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Help[Opinions] People with Top 10 names: how has life treated you?
This post is for the people with "Top 10" or otherwise heavily popular names. Basically, I'm hoping to hear from the Johns, Marys, Michaels, Lindas, Christophers, Emilys, etc. of the world. What was school like? Or the workplace? Have you ever had a major mix-up due to your name's similarity to someone else's? Would you discourage parents from choosing a super-popular name, or let them know it's really no big deal?
I'm approaching this from a Western, particularly Anglo-centric perspective, but I'm open to hearing from people around the world.
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Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
I'm approaching this from a Western, particularly Anglo-centric perspective, but I'm open to hearing from people around the world.
***
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
Replies
I have an extremely common name with multiple common spellings, and my spelling being less popular than 3 or so other ones. There are always at least 2 other people with my name, usually all spelled differently. And at least 1-2 other people with another common, similar name that has the same nickname (that I don't go by).
People always spell my name wrong but other than that, it has never bothered me or caused me any issues.
People always spell my name wrong but other than that, it has never bothered me or caused me any issues.
I had an extremely common first name and a common plain surname when I was a child. I hated to find girls with the same name everywhere. I always felt that an unusual name would fit me more.
Later, I became indifferent to my name's popularity. Even in the year I have two other girls with the same name (out of seven) in my class and it also was the teacher's name I found it funny rather than annoying.
After moving to the United States I was glad that my name was rare here but I found it's English pronunciation unappealing, so I changed my name legally.
I removed most popular names from the list for my daughter, but at the same time I like common male names.
Later, I became indifferent to my name's popularity. Even in the year I have two other girls with the same name (out of seven) in my class and it also was the teacher's name I found it funny rather than annoying.
After moving to the United States I was glad that my name was rare here but I found it's English pronunciation unappealing, so I changed my name legally.
I removed most popular names from the list for my daughter, but at the same time I like common male names.
My sister and my mom both have incredibly common names. Neither of them cared for it. My sister especially dislikes how popular her name is and how it dates her to a specific time (1980s). My brothers have common names and I think they tire of having so many people share their names.
That said:
My sister named her son Kellan (unusual, but with a trendy sound) and Isabelle (quite common). I named my daughter Miriam. It was important to me to find a name that wouldn't date my daughter, nor suddenly shoot up in popularity. (My sister's name, Jessica, and my name, Haven.)
I'd also prefer to have a name that was popular when I was born or dated when I was born than to have a name that became trendy when I was an adult. That is EXTREMELY annoying, especially as a mom. It gets really old having to explailn for the umpteenth time that I'm the mom, Miriam is the kid.
That said:
My sister named her son Kellan (unusual, but with a trendy sound) and Isabelle (quite common). I named my daughter Miriam. It was important to me to find a name that wouldn't date my daughter, nor suddenly shoot up in popularity. (My sister's name, Jessica, and my name, Haven.)
I'd also prefer to have a name that was popular when I was born or dated when I was born than to have a name that became trendy when I was an adult. That is EXTREMELY annoying, especially as a mom. It gets really old having to explailn for the umpteenth time that I'm the mom, Miriam is the kid.
I sort of abandoned this post after I created it, but I returned and am reading all the responses, and I'll be honest: I find it an absolute trip that Jessica & Haven are sisters. Your names sound like almost polar opposites in terms of style!
We're polars opposites in life as well.
That’s so strange people would assume your kid is the mom! I never would have thought of that.
Growing up I only came across adult men with my name. Now I only know little girls with it.
It's both funny and frustrating, especially given that my husband also a newly trendy name (Xander.(
I used my middle name for years and then was bullied into using Haven by my husband. I'm still salty.
It's both funny and frustrating, especially given that my husband also a newly trendy name (Xander.(
I used my middle name for years and then was bullied into using Haven by my husband. I'm still salty.
Haven is such a lovely girls name, I have thought so since I was a child so for like 25 years.
I'm 42. Haven didn't start charting until I was 15, in 1996.
Here's a stat;
How many boys are named haven?
1 out of every 1,602 baby girls and 1 out of every 13,681 baby boys born in 2021 are named Haven.
I just recently spoke to someone on the phone who had a son named Haven,. My mom babysat a girl named Haven in the 1970s, she was named after her grandfather.
Here's a stat;
How many boys are named haven?
1 out of every 1,602 baby girls and 1 out of every 13,681 baby boys born in 2021 are named Haven.
I just recently spoke to someone on the phone who had a son named Haven,. My mom babysat a girl named Haven in the 1970s, she was named after her grandfather.
Several girls in my mother’s side of the family are either named Haven or have Haven as a middle name. The funny thing was until reading your comment, I had forgotten who they were named after: My great grandfather Albert, middle name Haven. It’s funny how a generation or two can just suddenly decide a name is feminine instead of masculine.
My husband’s name. He was accepted into a top 20 college and masters program, has never had a company not offer the job to him after an interview, and has never had anyone misspell, mispronounce, or confuse his name. But he does have to have an email address with numbers after it.
Thanks to my maiden name none of my siblings had to have an email with numbers after it.
I can relate to that! When I had my maiden name I was the only “me” in the world. No numbers! Now that I have a married name, I found my name is very common. there is even a lady with the same name, birthdate, AND we live in the same town. I liked being unique, but I used to have my maiden name misspelled as something offensive so I’ll take the trade off.
I have an extremely common first name and a very unusual last name, so no mixups, but I often get called by a different popular name (Emily instead of Emma).
Funnily enough, despite the fact that my name was #10 when I was born, I've met very few people with my name. I'd like to know where all the 20-year-old Samanthas are at!
This message was edited 2/4/2024, 8:45 AM
My name was very popular in my country and especially in my region the year I was born and it continued to be popular for a long time. As a result, I found people with my name almost everywhere I went (when I was in school there were three other girls with my name in my class). However, the name is not classical or timeless so I don't think it will feel dated for a long time.
I don't think popularity should be a deciding factor when choosing a name for a kid. In the end, a name is popular because a lot of people like it so I think there's nothing wrong with using a top 10 name for your child. Having many people named the same in, for example, school is no big deal either - when they call your name all you have to do is turn your head and ask "which one?"
I don't think popularity should be a deciding factor when choosing a name for a kid. In the end, a name is popular because a lot of people like it so I think there's nothing wrong with using a top 10 name for your child. Having many people named the same in, for example, school is no big deal either - when they call your name all you have to do is turn your head and ask "which one?"
My name is Sarah and i love that it's familiar.
My name is Seoyeon and I was number one in Korea when I was born. But I haven't heard much about people with the same name as me. The last time I heard it was from a kid about 5 years younger than me. I think there's nothing wrong with choosing a popular name. Ultimately, as long as choose an established name, should share it with others. And both common and uncommon names have their pros and cons.
This message was edited 2/3/2024, 5:59 PM