Why do people name their kids all the same?

Question

In todays society everyone wants to be unique, but then we have names like Madison, Taylor, Aidan, and Hunter. I have seen these names everywhere! If you name your kid Madison, she is probably going to go to school with 30 other kids with the same name. Why do it? Didn't you hate going to school with 30 other Sarah's or Shelly's depending on your heyday?

Answer 1

My name's Megan. I encounter this everyday. I've vowed to be original and not give any of my children names that are in the top 100 names. However, I am not going to go so far as to name my kids Shalottarina or Keyshaunathan anything like that, and I'm not going to give my kids a horrible misspelling of a name such as Mykal, Abbagayle, Jayedanne, or Aleczandr. I advise all future parents to name their children something unusula, but classical, for instance, some of my favorites are Cassandra, Tessa, Nicolette, Carrie, Juliet, and Delilah for girls, and Elliot, Bennett, Corbin, Asher, Leo, and Oliver for boys. All are pretty unpopular (check http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/), but popular enough so that people won't misspell or mispronounce them.

Answer 2

Well, I guess if the parents love the name it doesn't really matter how common it is. I myself like unique names that are actually unique. I'm pregnant with little Teagan Lily and I already have 2 year old Tessa Rose. I've never met anyone with either of those first names. I think that they are cute yet unique and pronounceable. Not too "out there". Lily and Rose are common middle names, but they flow really well with the first names. Rose was my grandmother and Lily was my husband's grandmother. Hehe.

Xo,
Noelle

Answer 3

I know, luckily I don't like most of the names that are popular now (like Madison, Madeline or Hunter and Walker). But I also don't like it when parents give their kids practically the same name. I know a girl named Alexa and her brother's name is Alec. Names should be more individual.

Answer 4

I think you are the one with issues and I do understand. There are always heavily popular names that many use because they like the names. They change every decade. My brothers went to school with 2 or 3 other kids with the same names in their class as did my sisters. I'm the only one who had a unique name until the 1980s when it became heavily popular.

My sister found it weird that there are two Zachary's in her husband's family until I reminded her that there were 3 Michaels in ours as well as several Pattys. Guess it wasn't so weird...just the choices changed.

Answer 5

I don't think people think that way. In fact, I think they believe that Madison, Hannah and Aidan *are* unusual names because they grew up with Amy, Jason and Brad.

First time parents might not be super-aware of baby name trends, plus when you're naming your kid Emma in 2001, it isn't obvious that there will be a gajillion baby girls named Emma in the next five years. By the time she gets to kindergarten, it's too late.

Answer 6

I hear ya! i am due later this week and am still struggling to choose a name. Common names tend to seem like pleasant sounding names to your ear because you hear them often, and lesser known names often seem weird, which turns people off to them. For me, i had chosen Ava, I had never heard of anyone named Ava, and it was pretty much set in stone. Then I started to do more research on the name and realized that it was the 5th most popular female name in the US in 2006!! Needless to say I immediately changed my mind. I am still debating names, and I really like the unique name Taigan, however I get lots of people who say 'thats an odd name" or "did you just make that name up or soemthing? she will have to live with it forever you know" Baby name choosing is tough business!

Answer 7

A lot has to do with your last name. We have a last name that breaks half the rules of english. The poor kids are going to be stuck spelling it for everyone they meet, so we wanted somewhat simple, classic first names that they wouldn't have to spell. If our last name was Smith, Jones, or Anderson, I might have been more adventurous with first names.

(My kids don't have the super-trendy names that you listed, but we have met a number of other kids with the same name. I can bet no one else will have their middle names though! ;) )

Answer 8

i only know one other heather in my junior high but there r like at least 10 madisons, i know about 3 taylors, no aidens but some hunters.....there r too many people with the name shelby and jacob here

so.............i have to agree with u

Answer 9

I know what you mean! My names Lorena but I went to a school ful of Ashleys,Kellys,Shellys so on. I thought it was cute back then but not now! I'm naming my daughter Kalena, hope she likes it!

Answer 10

yep..im a lisa theres millions with my name but i still feel very unique and it has nothing to do with my name its all about the person inside but if i had a child i would not choose an ordinary name because its sooooooo boring. i would try something that i know no one will have.