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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names touted as "very popular" on here

114 replies

SomeSunnySunday · 10/08/2014 15:55

I have noticed the name which we have chosen for our baby girl, due in 4 months, mentioned as being "very popular" and a "one of 3 in a class" name on here quite a few times recently.

I want to avoid a very, very popular name (probably top 20). However we don't know, or even know of, a single other baby, child or adult with this name (and as a mother of 2 young children, I go to a lot of activity groups etc so come across a lot of children). There are no children with this name in DC1's primary school, and when I checked the name stats for Scotland (where we live) for last year, it is listed at 155 (which I am fine with!).

Does the mumsnet demographic skew people's opinions? Are lots of posters London based? Do mumsnetters know something I don't - have hundreds of babies been given this name in the last year, and is it about to explode with popularity?

I'm just curious really, as I thought it was a less-used name than many.

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Heels99 · 11/08/2014 11:26

I on,y know one child with that name.

SantanaLopez · 11/08/2014 11:25

I know 3 Clara's (Glasgow suburbs). It's a compliment really, it just shows that other people think it's beautiful too.

RiverTam · 11/08/2014 11:22

I don't know of any Claras, SE London here.

DD has a name which is regularly derided on MN as too popular but we love it.

MrsMarigold · 11/08/2014 11:19

I live in North London and know three little girls called Clara and one adult.

5madthings · 11/08/2014 11:15

The names we chose for ds1 and ds2 were not popular when we chose them, they are now. I like to think we are trendsetters! Grin

My Dd's name is unusual, less than 30 babies each year given her name and it's been the same numbers consistently for a few years but I keep seeing it mentioned on the baby names threads on mnet which would suggest it is becoming more popular but that ons statistics done bare this out. The New ones are released soon and I am interested so see if it is becoming more popular.
Ing

5madthings · 11/08/2014 11:11

I know one little Clara and it was on our name list but dp didn't like it.

I think you can look at patterns etc us naming but it doesn't matter really, ds3 has a popular name and is the only one in his class. Yet ds4 has an unusual name and when he started at school there was another boy with the same name. And bizarrely the boys brother had the same name as our ds2! The boys themselves think this is fantastic.

sallysparrow157 · 11/08/2014 11:10

I've been a paediatrician for 10 yrs, in south and north Wales, various parts of the midlands and Yorkshire. I've never met a baby Clara. Lovely name.

Montsti · 11/08/2014 11:07

It seems to be popular on mumsnet but I only know one in real life, but I'm not in the uk (I know lots of kids in the uk though).

Clarabum · 10/08/2014 20:53

No Clara's where I stay either. My name is Clare and I get called Clara as nickname by some friends and I far prefer it to Clare. Clare seems so 80's.

My son is one of the most popular names and when I picked it there were NONE at all. bah!

bubalou · 10/08/2014 20:49

Clara is a beautiful name and I've never met one nor does DS have any in his year of 100 kids at school.

We are in essex.

Smile
scrivette · 10/08/2014 20:47

There is a 2 year old Clara who lives along my road but that's all I know. I love the name but it is too close to my name to use.

Mintyy · 10/08/2014 20:43

When I gave my dd her name it was remarkably unusual. People used to say, oh what a lovely name, you never hear it these days.

Within 10 years it was number 2. There's nothing you can do to avoid this, except choose a horrible name!

Notsureaboutthisusername · 10/08/2014 20:41

My DS has one of the most popular names, it's always high on the list. But I don't care because I really love it and it's totally him.

Clara is beautiful and I've not met any (and I work with kids)

HaroldLloyd · 10/08/2014 20:39

Lovely name. None at all in any of my 2 DCs nurserys playgroupss or classes at all.

Know one friend of friend!

I think it's fine.

Luciferbox · 10/08/2014 20:38

Only taught 1 Clara in 11 yrs and she's lovely. Fab name.

Original poster
SomeSunnySunday · 10/08/2014 20:37

I think of the Nutcracker too, Bigfoot (and Heidi). She is due in December, so I am fondly imagining birthday trips to the ballet in a few years....

OP posts:
BigfootFiles · 10/08/2014 20:26

I know an adult Clara - in her 50s maybe? No younger Claras. I know Laras, Lanas and Zaras at school, but no Claras.

Clara makes me think of the girl in The Nutcracker. Nice name.

MrsDeanAmbrose · 10/08/2014 20:23

I know of a couple of babies recently called Clara but I think it's the Doctor Who link where the popularity has come from around the people I know.

Original poster
SomeSunnySunday · 10/08/2014 19:56

Thanks for the reassurance and nice comments, and for the link, Banana, which doesn't worry me - it's still a long way outside of the top 100. I am just keen to avoid a very, very popular name, and am comfortable now that we are quite safe with Clara (although I don't think you should use it, Sleepy, it's far too popular, she'll be one of 5 in her class ;-))

OP posts:
burgatroyd · 10/08/2014 19:52

I love the name Annie. Not Ann. Not Anna. Annie!

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 10/08/2014 19:27

It's lovely. I would have used it for DD - but too close to my own name. Likely to get more popular now (it's 'old-fashioned enough' to be 'in').

cattypussclaw · 10/08/2014 19:25

I love love love Persephone but just wouldn't have the balls, frankly, to call my daughter that.

My daughter is an Annie. When I called her Annie, I didn't know of any others at all. Since then (she's now almost 8), two of her friends have little sisters called Annie. One Mum openly admits she liked the name and "pinched" it (she also has an Evie and an Elsie so Annie fits nicely). The other says it was a coincidence.

Either way, I don't care. Annie was my Nan's name and I loved it. (The film though, admittedly, is bloody annoying.)

Clara is beautiful, go for it.

dancestomyowntune · 10/08/2014 19:16

i know two Claras, a 16yo and an 8/9yo.

BananaHammocks · 10/08/2014 18:57

I wouldn't describe it as very popular but it certainly looks like it's heading that way... names.darkgreener.com/#clara

zingally · 10/08/2014 17:24

I've taught infants for 7 years now, and have never taught, or met, a Clara.

I wouldn't worry.

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