Lara - why isn't it more popular?

[GeorgianaDevonshire]

I would have loved to have called DD Lara but it didn't go with our surname: Lara Landon just didn't sound right.

My friend has called her DD Lara and people say what a lovely name it is but there don't seem to be many about.

[scarletforya]

It is nice but maybe a bit nothingy. I like it, it's ok. That's it.

[SycamoreMum]

It is a lovely name. Sadly I had a dear friend of the same name pass away a few years ago. She was a gorgeous, good natured girl and I think that name suited her to a tee.

[TigerFeat]

Lara Croft

[cunchofbunts]

Well Lara has tragic connotations. She was the rather sad heroine in Dr Zhivago.

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

I think it's a bit bland. There are nicer names.

[emwithme]

My niece and DH's cousin are both called Lara so we had two at our wedding. It wasn't a name on my radar until DN was called it 10 years ago.

[stareatthetvscreen]

its nice but sounds a bit like lala - sort of a bit nothingy

[Rhubarbgarden]

I think it's beautiful. I like Lorna too.

[ceebelle83]

I love it so much. It was the name I had picked out for the baby I'm currently carrying...until the day I found out Lara was actually going to be a boy! Hehe!

[florascotia]

Perhaps because it's Ancient Greek/Russian and not widely known in the UK until the Dr Zhivago novel/film. I prefer the 'long' version, Larisa/Larissa.

[RedToothBrush]

Lara Croft killed it. Plus L names are starting to drop off in popularity for girls. We've had the Leah and Lucy and Lily thing to death. E and A are the 'in' letters.

[NadiaWadia]

Simple, but lovely. Has glamorous associations with Doctor Zhivago and Lara Croft.

[Benchmark]

To me it is very bland like Laura or Lana or Cara Clara Carla, you get the drift - it doesn't stand out for me.

[27inmyhead]

It's a non-name. I used to know a Lara but nobody seemed to remember her name.

[NadiaWadia]

I don't see why, I suppose you would say the same about Anna, then, or Ava, or Emma?

[KoalaDownUnder]

It's very 70s/80s dated to me. I went to school with a few Laras, and I'm 41.

It's not the most stylish name, to my ears. Lara's siblings would be called something like Travis and Belinda.

Not horrible, just not appealing, tbh.

[HollyBen]

I have met a 4 year old Lara recently. Agree it's nice but a bit blah

[JassyRadlett]

There are two little Laras at nursery - also a Lena, Lila and Lola.

[GeorgianaDevonshire]

Thanks for replies

Dr Zhivago came out in the 60s so I'd be surprised if it influenced parents of new babies. I hadn't made the connection with Lara Croft but then it's not my sort of film.

I don't understand how a name can be a non name.

[Welshcyclist]

We have a one year old Lara as we loved the name from Dr Zhivago, we hadn't even thought of Lara Croft.

[chocolateandbroccoli]

I wanted it for DD2 but DH vetoed it on the basis that it was 'just a couple of vowels with the odd letter in between'. The same could be said of other names - Anna, Emma etc but for some reason the latter seem to have a bit more about them to me. I liked the fact that it's short, pretty and easy to spell and would travel well.

In the event DD2 looked nothing like a Lara and wouldn't have suited the name in the slightest so I'm glad we took a while arguing over it naming her.

I'm currently expecting DD3 and we're considering Greta, Thea and Flora this time round.

[EmmaWoodlouse]

I agree with the person who found it "nothingy". Having said that I like it better than Lana which someone I know did use for her DD.

[PeppermintCrayon]

It's nicer than Lara but does get nicknamed La La!

[franksidebottom]

My oldest dd is called lara. I did get it from lara Croft but i don't care. I love it.

[Clawdy]

Lara in Dr Zhivago was such a strong and beautiful character, so the name always sounds lovely to me.