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Baby names

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

Unusual/rare girls names

115 replies

cantthinkofanything1 · 07/10/2021 19:31

I have looked all over the baby name threads already on here and still can't find one we like. Almost 30 weeks pregnant with baby girl and we just cannot agree on a name.
We both like more unusual names but not so unusual that it would sound silly or be spelt ridiculous if that makes sense. I want a pretty name, something that sounds lovely and sweet but not something you would hear very often.
I really want to name her before shes here so please help us choose a name that we can agree on. Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
StrawberryFizz26 · 08/10/2021 00:00

Jade or Juno

ChristmasPlanning · 07/10/2021 23:54

@PiesNotGuys

Looking outside the top 1000, for two shortish/two syllable names.

Clover
Jaya
Marie
Dora
Kathleen
Raina
Zelda
Lani
Susie
Della
Sally
Colette

Outside the top 1500

Drew
Elva
Aspen
Blythe
Dusty
Jodie
Ripley
Ailsa

Outside the top 3000

Alecia
Bali
Candace
Dayna
Eowyn
Kiri
Olga
Anara

Really rare, as in fewer than 6 given than name a year

Gwyneth
Laurie
Lotte
Sandy
Siobhan
Yvonne
Tulip

@PiesNotGuys

Anara is beautiful!

Synchrony · 07/10/2021 23:45

Sephryn

Waterlemon · 07/10/2021 23:27

Nell
Gwen
Martha
Isla
Darcy
Josie

Theoldwoman · 07/10/2021 23:27

Patrice
Estelle
Katya
Celeste
Ailsa
Dyani
Catriona
Mahalia
Demelza
Narelle
Taya
Giselle
Rhiannon
Miranda
Danae
Jana
Jilena
Kriscelle
Xanthe
Ursula
Una
Verity
Lauretta
Artemis

SpikeDearheart · 07/10/2021 23:01

Ferelith
Cecily
Nerissa
Ida

PiesNotGuys · 07/10/2021 23:01

Looking outside the top 1000, for two shortish/two syllable names.

Clover
Jaya
Marie
Dora
Kathleen
Raina
Zelda
Lani
Susie
Della
Sally
Colette

Outside the top 1500

Drew
Elva
Aspen
Blythe
Dusty
Jodie
Ripley
Ailsa

Outside the top 3000

Alecia
Bali
Candace
Dayna
Eowyn
Kiri
Olga
Anara

Really rare, as in fewer than 6 given than name a year

Gwyneth
Laurie
Lotte
Sandy
Siobhan
Yvonne
Tulip

Carolwithane · 07/10/2021 22:56

Jocelyn
Arwyn

Bebabelouba · 07/10/2021 22:48

I really like Ebe

Pallisers · 07/10/2021 22:45

Linnea
Cordiana

DoucheCanoe · 07/10/2021 22:43

Do you know anyone IRL you can ask about names they hear at groups/school a lot?

I ask as I assume you want something that's almost unheard of and this can vary from place to place.

Esme for instance has been suggested a few times but they're 10 a penny here amongst the under 5's!

Go with what you love and don't worry about who else has used it, your daughter will stand out in her own right.

My suggestions would be;
Bethany
Alana
Cassie
Erica
Delilah
Kiera
Laura
Francesca

IAmSantaOhYesIAm · 07/10/2021 22:41

Faye
Heidi
Henrietta
Ursula
Caroline
Ember
Hester
Carys
Abbie
Jody

StevieNix · 07/10/2021 22:34

Maeve
Rosalie
Fay
Elsie
Elaina
Meredith (nickname Edie)
Polly
Juliet
Cordelia
Delphine
Seren

Waterlemon · 07/10/2021 22:30

Orlena
Elodie
Esme

PraiseBee · 07/10/2021 22:27

Emerald
Mirabelle
Natasha
Anoushka
Mari
Arwen
Sylvie

Warmduscher · 07/10/2021 22:21

@HarryLimeFoxtrot

The most unusual ones I’ve come across are probably Hebe, Ixia, Manon, Nonie, Oriel, Seville, Thomasine and Wanda.
Oriel is my favourite girls’ name (spelled Oriol though, as in Lady Oriol Bowden).
PeachesPumpkin · 07/10/2021 22:18

Isolde
Tulah
Enela
Joy

whattodo2019 · 07/10/2021 22:18

Katinka
Lavender
Xanthe/Ianthe
Calypso
Miriam

elbea · 07/10/2021 22:14

Willow definitely isn’t a rare name at the moment, I have a one year old and there are lots of Willow’s in baby groups. A couple of Nova’s too.

minipie · 07/10/2021 21:43

Other suggestions based on your list

Nina
Dulcie
Molly
Elise
Merryn
Bethan
Niamh
Chloe
Daphne
Lila

imayhavelostmymarbles · 07/10/2021 21:41

Salome

Skyla2005 · 07/10/2021 21:37

Georgia

sodabreadjam · 07/10/2021 21:35

The two most unusual names I have come across in real life are:

Meroë (pronounced Merroway)
Rowana

Goldbar · 07/10/2021 21:34

Of your list, I like Willow, Maya and Nola best.

Shorter more classic names include Helen, Alice, Alix, Lena, Rose, Brooke, Lynn, Neve, Ruth, Tess or Tessa, Wren, Nessie, Clara, Elspeth, Elise, Laura, Margot, Esther, Giselle and Penny.

BubbleCoffee · 07/10/2021 21:31

Celeste
Marnie
Manon
Layla
Anthea
Jasmine
Stella
Maisie
Naomi
Rowan
April
Josie
Carys
Lena