We really had no idea

When our beautiful little Cub was born in 2007, we didn't consult baby name books or check lists for popular names. We just went with what we liked. And in all honesty, we had to compromise on something that we both were not repulsed by. We love the name and can't think of anything else that would fit him better now, but it was neither Noel’s nor my first choice. So it was a shocker to me to read (about this same time last year - they must release it around Mother's Day) that Jacob was number one boy name for 2007. Ugh. And now I see this article and not only is Jacob number one again for 2008, it has been number one for 10 years! Double ugh. I don’t know if this information would have swayed our choice, but we had no intention to subject another Jacob onto the world. Let’s hope he likes to go by Cub, because the other nickname he’s picked up (Jacob-pie) could very well embarrass him as he grows older.

I wonder if the name popularity has anything to do with the award-winning young adult book, "Jacob Have I Loved," from 1980. I remember it on the library shelves as a kid and I've always liked the title and no doubt probably liked the name from it. Looking at the Wikipedia book summary, I question whether or not I ever read it; if I did the plot and themes didn't stick. Just the name.