Life

14 Names That More Than One Kid In Your Class Had

by Kaitlyn Wylde

When I was growing up in the '90s, I was obsessed with my name. And by obsessed, I mean I hated it — I wanted to have one of the names that multiple kids had in my class. I wanted to be a Nicole C., or a Jen B., or a Jill D. I wanted to have a name that was so popular, that I had to had to use my last initial so that people would be able to identify me. I wanted to be able to wonder when I heard the boys talking about how cute Aly is, if it might be me. Aly B.? Aly C.? Aly F.? Aly ME?

And while my name is not unique or special or rare by any means, I was the only Kaitlyn in my class. And if I ever did meet another, it was with a C and an I, even to this day I have to blow people's minds with my weird spelling. I never felt like I was a part of the '90s cool girl's name club. Because when I was being born, my mother didn't have Bustle to help her with finding the right baby name!

If you went to school in the '90s, these were some of the names that more than one kid in your class had and you probably secretly really wanted:

Jessica

Jessicas could be Jessie or Jess, which was so cool and so gender-neutral.

Origin: Hebrew, meaning gift of God, or rich.

Nicole

Nicoles could be Nicky or Cole or even Nick, if you were feeling it.

Origin: French, meaning victory of the people.

Alison

Alisons could be A or Aly, or Aly-Cat if you were super chummy.

Origin: Irish, meaning honest.

Rebecca

Rebeccas could be Becky or Becca or Bex — which was maybe the coolest, because who doesn't want an x in their name?

Origin: Hebrew, meaning servant of God.

Rachel

Rachels could be Rach or Ray, or maybe Rae if you had creative parents.

Origin: Hebrew, meaning an innocent lamb.

Jennifer

Jennifers could be Jen or Jenny or J or Little J — if you were so inspired by Jenny Humphrey later in life.

Origin: English, meaning the fair one.

Katherine

Katherines could be Kate or Katie or Kay — in fact, most people assumed my name was Katherine, and still call me that today.

Origin: Irish, meaning pure or virginal.

Jillian

Jillians could be Jill or Jilly or Jilly-Bean if they were the cutest.

Origin: English, meaning young at heart.

Amy

Amys didn't really have nicknames, but if you knew one, you might have called her "Ames".

Origin: English, meaning beloved.

Molly

Mollys could be Mol or Molls or Molly Dolly or Molly Lolly. (Or, if you're a Weasley, "Molly Wobbles").

Origin: English, meaning bitter.

Brittany

Brittanys could be B or Brit or Britty or even Nay Nay.

Origin: English, meaning from Britain.

Zoe

Zoes could be Zo or Zozie or ZoBo, or just plain Z.

Origin: Greek, meaning life.

Kristen

Kristens could be K or Kris or Krissy.

Origin: English, meaning Christ-Bearer.

Ashley

Ashleys could be Ash or Ashy or Ashes — the name is both poetic and cutesy.

Origin: English, meaning from the ash tree.

Images: Pexels, 1, 2, 3, 4