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Baby names

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

Original poster

Too exotic?

64 replies

greenglue · 20/05/2019 08:08

Thanks for your comments on my other thread. I’ve now added Lara and Zara to my shortlist since it had quite good reviews.

Where would you assume a person with this name is from?

I’ve started to take a warning to Lara but I’ve only ever met a Turkish Lara. Where would you assume a Lara is from?

And where would you assume a Zara is from?

DH likes Ella.

Any preferences between those names?

OP posts:
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Ohyesiam · 22/05/2019 18:48

I think Ella has s a bit over popular.
Lara is really pretty.

Disappearedtothe80s · 22/05/2019 07:10

I remember the papers calling Zara 'exotic' when Princess Anne named her daughter but that was 30 odd years ago!.

stellarfox · 22/05/2019 06:39

I wouldn’t assume either were from any particular country. They are all names with simple spellings so I can’t imagine you will have too much difficulty if you move countries. Don’t choose a name just because people on here like it though - go with something you love!

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 22/05/2019 01:21

I went to school with 4 Zara’s and 3 Lara’s and that was just in my year. So I’d say Wales- nothing exotic about them at all. Just bland names.

diddlediddle · 21/05/2019 03:09

I would assume Lara was from Guildford and Zara was from Slough

Heratnumber7 · 20/05/2019 20:05

What about Cara, Dara, Mara, Sara, Tara? All nice names except Dara.

rosyedith · 20/05/2019 19:31

Stoke?

stucknoue · 20/05/2019 18:48

Not exotic but Lara says Russian to me and Zara Middle East, purely from personal acquaintances

Chocmallows · 20/05/2019 18:47

Lara gets my vote.

AnnaMagnani · 20/05/2019 18:43

I'd expect Lara and Zara to be white English middle class people. Ella - cast the net a bit wider as it's a more common baby name.

Lara from Lara's theme in Doctor Zhivago, Lara Croft, people trying to avoid the more popular Isabella, Eva but still have something similar.

Zara - Zara Phillips

Ella - Deliciously Ella, Ella's Kitchen

Mintypea5 · 20/05/2019 18:39

I grew up in a small village in the country had two Lara's and a Zara at school. All lovely girls

Know a few more now after moving to a bigger city. Wouldn't say exotic at all.

Lara is my fave

outsho · 20/05/2019 18:33

Nope, none are exotic. Ella is incredibly common in fact. I think people thought Zara was exotic when Princess Anne used it in the 80s. It’s really not.

Whoops75 · 20/05/2019 16:06

1 Zara
2 Lara
3 Ella

Astronica · 20/05/2019 16:04

OP you've added that you want names that are international in case you move countries - I think all these names might work fine internationally.

daisypond · 20/05/2019 14:25

I don’t think any are exotic. All quite standard names now and could be from any background. I like Zara best. Lara is nice but seems bland , though I like it as short for Larissa. Ella is too bland for me.

JaneJeffer · 20/05/2019 13:10

I thought it was going to be Frogmella Sad

BlueThang · 20/05/2019 13:08

I grew up in the 1980s with a Lara and know of a couple of baby Lara's now. It doesn't seem exotic at all. It is a lovely name though.

I also don't equate Zara with being particularly exotic either as I've known a few over the last 35 years. I do however know a Zehra (pronounced Zair-rer) and that is much more unusual and exotic if you're looking for something less commonly used.

taylorlynn · 20/05/2019 12:01

I wouldn't say exotic just not really common. Though I think over the next couple of years they will both gain popularity as I have met two baby Lara's recently and have never come across anyone with the name before hand

Original poster
greenglue · 20/05/2019 09:59

Perhaps because I live in a city I’ve never met a British Lara or Zara. But this may be because cities are so multicultural. I was concerned people would make assumptions. I prefer names that are international incase we move countries or something.

OP posts:
Twillow · 20/05/2019 09:43

Most names have a background in another language. If you like it, use it. Nobody else is going to analyse it the way you are Hmm

Jaz32 · 20/05/2019 09:38

Another one saying they are not exotic and fairly usual names in the uk. I went to school with a Lara, she'd be 32 now - she was from Kent! I have taught two Zara's one was spelt Zarah and Indian, the other was from Kent. I have taught a few Ella's one from Finland but the rest UK.

Both Ella and Zara were on my list, both beautiful names, I'd say Ella is the more popular of all 3 but not as popular as Isla, Ava, Evie...

babysharkah · 20/05/2019 09:29

Lara - Home Counties, I know a few. Certainly not 'exotic'.

SallyWD · 20/05/2019 09:21

I've never thought Lara was exotic. I know a couple of British Laras. It's one of those international names but perfectly British too (if that makes sense!)

Bluntness100 · 20/05/2019 09:14

I honestly don't see these names as exotic and they are quite normal in the U.K.,

I wanted to call my daughter Lara nearly 22 years ago, before Lara Croft was a thing, but my husband wouldn't have it. As it reminded him of the cricketer Brian Lara. So she's got a different name 🤣

BikeRunSki · 20/05/2019 09:06

I know 2 Laras and 1 Zara , they are all from Huddersfield with British ancestry.

They may not be British in origin, but Zara and Lara have been absorbed into English speaking culture like Zoe, Erin, Rebekah, Samuel, Rory, Zachariah .....

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