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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unusual baby names

35 replies

TerraForma · 23/09/2017 15:11

Hi all, my partner and I are expecting and aren't sure of names yet. We don't know baby's gender yet, so are trying to come up with names for both.
We don't want anything extremely common, and it doesn't even need to be English, it can be a name from anywhere. What suggestions do you have?
So far we have
Aoife (EE-FA) and Elai, but I prefer both as middle names.

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daisypond · 23/09/2017 16:04

I know a few Saskias, as well, but all are teenagers. I was surprised to see it's not in the 100 most common girls' names for babies. Astrid is mentioned quite often on these boards, so that will be rising in popularity. How about Merle? (French/Scottish/Irish for blackbird), but it is a real name. I've never met a single one, and only know of the actress Merle Oberon.

CherriesInTheSnow · 23/09/2017 15:38

I also love Anouk which is quite unusual. As well as Astrid.

ChocolateCrunch · 23/09/2017 15:36

Eleri
Saskia
Cora
Willa

CherriesInTheSnow · 23/09/2017 15:36

I really like Fia or Fiadh (Irish for wild/wild deer) but liked Faye better in the end. I still think it's lovely though :)

daisypond · 23/09/2017 15:35

Yep, Aoife is Irish. The ones I know have at least one parent who is of Irish origin, or in one case a grandparent.

Mammysin · 23/09/2017 15:34

Saoirse ( Seersha) Irish for freedom
Dara ( dar (as in dark) - ah Irish for Oak

TidyDancer · 23/09/2017 15:31

Agree Aoife is quite commonly heard now. Never heard it used by anyone who isn't Irish though.

Original poster
TerraForma · 23/09/2017 15:29

Where I am, I've never met or heard of anyone called Aoife and I'm originally from Nottingham and now in North Yorkshire. The name is Irish.

OP posts:
Crowdo · 23/09/2017 15:20

Atala

daisypond · 23/09/2017 15:19

I think Aoife is quite common. I know a few. (I'm in London). Not heard of Elai. You could look at the least common baby names lists someone has just posted, where fewer than 50 babies were called these names.

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