Nice but popular or marmite?

Marmite all the way.
I like Luna but even if I didnt like the name I would still think more of it than an everywhere name.

Marmite in general

Don't like Luna because of the Loony nickname possibility.

Ella is nice.

I like Luna actually, but in general if you're really not sure about a marmite name perhaps go for something in between - Ella is VERY popular. There are two in most classes at my dds school, and that's no exaggeration.

I like both names. Not much help, sorry. Have actually done both the popular and marmite options with DD1 - marmite full name, popular nickname.

If you can I would go for the name I truly loved, rather than the one that I thought would be more acceptable to others. No name will ever be 100% loved by everyone you know, so it's better to please yourself. Although as I've said before, that doesn't apply if you want to call your child Crapbag.

I like Luna. But I do think of Luna Lovegood (not a problem, she's a great character).

I have a bit of a "thing" about cute sounding names. Mainly the Polly, Dolly, Poppy, Rosie, Daisy, Betsy, Evie, Edie types. Basically anything ending in an "ee" sound, but also most names ending in "ah" sounds like Ava, Mia, Ella (sorry). I think there's something inherent that bugs me about giving baby girls names that are too cute because I think it sets them up to be girly, princess types. I know this is probably irrational but I would want to give a DD something strong sounding, preferably ending in a hard constant sound.

There are always exceptions, for example I really like the name Sylvia. And Luna.

So to (sort of) answer your question, a marmite name is fine as long as you love it, a popular name is fine as long as you love it.

Choose the name you love the most. My ds has a very popular name (has been top 10 forever), but my dd has a (marmite) name well outside top 500. Both are secondary school age and both very happy with there respective names - bit similar to you and your dsis. FWIW, I don't think choosing a popular name makes it any the less special.

Dislike Luna. Ella is much nicer. I don't understand why people get so hung up on using popular names.

I really really dislike the name Ella and all it's variations. It's EVERYWHERE and it's such a meh name. It's popularity puzzles me.

I'd prefer to be called Luna over it any day.

Prefer Una or Oonagh to Luna and Ella is lovely but I know a few who are just Ella and a few who are Ella, short for Isabella, Gabriella etc etc

When deciding on our name lists, we did discount anything in top 10 - purely to help us narrow it down! We haven't regretted discounting those names.
Ultimately you have to go with the name you love. If that is the top name then so be it.

I don't like either of them. But it only matters what you & your partner think, i know ella is v popular but if you love it why not? My friend's daughter has a very unusual name and loves it so when she had her own children she chose unusual names too, in fact she made 2 of them up because she likes the sounds they make when you say them aloud. Some people are very rude about the names but she couldn't care less and fair play to her.

my dcs have pretty normal names but then i have no imagination!

Ella is very popular. Add into that other El names... Ellie, Eleanor, Ellen and the very, very popular Elsa, it all becomes one big el love off. BTW, dd2 has an El name and I love it.

I have the most popular name ever, shout it when you're out and about and half of the females aged 30 to babies will turn around. In fact I probably have the same name as your sister . I was never the only one in my class and even at work im known as first name initial.

For the dds I wouldn't consider anything over 300 in the popularity chart. Dd2s is on the rise but not majorly so I hope. Dd1s is rare but still a known name.

So I would go for the marmite name every time.

I really don't like Ella, it sounds like half a name to me.

Luna just conjures images of Harry Potter or the M&P pram. I wouldn't like to be called Luna.

I have both - DD is outside the top 500 and I've never come across another though it's a known name, DS name has been in the top 10 forever and was named after my grandad. There's only one other with his name in the whole school and it is a big school. The mw made a comment after he was born about how his name is common compared to Dd's.

I was going to call my daughter Ella but chickened out as it is so popular. I liked it before it became popular though! So I can understand that putting you off. Luna I'm not too keen on.

I get you on the popualrity think but I really don't like Luna.

The only name I really dislike at the moment is Ava as so many Ava's here.

Can you go back to the drawing list. Lots of names that aren't in the top 100 out there?

If you were 100% confident and happy about Luna, go for it though. Your baby at the end of the day.

I love Luna - it's quite popular in Spain but not so much here

I would have liked it for DD2 but DH said his hairdresser's dog was called Luna so rejected it

Ella for me is too popular - only one at DD1s nursery but know 2 others outside there.

For me I think a lot of the vowel names have been overdone in recent years

Ella is pretty popular as are all the 'Ell' names.

I don't like Luna at all, it makes me think 'lunatic' and it just sounds a bit frantic.