When your names catch on?

[kmw1975]

My daughter is named Delaney. I never intended for it to be her first name but when she was born...she just looked like she needed to be named something "different" I never in my life met a Delaney but I was reading an article about Martina McBride...her oldest daughter is named Delaney..I've loved it ever since. In 2005 (when she was born) it was ranked 190....yet in a 15mile radius where we live, we have come across 4 other Delaneys. And I've had several people say...oh so and so named their daughter that.

I have a 2nd cousin (or is it cousin once removed? I don't know.) Anyway, my dad's cousin's daughter is named Delaney. She's 30 something. My parents always used to comment about how his cousins like to give their kids such "odd" names. Today, most of those kids names seem quite normal. Although, I'll admit, you don't see them much in that age group. They were just ahead of the times!

[tintri]

I feel like this happens to me ALL THE TIME! The names that have been on my list for YEARS suddenly get caught up in a popularity storm. Examples include Belle which entered my list in 2002, (Twilight has ruined it with Bella, along with Rosalie and Jasper.) I also had Eve or Evie (circa 2002), which is now way to popular for my taste because of Eva. Also loved Violet and Lilah, all of which are unusable now according to my ridiculous standards regarding popularity. (I have a VERY popular name. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.)

There are more that I can't think of... but even my best friend said to me that it was a little creepy how popular the names I like become. I've started to wonder about the chicken/egg phenomenon. Like, was I subconsciously drawn to a name that is trending without realizing it's popular? Or am I actually choosing names that have great potential to explode in popularity?

I don't know. I just know it's extremely frustrating to me!

[sabrinafair]

all the time it happends

[katiedawn121]

I don't think that's ever happened to me ... what normally happens is I start to get into a name, and it feels like it's everywhere (like fate), and it tells me I'm making the right choice in loving it

[emiliaj]

My DS is 20 and his MN is Riley. Back then people were like "Say what? Riley???", last year I taught 3 in one class (all boys).

[aussiesteph]

Addison - as a mn for a boy or a girl - it is my home town in the USA & I lived there for the first 18 years of my life. I have lived overseas for over a decade now & always thought it would be a nice way to keep that link & a nice talking point. My family is still there as are many friends & lots of what made me me. But, from what I understand, it is really trendy for girls in the States now....

[blairx]

I've experienced this with some of my favorite names from when I was a kid: Eloise, Evelyn, and Arden (I've since moved on as I think I might have become tired of them before they became popular, but still think they're great names!). Matilda, too. I used to love Agatha and Agnes and I see them on message boards all the time now but don't know if they've hit cool and/or soon-to-be-trendy status yet. And I used to be obsessed with Lilith and other "evil"/dark-sounding names. I noticed Lilith recently hit the top 1000 for the first time. I've also always loved classical Greek and Roman names, and there's an overall trend for them now but my favorites haven't been swept up in it yet.

I first heard Arden on a girl in my elementary school class, but since then I've met an old woman and an old man with the name. For this reason it's not tied to a particular age or gender for me. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives (Ardyth, Afton, Alban) in case Arden gets trendy.

[melissaintlouis]

Gah, this is the bane of my existence! I've often predicted name trends with what I name pets (i.e. I named my cat Eloise in 2006, another named Olive in 2002) and usually my very favorite girl name is eventually usurped with popularity. Given, my standards for what is popular may be a bit extreme after being a Melissa born in the early '80s.

I also thought Arden was pretty cool back in high school (I remember using it for a name in a creative writing class in 2001-2) and getting weird looks.

My favorite girl name is Iris. Every time I see it pop up on Nameberry now I cringe and start looking for suitable alternatives. Sigh!

[girlmeetsbaby]

Yes! When I was pregnant I loved the name Adelaide. Never heard it on boards or on anyone I've ever met. Now I see it EVERYWHERE. It irritates me. lol. I still wish I had used Adelaide instead of Bella, much less popular. :P