Poll: Too trendy/too on-trend?

[betsy buttercup]

I think that the effort to pick a totally unique, non-trendy name is itself completely on-trend. I mean, a girl named, say, Ballerina would stand out for sure, and yet we're so used to seeing strange, surprising names at this historical moment, that she would also blend in with the weird-word-names trend. So I'm not sure that what you're going for is wholly attainable.

I know! That's what's so frustrating! Sometimes it's like, do I just throw up my hands and name the kid some totally boring name that's been around forever? But that would feel so wrong. IDK, too, I mean strange and surprising names are a trend, but they're not the top trend. There will probably be a couple of random-named kids in my kids' school classes, but the majority will still be named the kind of names that don't raise any eyebrows and date them to this time period.

[betsy buttercup]

I let go of my high school favorites cause they just didn't feel right once I got pregnant in my late 20s. In. 1999 Sloane & Maisie seemed so fresh & distinctive..
Names I had never heard on anyone before..and Esme when it was from a Salinger story/Jawbreaker song not a Twilight novel! But I don't think I would've let them go if I really loved them! It comes down to what matters more- the name Clover or the image you want to project through your name choice.

Oh yeah! My original list where I thought of Clover was from right after I got engaged then graduated college. Isobel was on it, as was the actual name Twilight! Violet and Pearl were both on it. My oldest son Eli's name was on it (I think as Elijah, but we just used Eli as the full name), but my other two sons' names were not. Maybe I should take the hint and not use any names from that list (my other top contender is not on that list). It's funny how an entire generation of moms can end up crushing on the same group of names years before they have kids. It's like we all have the same reaction to the current crop of popular names, and find the same things tired about them that leads us to seek a certain sound that we hear as "fresh," which leads us all to the same group of names. It's like salmon swimming upstream to spawn!

[thelifespark]

I said this before in a previous thread but I think it may have gotten lost in the many, many other replies berries gave, trying to offer their help and advice.

I don't really think Clover sound at all like Chloe. They both have the c beginning and both have an e in the name but Chloe has the h which really softens the first syllable and it has the very soft e ending where as c at the beginning of Clover, followed by the harder ver sound gives it a completely different look, feel and sound IMHO. The only similarities is that they have a couple of the same letters, but many names do. It's a lovely name, not likely to be overly popular or even very popular but it's not so out there that it would mitigate unwarranted amounts of teasing like say, Moon Unit or Dweezil. I doubt Clover would sound dated either. I think a name has to be one of those ultra popular "in the moment" names to sound dated. I have synesthesia and see name and many words in color. Because of this, I prefer names that evoke strong, vivid, rich colors or that bring richer imagery beyond just a plain color. Clover has that beautiful image of a morning dew-laden meadow full of sweet scent and golden sunshine. Chloe just sounds pink to me. Ya know, like baby pink. Just regular, nothing special about it pink. A completely different image and feel than Clover.

As was mentioned before, Clover may hit the flower/botanical naming trend but I think think it has a very seperate, distinct feel from most other flower names. Rose's and Lily's of the world have a much softer, frillier sound than Clover which I think sounds new and fresh (I really just don't see the similarity to Chloe, they are such different names to me). Clover would have to have a HUGE jump in popularity to bring it up to a popular, much less trendy spot. I just don't think right now it sounds at all trendy or blendy as you seem to fear.

[betsy buttercup]

I said this before in a previous thread but I think it may have gotten lost in the many, many other replies berries gave, trying to offer their help and advice.

I don't really think Clover sound at all like Chloe. They both have the c beginning and both have an e in the name but Chloe has the h which really softens the first syllable and it has the very soft e ending where as c at the beginning of Clover, followed by the harder ver sound gives it a completely different look, feel and sound IMHO. The only similarities is that they have a couple of the same letters, but many names do. It's a lovely name, not likely to be overly popular or even very popular but it's not so out there that it would mitigate unwarranted amounts of teasing like say, Moon Unit or Dweezil. I doubt Clover would sound dated either. I think a name has to be one of those ultra popular "in the moment" names to sound dated. I have synesthesia and see name and many words in color. Because of this, I prefer names that evoke strong, vivid, rich colors or that bring richer imagery beyond just a plain color. Clover has that beautiful image of a morning dew-laden meadow full of sweet scent and golden sunshine. Chloe just sounds pink to me. Ya know, like baby pink. Just regular, nothing special about it pink. A completely different image and feel than Clover.

As was mentioned before, Clover may hit the flower/botanical naming trend but I think think it has a very seperate, distinct feel from most other flower names. Rose's and Lily's of the world have a much softer, frillier sound than Clover which I think sounds new and fresh (I really just don't see the similarity to Chloe, they are such different names to me). Clover would have to have a HUGE jump in popularity to bring it up to a popular, much less trendy spot. I just don't think right now it sounds at all trendy or blendy as you seem to fear.

I remember your previous post, I really appreciated and enjoyed it! Sorry if I didn't directly reply. I particularly appreciate your response as someone with synesthesia. I don't have synesthesia myself, but I do like names with strong imagery and prefer a name with a certain type of imagery that I've talked about in previous posts. I'm glad that Clover evokes the image of a meadow full of sweet scent and golden sunshine, that's exactly what I loved about it.

[erinlw]

I think Clover is going to be the next Violet- a celebrity or two have used it, so it will become more common in the next few years. Then another name will take its place and you won't hear of all that many Clovers. This is a time where you have to decide if the current popularity of Clover bothers you enough not to use it. I think that since it's not in the Top 10, you should go for it.

[jessamynb]

While I don't think Clover will ever attain top 100 status, it does seem to meet a lot of current name trends. It's uncommon (I think looking for a name that one perceives as "unique" is a trend in itself), is a nature reference, and has a short sweetness that reminds me of the current crop of nickname names. It's not my style, but I can definitely see why it's appealing.

Edit: I have an acquaintance whose 1 year old daughter is named Clover who is adorable. My friend reports that people seem to love her name or be confused by it. Of course, my son has an "old man" name and I get the same responses, so go figure.

[blairx]

Voted "It might get more common in the next few years but won't blend in." I agree with those saying it has a very different feel from popular or stylish names with similar sounds. I do get what you're saying about how it has similar sounds to both Chloe and Ever and is a potential replacement for these names (for parents who are inclined to do that), but Ever isn't overwhelmingly popular anyway. And Chloe's popularity hasn't boosted Clothilde and variants, which unlike Clover have much history of use as names (for people).

[morganalefaye]

I don't think you should worry about Clover's popularity/trendiness at all. It does fall in with the nature/flower names, which I suppose makes it on-trend, but as others have said, it sounds and feels different enough to remain distinctive. So a couple of celebrities have used it- Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow used Apple (which also fits in with "trendy" names such as Clementine and Plum) and it hasn't gained popularity or trendiness. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden used Sparrow (à la Wren, Lark, Hawk) and it didn't catch on in a big way. However, even if it does reach the top 1000, that does not by any means mean that it will blend in, become dated and not stand out. Damaris, Willa, Gwyneth and Juniper are all top 1000 but none of them are trendy blendy in my opinion. They also all share sounds with more popular, trendier names to the same extent that Clover does (Damaris with Marissa and Damien, Willa with Willow, Gwyneth with Gwendolyn and Meredith, Juniper with all the Jun- names, Julia, Jennifer etc) and still manage to stand out. It would be such a shame if you discarded the name you have loved for so long on the grounds that it might become a bit popular or trendy, especially as it probably won't anyway.

On a side note, I'm curious to know why you feel so strongly about choosing a name that is so completely different from everything else. There's nothing wrong with it, and I feel the same way to a certain extent, but I just wondered why it is so important to you. You mentioned that your eldest son is called Eli, which is a relatively popular name at the moment. Does his name work for him, or do you wish you'd picked a more unusual name?

All in all, I'd say use Clover. It IS distinctive and it DOES stand out, even though it fits in with a current trend and shares sounds with popular names. The slight similarity to Chloe, Ever and the like will probably just make it that bit easier to live with. You never know, your daughter might appreciate a name that doesn't strike people as completely out of the blue every time they hear it.

Good luck and I hope this helps. I'm sure you'll make the absolute right decision when the time comes

[marinadancel17]

I think although it does have that trendy flower theme, it's not going to skyrocket. While reading the Hunger Games, my friends were saying, "Clove? That's such a weird name!" In the baby-naming world, it may seem a bit trendy, but I doubt I will meet a baby Clover in the real world anytime soon.

[hazelybasily]

Clover was at the top of my list but it dropped for 3 reasons. 1- I have a very Irish last name so Clover ---- would just have been too much. She might as well be born with a shamrock tattoo and wear green all the time (not unlike many extended family members)!
2- I met a sibset in the park named Sunshine, Clover and Birch. I love nature names but don't love the hippy vibe. 3- Met a couple with two dogs named Clover and Rover. <Sigh>