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HelpUncommon names you know a lot of people with
So sometimes for whatever reasons in our lives we meet a lot of people with (semi-)uncommon names (I'm guessing it's not going to be like Diamond, but maybe you know a lot of Arnolds?). Maybe it's familial, regional, or just coincidental that you know however many people with that name. The more unusual it is, the more it's like "I know three Delphines" is lot more than saying like "I know three Biancas"
In high school I know a ton of guys named Miles / Myles. A ridiculous amount, and I know it's rising in popularity but I knew more kids named Miles than Michael in high school, it was crazy. I was completely sick of this name and now I don't think I've met a single one since.
When I got to college I met a lot of Miriams, I knew a few back home but then I met like three or four more when I came here (some slightly alternative spellings) but that was actually pretty nice. I like the name, and I liked seeing it used more.
The last that comes to mind right now is Marielle. Only it's always a different spelling. I have met at least one of Marielle, Mariele, Mariel, and Mariell (and a couple of those I've met multiple of). It's so crazy, I have never met a Marielle before college and all of a sudden I started meeting a lot all by different spellings.
But yeah, I just wanted to see if anyone had names they were surprised to meet several of, or just a semi-uncommon name that they are sick of just as much as Jacob or Ava.
In high school I know a ton of guys named Miles / Myles. A ridiculous amount, and I know it's rising in popularity but I knew more kids named Miles than Michael in high school, it was crazy. I was completely sick of this name and now I don't think I've met a single one since.
When I got to college I met a lot of Miriams, I knew a few back home but then I met like three or four more when I came here (some slightly alternative spellings) but that was actually pretty nice. I like the name, and I liked seeing it used more.
The last that comes to mind right now is Marielle. Only it's always a different spelling. I have met at least one of Marielle, Mariele, Mariel, and Mariell (and a couple of those I've met multiple of). It's so crazy, I have never met a Marielle before college and all of a sudden I started meeting a lot all by different spellings.
But yeah, I just wanted to see if anyone had names they were surprised to meet several of, or just a semi-uncommon name that they are sick of just as much as Jacob or Ava.
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I know 2 Zakariyas and 1 Zacharia, and they're all my age.
I know Mikaela, Michaila, Mikayla, Kayla, and Kaela.
I know 2 Caitlins, Kaitlin, Katelyn, and Katelynn.
I know 5 Brandons and a Brendan.
I know 2 Alanas, an Elana, and an Elena who pronounces her name like Alana.
I know 2 Gianlucas.
I know most of these aren't that uncommon, but...
I know Mikaela, Michaila, Mikayla, Kayla, and Kaela.
I know 2 Caitlins, Kaitlin, Katelyn, and Katelynn.
I know 5 Brandons and a Brendan.
I know 2 Alanas, an Elana, and an Elena who pronounces her name like Alana.
I know 2 Gianlucas.
I know most of these aren't that uncommon, but...
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this was a duplicate post.
This message was edited 4/27/2012, 5:34 PM
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I knew three Jenelle's in elementary school. It wasn't in the top 1,000 the year I was born, so I'm not sure why it was popular where I lived...
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I know it is a regional thing, but I am always surprised when Sinead, Siobhan, Colleen and Maeve aren't higher on the popularity charts. Other names that come to mind are Dominique (5?), Stefan (3), Brogan (3), Paulina/Polina (3), Fiona (5?), Katrina/Caitriona (6?), Phoebe (4) and Louis/Lewis (4, all under the age of 17).
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I know a few Glendas. That's unusual, and one of them is 24.
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I know they're not SUPER uncommon but I know a lot of Hillarys and even more Kendras.
O and Chandra! Ok so I only know 3 of them but I feel like knowing even one is uncommon - and none of them have any Middle Eastern heritage.
I know a few Corinnes (and various spellings) also and have always thought that name more uncommon.
For the boys Raleigh is the only one coming to mind... I know 2, 3 if you include a dog
O and Chandra! Ok so I only know 3 of them but I feel like knowing even one is uncommon - and none of them have any Middle Eastern heritage.
I know a few Corinnes (and various spellings) also and have always thought that name more uncommon.
For the boys Raleigh is the only one coming to mind... I know 2, 3 if you include a dog
This message was edited 4/26/2012, 6:36 PM
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Another really interesting thing I've found
I know two people who go by their middle name Clare (that spelling) and two people that go by their middle name Wesley (first names being Rebecca, Olivia, Charles and William respectively). I just thought it was interesting meeting multiple people going by the same middle name since it's not a common thing to do in general. Just thought it was interesting.
I know two people who go by their middle name Clare (that spelling) and two people that go by their middle name Wesley (first names being Rebecca, Olivia, Charles and William respectively). I just thought it was interesting meeting multiple people going by the same middle name since it's not a common thing to do in general. Just thought it was interesting.
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I know lots of Lydia's. It's not super uncommon, but it's not in the top 100 here, but it's so popular among the people I know.
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I don't really think I know an excess of people with names I'd really consider uncommon. The only one I really think would fit in that category is Lydia. I know 2 and one of my friends is planning on naming her daughter Lydia in July. Most the names I know a lot of are popular during the time they were born like Emily, Amber, Jennifer, Megan, and Brittany. Like someone said before I know a ton of people named Kyle but it was pretty popular in the 90s. I know a couple of girls named Marissa which wasn't real popular but did peak in the 90s. I know a lot of Jordans, 6, in various spellings for boys and girls but that's not real uncommon. I know 4 Kristina, with this spelling. I know a lot of Taylor mostly girls but the name really shot up around the time I was born. I know 3 Haley. I've met a lot of Keith and Diane. Since I started college I've met a lot of Maria. I know 2 Jacqueline. I know a Tabitha and a Tabetha and a Curtis and a Kurtis. Tabetha and Curtis are siblings. Their other sibling is Randall. I know a couple of them too.
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Jacqueline
I actually know a few Jacqueline/Jackies, the first one I've known since I was born basically, she's part of my second family so it never ever struck me as uncommon because I'm so used to it. I suppose it is though which is pretty cool.
I actually know a few Jacqueline/Jackies, the first one I've known since I was born basically, she's part of my second family so it never ever struck me as uncommon because I'm so used to it. I suppose it is though which is pretty cool.
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I'm not sure if this counts (because the name is becoming more popular), but I met two middle-aged Rosalies (and a Roselle) in one month after going my whole life knowing none.
Oh and I don't "know" them, but the name Rhéal is quite common among males with French-Canadian heritage here, and that's a pretty unusual name.
Oh and I don't "know" them, but the name Rhéal is quite common among males with French-Canadian heritage here, and that's a pretty unusual name.
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Off the top of my head, I cannot recall several people having a certain uncommon name. Maybe a random name here or there (Delight, Marvelous, Celestial, Precious, Trescella, Delilah, Bernadette, Bernadine) but never several of them. I find it fascinating that you've met several people named Marielle. It's one of my favorites and I've never encountered a soul with the name. BTW, I'd love to meet a Miriam. There was an elderly lady at my church named Myra. When she died, I realized her real name was Miriam Rose. What a waste!
This message was edited 4/26/2012, 10:10 AM
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I know! It was the strangest thing, I didn't even know it was a name and then all of a sudden there were Marielles everywhere. I go to a Catholic college though so that probably contributes to it as it's a nice variant of Mary.
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Kyle
Yes... it's common, but I know more Kyles than Michaels by a factor of two. There were two in my graduating class, five in my brother's grade at his current school and two more at his former school three years ago, and one in the grade between us. Oddly, Michael was roughly two and a half times more common than Kyle... Which means the rate of usage of Kyle in this population was at least 4 times more common than Michael. I am baffled to say the least how at my school I was one of two Michaels and my brother was one of eight Kyles. The 23rd most common name occurring 4 times more often than the most common occurring name in a school isn't supposed to happen.
Yes... it's common, but I know more Kyles than Michaels by a factor of two. There were two in my graduating class, five in my brother's grade at his current school and two more at his former school three years ago, and one in the grade between us. Oddly, Michael was roughly two and a half times more common than Kyle... Which means the rate of usage of Kyle in this population was at least 4 times more common than Michael. I am baffled to say the least how at my school I was one of two Michaels and my brother was one of eight Kyles. The 23rd most common name occurring 4 times more often than the most common occurring name in a school isn't supposed to happen.
This message was edited 4/26/2012, 10:11 AM
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I encounter Ainsley, in various spellings, more often than I do Isabella. There was even another one in my community paper's BAs about a week ago (spelled Aynzlee, I think--oh, the horror). I don't have any explanation why it's so popular around here, and I think the frequency with which I see it is pretty surprising; with all the spellings combined, it still doesn't crack the top 200.
I also feel like I meet a ridiculous number of Masons.
I also feel like I meet a ridiculous number of Masons.
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Ditto.
Though I've only ever met girls who spell it Ainsley or Ainslee. I'm not sure how it is around where you are but I think part of it is that they are over such a broad age range. The oldest I know is 20 and youngest is only 18 months. :/
Though I've only ever met girls who spell it Ainsley or Ainslee. I'm not sure how it is around where you are but I think part of it is that they are over such a broad age range. The oldest I know is 20 and youngest is only 18 months. :/
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One I keep coming across is Layton / Leighton - I guess thats getting to be more common though
I'm trying to think of some more... I know a Zena and a Xenia (both pronounced Zee-na)
River - I've met a few of these, mostly boys
And I never thought I would meet two Angels, especially not in England, but I have.
I'm trying to think of some more... I know a Zena and a Xenia (both pronounced Zee-na)
River - I've met a few of these, mostly boys
And I never thought I would meet two Angels, especially not in England, but I have.
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I went to high school with a Gizelle and a Gisele. I also have run into people named Gisela, although the spellings differed in just about every case.
I also went to school with three people named Lisette / Lizette. It was a small school, too.
Others:
Desiree
Evelyn / Evelin - I went to school with at least two. This was before Evelyn was popular for little girls.
Bambi / Bambie
Gretchen
Ruby - I have met a bunch of people with this name, and all were born before it was popular for little girls.
Claudia
Rosemary
Francesca
Damian
Fabian - I went to school with at least two.
Rudy
I also went to school with three people named Lisette / Lizette. It was a small school, too.
Others:
Desiree
Evelyn / Evelin - I went to school with at least two. This was before Evelyn was popular for little girls.
Bambi / Bambie
Gretchen
Ruby - I have met a bunch of people with this name, and all were born before it was popular for little girls.
Claudia
Rosemary
Francesca
Damian
Fabian - I went to school with at least two.
Rudy
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There were two white girls named Keisha is my high school of 200 kids, I also know two Keirsten's, which btn doesn't even acknowledge as a name, two Marina's, and there are two girls named Ocean at my university (it's pretty small). I've known three Bronwyn's.
I know two male Blair's.
Maybe the weirdest one is that I know like 6 Alanna's (various spellings).
I know two male Blair's.
Maybe the weirdest one is that I know like 6 Alanna's (various spellings).
This message was edited 4/26/2012, 5:22 AM
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Interesting thread!
I went to private school in New York for some time. My cousins and sister went there too. I know at least 5 girls named Allegra who all went to school with us. I thought that was pretty weird, as far as I know it never made the top 1000 and they were all born in the US as far as I know. They didn't have Italian parents either but all of their parents were either working as artists or they were at least interested in art. Three of them were in my class at one point. Also Annabel was quite popular there, I can think of three Annabels and an Annabelle.
When I went to school in Calfornia both Harrison and Henry were extremely common. There were always at least two Henrys in our class. There was also a Henri. Madeline and Madeleine were very popular for girls. I'm friends with three girls named Madeline and we all went to school together. They all pronounce it MAD-eh-linn.
I also know many people with names which are common now but weren't at all when I was born (late 80s). I know four girls named Ava, for example. Several named Isabella, Annabella and Bella. I also know more girls named Anna than with any other name. And in the late 80s Anna wasn't that common.
In one of my classes at university there were 6 girls named Isabel or Isabelle at one point and there were only 10 girls in that class. That was also pretty weird as I hardly met any Isabels or Isabelles before or after that.
I also know two girls named Aquinnah which is extremely odd. But they are far apart in age (over 10 years) and one lives in New York, the other in California. They are both interested in ballet and dance. Always thought that was funny.
I also know way more girls named Autumn than I should. One from Texas, the others all from California. I know 8 at the moment. Three are in my dance class. The others are younger than me. I thought it was so odd that I checked the popularity statistics for California because I thought it might have been more common here, but it never even made the top 100. I love the name and would consider using it, though.
I have met a Mariel too! But she's from Switzerland and they only one I've met.
I went to private school in New York for some time. My cousins and sister went there too. I know at least 5 girls named Allegra who all went to school with us. I thought that was pretty weird, as far as I know it never made the top 1000 and they were all born in the US as far as I know. They didn't have Italian parents either but all of their parents were either working as artists or they were at least interested in art. Three of them were in my class at one point. Also Annabel was quite popular there, I can think of three Annabels and an Annabelle.
When I went to school in Calfornia both Harrison and Henry were extremely common. There were always at least two Henrys in our class. There was also a Henri. Madeline and Madeleine were very popular for girls. I'm friends with three girls named Madeline and we all went to school together. They all pronounce it MAD-eh-linn.
I also know many people with names which are common now but weren't at all when I was born (late 80s). I know four girls named Ava, for example. Several named Isabella, Annabella and Bella. I also know more girls named Anna than with any other name. And in the late 80s Anna wasn't that common.
In one of my classes at university there were 6 girls named Isabel or Isabelle at one point and there were only 10 girls in that class. That was also pretty weird as I hardly met any Isabels or Isabelles before or after that.
I also know two girls named Aquinnah which is extremely odd. But they are far apart in age (over 10 years) and one lives in New York, the other in California. They are both interested in ballet and dance. Always thought that was funny.
I also know way more girls named Autumn than I should. One from Texas, the others all from California. I know 8 at the moment. Three are in my dance class. The others are younger than me. I thought it was so odd that I checked the popularity statistics for California because I thought it might have been more common here, but it never even made the top 100. I love the name and would consider using it, though.
I have met a Mariel too! But she's from Switzerland and they only one I've met.
This message was edited 4/26/2012, 7:03 AM
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You know
I always wondered if it had to do with the type of parents that would name their kid "Allergra" or "Autumn" which makes the coincidence less coincidental I guess? Like parents that are more into the arts and would encourage their children to do dance would name their kid a more nature-y name like Autumn than parents more interested in something else. That's really interesting though, especially about the Allergras.
And I know what you mean, I met several Charlottes in high school which for around my birth year would have been ranked a high 200/300 name but saying "I know so many Charlottes!" now is like "yeah man, it's ranked 45" not that I dislike the name. That's actually where I came up with the previous theory because I realized the parents of the Charlottes were very similar and I was like "huh I wonder if people like that are just more likely to name their daughters something like Charlotte."
I always wondered if it had to do with the type of parents that would name their kid "Allergra" or "Autumn" which makes the coincidence less coincidental I guess? Like parents that are more into the arts and would encourage their children to do dance would name their kid a more nature-y name like Autumn than parents more interested in something else. That's really interesting though, especially about the Allergras.
And I know what you mean, I met several Charlottes in high school which for around my birth year would have been ranked a high 200/300 name but saying "I know so many Charlottes!" now is like "yeah man, it's ranked 45" not that I dislike the name. That's actually where I came up with the previous theory because I realized the parents of the Charlottes were very similar and I was like "huh I wonder if people like that are just more likely to name their daughters something like Charlotte."
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I'm and "artsy" type (I have my degree in art history) and Allegra is one of my most FAVORITE names, actually the longest running name in my top 10 - so there could be something there
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That's actually super interesting! I feel like I want to casually do a survey with my artsy friends "sooo... how do you feel about the name Allegra?" haha
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I agree, it definitely seems to have something to do with the parents. I know a few Charlottes my age and all except one have teachers as parents or at least one parent who is a teacher!
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I have 6 students named Martxel. I realize knowing that many is totally dependent on me living where I do, but considering there are only 130 people named Martxel in Spain, I feel like knowing 6 of those is a lot.
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Wow, that is a lot!
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I know 6 Rhiannon's and I don't think generally its a common name
This message was edited 4/25/2012, 11:46 PM
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