Is there a more immediate way to assess fellow parents than by the names they choose for their children? A name is the very first piece of information we gather about someone. It shapes their introduction to the world and reflects the conscious decision a parent makes when identifying their child. Many parents spend countless months—sometimes even years—searching for the ideal name, leading us to either praise their choice, criticize it, or, if we’re a bit judgmental (hand raised!), poke fun at it.
For those with even a mild interest in baby names, the plethora of name lists, compilations, and galleries offers endless entertainment. Each list serves as a mirror reflecting societal trends.
Take the rankings of popular names, for instance. They provide an opportunity to scoff at the collective mindset of the crowd. These lists give insights into who will share classrooms with our kids, who we’ll encounter at the playground, and whose photos will flood our social media feeds. Don’t know a “Liam”? Just wait! (Of course, I know multiple Liams, and you probably do too.)
Even more entertaining are the compilations of the year’s most unconventional names. These allow us to look down on those who believe their children can thrive with an odd name. “Sourdough”? Really? Even a devoted bread lover like me can’t fathom that multiple parents genuinely named their child “Sourdough.”
Before I became a parent, I thought opting for unique names was the way to go. As a Lisa, I’ve carried the weight of one of my generation’s most popular names. My small high school class had 6 other Lisas, and my last name doesn’t help distinguish me—there are 3 other Lisa Carters at my local grocery store.
I never imagined I’d replicate what I viewed as my parents’ mistake, yet here I am, a Lisa with a child whose name ranks among the most common. Yes, I joined the ranks of those who chose a popular name for their child. And after some adjustment, I’ve come to see the value in it. Here’s why:
When it came time to name my son, I didn’t want something so far from the mainstream that it would make him stand out for the wrong reasons. I also wanted to avoid names that would scream “this kid was born in the 2020s.” It definitely couldn’t rhyme with “Aiden,” nor start with a K.
Above all, my partner and I had one essential requirement: the name had to be easy to spell and pronounce. This stems partly from my own childhood, where I witnessed my mother’s struggles with her name. Her name, Elyse, was not only unusual but also spelled in a way that required her to spell it out for people constantly. Even now, in the age of emails and social media, people still can’t resist misspelling it.
Thus, we settled on “Mason” for our first son, and unknowingly, we bestowed upon him the fifth most popular name for baby boys born in 2009.
I didn’t fully grasp the extent of Mason’s popularity until he attended camp last summer. In his group of 14 kids, there were 2 Masons, 1 boy named Masonique, and 1 girl named Maysen. Admittedly, Masonique and Maysen might only appear in specific circles, but still—4 out of 14 kids had similar names? That felt excessive! At first, I worried I had made a poor choice for my son.
However, I soon realized that the kids didn’t mind at all. My son became “Mason C” (he takes his dad’s last name), while the girl Maysen was humorously labeled “Girl Maysen.” Each child developed their own nickname. Mason decided he would be Mason the Brave and began pretending to be a knight, declaring his bravery (okay, that’s another aspect we’ll need to address).
This experience made me reconsider my biases against popular names. What purpose does it serve to give your child an uncommon name? Even if you think you’ve chosen something entirely unique, there’s probably someone else who had the same idea. Even “Sourdough,” as bizarre as it sounds, isn’t entirely original—multiple families thought they were choosing something one-of-a-kind, and what did they get? A name that’s shared with several others.
Does a distinctive name make a child special? Regardless of whether our children are named Oliver, Ella, or Sunday, they are all extraordinary in their own right. And no matter what their name is, each child is a unique individual with their own personality.
Your child will grow into their own identity, whether they’re named Jackson, Jaxon, or Jellybean (I mean, if “Apple” can be a name, why not Jellybean?). But which name will lead to teasing? Which will require them to constantly spell it out for others?
There’s no reason to complicate things with a name that raises eyebrows just to assert your child’s uniqueness. They will be remarkable simply because of who they are, except for those unfortunate kids named Sourdough. They might just be the most ordinary kids around.
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Summary:
Choosing a name for your child is a significant decision that reflects your values and aspirations for them. While unique names may seem appealing, opting for a more common name can foster ease in social situations and identity formation. Ultimately, every child is extraordinary, regardless of their name.