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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unpopular names?

183 replies

zumm · 10/12/2011 13:52

Well, it's all in the spin. Tomat-o is to tom-ayto as unpopular is to unusual. Anyone managed to name a child something that isn't in the top 150? If so, share? Everyone seems to be William or Alex around here.

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FunnysInTheGarden · 12/12/2011 14:19

we have a Fabian and a Rafe, neither were in the top anything when we named them

MamaLazarou · 12/12/2011 14:18

My little boy's name was ranked 7 thousand and something-th in the UK in the year he was born (2010).

It's not weird or wacky, though - just unfashionable.

cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 12/12/2011 14:04

We have a Meredith- very underused but beautiful (in my opinion Grin)

My other frontrunner was Tess / Teresa but DH vetoed it. For a boy it would have been Nathaniel. I also really like Peter- don't hear many of them these days.

cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 12/12/2011 14:04

We have a Meredith- very underused but beautiful (in my opinion Grin)

My other frontrunner was Tess / Teresa but DH vetoed it. For a boy it would have been Nathaniel. I also really like Peter- don't hear many of them these days.

Original poster
zumm · 12/12/2011 13:58

Tammy - agree with classic timeless but not popular. HOWEVER, I find it difficult to think of any/many. Classic and timeless are often quite popular (Tom, William, Joshua, Alexander, Jacob, etc - all in top 20 I think).

OP posts:
Original poster
zumm · 12/12/2011 13:55

I agree that Jesse sounds a bit girly - though in fact it's of course a very strong OT name. I wonder if it'll make a bit of a come-back a la Gabriel?
Asher sounds lovely in English (but I couldn't use it since have German family who, I bet, would link it with the German for bum - or at least they draw much hilarity from the name Ashling = sounds like little arse in German).

OP posts:
tammytoby · 12/12/2011 13:28

Actually their 'proper' name is Jessica, shortened to Jess/Jessy.

tammytoby · 12/12/2011 13:27

Love Asher for a boy!

Jesse sounds a little girly to me but probably because I know a couple of Jess's who get called Jessy.

tammytoby · 12/12/2011 13:27

By definition 'unpopular' names, those that aren't used by the masses, are not going to be super popular or loved. But they are likely to be more timeless and less likely to date as the trendy names fall out of favour again. They also tend to be more 'useful' as a name - in terms of identifying a person (without having to add initials or other descriptive adjectvives Smile).
So I'm a big fan of classic, timeless but not popular names!

Clawdy · 12/12/2011 13:26

Last two babies born in our family are Jesse and Asher (seven weeks old and one week old ). What do people think?

Original poster
zumm · 12/12/2011 12:42

Cece - share! :)

OP posts:
JambalayaWarmMincePie · 11/12/2011 13:46

Ooooh, thanks for posting the ONS link - far more fun way of researching names than the baby book!

There are some crackers!!

cece · 11/12/2011 13:23

Just looked at the lists. My DDs name, which I thought was a bit out there at the time, is now in the top 100. DS1 and 2 who both have more 'normal ' names are at about 180 and 860 respectively! LOL

poppydaisy · 11/12/2011 12:21

I think Valerie is very pretty actually. And I know a little Mabel which I wasn't sure about initially but quite like now.

PelvicFloorOfHighTensileTinsel · 11/12/2011 00:19

The ons statistics for names can be found here, the 5th or 6th tab on the spreadsheet is every name used in 2010 so you can see what number they come in at.

hohohoshedittant · 11/12/2011 00:08

I know a little Maude and I know loads of Aoife's (not in Ireland, but high Irish population).

I don't know any under 5's called;

Vincent
Simon
Garth
Sharon
Kathleen
Veronica

or Marnie, which is a name I actually really like.

ThoseClementineShoes · 10/12/2011 23:56

Whoops. Seem to have somewhat misunderstood the question.

Eloisa is lovely. I think I might sort of like Maud(e) too.

bigbluebump · 10/12/2011 22:34

Thank you zumm and Lonnie Smile. Yes, Eloisa and Phoebe are very lovely too! How about John (Johnnie) or Robert (Robbie) - they're both quite underused these days?

ThoseClementineShoes · 10/12/2011 22:18

Gladys
Doreen
Doris
Portia
Hortensia

Graham
Barry
Derek

ThoseClementineShoes · 10/12/2011 22:15

Ethel
Edna
Ethel
Rosamund

Martin
Brian
Keith
Kevin
Ken

cece · 10/12/2011 21:43

Less popular names that were on our shortlist at one time or another -

Verity, Una, Gregory, Noel, Mark.

DD's name was about number 300 or 400 or so when we named her but is now hovering about number 100 I believe.

Lonnie · 10/12/2011 20:46

smiles thank you I particularly love Eloisa as I dreamt we had a little girl named that I feel like I got " my name" with her dh hadHis with dd1.. I've always loved Quintin too so agree with you BigBlues ds name is gorgeous

Original poster
zumm · 10/12/2011 19:45

BigBlue and Lonnie -what lovely 'unpopular' names ;). Eloisa is especially gorgeous.

OP posts:
Lonnie · 10/12/2011 19:38

I have Phoebe (wasnt on the top 150 list when we named her 14 years ago it is very popular now)

Eloisa I have yet to meet another but am aware Eloise is growing in popularity

Conrad Only know one other and he is 40 odd

and Aoife

For us we wanted names not in the top 10 list it bugged me how popular Phoebe became but I still love it as a name

bigbluebump · 10/12/2011 17:41

We have a Quentin - I think it was number 1300 or something last year.