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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Anyone actually managed to pick an unusual name?

382 replies

Carlitawantsababy · 05/10/2011 18:44

I'd really love my DC to have an unusual name and personally wouldn't like it if there ended up being 4 others in his/her class at school etc. I gathered together a list of names I like bit looking on here loads of other people like them too so I've clearly, subconsciously, picked up a penchant for fashionable names. So..I was wondering, did you pick an unusual name for your DC which is actually still unusual now they are at school? How did you do it and have you got any tips for avoiding the latest trends?

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Camerondiazepam · 05/10/2011 20:30

Surely Xavier is quite unusual? As in, it is clearly a "proper", recognised name, but not many people call their children Xavier. Surely?

Original poster
Carlitawantsababy · 05/10/2011 20:28

that's a little catty peppa! Xavier is hardly a common name! I'm not saying I want a name that no one has ever heard of, just not one that everyone says, oh, I have 6 friends who've just called their babies that. I'm finding the baby names statistics useful, I've eliminated 3/4 names from both the boys and girls lists I have so thanks for that tip! :) also googling baby - name - 2011 and seeing how many come up!

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thisisyesterday · 05/10/2011 20:25

I have a Linus. we have never met another one and I think it's relatively unusual without being weird

Xavielli · 05/10/2011 20:22

I didn't say Xavier was unusual, I said I have never met one.

PeppaPigandGeorge · 05/10/2011 20:20

I think most people who think they've picked an unusual name have either a) not actually picked anything unusual (Xavier, for example) and just think they have or b) picked something that is just ridiculous. Pick the name you like and don't worry about "trends".

Xavielli · 05/10/2011 20:15

I have a Xavier and Eliana. Have never met another person with either name.

booyhoo · 05/10/2011 20:14

i know an elana. sorry.

StellaAndFries · 05/10/2011 20:08

DD2 is an Elana and I haven't met another yet.

TeamEdward · 05/10/2011 20:07

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Original poster
Carlitawantsababy · 05/10/2011 20:06

ooh locket love your names, esp. cassius and rex, I knew a cassius when I was younger and he was gorgeous, nn cassie

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TeamEdward · 05/10/2011 20:06

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comedaygoday · 05/10/2011 20:06

Probably the best way to be unique is yo choose s well known name which is currently out of favour e.g. Peter or Andrew for a boy; Linda or Jane for a girl. In all honesty though, choose a name you love and try not to worry if others share your (excellent) taste. DS1 is called Elijah which whilst not common, seems on the evidence of this board, to be becoming more popular. Do I mind? Not especially. I still love the name and I would rather have an Elijah that shared his name, than an Icabod who was the only one with that name.

TeamEdward · 05/10/2011 20:05

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bluecake · 05/10/2011 20:04

My DD's name is not common (only around 90 in each of the last few years according to the ONS stats) but it is a classic, not old-fashioned and everyone has heard it before. When we tell people they always react as if they are pleasantly surprised and we always get compliments - never had anyone just say 'oh that's nice', people ask how we chose it or comment on what a lovely name it is or how they once knew somebody called it but haven't heard it for years etc.

However you don't need to look too far down the list for names that are unique within your area/circle of acquaintance. DS's name is just in the top 50 but we have yet to meet anyone with his name (other than a boy in the supermarket just the other day!) and I think we'll be unlucky if someone else has his name at school.

Original poster
Carlitawantsababy · 05/10/2011 20:04

scathac what are the names pleeaase? I love someof the old scottish names I've seen.
shinyshoes what's your DD's name please?
everyone stop teasing and tell me what the names are!

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lockets · 05/10/2011 20:01

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SconesForTea · 05/10/2011 20:01

DD's name is unusual - it's a tiny village in Cornwall that most people have never heard of but is meaningful to us Smile

4madboys · 05/10/2011 20:00

my dd was almost named Astrid, in the end we chose Merryn, there are 31 or 33 of them last year, its not popular at all and we often get asked about it and where its from (its cornish) we are not cornish tho my dp has some cornish ancestory (long ago) we just liked it!

booyhoo · 05/10/2011 19:58

not it's mother, his mother Blush

momnipotent · 05/10/2011 19:58

Both DD's have unusual names and we have never met anyone else with those names.

booyhoo · 05/10/2011 19:57

yes i did. i used a very old irish name for ds1. there is 1 other child that i know of with this name and that child only has the same name because my mother delivered the child and it's mother wanted something that complimented her older 2 boys' irish names so my mum suggested my son's name and the woman loved it.

poor ds2 is in nursery with a boy who has the same first name and surname!

Shinyshoes1 · 05/10/2011 19:56

My daughters name is unusual and when people hear it, they pause and say 'isn't that lovely' Smile

Scathac · 05/10/2011 19:54

I used old fashioned, traditional names for my boys. I have only ever in my life met one other person with each name (one was an old school friend of mine, the other a parent of a Swedish family I knew). Neither name is weird or unheard of, just no longer used. So, the boys win all round!! BTW we are Scots, and the names are old Scots names.

mousymouse · 05/10/2011 19:11

haven't met another person with my ds name.
the short version of my dd name is a bit popular atm, but she is the only one with that name at nursery.

ThePosieParker · 05/10/2011 19:06

If I ever were to have a baby it would be a Posy....but I think I'll settle for a pug.