Latest news with #BabyCentre
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'I work with children - parents should avoid unique names that are becoming popular'
Picking a name for your new arrival is one of the key decisions you'll face - but one school worker is warning parents that many of the 'unique' names they are choosing are actually common Parents on the hunt for a unique baby name may be falling into a trend without realising it. If you've got a little one on the way, naming your new bundle of joy is a pivotal decision. Are you drawn to time-honoured names or are you aiming for a title that will ensure they stand out in a crowd? But a school worker from the UK has words of wisdom for parents when pondering their naming choices. She's observed a surge in the number of parents looking for 'unique' names, with the irony being many of these names have risen sharply in use, making them less individual. The TikToker, who works in both primary education and a nursery, took to social media to share her thoughts after noting a trend where names intended to be one-of-a-kind by parents are becoming widespread. Her observation was: "I hear names all the time that I just know the parent has used to try and find a unique and different name, and I love that. But the same ones are becoming more and more popular." She advised: "If you love the name, go ahead and use it. But if you're using it to be completely different, you might want to have a rethink, because these names are becoming a lot more popular than you think." In her video, she called out a few names like Willow, Nova, and Ivy, which seem to be gaining traction among infants and toddlers. She explained: "I hadn't really heard anyone using these until recently. But over the past couple of years I feel like the use of these has really shot up. So if you want something completely different, you might want to have a little bit of a rethink." For boys' names, she advised avoiding Indie, Eden (which she's also heard used for girls), Teddy, and Beau. She added: "Beau, especially, I feel like, is becoming really popular at the moment. So if you love these names, go ahead and use them. But if you're using them thinking they're going to be the only one in the school or the only one in their class, they might not be. So you might want to have a look at some different names." According to BabyCentre data, Ivy and Willow are among the UK's top 10 most popular girls' names for 2024, with Ivy ranking 9th and Willow 10th. Nova was 94th in 2023 but dropped out of the top 100 last year. Teddy ranks as the 24th most popular boy's name in the UK, making it the only name mentioned by the teacher that features in the top 100 for boys. Eden is 75th on the girls' list but doesn't appear on the boys' list. The teacher's video was met with gratitude from viewers who appreciated her insights. Many shared the names they had chosen for their children, while others discussed the balance between choosing a "respectable" name and aiming for uniqueness. One person recalled their choice of picking unique names, saying: "I have an Ivy who is five. It wasn't even in the top 100 when I called her it, but I think it's in the top 10 now. My son is Archer, and I still haven't really heard it [elsewhere]." Someone else expressed a preference for classic names, arguing: "Parents need to come to their senses and realise that their child having a respectable name is more important than whatever uniqueness complex they have."
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Teacher shares 'unique' baby names to avoid as they're 'too popular' in 2025
A teacher has suggested parents thinking of 'unique' names for their children to avoid certain monikers - as so many parents want unusual names that they've actually become popular Parents could unknowingly give their children popular names when looking for something unique. If you're expecting a baby, one of the biggest decisions you'll need to make before they arrive is what name you'll give them. Do you like classic and traditional names, or would you prefer to give them something that makes them stand out from the crowd? One teacher is urging parents to think carefully about the names they choose for their kids, however. She claims that there's an increase in parents looking for "unique" names, but they're running into one problem - they're all picking the same names, so their lesser-known monikers are becoming hugely popular. In a video on TikTok, the woman said she works in both a primary school and a nursery and always hears names that she knows parents have picked to try and find a "different" name, but they've inadvertently chosen something popular. She said: "I hear names all the time that I just know the parent has used to try and find a unique and different name, and I love that. But the same ones are becoming more and more popular. "If you love the name, go ahead and use it. But if you're using it to be completely different, you might want to have a rethink, because these names are becoming a lot more popular than you think." The teacher started with girls' names, and said that she's seeing a lot more babies and young children named Willow, Nova, and Ivy than ever before. She explained: "I hadn't really heard anyone using these until recently. But over the past couple of years I feel like the use of these has really shot up. So if you want something completely different, you might want to have a little bit of a rethink." For boys, the teacher recommended you avoid Indie, Eden, which she has also heard for girls, Teddy, and Beau. She added: "Beau, especially, I feel like, is becoming really popular at the moment. So if you love these names, go ahead and use them. But if you're using them thinking they're going to be the only one in the school or the only one in their class, they might not be. So you might want to have a look at some different names." For relatable parenting tales, tips and offers to help you and your family, sign up for our free Lemon-Aid newsletter here. Ivy and Willow are among the top 10 most popular girls' names in the UK for 2024, with Ivy placing 9th and Willow coming in at 10th, according to data from BabyCentre. Nova, however, placed 94th in 2023, but dropped out of the top 100 last year. Teddy is the 24th most popular boy's name in the UK, but that is the only name the teacher mentioned that made it into the top 100 for boys. Eden was 75th on the girls' list, but was absent from the boys' list. Commenters on the teacher's video were quick to thank her for the insight. Many shared the names they'd given to their children, while others argued that giving your child a "respectable" name is more important than being unique. One person said: "I have an Ivy who is five. It wasn't even in the top 100 when I called her it, but I think it's in the top 10 now. My son is Archer, and I still haven't really heard it [elsewhere]." Another argued: "Parents need to come to their senses and realise that their child having a respectable name is more important than whatever uniqueness complex they have."
