Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Clara... big increase in popularity according to latest stats...last minute alternatives?

42 replies

kaycat · 16/08/2014 06:43

Expecting in a few weeks and have I liked Clara since the beginning. One of my criteria is that I do not want a top 100 or trending name (I know many people will say that this shouldn't worry me, but as I myself have a very common and dated name, it does bother me and I would very much like to avoid a trending name if poss ). Just looked at the recently published 2013 stats and Clara has gradually increased in popularity over the past few years but in the past year alone gained 40 places to 139. It's starting to feel like Clara could be the next vintage high climber like Amelia/Florence? (no disrespect - I adore these names but they have become extremely popular). Should I be worried? Also, does anyone have any other suggestions? DH is very keen on Clara so it may be that we do stick with it, but having a wobble!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Caff2 · 17/08/2014 14:27

Both my son's names are top 20 - I seem to have a knack for it, even though I knew one person ever each before they were born with those names. I know one baby Clara but be warned - I like it so with my terrible popular naming knack it will prob rise like an eagle!

aoife24 · 17/08/2014 14:25

If it's the name you want stick with it. Chances are in real life there won't be scores of other little Claras where you live, and even if there are, so what?

PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 17/08/2014 11:45

Probably not so popular. I also like Hermione (would have been DS's name), Jacqueline, Camille, Penelope, can't remember the others.

DoItTooJulia · 17/08/2014 11:41

What about Xanthe?

DoItTooJulia · 17/08/2014 11:41

I went the name I loved for ds2. It's getting way more popular.

Does it bother me? Yes, a little. Does ds suit his name? Yes. Does it really matter? Probably not.

Would I have named him it if I had known how popular it was going to become? Possibly not, but then I didn't love the alternative so much. It's difficult, isn't it?

Original poster
kaycat · 17/08/2014 11:39

Vee is better definitely, or even Vivi, just not Viv! Hmmm, do really like it. It also has the Anglo-french element like Lucien. Penguins do you have any others?!

OP posts:
Original poster
kaycat · 17/08/2014 11:36

Honor seems very popular. It doesn't feel like one that will climb either. It was also on my list last time so it is another name I've continued to like over the years, which is a good sign. DH was not persuaded last time, but I mentioned it again last night and he was actually considering it, so it is a contender. I'll keep you posted. Once we have a girl name re-settled, I'll finalise boys!! I'm anxious to try to have something settled before baby arrives this time. DS was unnamed for 6 weeks (he was registered a day late in the end). It wierdly got harder once he was born, I didn't feel that there was a name that "fit" him. In fact the name we went for (Lucien) is hard for a tiny baby to fill, so we had faith he would grow into it and he did of course! But...it was a stressful 6 weeks

OP posts:
PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 17/08/2014 11:29

The Vivienne I know is Vee.

Original poster
kaycat · 17/08/2014 11:24

Penguins that is so strange, I almost suggested Vivienne to DH last night. It is beautiful. The only issue I have is that I have a cousin Vivian and she is "Viv" which I've never really liked. Not sure what else it could be shortened to though and it feels like a name that will inevitably be shortened. I'll run it by DH this evening. Bird of the North, Honor was on my list last time and DH was not persuaded, but he seems to be coming around, so it is a contender. I should also say that we don't know what we are having this time around, we just have a hugely strong girl feeling and I now feel a bit unsettled by re-thinking our chosen name at short notice (but maybe just unsettled generally with a massive bump, the house to sort etc!!). Please keep any suggestions coming!

OP posts:
Sleepysheepsleeping · 17/08/2014 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

themightyfandango · 17/08/2014 11:00

What about Clea? Similar sound to it but probably not top 100.

I love the name partly because I'm a fan of actress Clea Duvall.

Medibeagle · 17/08/2014 10:50

But not with that spelling, my phone 'corrected' it.

Medibeagle · 17/08/2014 10:49

Honour! Perfect!

Sundaedelight · 17/08/2014 10:46

Isadora (nn Dora if you want - doesn't have to be Izzy)

Greta

Honor - my fave!

bouquetofpencils · 16/08/2014 23:50

I don't know any.

Whereas Nancy, which was outside top 100, I know three of them.

CremeEggThief · 16/08/2014 23:19

I think you should stick with it, as you sound as if you adore it. Have you any Germanic or Eastern European links to consider going down the Klara route, as an alternative?

I like Honor and India best of your other choices, but I don't think they go as well with Lucien as Clara does.

WaxyDaisy · 16/08/2014 23:13

Clary

Sophronia · 16/08/2014 23:10

I like Aurelia, Isadora (but prefer Isidora), although Izzy is currently a very popular nickname because of Isabella/Isabelle etc., Isolde, Greta, Ebren and Elowen. Not keen on Honor or India.

birdofthenorth · 16/08/2014 22:35

Honor and Greta are absolutely gorgeous. Tbh I would pick one of those over Clara, lovely as it is.

PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 16/08/2014 21:37

And yes, the current trend is very much for 'pretty' and vowel sound endings. My DD's name is outside the top 100, but climbing fast and I'm a bit worried it could get more common than I'd like. It has those properties too. My other two names don't follow current trends and seem to be staying solidly in their places.

PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 16/08/2014 21:35

I always say this, because I never got to use it, but I adore the name Vivienne. I think it has that vintage feel, but a bit stronger, and the lack of a vowel (sound) ending makes it a bit different from a lot of currently popular names.

Original poster
kaycat · 16/08/2014 21:24

Thank you all for your comments and honesty. We still adore the name but I really do think it could be very, very popular in the next few years. I'd never have believed that Sophia/Florence/Isla would climb to such dizzy heights and Clara does seem to tick the same boxes. Gggrrrr....have wanted the name forever (it was our girl's name when pregnant in 2010 with our DS Lucien) and unusually for me I didn't go off it. Just not sure I want to take the risk now, I think it would bother me having a top 20 (or even top 50) name, no matter how much I loved it. Any suggested alternatives very welcome! Some other names i like, but DH needs some serious persuading:

Aurelia
Honor
India
Isadora
Isolde
Greta
Ebren
Elowen

OP posts:
SummerScoop · 16/08/2014 20:18

Cara
Clarissa

Clara is lovely

AliciaBotty · 16/08/2014 18:24

Stop bloody posting about it then! You're encouraging it!

Alisvolatpropiis · 16/08/2014 18:03

If you have liked it since the beginning I would stick to it, to be honest.

Though I must admit that I felt disappointed at the absolutely massive leap my favourite girls name has taken. From around 2000th to the low 300's. I suspect it could do an Olivia at some point. Indeed it is very much a name that could be suggested to someone asking for a similar alternative to Olivia. Must have baby pronto Grin

Swipe left for the next trending thread