How a Trend Gets Started

[poespretty.livejournal.com]

So the post about the sibset from 12 yrs ago with (now) popular names got me thinking.  I worked in daycare about 10 yrs ago & I think for me, that is when I saw a lot of these trendy names coming about.  Here are some names of the kids I knew between the ages of 6 weeks & 5 years.  Siblings are grouped together.

Griffin & Chelsea
Wright & Olivia
Rachel, Rebecca & Leah.
one Mackenzie. and it was an uncommon, original name then.
there were 2 Madisons in my class of 1 yr olds. one was an only child.
the other Madison had a sister Morgan & eventually I think their third child was Mackenzie.  that's the triple whammy right there...
Matthew, Sarah-Kate & Claire
Claire & Jack
Drew (b) & Emma
Emma & Ben
Ben & Adam
Elizabeth & Jenner
Sam & Ethan
Ethan & Julia
Billy & Brittany
Hayden (b)
Drew (g)
Kate
Hugh
Tristan (b)
Travis
Mykala
Kalia
Allegra (I can't remember her sister's names but I think they were as different as this? Karina maybe?)
Hans
Lucas
An Isabelle or two, a couple Henrys, multiple, assorted Connors, Nicholases, Christophers, Matthews & Nicoles
 
these are just the ones I can remember now.

Comments

[elemmennope.livejournal.com]

Actually, if you check stats, names start climbing earlier than people seem to think they do. Mackenzie was already top 100 in 1995, probably higher if you combine the spellings. Madison was nearly top 50 ten years ago. Morgan was in the top 100 by the mid-80s.

I know a Mackenzie Alexis who is 29 years old and thought that was impressive, but actually those two names had already starting climbing at the time of her birth, back in the mid 70s!

I always hear people on name sites complaining, "Oh NO ONE was using such-and-such name when my kid was born." But if you look it up, you can see that it was probably already a good 4-5 years into a steady climb when they "discovered" their special name and they're actually right in the middle of the pack. That's why it's important, if someone is at all concerned with commonality, to check not only the current ranking, but that of the past few years to get an idea of what direction, and how fast, the name is moving.

[sayga.livejournal.com]

That's why it's important, if someone is at all concerned with commonality, to check not only the current ranking, but that of the past few years to get an idea of what direction, and how fast, the name is moving.

i totally agree with this. that's something i like to look at when deciding how much i like a name.

my daughter's name (Kira) has been in the top 100 since 1991. it is not rising TOO quickly, although it is increasing. it's stayed in the mid-200 range for the past 8 years. so i don't *think* it'll suddenly jump into the top 50 in the next few years.

[elemmennope.livejournal.com]

Though with the popularity of Keira Knightley, it's possible.

[sayga.livejournal.com]

that's true. she's what made us start noticing the name (i'd known other kiras, but never noticed it was a cool name). :/ but, if it holds off getting super popular for about 4 or 5 years, then i'm happy. cause then at least there won't be 6 million kiera/kira/kyra/keiras in her classes with her.

[anapology.livejournal.com]

What made you go for that spelling? I know a Kira who pronounces it as you'd expect Kyra to be.

[sayga.livejournal.com]

we thought it was the easiest and most obvious spelling. kiera could be pronounced kee-air-uh, kyra could be pronounced kye-ruh, and keira goes against the "i before e" rule, so might be difficult because of that. kira seemed completely obvious. i think just about anyone who sees "kira" written will know how to say it.

the kira you know probably gets called keera by accident a lot. when i first met a kyra, and i asked her "is it kye-ruh or keer-uh?" it was keer-uh, and i'm sure she got called kye-ruh a lot.

[poespretty.livejournal.com]

that's so true. just because every kid didn't have it at that time doesn't mean the trend wasn't rising. at some point, I find I just have to either like or dislike a name irrespective of it's popularity, otherwise I'd probably hate every name. :)

[trissyd.livejournal.com]

It's funny becacuse I know a BOY Madison that was born in 1987... the name has always seemed like a boys name to me, especially because it ends in "son"

Mackenzie is my step-brothers middle name (he's 20).

[x-lostinyou.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've only ever known male Mackenzies.

[poespretty.livejournal.com]

yeah, come to think of it, about 11? years ago, I had a friend who's little brother was named Madison. He was about 3 at the time... and I'd never really heard it used (aside from Splash) before then.

[anapology.livejournal.com]

I really like Allegra.

[poespretty.livejournal.com]

Jenner was (is!) a boy. yeah, I think Allegra's mom picked it out right before the medication came out. I'm sure she wants to kick that drug company's ass. lol

You know though, Nicole is one of those names that sticks around (as in I probably know one in multiple age groups, 27 yr old, 21 yr old, 12 yr old, 9 yr old... etc) but that is not so common so as to be every other girl's name either. for what it's worth, I really like the name Nicole & it's also my good friend/neighbor's name. :)

[mrsduryee.livejournal.com]

My 10-year-old cousin Connor ALWAYS has multiple Connors in his class. More Connors than Michaels or Chris's.