Why do women insist on giving their babies the most common names out there?

Question

I mean honestly, don't we have enough freakin' Emmas in the world by now? There are 5 of them in my daughters' class! Do yourself a favor... if you don't want 28 people responding to you when you call your daughter's name, name her something OTHER than Emma, Emily, Hannah, and Madison!

It's just sad that people can't be more original. Do you think your daughter will like her way-too-common-and-not-very-special name? Probably not.

Okay, seriously... do we REALLY think that the men are having any input into the naming of their daughters? Probably not. They're just nodding and smiling to placate the crazy hormonal pregnant lady that stole their wife's brain!

Answer 1

I totally agree. Emma has been the most popular name for a couple of years now. I think it is from too many people watching friends (ross and rachels baby) i love interesting names different names!

Answer 2

WHO CARES! It's not YOUR child, it's someone else's, and many people pick a meaning behind their child's name, or it's something they personally like. Also keep in mind, that for example with myself, I had no idea Ethan would be popular and at the top of the list in 2005... however, it was, but that's what my husband and I chose because we couldn't find another boy name we really liked. There's always going to be one name that a lot of children have... it was Sarah when I was in school. Some Megan's too. Get over it! That's why we have middle and last names as well- I'm sure all those Emma's don't have the same last or middle name... so they ARE unique in their own way! My husband had an input on this too just so you know, we both came to an agreement on the names we both picked out. I personally don't care what others think of what I named my baby... it was up to me and my husband.

YOu are a TERRIBLE person! And YES both my husband and myself went through a baby book, and wrote down names we liked from it... we didn't find out the sex of our baby, so we had 2 names picked out- boy and girl, and you know what? My husband was even the one to suggest middle names after family members! So if you do have kids, I feel bad for them, cause you do not sound like a good person for going crazy like this. My son's middle name is after my husband's uncle- so that was HIS choice, not mine, I just agreed because I liked it and it had meaning! And for our girl name, it would have been after my great-grandmother... so next baby we have, the name will be after one of my family members... my husband and I work VERY well together, but sounds like you have some issues. lol

Answer 3

it has always been this way and is never going to change. a unique name starts to become popular and all little girls will dream of naming their future daughters that name and then they grow up and debate it and finally just give in and you have another beautiful Hannah...

Let's not leave out the Haileys...and I personally know 3 sets of Hailey/Hannah twins...

i teach prek so i see way too many of the same name go through and some others that are becoming very popular: Summer, Grace, Lilly, Kylie, Olivia, Isabelle...

I must admit though....I desperately wanted to name my child Emily Ann but that was TOO popular so we agreed on Emma Ann (so much better lol) luckily it was a BOY.

Take Care! SD

Answer 4

This may be long, I apologize in advance.

Certain things go in and out of style. Just like fashion, hair styles, bands, etc. At the time when something is popular, it seems like EVERYONE wants it at that exact same time. Ever notice at certain periods of time it seem like every car on the road is the same color? Every girl is wearing pink? Or how about suddenly everyone has a little tiny dog they carry everywhere? It's basically the same concept.

I think part of it is because when it comes to making choices there are two basic types of people, those who go for what is comfortable and "safe" or common as you say, and then those who are so desperate to rebel and refuse to conform that they choose the most unusual, unique option instead.

Personally, I can't decide if either way is worse than the other. One one hand you have tons of children with the same or similar names and on the other hand you end up with children with names like "Apple" and "Audio Science" and "Bluebell Madonna"

Answer 5

Names go in spurts. During the '70s, Jennifer was the new hot name, along with Amanda. Carol and Michael used to be favorite names back in the '50s. The generation before that one had lots of Walters, Mabels, Clarences, and Marthas. Before that were Emmas, Emilys, and Hannahs. Nowadays, these old-fashioned names are back in style.

Two coworkers just had baby boys - Lucas and Ahbijay.

Answer 6

Well, Everyone complains about everyone choosing unique names too and wondering why they dont choose common names. So it goes both ways. I like some common names, and some different ones too, but nothing crazy. We are naming our daughter either Brooke Madelyn, or Brooklynn Rose, and by the way my husband came up with one of them and Im letting him choose the one he likes best. So he is defiinitley making a decision for our daughters name. Its our first daughter after 3 boys. Lots of people say Brooke is common too, but I dont know a single person named Brooke, or Brooklynn. It is just not at all common in the part of the country Im from. So that is why Im choosing it. Maybe if I ever move up North, she will be around alot of Brooke's, but here she will be unique.

Answer 7

Well, from someone who named her daughter Sarah, I think that there are times when you just get stuck on a name. For us, it was the only name my husband and I agreed on. It was also a family name, going back 5 generations.

I do agree with you however that people should branch out and try to find unique names. But sometimes it is hard to find a name that is unique, but "normal" enough that people can still pronounce it and not butcher it! At least when you name your kid Emma, you know people will pronounce it right.

Answer 8

Yikes, sounds like you are a little wound up about this. Many women (and men) name their children "common" names for many reasons:

1) It's a family name
2) Because it is COMMON (they won't be ridiculed for having an "odd" name like "Apple")
3) It's a nice name, maybe? Who cares if there are 10 Emma's in the class... they spend the majority of their lives outside of school so it doesn't really matter if there are 10 Emma's in the class. At 18, it doesn't matter.

Answer 9

Yeah those names can wear out after a while.
In my entire life I have only seen one Kathryn Dawn, one Amber Dawn, one Nita Gale, one Meridene Renee', Kia Lee and one Jamye Lyn, and not to mention Kendra Jo.
People should be creative and go with their feelings and not look to the public (relations included) for approval.
I've always like less popular names like, KayAnna James, KayAnna Leigh, KayAnna Jolie, Kita Lenae, Ty Avalon, Tamsen Christina, Tamsen Deanna-Lee, Jordan Victoria, Jordayna Michelle, Danyel Lenae. You're seeing a lot of Lenae's cause I believe it is a very pretty name. In conclusion I also like the name Topanga. I believe it was Michael Hutchinson and Paula Yates who named their daughter Heavenly Hirani Tigerlily. Tigerlily is really cute.

Answer 10

I think it's because people were very creative in the 60s through the 80s and now there are adults wishing their parents hadn't named them Dweezil, Rainbow, or Candee with two Es. Traditional names and family names are quite common.

P.S. I like the name Emma. It goes well with Kathryn, my great-great aunt's name which will make a great baby name someday.

Answer 11

You have to strike a balance between a name the child can live with and one that is original. Plus, some people like Emma. I'll name my kid whatever the hell I want. The only way to get a truly original name is to make something whacked-out and that is just cruel.

So, what are you gonna do? You're gonna meet SOMEONE else who has the name name. Make it something you like.