Samuel - how popular in (south) London

[KateAdieLovelyLady]

Hi

We're down to a couple of possible names for our baby boy, due this summer. One of these is Samuel.

Obviously it's a popular choice (at least top 20), which doesn't particularly bother us as we love the name, but I was wondering if anyone in south London could tell us if it's especially popular in this area?

I'm not bothered about giving him a "unique" or "different" name, but wasn't sure if there are likely to be hordes of them in every class at school. Round where we are, there seem to be lots of little boys named Oscar, Felix, Max, Noah etc, but we haven't come across any baby Sam(uel)s so far...

Thank you!

[confusedfirsttimemum]

Yes, extremely. I know four under the age of one. Sorry, probably not the answer you wanted...

[KateAdieLovelyLady]

As I half feared then, sigh... I guess we need to decide just how much we love this name, and whether it's enough to overcome the popularity. Thanks for your reply!

[EldonAve]

I don't know any

[confusedfirsttimemum]

Round here (SE), there are loads of Sam, Oscar, Max, James, Jack and Thomas. Old Testament names are also on the up - Jacob, Noah, Isaac, etc.

What you don't hear a lot of, if it helps, is the more old school boy's names like Mark, Paul and Philip...

If you love the name Samuel, just go for it though!

[lucy567]

very popular where I am.

[KateAdieLovelyLady]

Gah, this naming thing is so difficult!

Our other frontrunner is Christopher, shortened to Kit, which is much lower down the statistics lists. Our surname begins with a C, though, and while it's two syllables long, it can sound like one when said quickly. We're not sure whether we like the alliteration and whether we'd be opening him up to a lifetime of being nicknamed KitKat...!

I get the feeling we won't be able to make a final choice until he pops out and we see him.

Thanks again.

[tattycoram]

My ds is 3 and I only know two Sams, so I wouldnt say much more popular than other boys names. Loads of Stanleys round here (SE London)

[campion]

If you stick with Samuel, you won't find many at all. The rest will all be 'Sam' in no time, I promise you.

Samuel is a lovely, strong name. ( Not biased )

[Katy86]

i think it is very popular here (south london) i live in south london too and am expecting baby in early october if i have a boy im going to call him Samuel and not let the popularity bother me xx

[SillyTillyBilly]

I love the name Samuel. I do know five under the age of 4 (spread around the country) but to be honest I know a lot of babies so I don't think that is too bad. It is cute but works well on a grown man and Sam is lovely too. It is one of my favourites actually.

[caen]

I know two from one NCT group. There was also three in my class last year, Sam, Samuel and Sammy though. It is a great name so don't let that put you off. Kit is fantastic IMO.

[5DollarShake]

Well, I'm in North London and haven't come across any amongst the babies I know - though I do realise it's a very popular name, nonetheless.

It is on our short-list in case DC2 turns out to be a boy instead of a girl.

DH loves the name, and couldn't care less about the popularity.

[vickyob]

My ds is is 3 and one of the reasons I didnt want Sam was that it was a top 10 name the year he was born. However the other name we had decided on didnt suit him and Im soo glad we went for Samuel, there isnt another one in nursery or preschool and has lots of nn options.

[SE13Mummy]

I'm in SE London and only know a few boys named Samuel and only one of those is under 2. There are only a couple in the primary school I teach at so it certainly doesn't feel like an overused name round here.

[kalo12]

i know one - a 2 yr old in se london

what about samson for a variation?

[CheerfulYank]

It's my favorite name! I have one and he's fanastic.

[chandellina]

i second Samson.

[MartinlovesDebi]

I know a few but not overwhelming by any means (SW)

[Strix]

In WEst London I know a million 5-7 year olds named Sam. There are 4 in DD's year at school (out of some 60 children)

[APassionateWoman]

I know a fair few Samuels/Sams/Sammys. I still think it's a great name (am in north London) and it seems to be a genuine across-the-board name in terms of class, ethnicity etc (a few Sammys short for Samir around here, too).

I considered it for my last baby (who turned out to be a girl!), and would consider it again.

[weasle]

i am in SE london and only know of 1 sam/samuel here who is 4ish.

it's a good name.