Makes me sad that Isla is so common now :( need a name for baby no2!

I disagree aoife - they are definitely on the way back!

I think Lorna, Ailsa and Shona would be regarded as quite dowdy and 70s nowadays.

Lorna
Ailsa
Shona

I don't know any Isla's at all. My dcs are 9 and 7.

If you really like it I'd stick with it. I chose Lucy for my dd9. At the time I think it was something like no9 in the name stats. However, at 9 yrs old she's in a large primary and there are no others at all.

For my ds we chose a name of a beloved grandad that was def in the top ten in the stats? Now it's super common and there's another in his class and the name is everywhere.

Would I have preferred both my names to be uber unusual? Of course. However, we simple went with what we wanted and I'm glad we did.

Back to the OP though, I love -

Manon
Clementine
Meredith (Merry/Merri)
Catrin
Rose

But also look at our of fashion names that people believe to be 'boring' now but I reckon they'll stand out. I think Louise is underrated and I also like Nicole.

I personally wouldn't want to have the same name as six in the class. I think choosing a name that is very popular makes us seem like we're influenced by popular culture, a group effect. Tastes change!

That said I found myself giving did a flower name. Every other girl in her class is a flower. I find it interesting how most of us get swept in a trend. Perhaps we only like a name because its been repeatedly placed in our subconscious by growing popularity.

This us interesting:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2014/may/12/noah-wyle-flood-baby-most-popular-boys-name-us

I live in Scotland and know only one Isla, an adult. It might well be popular but it's not ubiquitous.

Wow, same first and surname! How do you call them? Name 1 and 2?

Yeah, some teacher hey?

I have two girls with the same first name (which can't be shortened) and the same surname in one of my classes. That's not "an issue" either.

"My son is one of four with the same name in the class and he is as easily identified by the teacher and his classmates as if he'd been called Antigone or Ptolemy."

Then their teacher must have found a way of differentiating them..... because there are 3 Harrys in our Beavers group and calling one of them can be confusing, especially as two share the same surname initial and one of them has a very long double barrelled surname. It would be much easier if each of them had their own first name!

This is, of course, not the end of the world, and nothing to be overly sad about, but being aware of the issue and perhaps having a look at the thousands of lovely less overused names outside the top 100 is a good idea.

I have a 4yr old Noah, chosen because i thought it would be fairly unusual, couldn't have been more wrong! With ds2 one of my name criteria was that it had to have been outside of the top 100 in the most recently published list. Ds2's name was about 110 iirc. I've still come across a couple of them, but nowhere near as many Noah's and it is more of a marmite name so probably less likely to get to top 20 popularity. Do see it get suggested on name threads on here a lot though!

I would check the lists and also keep your ears out at nursery/playgroup a wtc. With ds2 I had a much better idea of what was popular because I had been around young children for a couple of years.

I know a few Islas, the oldest being 15/16 so I would have said its been fairly popular for quite a few years now. My dd is Lucy and I would have thought that would be more popular than it is. She attends a fairly large school and only one other Lucy there. However if she'd have been Freya, Grace or Megan, she would have been one of quite a few at least 5/6 of each of those names at the school and several in her year alone. Its o hard to predict whenyou have this little bundle what will be the most common names by the time they reach school.

I would not look for an unusual name but look for a name that you both love.

to be honest I have only ever met one Isla and she was at least 60.

Yeah, but sad?

Sad is when the dog dies, or granny has to go into a home. It's not really on the same scale as there being another Little Johnny in the class.

For some people, SquirrelledAway, the unusualness of a name is part of its appeal. I can't deny that I wasn't quite as in love with my DD's name when she was born as when we originally picked it out a few years ago, mainly due to it's massive surge in popularity. Obviously this wasn't enough to put me off, and at least she'll always be able to find her name on merchandise.

OP, I think the good thing about names nowadays is that there's such a variety. Even if the name you chose is on the top ten, you're less likely to meet another child with the same name than you were, say, 20 years ago.

"We name our children so they are easily identified."

You choose a name you like, why you be sad that other people liked the same name and called their child that as well? I just don't get it. My son is one of four with the same name in the class and he is as easily identified by the teacher and his classmates as if he'd been called Antigone or Ptolemy.

I've never heard anyone in RL say that they're sad as they consider their child's name common.

I second Bianca and Anya.

If you want to avoid on trend names then avoid el start names as these are very popular and become mixed in with Ellie's and Ella's.

Avoid names ending in a or ie or those that start with a vowel.

Therefore underused names to consider:
Rose
Megan
Damaris
Harriet
Meredith
Carol
Janet
June
Tamar
Tegan
Juliet (a mn fave)
Constance
Delphine
Josephine
Louise
Beatrice

Also avoid names that can be confused with its more popular varient. Emmeline/ Emily, Elin/ Ellen, faith/ Day, Everly, Beverley.

Of course if you love a name then go for it no matter how popular! Dd2 has an El...name but I like it because its unusual but also fits in with her peers.

Other pretty names - Verity, Vera, Veronica, Felicity, Penelope, Tabitha, Wren, Christabel, Polly...

Eloise is beautiful

I have a 5 year old Isla (DGD) and love the name....also have a 14 year old DGD with a really lovely and unusual name......Anya......

Sylvie is beautiful, as is Willow. I also love Hermione. Iona? I know a sibset who are Iona, Ewan and Isla.

"Is this "I'm so sad my DD / DS has such a common name" an MN thing?"

No, I think it is a general viewpoint amongst many. We name our children so that they can be easily identified. When you share a name with several others in your class, this becomes difficult and you end up having to add your surname initial (but sometimes even these are the same).

Also, names that become very fashionable end up falling out of fashion eventually and they then may sound dated.

But to answer the op, I would have a look at the ONS lists of ALL names given last year - there are literally thousands of lovely normal classic names outside of the top 100. If you find one of those you love, the chances of it becoming a top10 name are fairly slim. Good luck!

A neighbour of mine has just had a daughter named Sylvie I thought that was quite unusual. Very beautiful name I thought.

When you named your daughter the name stats for 2010 would have been out. They show Isla at no. 22 in popularity. Any name that close to the top can easily take a big surge I'm afraid.

If you are looking for ideas, and popularity really is a deal breaker, I'd take a look at the 2013 list and rule out anything in the top 100.

Connie
Imogen
Esme
Aria
Paige
Hope
Eliza
Leah
Nina
Maisie
Ellen
Freya
Willow
Flynn
Carrie
Kendra

The Isla I know has a sister Amelia but that is super popular now apparently!

I agree girls names ending in 'a' seem popular at the moment so you may want to avoid those.

Seren
Willow
Rachel
Annabel
Harriet
Juliette
Kirsten
Nicole

For boys I like Nathan, Leon, Marcus, Christian, Dominic and Hayden.

I like Isla.

What about
Marianne

Rose

Edie, could be short for Edith

And, bit of a wild card, but I really like Bianca, and think Isla and Bianca sound lovely together.