What’s the problem with Lara then?

When I was 19, my dickhead boyfriend cheated on me with a Lara and then left me for her. That’s why I don’t like it

I imagine that the perception of Lara was influenced by Lara Croft until fairly recently.

I do like it but in my Scottish accent it sounds a bit inelegant: I have to work hard not to really roll my r so it comes out Larrrrrrra.

Name popularity is cyclical, Lily is very much part of the cute, frilly name “would have worked downstairs 100 years ago” trend. Whereas Lara is not.

I love the name Lara but hate the names Laura and Clara, despite it fairly close to both.

How is Laura a more natural sound than Lara?

I really don’t get how posters are saying it’s a harsh name- it ends in a ‘a’ for goodness sake!

I’m Lara. Born in 1974. I knew one other growing up - a year above me at school. My friends have a 9 yr old called Lara and I’ve heard it used in the park here a couple of times with girls of around 3/4

My DD has a similar name and is often called Lara by mistake. I don’t dislike Lara at all but obviously I like my own DD’s name far better so Lara has that connotation for me now.

It sounds like Laura wants to be a bit posh, when actually Laura is a more natural sound.

It’s been the number one name in the charts in many European countries (eg Switzerland) and is more popular across Europe than it is here. It’s been hovering outside the top 100 for many years, but there are lots of names outside the top 100 that are still heard fairly frequently.

But I don't think it was popular to name your daughter Lara in the sixties or early seventies, was it? In spite of the popularity of the Doctor Zhivago film.
I mean I was born in the sixties and don't remember coming across a single Lara, at school or anywhere else. So it wasn't really 'in fashion' in that sense. Surprising really, as there were lots of 'Michelles' named from the Beatles song.

There are lots of names I really like but would never personally use for my own child. Lara being one of them.

I think it just went out of fashion - was really fashionable when Dr Zhivago with Julie Christie came out ( and the tune Lara’s Thene) from the film. Interestingly, in Dr Zhivago Lara is short for Larissa...

If Lily were less popular, I would still prefer Lara to Lily, although I do like Lily.

Lara sounds more mysterious and exotic, due to Dr Zhivago associations I suppose.

People who use the baby names board on Mumsnet are quite into names and are drawn to the more unusual. Lara wins votes here because there's nothing really wrong with it and it's relatively unusual. We don't like popular names on here because we don't understand why people who think carefully about baby names should plump for something that everyone else is using. However, outside of this fairly niche place, most people don't overthink baby names so much and therefore aren't attracted to Lara just because it's unusual. It's one of those names that there's not much wrong with it, but there's nothing particularly right with it either. It's just fine.

Lara is fine. I personally find it too bland and a bit "nothingy" so I would never use it, but it's harmless.

I like it, it's nice. I think it sounds a bit cold but that's probably because I associate it with Dr Zhivago. I prefer Cara as a similar sounding name.
The current trend seems to be with girly or cutesie names, which I'm not so keen on.

You are not sure OP, so why not think of some other names. I think you already have a Mila and you liked Lily, then why not use Lily?

Possibly the Lara Croft connection...

Maybe people now prefer it to lily because lily got too popular and so sounds dated/overused whereas Lara still sounds original?

People will have likely preferred it as Lily is so overused that Lara seems like the better option, even if they actually prefer the name Lily - if that makes sense.

I don't think it's an amazing name, but there's nothing wrong with it.. Its just.. Normal!

It's not a bad thing that it isn't popular. I would far rather have a name that I love that's not common than use a name that there are going to be 5 of in her class at school

Just because a few people here said some nice things about it, doesn’t mean the whole population thing it’s ‘amazing’ and it will instantly be reflected in the baby name popularity polls.

Maybe it reminds people of Lara Croft? And Lily of ....Lily Allen, Lily Cole? I have no idea. Don't listen to people, if you like it, use it :0).

Why are unicorns and running leggings trendy, rather than, say , selkies and silk shirts? Many lovely things aren’t massively trendy, doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with them. If you like Lara use Lara, don’t overthink it.

Op, you sound very insecure in your own choices.

Personally I don't like Lara, nor Lily! But who cares, because YOU need to like it.

Lara's a great name. Stop overthinking it!

What is the point if this second thread OP?