There is a kind of strange love-hate relationship we as a collective name-loving body have with #1 names. We brush them off almost all-too judgmentally as awful, bland, unoriginal and horrible choices a majority of the time, yet for them to have made it to the top, some folks must adore them, or at least tolerate them. So although the mystery of why the supposedly most-loved baby names get the most hate of all still rages, that’s not exactly the topic for today. This lovely afternoon, I’m going to analyze the perks and pitfalls of giving your child the number 1 baby name, whether it be for their year of birth or in the past. Just as a disclaimer: your personal feelings for a name ALWAYS tops that of my opinions. These are heavily generalized, and a name that has reached #1 at some point will likely not harm your child if so many others choose it. Disclaimer aside, let’s begin straight away!
Pros
Almost everyone who’s working with children or really anyone at all will instantly be able to write little Mary’s name on the dentist office forms. No need for “M as in mailbox, A as in apple” etc. When someone hears Mary or James, it’s instantly recognizable, a name that has been worn a million times before. And you will find very few issues or instances when someone with completely botch your son Liam’s name. Essentially, #1 names become so familiar, the grand majority of people will know exactly how to spell and pronounce your child’s name, a luxury that many don’t get to experience.
And if you’re freaking out about your child being the sixth little Lisa in her school, don’t. While I (with a #1 name) don’t enjoy being one of three in a class, that doesn’t mean that Lisa won’t bond with someone else with the same name. In fact, that very thing has happened to me before! Some children adore sharing their name, and even more are just… neutral. One of my parents has a very common name, and they barely think about it when their coworker has the same name or the nurse says “Really? That’s my (child, dog, friends) name!” So if you’re majorly stressed about your love for John and thinking perhaps you’ll save your son some embarrassment and go for Waterloo (sarcasm), remember that even if your #1 name is everyone else’s too, your son might be positively careless or even happy about having a best friend or a neighbor’s adorable baby with the same name. The other wonderful thing about having a name that is shared all around the world is the lack of fragility association-wise. If you name your son Gigaratio only for a criminal or controversial celebrity to emerge a couple years later, you’re bound to get “Like the criminal?” every once and awhile. However, for a name like Michael, it’s unlikely that one association can dominate. There’s been terrific Michaels and horrible Michaels. But the name Michael will most likely not be completely dominated by a single celebrity or criminal, making the name a safe bet when it comes to associations.
And names like Michael also tend to be classic and well loved. Normally, names that make it so far up the charts are no fleeting craze. In fact, most every name that makes it so high is bound to stay relatively well liked for years after it’s descent. Because #1 names are both incredibly reflective of their generation yet classic enough to stay put in the higher numbers, they make for a win-win when it comes to striking a balance between trendy and current as well as classic and eternally beloved. Plus, this classic feel certifies most #1 names as grandma proof! Unless a Mary has wronged her in the past… But these are all mostly reasons to go with a fairly common name. Why should you spring for #1? Well, in short, #1 names are #1 for a reason. Hundreds of thousands of parents have flocked to the masculine, strong Michael for literal decades because of his abundance of good qualities, and the same goes for every other name that’s ever claimed that #1 crown, from Mary to Noah. These guys are bursting at the seams with lovely and longed for qualities, making them obviously wonderful choices.
Con
Despite the potential for your child not minding too much about sharing her name, there are still plenty of opportunities for confusion and frustration for those who surround her. Role call at the beginning of class may be extraordinarily painful when the teacher needs to sort out her four Michaels. In my experience, it’s best to just memorize your alphabetical order. For instance, Michael Anderson might have to know that he goes first so that the other three Michaels don’t interrupt him when the teacher’s calling his name. Going to a family reunion as one of a handful of Marys is awfully confusing (“No, not Chuck’s daughter Mary. Phil’s kid.”) It can be humiliating and draw uncomfortable attention towards those who don't want it for both the teacher, family member, or basketball coach, and the child who is the fourth Mary at church.
And for those who’ve worked with children for a while and think to create some distinguishers between the few Marys, the methods used can be described as… strange. I’ve heard of Big Dave, Little Dave, and Wide Dave (?!?!?), Brunette Ava and Blond Ava, and of course, the notorious last initials. There’s also the unwanted nicknames, where one of the Michaels is Mikey and the other is Michael, which can be just plain annoying. Mikey has to completely readjust his idea of what someone trying to get his attention will call him by, and in some cases, he’s got two different names for school and baseball practice. In addition, there are the online or real life folks who will insist that by calling your little one Jacob, you’re forever dooming him to a lifestyle as bland and boring as his name. Your sister or best friend telling you that Jessica is the most basic name ever or some online baby name fiend informing you that calling your child Emily is about as horrible of an action you can take against a child definitely stings, and the backlash that many people receive for choosing common names is horrid in and of itself, let alone the outrage at choosing the #1 most popular name possible.
The Final Verdict:
Choose the name you love every time. If it’s a name that won’t negatively impact your child’s whole life, making them feel terrible and constantly teased, then you completely have a right to decide to put up with occasional repeats and insistence that the name you’ve chosen is bland or boring. As a caretaker of this child, the power of a solid, dependable name is incredibly significant, and a number 1 name is sure to deliver in terms of versatility and ease when it comes to spelling. Although having a number 1 name hasn’t been a pleasant experience for me personally, it’s completely okay for you to want a name that’s so adored for your baby as well.
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon