Ahead of the curve names

[spacecow1993]

I just recently met twin girls named Eliza and Ruby. But the thing that surprised me is, they were 20! That got me thinking about what it's like when a parent chooses a name destined to be fashionable much later down the line. What do you guys think? Have you met any people named things just coming into fashion? Do you think it's something parents should strive for, or is it something to be avoided? Basically, what are your thoughts!

[oldsienna]

My parents were 25 years ahead of the curve with me! I'm a 1985-born Sienna, which was almost unheard of at the time but has been a top-10 name here for the last few years. I still find it a little bit jarring to hear people call out for other Siennas, and at work I constantly have people telling me about their baby daughter/granddaughter named Sienna and commenting on how unusual it is to meet an adult with the name.

My parents had no reason to think my name would ever become fashionable, but all it took was one celebrity with the name to make it take off. I do like the idea of picking names that are just ahead of the curve (maybe like Elodie or Edith would be right now) because I'm always impressed when people do have names that are a little bit ahead of their time.

[taz]

Hmm

My best friend was about 10 years ahead with Violet. At the time it was very old-lady/shy Violet, very unusual but Ben Affleck had one & the trends went toward older & flowery names.

I don't strive to pick a name that's ahead of the curve I just hope to find something my husband and I agree on!

I know an Eliza in her late 20s, a few Isabellas...I've often wondered if it's strange for them to meet so many babies with their names!

[lucialucentum]

My best friend is a Kailie, and we're 25. I definitely think her parents were way ahead of the curve on that one.
My grandmother is an 85 year-old Ericka.

[aurra]

I am friends with a fifteen year old Mia. I don't know if she knows the popularity of her name, but Mia fits her perfectly and she loves it.

Other people I know within a few years of my age that were ahead of the baby name curve: Sienna (532 when she was born), Sophia (73, which is weird because I've never met another one), Amelia (225), Avery (486), Aubrey (250) and Evelyn (178).

[kungfualex]

The year I was born, Alexandra was ranked #285. By 1984 it had broken the top 100 and hasn't dropped out of it since. It had been on a steady climb in the years leading up to my birth, so it was a predictable trend, though my mom never expected it to get as popular as it did.

[kungfualex]

Oh, and I'd prefer to use a name that is not going to skyrocket in popularity. The two names I was considering were Wiley and Xander. I was iffy on Xander because it's just outside the top 200 and while that's still within my comfort range, I don't know where it will stand over the next 5-10 years. I'm kind of glad I'm going with Wiley because sitting outside the top 1000 makes it a lot less likely that it will shoot up there. I didn't make the decision based primarily on popularity, but it's a nice side benefit.

[chelseams]

I have a friend named Trinity who is 19. According to the social security list, in 1993 it was ranked 900 and in 2011 it was ranked 77. I haven't met anyone else with this name, but it's definitely not something that was common in 1993.

I also have a friend named Hailey who is 22. I know that that isn't a super uncommon name, but you don't hear many girls named any variation of it in their early 20s. Or at least I don't know any. In 1990, this spelling was ranked 293, and the only other two spellings of it (Haley and Haleigh) were ranked 108 and 962. So that has definitely gotten more popular since 1990.

[avesnames]

Someone I work with has a 22 year old Ethan. My 8 year old nephew is Ethan, as is my partner's 9 year old nephew and there are 2 other Ethan's on my nephew's soccer team, not to mention all the other ones at his school. Seems like my colleague was ahead of the curve a little.

[kungfualex]

I also have a friend named Hailey who is 22. I know that that isn't a super uncommon name, but you don't hear many girls named any variation of it in their early 20s. Or at least I don't know any. In 1990, this spelling was ranked 293, and the only other two spellings of it (Haley and Haleigh) were ranked 108 and 962. So that has definitely gotten more popular since 1990.

I had a friend in high school named Haley who would be 30 now. At the time I thought the name was original, but I definitely think it's gotten more use since then.