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Baby names

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

Original poster

'Boring' or trendy name for DD?

36 replies

starshipsahead · 09/02/2022 10:29

Am torn between picking something beautiful and classic vs different and trendy.

Beautiful/classic names I love:
Alice
Emily
Charlotte nn Lottie

Slightly more different names:
Ottilie nn Ottie
Clementine nn Clem
Adeline nn Ada

I do like the more 'out there' choices but am worried that I've been swayed by current trends, especially with Ottilie, and that these names will be v popular soon and also therefore very dated in the future.

I equally love the classic Alice etc, and know it won't date. Should I worry about people blasting it as 'boring' or is that not the case anymore?

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FolornLawn · 09/02/2022 11:51

Alice feels less boring than Emily or Charlotte somehow, I don't know why.

Names that I would think of as less boring than Emily and Charlotte but not weird are:
Imogen
Stella
Joely
Esther
Cate (I only like it with a C)
Bess
Tess

Mumofgirls2017 · 09/02/2022 11:43

Think they’re all lovely. Favourite is Clementine. Go for what you like. I actually don’t think the more ‘new’ names you like will date as bad as some like Harper, Luna, Sienna etc which have soared to v high in the charts rapidly.

Footnote · 09/02/2022 11:39

The easiest way to avoid trendy is to use a name that seems cool and edgy but where you know of an adult with the name. I think you’d have to search quite hard for an adult Ottilie.
Valerie, Edith, Jean

TabithaTittlemouse · 09/02/2022 11:13

Your trendy names are classic names.

I have always loved Alice.

BusySittingDown · 09/02/2022 11:07

Ottilie must be on the rise as this is the third thread, at least that I've seen, this month that mentions it! Zoella has just named her baby Ottilie too (I mentioned that on another thread) I don't know whether that would put you off. Although, as I've said before I think it's lovely!

I absolutely adore your "boring" names. They're classics IMVHO.

"Safe" or "dull" or whatever, at least no one will do a double take a be all "fuck me, you called them WHAT?" Grin

babyjellyfish · 09/02/2022 11:05

Ottilie is the only one of your choices that I wouldn't use.

Clementine and Adeline are less popular than the others, but still quite normal names.

Crowdfundingforcake · 09/02/2022 10:59

Alice, Emily or Adeline. All good, strong, easy names.

Clementine and Ottilie are quite common or becoming more so and sound too 'frou-frou' to me. Also don't like the shortening of either.

Rossnagoose · 09/02/2022 10:58

@CoffeeChocolateWine

Out of your list I’d choose Adeline/Ada…beautiful name. My niece is Clementine which I like too but I’m not keen on Clem or Clemmie. She also gets it mispronounced a lot - some say Clemen-tine some say Clemen-teen!

I do prefer classic names to ‘trendy’ names but if I’m honest the ones you’ve mentioned are a bit dull to me. I don’t like Alice. Emily and Charlotte are fine. Personally I’d try and go for a middle ground…a name that will age well and stand the test of time (not Ottilie imo), but something a little more interesting than Emily or Charlotte.

Yes, about potential for mispronunciation — with Adeline (last syllable ‘line’ or ‘leen’?) as well as Clementine (‘tine’ or ‘teen’?) I like Ada as a name but would be confused by it as a short form of Adeline, as regardless of the pronunciation of the final syllable, I’ve only ever heard the first syllable pronounced as ‘Add’…?
CoffeeChocolateWine · 09/02/2022 10:54

Out of your list I’d choose Adeline/Ada…beautiful name. My niece is Clementine which I like too but I’m not keen on Clem or Clemmie. She also gets it mispronounced a lot - some say Clemen-tine some say Clemen-teen!

I do prefer classic names to ‘trendy’ names but if I’m honest the ones you’ve mentioned are a bit dull to me. I don’t like Alice. Emily and Charlotte are fine. Personally I’d try and go for a middle ground…a name that will age well and stand the test of time (not Ottilie imo), but something a little more interesting than Emily or Charlotte.

Rosieposie101 · 09/02/2022 10:50

LOVE Clementine, Adeline and Alice, which I think are all classic and timeless.

Sort of dislike Emily and Charlotte as they're just SO dull.

Ottilie is a little ridiculous in my opinion and will date badly.

jb7445 · 09/02/2022 10:36

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