Is it just to ridiculously popular now?

[thelifespark]

My favortie boys name for YEARS was Noah. I was in love with it long before the old man/Biblical names started to become trendy. It was more popular than I thought (in the 200's) but now it's suddenly shot up and I was horrified when I saw it was now number 5!!! I still love the name and it's soft, unassuming quality and demeanor. I think it's a beautiful name for a boy. But now I sm kind of put off by how popular it is. I wouldn't want my son to be one of half a dozen Noah's in his class. Plus, my five year old niece has a cousin on her dad's side named Noah. He's a year younger than her I think. I've never met him. My sister and my niece's dad have been split up since my niece was a baby and I despise most of that family and the things they do.

My list of boy names is so very short and Noah hs been either in the top spot, or hovering around the top spot since I was a teenager. Is it unusable now? The middle name would probably be Michael for someone very important to me who passed away.

The other names on my list are

Kai
Felix
Rhett
Henry
Liam

But I don't love them way I love Noah (although I do think Kai is a beautiful name and I LOVE water related names) which is another reason I love Noah. Even though it isn't technically a water name, it's relationship to Noah's ark does give it a water connection.

I just don't know what to do now that Noah is SO uber popular.

[rylane46]

I have only ever met one Noah...ever...in person. He is around 30 now. And a girl I went to school with has a son named Noah (I think he is about 4). So idk. But I think if you truely love it, the popularity shouldn't matter to you.

[mara_lyn86]

I think Noah is a lovely name. You could always use it as a middle name, or just go with the name and not care about the popularity.

According to BtN Clinton and Douglas have water associations. I don't know if those fit your style though.

Here are some combinations (I am bad at combinations, so these may not be good)
Douglas Noah
Felix Noah
Noah Douglas
Felix Henry

[kala_way]

I've never met a single Noah, baby or otherwise.

If you love it, you've got to use it.

I really like Liam and Felix as well though

[thelifespark]

I just never wanted to do anything uber popular. My sister and brother both have really common, trendy names. Both are top 100 names, my sister's was a top 10 when she was born and my brother's was in the top 40. On the other hand, my dad named me and my name had never even come close to touching the top 1,000 and while my sister and brother always had other kids in their classes with the same name so they always ended up being an initial (i.e. Ashley I.) I've never met anyone with my name and get compliments on how different and pretty it is all the time.

Maybe that doesn't matter as much to boys but I still never wanted anything so trendy and top 5 is really, really popular. But I still love it and I hate to throw it out just because other people saw its merit as well and one person I don't like used it. Decisions, decisions.

Mara thanks for the suggestions but Clinton and Douglas are nms. Douglas was the name of an ex and Clinton is too Clint Eastwood, tough guy image. I like softer names.

[jshores]

I think Noah has and will always be a classic and popular name. I think I've only know two Noah's in my life. But I understand what you are saying about popularity. I do not want my child to be referred to by his initial of his last name because there are multiple kids around him with the same name. I love Liam, but it's becoming super popular so I've taken it off my list, unless I want to use it for a middle. Same goes for Levi. If you like Noah, maybe you'd like Joah? Same appeal as Noah, but WAY less popular.

[sundevil28]

I think if you are lucky enough to have found a name you love, then you should use it.

I only know 2 Noahs - one is my 6 year old nephew in the southwest, another is a newborn in the south. My sister says there has only ever been one Noah in his grade - not even in his class.

[catheyc]

I hate to say it, but I feel like Noah is set to be the next Aiden. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong about this (I don't know the numbers as well as others on here), but it seemed to shoot up super quickly in popularity last year (like Aiden did a few years before that), although I can't see people somehow getting all those related names (Jayden, Braden, etc.) with Noah, so maybe it won't be that bad. I agree that Noah is a classically nice name, but I don't think it has the same classic-ness (if that's even a word) as Michael or Thomas, which could never be dated to a certain year because they are always popular. I knew two co-workers who named their sons Noah last year and there is another one in my son's storytime. (We are on the east coast.) Maybe it's less popular where you live? I do love this name and it was near the top of our list too. We ended up with Samuel, which has that same soft, classic vibe. I also want to suggest Scott for some reason, even though I know most berries would hate that name. Something about it feels soft and strong at the same time. If you love Noah and would always love it no matter how popular it is, you should use it anyway, though. Good luck!

[jesba]

I think for boys a name that fits in is more of an asset, and less of a drawback, than for girls. I've known 3 adult Noahs (all in their 30s), so, go figure, that seems totally opposite to everyone here. Maybe it is where you live. You could actually check your state's records it may be a little higher or lower there. Although your son can easily move : D.

I wouldn't worry too much about the familial negative connection...if it hasn't ruined your love for the name, that's that.

There is Noam as a more unusual option, not without its own issues, but a nice name too.

Jonah to me has a very similar feel.
It's also on a clear upswing, but I don't think as high as Noah.
Micah
Nathan
Ethan
Nathaniel
Joseph
Seth
Eli (captures some of the Kai rhythm)
Elias
Silas
Malachi (capture some of Kai)

All capture some of that softness and are Biblical.
I mean they're all popular in their ways too!
But I don't think top 5 (Eli and Nathan and Ethan might be close).

Water names... (loose associations in many cases)
Niles (like the Nile)
River
Brooks
Kent (River Kent)
Kyle (means channel, strait)
Adrian (like the Adriatic)
Dylan (son of the sea - also pretty popular)
Fisher
Sailor

Adapted from some forum posts and this list for further reading
http://nameberry.com/blog/water-name...-make-a-splash

Good luck!

[sabrinafair]

My nephew is a Noah. Yes, it's somewhat popular but that shouldn't stop you.