…I’m more like 1 in 74,611,054. It’s true. I did the math using 2006 U.S. population statistics (because I am SUCH a stickler for detail and accuracy). Don’t believe me? Check out this pretty cool gizmo–
| HowManyOfMe.com | ||
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- There are 359,962 people in the U.S. with the first name Robin (I know 3 of them and interestingly I don’t know ANY children with "Robin" for a first or middle name).
- Statistically the 160th most popular first name (I wonder what the 159 more popular names are).
86.67 percent of people with the first name Robin are female (Anyone else thinking The Boy Wonder?).- There are 3,630 people in the U.S. with the last name _________ (yeah, like I’d give THAT up…it’s about the ONLY thing I don’t post here….:/).
- Statistically the 9069th most popular last name (tied with 101 other last names) (I DON’T wonder what the other 9,068 more popular last names are).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kidding aside, I have NEVER liked my first name. NEVAH. It wasn’t just because of the tired and predictable "Where’s Batman?" or Robinhood jokes in grade school. Or heaven forbid, I almost forgot–probably out of repression–the "red BREAST" jokes! Those had ME turning red (my CHEEKS not my breast, thank yew very much…!).
"Robin" isn’t a mysterious or exotic or exciting or pretty name…. It’s like white bread and water…nothing really wrong with it, it serves a purpose, but you aren’t just dyin’ to have it, either.
In the 1960s, the decade I was born, "Robin" was ranked 34th in popularity; in the 70s, it had dropped to 68th; by the 80s, it landed at 130th, 90s, 325th. Since the turn of the century, it has settled at 847th. See the downward trend? In the next decade, it’ll fall off the charts completely! Incidentally, after curiosity compelled me to check out the 50s, I realized the decade my parents chose this name was the time frame the name "Robin" was at its popularity zenith. Hmmmm…
Through the years I’ve often mused what I would name myself. During the tween into teen years, "Tiffany", "Amber" and "Nicole" led the pack. My twenties I had "more mature" androgynous leanings–"Jordan", "Morgan", "Taylor", "Madison".
Wanna know what name I’d pick today? I think today it would be Gabrielle.
G a b r i e l l e. Feel how it just rolls off your tongue? Gabrielle is mysterious and exotic and exciting and pretty. Delightful nicknames can be derived from it…Gabby or Brie or Elle. What the heck nickname can you get from "Robin"–Robs? Roberta? Robsicle?? (yes, I have been called all three).
What about you? Have you ever wanted to change your name? If so, do share, I’d love to know I’m not the only one…:/.
HT to Claudia for this fun little quiz :). When I began, I sure didn’t plan on writing an entire post around it…that’s bloggin’ for ya!
there are 13 people with enid’s (real) name in the usa. wow, she’s surprised because her surname is fairly unusual.
ps she really likes robin as a name. there should be a web site where people can swap names.
Dear robin. I prefer robin over Gabrielle! (I knew a Gabrielle once). To me, robin sounds peaceful and free… Not sure why. Only two people in the US have my name. Wow, only two people! Now I feel special. Over here in Ukraine, your name could be… Robinchka, Robochka, Rosha, Rena, Ronya (million nicknames for every name here). Some of those are nice…?
i like robin. i have yet to meet anyone who has liked their name. as a kid, i always tried to go as my middle name renee.
not trying to hog your comments section, but i just took the test. with my maiden name, i was the only one in the US. with my married last name there are almost 50 of us sharing the same name (including a porn star!)
cool quiz.
Enid, interesting… Maybe there can be a reality show based on people swapping names, their stories, etc.
No, nevermind ;).
Dear Little Miss Moi, sweet one, you are. I think I’ll choose…Robinchka, it sounds so Ukrainian ;).
Nikki, I have another blog post yet to be written about my middle name…lol. I’m glad you came back to “report” your findings. BTW, there was only one famous person with our last name, no porn star!
I am one of 343 with my first and last name. Interesting, I don’t know any children with my name, either, I guess it was a passing fancy in the late 60’s. I hated my name growing up, too common. I tolerate it now becaue I don’t feel like spending money to change it.
I understand the nickname thing, too. I usually get called ‘Leese.’ Drives me crazy, as I have one of the shortest names anyway, why the need to shorten it more?
I also hated my name as a kid. I didn’t know a SINGLE soul with the same name. I honestly thought it was an alien name!
It’s been confused with “Mary” (Huh?!), Eerin (I don’t even know how to pronounce that) and, worst of all, “Erwin.” That little gem came from my little league softball coach. Made me want to crawl under the dugout every time! (And convinced me it WAS an alien name!)
I’ve known a man named Robin. His wife’s name was Marty. I think THEY need to swap names.
There are 5,640 people in the U.S. named James Cooper.
Hmm, surprising. I’d have expected a whole lot more than that.
I have no particular qualms with my name. It’s even amusing to me when the occasional teacher or English major associates my name with James Fenimore Cooper. Every now and then though, I do play about with pseudonyms in case I ever choose to give writing under an assumed name a try.
Haven’t settled on any favorites as yet, though.
Well – since I am the Original Karmyn, you know how I feel about that. (and btw – according to that census – there are no Karmyn’s anywhere. It’s not listed and neither is my last name – I’m just too Original all the way around).
I’ve known 2 other Robin’s in my lifetime – one was my best friend’s brother. The other is my mom’s cousin. (and um – b/n you and me – you are the BEST Robin there is).
Just in case one of me wasn’t enough for ya, there are 7,644 others beside me 😉
And I’ve never minded my name. I actually like it. But I’ve always wanted a cool nickname. Oh well.
But I’ve liked the name Robin. I think it’s a good name, and not because of Boy Wonder, either.
I’m quite common when it comes to names … 480 .. but it doesn’t use middle names.
That would knock me down a bit I think.
Karmyn forgot the retarded Robin.
Lisa, now that you mention it, I don’t know any children with your name, but I know several adults…hmmmmm.
Erin, your name is VERY special to me 🙂 (my bf and niece share it…and I kinda like you, too 😉 ). I have no idea where they get “Mary”?? It’s like “Jack” for John…
Geez, James, sounds like quite a few to me. You ought to have a contest @ pen names (if you dare)…quite a departure from Visible Wear’s “usual”. BTW, what’s with “worn”?
Karmyn **BIG smiles** :D. Is Pamela saying the best “Robin” was retarded??? Or is she callin’ me names now? lol either way!
Yikes, Mike! Sounds like a clone army!! You want a cool nickname? I’ll give you a cool nickname…lemme think on that a while…;)
Pamela, you are one in a squillion, no matter how bad you talk about me!
Cool!!! I’m looking forward to it 🙂
I like your name just as it is without nicknames for it…it doesn’t need ’em! And I prefer names that aren’t too common…nothing as aggravating as having a class full of Ashleys or Jennifers!!
You forgot “Rockin’ Robin”.
My newest Mommy friend IRL is named Robin–she’s awesome. Great name.
Gabrielle–the name of the daughter of my old boyfriend. Yet, also the name of the daughter of one of my best friends.
I know there are at least two other people with the same name as mine–one in Wisconsin about an hour from me, and one out east.
I went through the Charlie’s Angels kick and wanted to be Kelly back in the 70s. It didn’t stick.
I had the particular distinction of having all three (first, middle, and last) names begin with L. Makes for good script. BUT my grandfather said my name sounded like a shrimp boat.
There’s one other with my full name but no one out there with the name Beccy!
My sister is called Samantha and I always wanted to be called Tabitha as a child (guess I liked bewitched) but Mum wouldn’t call me that!
There’s 3 of me 🙂 Look out world!
BUT there is no one (not one – huh?) with my husband’s name – how can that be???
Cool post, Robin. I like your name (one of my favorite aunts’ name is Robin. And I know a little boy named Wren (yes, after the bird).
Mom-2-3, I ALMOST mentioned that one, too…I sure “heard about” it enough back in the day ;). Glad you have a favorable association with my name.
Kelly, I mean Lori, but did you have the hair? Did you have that Charlie’s Angels HAIR???
Hmmm, alliteration in a name can be good, but I’m trying to figure out how that sounded like a shrimp boat!
Oooo, Beccy, didn’t every little girl want to be Tabitha and wiggle her nose and get exactly what she wanted? I did ;).
Suz, your comment made me grin :). Guess your hubby broke the mold! And, again, I’m glad you have a GOOD association. Gee, think if your name was Sparrow…or Finch…or heaven forbid, Cuckoo! (lol)
Well, of the 330 people in the country with my last name, I’m the only one with my first name. When did they all immigrate? The last I heard there were only 4 of us.
“Geez, James, sounds like quite a few to me. You ought to have a contest @ pen names (if you dare)…quite a departure from Visible Wear’s “usual”. BTW, what’s with “worn”?”
Haha, perhaps a contest could be fun. I might even be able to dig up some prize, aside from recognition for coming up with the new pen name.
As to the name worn, Visible Wear first started off as an anonymous personal blog and worn was to be my new codename. The blog idea didn’t stick and I just never got around to changing the name there, though I have often meant to :-p
LCO, is that a rhetorical question?
James, contests are ALWAYS fun! But don’t just limit it to the weekends, dang it…I keep missing ’em here and there! Do you still have your anon blog even though it didn’t stick? What the heck does THAT mean?
Okay, Robin…the middle name is Leigh. The Lori Leigh. I can smell the salt air now (of course I can …I can almost see it from my window!)
And, NO, I have never been able to achieve anything remotely like Kelly-hair. Dorothy Hamill, yes, my grandmother, unfortunately yes, maybe even a bit of the spirally haired girl from CSI. But my hair is my personal thorn in the flesh. I have given up on styling. If I’m trying to dress up I just manage to blow it dry–otherwise it’s the ever-faithful ponytail…
I LIKE Lori Leigh (lol, but yeah, I understand why your grandfather said what he said now). Beach envy, too!
Heeeeeey, I had a Dorothy Hamill cut in the 8th grade…SMASHING on her, ridiculous on me :/ (not kidding, I was embarrassed to go in public and could barely style it).
Hey there lady! Just wanted to let you know that “Robin” is not just from a bird’s name. It is actually the feminine pet name for Robert-which means “bright fame”.
That’s what I’d tell people. Unless you think then they would start calling you Robert…..
P.S.~My first name is less popular than yours (only 76,000+ people with my name make it 610th (tied with 12 others) and like TWICE as rare as your name is) and yet there are FIVE people in the US who have the same name as me, and you only have four. What does this mean? LoL