Popular or Unique for a baby name?

[natcat117]

My sister's name is Judith, but she's called Judy for short. We have never met another 24 year-old with that name. I think it hit its peak in the 50's. I'm glad so many people like the name Natalie. I have met a few others but it's not really that popular in my age group.

My favorite girl names are Amelia, Evelyn, Cecilia and Aurora.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Some not too common but classic names I like are

Anna (or Anne or Annette)
Claire
Natalie
Susan


There are probably more that would make the list, but these are the ones I though of first.

 

[TheZue]

We went with uncommon but classic names. Adam and David, Adam was 35th in Canada the year he was born, and David has slid all the way down to I think 50th. I like that they will not have to spell their name for everyone and can find monogramed fun kids stuff, but there won't be like 15 of them in their grad class. The funny thing is I was pushing for Rowan for Adam and thought it would be unique, there is a Rowan in his class but no other Adam's in his grade. And with David we never see kids named Dave around, in fact we get "It's so funny seeing a little guy named Dave" alot lol. We actually went with David because we couldn't think of anyone named David we didn't like, but we know tons of funny cool Daves...ours is living up to his name so far

My name is really uncommon for my age group: Susan. I'm 33 and almost never meet other Susans my age which I love. There are TONS my parents age, so I think not many went with it. I bet if you went with Jennifer not many would have it at all, in fact I can't think of the last time I saw a child named Jennifer.

 

[Laura]

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....

We had a boy's name picked out long before I got pregnant: Duncan. So of course I had a girl. Naming our DD was tough! DH wasn't much help. He would give me names like Tika. Uh, no. He did eventually suggest Lydia. I suspect that he liked the name the whole time and was just throwing in the weird names so I would settle. Although, I do really like DD's name. Short, simple, sounds like a girl. Not terribly popular these days but not unheard of either. I'll give another suggestion, my name: Laura It was VERY popular in the '70s when I was born, but it's not nearly as popular now. I've always liked it, too.

DH threw out Sabrina because he knew someone named that in high school and she was a tramp. I threw out Colleen because I had a classmate in elementary school with that name and she was a bossy know-it-all.

 

[TheZue]

We had a boy's name picked out long before I got pregnant: Duncan. So of course I had a girl. Naming our DD was tough! DH wasn't much help. He would give me names like Tika. Uh, no. He did eventually suggest Lydia. I suspect that he liked the name the whole time and was just throwing in the weird names so I would settle. Although, I do really like DD's name. Short, simple, sounds like a girl. Not terribly popular these days but not unheard of either. I'll give another suggestion, my name: Laura It was VERY popular in the '70s when I was born, but it's not nearly as popular now. I've always liked it, too.

DH threw out Sabrina because he knew someone named that in high school and she was a tramp. I threw out Colleen because I had a classmate in elementary school with that name and she was a bossy know-it-all.

That really is the hardest part. Most of the names I liked were vetoed by my husband because he knew somebody that was a jerk with that name. It gets harder the older you get, chances are you'll meet somebody who could ruin a name for one of you.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I'm all for having a unique name. Although it's getting more popular, my name (Kirsten) is pretty unique. I have no qualms correcting people that butcher it. I always liked having a name that was different. All the baby names I love are fairly unique, as well. I have no problem w/ having a different name.

The one thing I hate is when people think they're being clever and just change up the spelling of a common name -- i.e. Jaxson instead of Jackson, Aron/Aaryn instead of Aaron. I just think it's ridiculous. If you want to be unique, think of a more original name.

 

[peyjax]

We had a boy's name picked out long before I got pregnant: Duncan. So of course I had a girl. Naming our DD was tough! DH wasn't much help. He would give me names like Tika. Uh, no. He did eventually suggest Lydia. I suspect that he liked the name the whole time and was just throwing in the weird names so I would settle. Although, I do really like DD's name. Short, simple, sounds like a girl. Not terribly popular these days but not unheard of either. I'll give another suggestion, my name: Laura It was VERY popular in the '70s when I was born, but it's not nearly as popular now. I've always liked it, too.

DH threw out Sabrina because he knew someone named that in high school and she was a tramp. I threw out Colleen because I had a classmate in elementary school with that name and she was a bossy know-it-all.

Oh that happens with us all the time. I wanted the name Georgia but no way that was happening as that was his bus driver who was very large and mean.

That is the thing we don't want a name that is not just common for kids but for adults as well. The truth is we all connect names with people we know or have met and it is not always good. It almost feels like you say ok nope that identity is taken by your second cousin or friend from work so that will not work. I love the name Lyla not that common yet but check the hospital pics and we saw like 20 in the last 2 months. Like the name Samantha but that identity is taken by my cousin. Maggie is one of his choices but well lets just say I don't envision a cute teen or adult with that name. I know 2 of them. HMM!! What to do??

 

[peyjax]

I'm all for having a unique name.

The one thing I hate is when people think they're being clever and just change up the spelling of a common name -- i.e. Jaxson instead of Jackson, Aron/Aaryn instead of Aaron. I just think it's ridiculous. If you want to be unique, think of a more original name.

A little harsh no?? Did you ever think that someone spelled it that way so they would not be nicknamed the name you did not want. Jaxson spelled Jackson will no doubt one day be shortened to Jack or they prefer the nickname Jax instead of Jack. Some food for thought.

 

[hulagirl87]

We have chosen a unique name for our soon to be daughter. Not because it is unique, but because we both loved it. We do get mixed reactions on it, but more positive than anything else. We usually get "oh, that's so pretty!" I like that we have chosen something that not a lot of others have.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

A little harsh no?? Did you ever think that someone spelled it that way so they would not be nicknamed the name you did not want. Jaxson spelled Jackson will no doubt one day be shortened to Jack or they prefer the nickname Jax instead of Jack. Some food for thought.

You have a point w/ the Jax nickname. Maybe that was a poor example on my part. Regardless, I still think it's funny when people think they're being unique when it's the same popular name just spelled differently. I'm not a fan, and yes...I find it ridiculous.

 

[TheZue]

You have a point w/ the Jax nickname. Maybe that was a poor example on my part. Regardless, I still think it's funny when people think they're being unique when it's the same popular name just spelled differently. I'm not a fan, and yes...I find it ridiculous.

I have the same feelings as you. I know people can name their kids whatever they want, but I just think they are making it harder on their kids spelling it oddly. Our local baker always asks us if there is a random "Y" anywhere in our kids name or if it's the classic spelling when we order birthday cakes, cracks me up every time.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I have the same feelings as you. I know people can name their kids whatever they want, but I just think they are making it harder on their kids spelling it oddly. Our local baker always asks us if there is a random "Y" anywhere in our kids name or if it's the classic spelling when we order birthday cakes, cracks me up every time.

HA! That's hilarious.

 

[AKL_Megs]

If I had a daughter and a son today, they would be Ava Isabel and Ian Hunter. Those names are probably more POPULAR than unique, but I love them.

 

[lynn89]

I named my dd Cassandra Rose. It is not to popular where we live. I wanted to name her Arianna but my husband did not like the name.

 

[Ephany]

When we were discussing names for DD, we first tossed out all the names of people we were closely related to and the names of people we didn't like. Then we went to the social security website and threw out the top baby names. My name was very, very popular in the 70's and I didn't want DD to be identified with her last initial like I was all through school. Her name is classic, has many different nicknames and although we used an alternate spelling, it's still readable and pronounceable. I think it's really interesting how baby names change in popularity, even between regions and over time. Here's the social security website if anyone's interested.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/

 

[georgina]

I think some here are too harsh when saying some names are spelled "wrong". For example, there is St Bridget of Sweden, and St Brigid of Ireland. No, my name is not spelled wrong, my Irish-born mother chose the Irish saint! I don't mind spelling it for people, but the comments about unique spellings being wrong bug me. There are so many ways people spell Caitlin and Allison, who can say what is right?

 

[freckles and boo]

I think some here are too harsh when saying some names are spelled "wrong". For example, there is St Bridget of Sweden, and St Brigid of Ireland. No, my name is not spelled wrong, my Irish-born mother chose the Irish saint! I don't mind spelling it for people, but the comments about unique spellings being wrong bug me. There are so many ways people spell Caitlin and Allison, who can say what is right?

There are many alternative spellings, but David is NOT spelled DaVyd. And Desiree is NOT spelled Dezzeray. Alexis is not spelled A Lexus.

 

[TheZue]

I think some here are too harsh when saying some names are spelled "wrong". For example, there is St Bridget of Sweden, and St Brigid of Ireland. No, my name is not spelled wrong, my Irish-born mother chose the Irish saint! I don't mind spelling it for people, but the comments about unique spellings being wrong bug me. There are so many ways people spell Caitlin and Allison, who can say what is right?

I don't mind regional variations but when I see kids that have way way strange spellings so they are unique, and yes parents do this and talk about inventing them on baby boards, I just think they will be making it really hard. As adults nobody they meet as friends will really notice the spelling, they'll just think they have a perfectly normal name. But when they go to fill out forms or have to deal with call centres it just makes everything that much more annoying.

 

[connorlevismom]

There are many alternative spellings, but David is NOT spelled DaVyd. And Desiree is NOT spelled Dezzeray. Alexis is not spelled A Lexus.

I agree!

My niece is having a baby in a couple of week and she is naming her Aylivia (supposed to read like Oliva.). First of all, nobody is going to know how to spell that and second, nobody is going to pronounce it Olivia. It starts with an A!

Kristine

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

There are many alternative spellings, but David is NOT spelled DaVyd. And Desiree is NOT spelled Dezzeray. Alexis is not spelled A Lexus.

Yep! That's exactly my issue. I realize that other names are going to be pronounced differently depending on where you're from in the world. That I get. It's just the funky spelling of a common American name that completely turns me off.