Comment on a baby naming forum with the news that you’re considering the name Lucas William 10 years ago, and you’ll most likely be met with a chorus of approval, with posters replying “Lovely name!” and “Aww, so handsome.” Comment that same message today, and you’ll be bombarded with a bunch of simultaneous variations of “That’s way too popular!” or “I know a million little Lucases. SO overused.” In the past, parents have chosen names that make their child blend seamlessly with their peers, which is why the percentage of babies given a name in the top 10 was so high in the 1800s and 1900s. However, parents today face a different set of criteria. Most couples are looking for a name that will make their child stand out, not blend in, hence the big stigma surrounding popular names. But is that a warranted concern? Or are popular names getting more hate than they deserve? Today, I’m comparing the pros and cons of popular names in order to determine if the negative light these names are so often portrayed in is really justified.
Pros
So you’ve been talked out of Lucas William for now and are considering the much rarer Kyng. But before you sign the birth certificate, know that there is some comfort in choosing a more well-known name. While Kyng may be the only one in his class, it’s unlikely that the name will consistently be spelled correctly or recognized by his math tutor, daycare teacher, babysitter, or future employer. More popular names are more recognizable, and most everyone who deals with children knows how to spell and say them. Not only that, there’s a reason why popular names are popular: because people like them! Although there is an underlying pressure to choose something unique and different that will set your child apart, expecting parents love Lucas and treasure William for many of the same reasons you do. So there’s no reason to run from a name you love for popularity concerns, because the name likely has many appealing qualities, and hence has many parents captivated. It’s probable that Lucas may be even better received in your social circle than Kyng if the approval of others matters a lot to you when considering a name.
Considering all of the bonuses of popular names, it’s a little strange that parents are avoiding them so much lately. However, the percentage of babies given names in the top 10 continues to drop each year as a generation of Jennifers and Michaels look for something more distinct for their child. Therefore, a #1 name in 2019 data (watch out for a review on that soon!) is nowhere near the popularity of Michael in his glory days. Because popularity is becoming such a concern when it comes to baby names, babies with popular names are becoming less prevalent. So in actuality, the unique naming trends mean good things for Liam and Lucas lovers as well as parents who love unique names as the numbers of parents willing to consider popular names drop.
Not only that, popularity is so subjective, and is often just based on opinion. One couple won’t consider any name within the top 1000, while another thinks that any name beyond the top 3 is plenty rare for them. Not only is popularity subjective between couples, it’s also a personal opinion for the child receiving the name. Kyng may despise having a name that no one can spell, but Lucas M. may hate having to go by his last initial to avoid potential confusion with the three other Lucases in his daycare. Even if you compromise your favorite name for a more unique choice, your child may not appreciate it.
Cons
While Lucas is a perfectly lovely name, when your son goes off to school and finds that there are three other little boys called Lucas, distinguishing the kids can be hard. Often, your son will end up as Lucas T. or Blonde Lucas, and that can be both confusing and hurtful for a child who is accustomed to being the only one. When there are several children with your child’s name, it can make the child feel insignificant, not to mention be very confusing if he’s Lucas T. at school but Luke at daycare, or if Lucas Thompson #2 moves into town. As someone with a very common name, being labeled by last initial in every scenario and group is often tedious and annoying. Another frequent problem with more common names is that they are often very trendy for a few years, but then drop off after a couple moments in the spotlight. With the exception of names like Emily and William, top 20 names like Melissa, Patricia, and Kevin are very clearly from a select window of time and sound too attached to one generation to be suitable for a child today. Unfortunately, in 20 years, Lucas will seem like a dad name, while Kyng won’t be attached enough to the 2020s to seem like a dated choice as long as he remains rather undercover.
As a big supporter of unique names, I was pretty shocked at how little content I could come up with to support the side I agreed with in the beginning. I think that both have their good points, although I would prefer to go with a more distinct choice just because of my personal experiences with a more popular name. However, I think that after reviewing the two sides, that choosing a name that you are truly in love with, regardless of popularity, is the most important criteria to fulfill when looking for a baby name. So if you would prefer Lucas to Kyng? Then choose it.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
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