Only like popular girl names - help!!

I named one of my daughters a really unusual name (think around 800 in the list) and have met 4 since she was born. My other daughter has a popular name, and is the only one in her school. She loves her name - it wasn't as popular when I used it and has shot up the charts since - i think it depends where you live. in my area there are very few Jacks or Amelia's, but plenty of Mabel's, Elsie's and Inigo's. (my ds has an usual name and was one of 2 in his nursery.).

There are no Isobel's or Imogen's in my school or nursery. Plenty of Mayas, Mias, Myas etc.

Natasha is the Russian diminutive for Natalie, so naming your child that would be equivalent of naming it for example Lizzy - and not Elisabeth - something I personally dislike a lot.

The number os babies registered in 2012 with those names

Isobel - 585 (but thousands upon thousands of Isabelles, Isabellas etc.)
Imogen - 1454
Mya - 550 (although lots of Mias and Mayas)
Claudia - 178
Natasha - 206

So in actual fact the only name from your list that can be regarded as very popular is Isobel, the rest aren't that commonly used.

I like Claudia and Natasha best.

Imogen I think is going to grow in popularity. Claudia might, Natasha unlikely to.

I can understand wanting to avoid your DD being one of several. It's quite annoying to be one of four/five/six in a group but at least you'll never lack choice for personalised items!

I personally prefer Imogen to anything else, it is also the name of DD4's best friend. She's the only Imogen me, or any of my DD's know.

exoticfruits speaks wisely . One of my dds is in her 2nd year of primary school. They're are 2 children in her year with the same, very unusual name. Parents were not best pleased at the induction day.

Go with what you love. I have 3 daughters, all with names that on Mumsnet are too popular, not identifying enough. So far two are at primary school and they're the only ones in the year. Dd3 has a name that MN usually likes, I'm tripping over them here - names are also very regional.

I would just go for what you like-the funny thing (but not for the parents) is when they think they were being really original and they get another in the same class.

Both my DDS are one of several, doesn't seem to bother them.

There are 1000's of Star's my age, Didn't stop me being told frequently there is no one quite like Star at embarrassingly regular intervals.

I was the eccentric one, DD1 is too, despite our very common names everyone always knows which one they mean

Honestly it doesn't matter, except possibly in that you may get a nn you don't particularly like sticking. The shorter of our two Lauras was always called Smurf and i think it stuck for longer than she would have liked.

The only Natasha I know is 17.

Other names:
Natalie,
Kimberley
Amelie
Annabel
Bethany
Rosalind
Rosamund
Celia
Amanda
Daniella

"does it really matter if 4 kids in class are all called the same?"

Yes, it can be very annoying, for both the teachers and the children. They will have to add a modifier to their name to be identified.

From your list I really like Natasha and don't think that that is that widely used these days. Great underused classic imo.

Natasha seems like quite a strange one to have on your list. You seem to have a predilection for pretty, classic girls names. Not that Natasha isn't pretty objectively but I don't know any under 25 and it was popular when I was at school. I know 4 my age and was at school with 2. So to me it's a bit like Claire or Louise and I associate it with the 1980s. Might just be me though.

Go with a name you love. I picked an uncommon name for DS and I taught a parent class thing when he was a newborn. 3 of the women there subsequently used his name. If we don't move, there will be 4 in his class. It's about 400 on the baby names list. You can't guarantee anything.

Even if you pick the top name on the list there probably won't be another one in the class. Go for the name you like

I like the names on your list apart from Natasha which is a name I've always personally disliked (not helped by working with an awful one).

Agree they are all popular though but again maybe for a reason.....

Currently considering Imogen myself and tbh the popularity is turning me off as I read somewhere before (on an old MN thread) that Isabel, Isla and Imogen were predicted to be hugely popular and unfortunately this seems to have turned out to be the case.

All lovely names and, apart from Isabel, I don't they're overly popular at all.

The Under 16s I know include:
14 Isabels
3 Myas
3 Natashas
1 Imogen
0 Claudias

Natasha is a lovely name and I don't know any little Natashas. I like Mya and Isobel too, and would say these are very popular.

www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/aug/12/baby-names-2012-england-wales?CMP=twt_fbo

Maybe this will help.

Forgot to say, I love Mya. Such a pretty name.

If you like the name then choose it. My DC are known by their nn which are both extremely popular & I LOVE their names & wouldn't want them to be known as anything else! My DC are unique in who they are, its never bothered them if there's three others sharing their name & they've never been known as 'short Bob' or 'skinny Sue'....Maybe because that's not their names! (sorry I'm in a silly mood).

You'll know what's the right name for your baby & good luck.

I would steer clear of Isobel / Isabelle as it is very popular around here (SE London) but I don't know of any Claudias or Imogens and both are beautiful names.

It is difficult with names. I chose two names I liked and my DC are now in their 30s and their names are really, really popular now, so you just can't win :)

I'm not keen on Natasha as I really dislike the nn of Tash. I always feel it is unfortunate if there is a facial hair issue.

I work in school and have 3 DC. I would avoid Mia or variations of as it is popular. The other names on your list aren't especially popular imo.

Sorry, just realized I'm not being helpful at all here, so here's my attempt at advice:

I don't think it matters as much these days if your DC's name is high in the charts, because people are a lot more varied in their choice. 30 years ago there may have been 5 "number 1 name" in each class, but today there may only be 1, because people know what is trendy and purposefully try to give their kids more original names. Here's hoping, anyway...

Oh and Imogen sounds like a really posh/pretentious name to me. Love Claudia, though!!

I don't think Natasha is popular. I met one through work the other day actually and thought oh what a lovely name that you hardly ever hear! Definitely big thumbs up for Natasha from me. Imogen would be my next pick. I don't think any would be one of 4 in the class except maybe Isobel.

ugh, I have the same problem!!

when I found out I was pregnant, I started thinking about names on my own - and once I'd decided that "Olivia", "Amelia" and "Sophie" were lovely, I went to look online, and discovered that's what everyone calls their daughters these days!

I was actually pretty shocked to find out how deeply our subconscious in influenced by the generic "taste" around us. I mean, I'm not even British, and I managed to unwittingly pick 3 names all in the top ten