Names and popularity.

[Gillyboos]

Prior to my bfp I had always liked the name Ava. I'm a big old school Hollywood film fan and it had always stuck with me. Upon getting pregnant I put it to my OH and he loved it. It is the only name we both really, really loved and agreed on.

We were set on Ava Elizabeth. After a little time and searching for a boy's name too, as we're team yellow, I noticed Ava was in the top 5. I was shocked tbh, here's me thinking I was being original ha! It had never occured to me as this is our first and I hadn't heard anyone using it my friend circles or announcements on FB.

It did put me off (not my OH) and I begin to look for other names. Possibilities are Effie Elizabeth or Ruby Elizabeth.

My question is (sorry for the ramble), am I being silly? If we love the name should we not just go for it?
I'm just aware of how many Amy and Sarah's there were in my year whereas I was the only Danielle.

Are other people put off by popularity?

 

[SunnySue]

Popularity wouldnt put me off if it was a name i really loved. There is always going to be someone somewhere with the same name? Ava elizabeth is a beautiful name by the way x

 

[Jayjay027]

I wouldnt (and didn't) let it put me off. I loved the name Sophia since I was a little girl and it wasnt very popular, then when I had dd it was in the top 5 most popular names. But I still loved it and so did dh so we went with it. I cant imagine her being called anything else x

 

[Gillyboos]

Thanks ladies, sometimes an unbiased opinion can make you see sense! I seemed to get all bothered by the popularity and lost sight of the fact we both loved it. I think settling on a name will be far worse than having another child in her clasd with the same name. X

 

[Pixel]

I would go for it. We thought about calling our baby Yvie, we had no idea it was so popular (Evie) but wanted to call her that as a tribute to my OH's late mum who we loved dearly (Yvonne)

We're opting for Eva, but not because it was less popular, just because we think it would be better as a grown up name

Hope that makes sense!

 

[redbear]

Popularity really puts me off, but I think that top 100 list isn't a good thing to go on, its more whats in your area ifykwim. I don't know an Ava but I was going to call my LO Ruby until I realised there are tonnes where I live, I spoke to one mum who had a DD called Ruby and she said there are five in her class. Put me right off, in the end we went with Temperance Rose -- no one can call that popular!

I also have Alice Olivia, she was my first and I wish I had gone to baby and toddler to see how popular Olivia is because I don't like it now! Love Alice though xx

 

[CARNAT22]

James is in the top 10, but I don't know another James (I've only heard two on here since I've been a member too)

It's a super popular middle name though, every other boy on here has James as a middle name.

We judged it not on popularity per se but on how many James' we know... which is none [not even in our families and OH is from a massive Irish family]

X

 

[ft90]

With me popularity was always a factor that put me off... My little boy is called Caleb, which is in the top 100, but not the top 50. Since I've had him I've only heard the name twice where I used to live, about a 6 year old, and then a boy a few months younger than mine. Where I live now people have never heard it before and definitely can't spell it!

It was always my first choice, but the other names on my list were more popular (Jacob, Noah, Isaac etc) and it did put me off that they were so well used. Two of the mums at my toddler group have boys called Jacob so as much as I love it, I'm glad I didn't use it. I came from a school class with three Sarahs, two Rachels, three Davids, and nobody in my whole town had my name which I liked!

However, saying that, the name Ava is so gorgeous (as was Ava Gardner!) and if you love it you should use it! I agree with what redbear said about popularity by area. Where I used to live, a good friend of mine called her daughter Ava, but she's the only Ava, and where I live now it's all Isabellas, not an Ava to be found. National statistics only give you so much!

 

[TaffyRose1]

I think if you love the name you should go for it. I agree with it's more a case of what's popular in your area rather than just what's popular. We have a Max Dylan and don't know any other Max's whereas we know loads of Georges, Jacks, Lucas and Finleys. I love the name Ava, but my best friends has stolen it xxx

 

[kinkers]

It does put me off slightly but like redbear said I think it's more to do with area. I said from the beginning I didn't want a name that was really common. My husband is really pushing for Oliver but I don't know if I like it enough. I googled baby names and Oliver was coming up in the top 5 consistently but I don't know any other little boys called Oliver in my area so I think it'll be staying on the list.

If you really like Ava and it's not as popular in your area then I'd say go for it. I really love Ruby and it seems to be getting a bit more common now.

 

[Ella1979]

I wouldn't be put off by popularity. Both times we've chosen names that we like (Eleanor and Daniel) and I don't even know where either of my two children's names come in the top 100 - lol! I think Ella or Ellie is probably higher up the list than Eleanor, but wanted my daughter to be able to choose a shortening of her name that she liked later on.

Also, Ava Elizabeth is a really beautiful name.

 

[GEH]

It's always so hard to find a unique name without it being too out there. I LOVE Ava but I do know four - two Ava Elizabeth's and two Ava Rose. They're all different ages though, from toddler to eight and live in same area, so agree there is definitely clusters in certain areas. If you don't know any in your area that's a good sign. Google Ava in birth announcements of local paper online...that was a tip someone gave me. I'm the same with Isla - always loved it but just too popular in recent years.

Ada is less popular and also super cute x

 

[rachaell]

It does put me off, but I wish it didn't. I was the same with Isla, really liked it and thought it was unusual and now it has made the top ten. So I have taken it off my list.

 

[Gillyboos]

I just Googled the birth announcements, 1 for 2010 and one for 2012 but spelt Eabha. So either we're not big on birth announcements here or it isn't as popular as I fear. X

 

[ft90]

If you don't know any in your area that's a good sign. Google Ava in birth announcements of local paper online...that was a tip someone gave me.

This is an amazing idea, I've never even heard of doing that! I just checked my local paper and there has only been 6 Calebs announced in the last 5 years, not bad!


Gillyboos that's good news for Ava, it's such a lovely name and goes really well with Elizabeth!

 

[Jojo84]

oh it doesnt put me off at all...

theres so many names that i hear that i hate and cringe that i think if you hear a nice name you want you should use it even if its popular.

The 4 names (2 for girls and 2 boys) that were thnking of are both popular but i dont mind because ilove them and theyre nice. i wouldnt go off a name cos it was popular. a lot of popular names are popular because theyre so lovely.

 

[Potternutter]

I know exactly what you mean, popularity puts me off too! Ava is very popular where I live- but it is a lovely name and if there's not many where you live go for it! My sister picked an uncommon name, but when she registered her at the Drs, the receptionist said "oh I've had 3 of them registered this week!" I think it's hard because other people might be looking for an unusual name too and coincidentally pick the same one!

 

[redbear]

I don't think its because there is anything wrong with the name, its the kids to the horrible mums whos kids stink of cig smoke and bully other kids, puts me right off. Oliver is very popular I had a cat called Oliver. I actually cringe at 'normal' names I love it when I haven't heard them in a while. My cousin is called Darcie and I love that x

 

[SarahLouB]

Well I'm a Sarah and I don't think it ever bothered me having a common name. The only thing that bothers me about my name is when people miss the h off! That drives me crazy! So I think it's better to have a common name rather than a name that people would spell wrong or mispronounce.

 

[Jojo84]

redbear i might have missed a post somewhere where you're talking about a particular name. but the way i read it (and i may be wrong) is that you associate popular names with chav parents?

i hope that isnt the case. i am certainly not a chav and the names i like are popular, mu mum is as far away from chav as you could get and my brother has a very popular name - there were 4 in their class.

as i say, i might have picked itup the wrong way.

I dont think it matters if a name is popular. it certainly doesn't mean the child will be any less original and individual just because their name isnt.