name on it.

Good luck. I'm sure whatever you chose you will love and so will she. Congrats btw.

 

[shirleyb]

I like Surina Rose, but I would spell it Sarina or even Serena, and then you don't have that Suri Cruise thing going on.

 

[connorlevismom]

I like different names or unpopular common names (ones that you don't hear as often). DH and I have unique names although mine has become more common since I was a kid just spelled differently. My DDs all have different names too and my oldest has yet have a teacher or coach say her name right. She use to get mad but now she likes correcting people. She likes standing out. I do think people are starting to go a little crazy with the weird spellings though. My only have two suggestions to people these days:

1-Don't name your kids after cars or places or objects (my DD9 is in school with a Rain, Seven and Alexus...lol).

2- Make sure their initials don't spell something crazy. I went to a school who's initials were a cuss word...hehehehe

And yes, I can testify...if it's unique get ready to personalize stuff when your DD wants a pencil or pillow with her name on it.

Good luck. I'm sure whatever you chose you will love and so will she. Congrats btw.

my sister is a principal in an inner-city school and she see's some doozies. The best she had told me though....cashmoney. That's right, Cash Money!

Kristine

 

[MarilIncredible]

My name is Marilyn, and while it is not terribly common, it is not a weird-o name no one has heard of and can't pronounce. My parents were also considering Lillian.

My sister has a name that was so uncommon when we were growing up, but now it seems like it is a somewhat popular (thought frequently spelled very differently) gen-X name. At least a name heard every so often in movies or on TV.

My husband's name is William. He is the sixth male in the family line with the same name. If we have a boy, it will be William. I have no choice in that matter.

 

[bas71873]

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

poor kid!

 

[bas71873]

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.

My DD's dance teacher is Glenda

 

[bas71873]

My husband's name is William. He is the sixth male in the family line with the same name. If we have a boy, it will be William. I have no choice in that matter.

Really? NO choice at all. I flat out told my DH that there is no way in you know where that if we had a boy it would be a III. DH is obviously a jr. and so is my brother and BOTH dad's (my dad and DIL) have said it's the biggest mistake ever. For YEARS, unbeknownst to my in-laws, my DH was actually on the deed to my in-law's house just due a typo. It was a PITA to get that changed. My brother had all kinds of issues with the govt. and getting security cleanrance when he joined the military just because the govt. workers, would leave the jr. off, or type in sr. when that was incorrect. Just human error things, but it caused issues.

To each his own though, I get it, but no way I'd do it. Hence my stopping at one kid

 

[kimmar067]

My DD's dance teacher is Glenda

.....is she a GOOD witch or a BAD witch??

 

[cheermom1]

My experience with a common but rarely used name (for my age group) I hated it...it is boring and no thought at all! plus I get called other things b/c people think she didn't just say that? so Brenda it is to them...My name is Linda and I hardly ever get called that

anyway when i named my kids I really thought them out and also wouldn't let anyone give them nicknames...my son has a common name that has a common nickname and refused to let anyone call him that and he likes it better that way. Also the nickname is way more common to use than his name and we haven't ran into too many kids with his name...

another thing is that both my kids have never had another kid in their class with their name either. but both are classic and have defiantly been heard of...

 

[Handbag Lady]

Allow me to suggest my name: Dawn


Simple, everyone can spell it and say it and very few have it.

Also, my friends listed below love their names for the same reason:

Jill
Bryn
Deborah
Clara

 

[Mkaz]

My DD's dance teacher is Glenda

Well, now I know of another Glenda.

 

[nancys]

"I think it depends on your last name. If you have a common last name, go with a unique first name" (Sorry I haven't figured out how to do quotes)

I had a teacher whose maiden name was Smith, so her family named her a unique first name: Euphemia.

She grew up, married, and became Euphemia Hieronymus.

 

[SC Minnie]

When I was pregnant I wanted to name the child a classic name. Not a trendy or popular name. I imagined her as an adult with the name. I chose Catherine Grace. Everyone calls her Catherine. I think it's a beautiful classic name.

 

[Robinrs]

My DD's dance teacher is Glenda

I went to school with several Glendas. I think it was more popular in the 50s.

 

[NotUrsula]

My DD's dance teacher is Glenda

.....is she a GOOD witch or a BAD witch??

Well, you know, technically the character in the Wizard of Oz was Glinda.

I went to school with a set of identical triplets named Brenda, Glenda and Linda. There were actually three Glendas in my HS graduating class of 185 people, in 1980.

As to the OP, I'd say unique is fine if you stick with the standard spelling of it. So-called creative spellings don't make the kid look special so much as they make the parents look stupid.

PS: If you are not East Asian I would not go with Surina; use the more conventional Serena instead. Americans are going to pronounce it exactly the same way in any case.

 

[bas71873]

.....is she a GOOD witch or a BAD witch??

She's GREAT. She's a ton of fun!!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I prefer classic but not popular, if that makes sense. Ones where people aren't looking at you oddly when you say the name, but they also aren't comign up & telling you that's their kid's name, too. (DS's name was #81 on the SSA list, and, yes, we get the, Oh, you have one, too, fairly frequently. DD's name was #735 on the SSA list in 2000 and hasn't made a reappearance since. But, no one thinks it's a wild & crazy name, either.)

That's exactly what I was going to say!

 

[Robinrs]

I went to school with several Glendas. I think it was more popular in the 50s.

I went to school with a set of identical triplets named Brenda, Glenda and Linda. There were actually three Glendas in my HS graduating class of 185 people, in 1980.

I graduated in 1973, I guess it lost popularity a bit after that generation.