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Baby names

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

Original poster

Nicola, Claire, or Laura

117 replies

diddlediddle · 10/11/2020 09:26

Which do you prefer? I think they're all due to come around again.

OP posts:
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janetmendoza · 19/11/2020 17:39

Clare/Claire sounds very fresh to me these days

RuthW · 19/11/2020 17:39

There is a little girl in my street called Nicola

YoniAndGuy · 19/11/2020 17:37

Knew someone that had Nikki on her BC. Poor bugger!!!

YoniAndGuy · 19/11/2020 17:36

Laura is a classic, although I don't like it simply because it was overused in the 80s.

Claire is a lovely name, great sound - at some point this will come back in a big way.

Nicola - no. Totally not classic to me, utterly 80s, and just not nice - harsh, jerky, and reminds me of 'nicotine'.

LemonsYellow · 19/11/2020 09:11

@CupOfTeaAlonePlease

Have you thought about Clara? A Claire/Nicola hybrid that's a bit less dated
I think Clara is soon to be more dated. It’s a Victorian name and they’re on the way out. Claire is much fresher.
ZombieAttack · 19/11/2020 06:20

Laura. DS has a Laura in his year at school, he’s 6. They are the names of all my friends though!

CupOfTeaAlonePlease · 19/11/2020 03:44

Have you thought about Clara? A Claire/Nicola hybrid that's a bit less dated

Liddell · 19/11/2020 02:15

Laura

orangejuicer · 19/11/2020 02:08

This thread has been very entertaining!
My first name is one of these names and the other name I was nearly called at birth is one of the others.

Nicola isn't always shortened ime and nicknames can vary eg Nicky/Nikki. I like Laura, less keen on Claire.

Rockmehardplace · 19/11/2020 02:00

Laura was on my list - I have loved it for years! (DS wouldn’t have suited it tho Wink. It always amused me that my grandmother (born 1916) described it as “an old name”. It’s classic.

I also like Clare, I think it will come back once the over-use of the 1979s/80s is forgotten about!

Nicola is a bit....meh.

MeMeMeYou · 18/11/2020 22:35

Love Laura (and Flora)

emilybrontescorsett · 18/11/2020 22:22

I like Claire. The only problem I see with it are the different spellings. My favourite is Clair but that's probably because I was at school with a Clair and always thought the name was sophiaticated!

cactusdog · 18/11/2020 22:16

Claire

Original poster
diddlediddle · 18/11/2020 21:49

Actually getting really keen on Laura now!

OP posts:
Mashingthecompost · 18/11/2020 18:04

Jesus, that made very little sense. I'll edit for clarity if anyone cares Grin

Mashingthecompost · 18/11/2020 18:02

I think versions of them will come through. Chloe has already been around (though tbf it was when I was at school with 87 Claires). I think the shop means it won't come back for a while. Laura is my bet, but again, names like Lyla, Lyra etc probably the alternative. Amelia instead of Emily, etc etc. Nicola... not sure. I think Nicola and Claire need the longest - maybe a couple more generations yet. I know of a Natalia, called Talia. Generally I think there are 'new' classics now, and they'll be a bit like us calling our kids Sheila or Brenda or Eileen for a while. Actually, maybe those names will be back sooner. Who knows.

RosesforMama · 18/11/2020 17:29

I really don't think Laura is any more classic than Claire. Claire was definitely overused between '65 and '80 odd but it has always been around. The first teaching job I got in the early 1990s was taking over from a retiring Claire. Plus one of Byron's lovers was called Claire wasn't she?

I know 2 little Claires, one about 15 and one about 4, and I think it's rather sweet now it's not every 3rd person's name.

Pemba · 18/11/2020 17:27

I was born in the sixties, and went to school with lots of Claires and Nicolas, and I believe the popularity of these carried on into the 70s and maybe 80s? There were no Lauras at school though, the first one I knew was my niece, born in the 90s. So the three names are not of the same generation to me.

Laura and Claire are both classics, and I really like them, particularly Claire, although I really prefer the spelling Clare. Of course it is just as much a classic name as Laura, have you never heard of Saint Clare?

Nicola though, I don't mind it but it doesn't appeal that much and I think will remain dated in people's minds to the 60s/70s, possibly 80s. Slightly downmarket feel. Then, of course, Nicola is a male name in Italy. Nicole seems classier, but I still prefer Laura and Clare.

YouDidWHATNow · 18/11/2020 17:14

As a Nicola, I have to say I like my name. Mid twenties so when I was at school there was never anyone else with my name, it gives way to some nice nicknames although I tend to go with Nicola. I do like Laura too, I've met a few Laura's and they've always been lovely. Sarah I think is really underrated as well, great name.

Bikingbear · 18/11/2020 16:58

Op I don't think it matters what era a name was popular, it's all down to how much you and DH like it.
They are all good solid fairly classic names.

Although I don't like Nicola because of the way it gets said with a harsh Glasgow accent Nik-la

pilates · 18/11/2020 16:48

Laura is my preference.

The other two names have a 70’s feel to them.

LemonsYellow · 18/11/2020 16:40

Laura is my favourite.
I’m baffled by people saying they are 80s names. I was born in the mid 60s and they are all names of my generation - several in each year group.

StripyTigerTail · 18/11/2020 16:26

Laura. It fits with the Lyla, Lola, Lara, Clara, Elara, Elora, Layla names which are popular at the moment.

Claire and Nicole are nice names, but I think they won't have a comeback for a while yet.

VenusClapTrap · 18/11/2020 16:04

I know a baby Laura. She’s very sweet.

Enko · 17/11/2020 07:49

I don't think they are ready for a come back yet.

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