Mumsnet's most loved baby names

I didn't mean To put the English bit on the end there

I love the name Ottilie, I think it's very pretty and classically English.

[quote Starsandglitter]@Wondermule I think people are more snobby towards the classic/popular names actually. Far more horrible comments about ‘beige’, boring, overused names etc etc. People get very superior about using unusual names and while I would have loved to have used super uncommon names for my children (Dh wouldn’t agree ) I’d have accepted that being so unusual means not everyone would like them, that’s surely expected or they’d be popular as well!? It’s like some people want a huge round of applause about how original and clever they have been choosing a name then when someone suggests they don’t love it, they are outraged and label everyone a sheep! There was a thread about the name Emerald recently and everyone was loving it, wouldn’t call that particularly classic or traditional![/quote]
I agree. I’m more talking about snobbery toward names in the top 20 (so not weird/unusual).

In my experience the name snobs either go for the beige ones (Catherine, Elizabeth, Charlotte) or the super weird child-of-academics type names, like Ptolemy or Ottilie.

My point is simply that any social standing they think they are creating for their child is imaginary, because names are not the big deal they once were.

@Wondermule I think people are more snobby towards the classic/popular names actually. Far more horrible comments about ‘beige’, boring, overused names etc etc. People get very superior about using unusual names and while I would have loved to have used super uncommon names for my children (Dh wouldn’t agree ) I’d have accepted that being so unusual means not everyone would like them, that’s surely expected or they’d be popular as well!? It’s like some people want a huge round of applause about how original and clever they have been choosing a name then when someone suggests they don’t love it, they are outraged and label everyone a sheep! There was a thread about the name Emerald recently and everyone was loving it, wouldn’t call that particularly classic or traditional!

Brother for Mussolini...

Rowan always looks very feminine to me. I don’t see it as a boys name at all (although I know it is.)

Olivia, Oscar and Margot always gets a lot of praise. Very white very middle class names get a round of applause.

Any "royal family" name (from the main branches obvs not the outposts where they Marry Foreigners) will be considered "classic" because that's how social hierarchies work.

Arlo seems very popular - I've never met one 'in the wild', though I did hear it used in a radio advert recently...

Good point- Queen Victoria clearly had good taste!

Alice is absolutely beautiful. I don't hear it enough.

I was just thinking that royal names would get MN approval.

E.g. Queen Victoria's children:

Victoria
Edward
Alice
Alfred
Helena
Louise
Arthur
Leopold
Beatrice

All beautiful, and all have stood the test of time. Although I haven't ever met a Leopold !

Alice. I'm planning on using it for my as yet unborn daughter and have noticed it appearing on threads a lot recently and getting almost universal love!

Harriet. I see it on so may threads. I think its an awful name. Makes me think of a big hairy lumbering yeti for some reason.

Stalin and Adolf always get hyped on here

Harriet
Alice
Josephine

Oscar
Edward
Alexander

I think many posters like Ava, Eva, Isla etc, but they will dislike their popularity

There was an Etienne at our old nursery too (few years ago). I do love the name but decided I couldn't use it myself as I'm not French.

Ottlie is downright hideous - just makes me think of otters and murky ponds. It’s incredibly twee.

I know a toddler Etienne in real life, if you’re not French I find it so pretentious, and quite wet for a boy.

Kit is a name for a little boy with glasses and knee high socks.

At my daughters nursery, we also have a Dionysus and an Etienne

Yikes those are quite bold choices where on earth do you live.

I know 3 Astrids, all different places of the uk.

Astrid.
Absolutely awful name, have never heard any little girl called it in real life, yet it is always suggested on here.

I know of 3 Ottilies (one of which is Ottilie Margot), 2 Clementines, 1 Wren, 2 Olives, 1 Aurelia and 1 Penelope all in real life.

At my daughters nursery, we also have a Dionysus and an Etienne

I don't hate the name Reuben but I think it sounds wet.

Names do make a difference but only if they stand out.

Seren is a new name and has become popular very quickly. I don't like it. It's just the word for star. I think it's a bit downmarket.

Laurence seems popular on here. I have only met 2 in real life. Both nice but I still think the name sounds wet.

I don't understand the need to reflect the child's heritage in the first name or the need for multiple or filler middle names.

Ptolemy was in vogue here for a while......

Do know 1 Persephone. NN Persi - v confusing for Thomas the Tank adoring ds!