Zizi Sparks: Why having a unique name has its ups and downs

What to name a child is one of the biggest decisions expectant parents must make. Photo / Getty Images

OPINION

Debbie, Lizzie, and Izzy. Those are just some of the names I've been called on the phone when I answer "hello, Zizi speaking".

Another common response is "pardon", "sorry who?" or "your parents must be very creative".

I've dealt with it all my life. My reply is generally an awkward giggle, a "haha thanks" or a "Zizi, that's zed-eye-zed-eye".

This is the curse of the uncommon name – Saoirse, Niamh and Joaquin would understand - but I don't think I'd change it. I'm often told I have the name of a rock star or an author.

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I would rather be unique than have shared a name with three people in a school class of 30.

It does seem unusual names are becoming more common and many parents want their children to have unique names or a point of difference – think Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple. Kim Kardashian's daughter's name North and Beyonce and Jay-Z's daughter Blue Ivy.

However, expectant parents come back to the same names it seems. Department of Internal Affairs data shows only 21 boys' names and 18 girls' names have been in the top 10 between 2011 and 2020.

Oliver has been the most popular boys' name every year since 2013, with Jack in the second spot every year except 2019. Other top 10 fixtures of the last decade are William with an annual appearance, Lucas and Noah with nine appearances, James with eight and Mason with seven.

On the girls' side, Charlotte, Amelia and Olivia have featured in the top 10 every year since 2011 with Sophie in the mix nine times and Isla, Ella and Emily appearing eight times.

Other common names over the years include Sarah which held the top spot from 1974 to 1989 before being knocked off by Jessica from 1990 to 2002. Joshua was the most common boy's name from 1995 to 2004 and has featured in the top 10 often since then.

Needless to say, Zizi wasn't in the top name data, so I looked further afield.

An international site called Forebears shows you how common your name is. According to that site, there are 36,681 Zizis in the world with the most people of that name in Egypt. In contrast, there are more than 14 million Johns and more than 61 million Marias – the most common name in the world according to the site.

My whole life I've been the only Zizi in the room while when the roll was called at school the teacher would have to specify whether she was calling Jess M or Jess B.

At the end of the day, I like having a unique name. It isn't a bad thing. I never felt like I wanted a different name, I was never teased for the one I had.

While I may never find my name on a store-bought key ring, I know that most people will never have met someone else with my name.

And if one day I do get a key ring with my name on it. I know it will be extra special and one-of-a-kind.