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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls name- classic but not “try hard”

203 replies

Cinnabomb · 08/03/2022 11:40

Looking for inspiration! I am soooooo fussy about names and have read pages of threads here. I would a name that is classic, that most people would have heard of/ know how to spell, but is not popular. I reeeeally don’t like the current trend for very frilly/ over the top sounding names (sorry, just an opinion!)

I like:
Rosalind, Susannah, Alexandra (maybe a bit too popular), Juliet,

Dislike: Ottilie, Amelie, Freya, Ophelia, Verity, the whole Ada/Eva, Ivy Evelyn set etc

Margot, Clara etc becoming too popular

Don’t like too complex names like Arabella, Genevieve,

So if there is anyone left I haven’t offended would be great to hear your thoughts! 🙈

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Snowbell99 · 10/03/2022 18:02

I like your list. I would go with Rosalind, it's so pretty. Juliet and Susannah are fine as well. I dislike Alexandra. I know it's a classic but it feels really 80s/90s dated despite that.

Dislike: Ottilie, Amelie, Freya, Ophelia, Verity, the whole Ada/Eva, Ivy Evelyn set etc

Margot, Clara etc becoming too popular

Don’t like too complex names like Arabella, Genevie

How about:

Carla (much less common than Clara)
Aurelia (is it too complex?)
Nora
Lila
Georgia
Beatrix
Seren
Alva
Sonia
Clio or Cleo
Lyra
Maia or Maya
Kyra
Annabel
Martha
Holly
Iona
Beatrice
Rosemary
Bonnie
May or Mae
Serena
Katarina
Jasmine
Larissa
Nerissa (also from Shakespeare)
Ophelia
Isabeau
Odelia or Odilia

danascully96 · 10/03/2022 17:34

I love Diana, Susannah, and Rosalind.

Alexandra is lovely too.

From the suggestions you've gotten, Felicity is swell! I'll recommend some not-so-classic, but similar Louisa, Eliza, Colette, Caroline "Caro," Pippa "Pip," Vivian, Vanessa, Nadia, Sylvia, Rosamund, Heidi, and Greta.

beverleybass · 10/03/2022 12:22

The dark greener site is brilliant, often surprising which names aren’t as popular as you think (and vice versa)

Guineapigssweak · 10/03/2022 12:19

Rebecca
Emma
Claire
Sarah
Rachel
Natalie
Natasha
Sally

toastofthetown · 10/03/2022 12:08

[quote Cinnabomb]@Nutsohazelnuts dying to know what you chose now 😬

Please can you tell me how you find the bottom of the charts? When I Google I can only find top 100[/quote]
The full dataset is here for girls which lists all the girls names in England and Wales with at least three uses.

The Dark Greener site is also great for checking popularity in England and Wales. Scotland and NI report separately if you live there.

Original poster
Cinnabomb · 10/03/2022 11:26

@Nutsohazelnuts dying to know what you chose now 😬

Please can you tell me how you find the bottom of the charts? When I Google I can only find top 100

OP posts:
Original poster
Cinnabomb · 10/03/2022 11:24

Wow surprised at how many responses I have got!

Some good suggestions. Yes the shortening’s/NNs do concern me a bit.

Love Alexandra but like PP said don’t like Alexa/ Lexi.

Concerned Rosalind would be shortened to Rosie which is such a waste IMO.

Out of the recent suggestions I like Christina but not sure if my husband could get past the Aguilera reference (he’s a fan 😬)

LOVE Jacqueline and NN Jackie but not sure if it’s too dated/ not ready for a comeback yet. I’m really feeling something with a twinge of masculinity about it maybe so this ticks the box. Altho I think lots of people would think it was awful!

OP posts:
toconclude · 09/03/2022 23:15

Ruth. Short, sweet, rare and it's one of my names!

madeittofriday · 09/03/2022 23:07

Annabel
Jennifer
Suzanne or Susannah
Natalie
Dianne
Penelope (Nell)
Gemma
Mary
Naomi
Louise
Carolyn / Caroline
Sarah
Emma
Liberty
Florence
Bridget

Jeelypieces20storeys · 09/03/2022 22:54

LOVE Susannah & definately think you could get away with Diana now. What about -
Monica
Nina
Louise
Caroline (an underused classic imo)
Veronica
Xanthe

liveforsummer · 09/03/2022 18:30

Oh I love Nancy

katem98 · 09/03/2022 17:53

I have a Nancy and always get compliments x

tigerbird · 09/03/2022 17:25

Sounds like your choices are clustering around Rosalind, Susannah, Belinda, Juliet/Julia and so on, OP.

My favourites out of those are Rosalind, Julia and Belinda - all really pretty names!

I also have a secret weakness for Bonnie, which in my mind is quite near to Belinda.

Sounds like you need a Chalet School book or two for inspiration - for pretty, classic but not flowery or fluffy names.

pictish · 09/03/2022 17:16

Eleanor?

CaffiSaliMali · 09/03/2022 17:07

I really like Rosalind, Juliet and Susanna.

Rosamund/Rosanna/Rosina/Rosalie/Rosa/Rosemary.
Sabrina
Evangeline
Marisa
Jennifer
Christina
Caroline
Louisa
Natalie/Natalia/Natasha
Emmeline
Alicia

FayCarew · 09/03/2022 16:20

@Cinnabomb, the spelling is Philippa

Diana
Vanessa
Caroline
Katharine
Deborah

BoristalkedaboutBruno22 · 09/03/2022 09:05

Violet
Emma

sashh · 09/03/2022 07:43

Valentina - easy to spell and a little unusual and the name of the first woman in space.

catwomando · 09/03/2022 07:41

Dorothy. Smile Dotty for short

liveforsummer · 09/03/2022 07:24

Everyone knows of Pippa but most people don't know a Pippa.

I know a few but all in the 40 - 60 age category. Grew up in horsey circles it was a pretty popular name in that crowd

Jammybadger · 09/03/2022 07:06

I would steer clear of Diana-the name will always have an association. I know a little Myra and can’t help wondering wtf her parents were thinking

MotherOfMonkeys0 · 09/03/2022 07:00

'Popular' hugely depends on your circles and where you live. Your child won't always be in these same circles. Alexandra and Katherine are really popular around here but I've yet to meet an Amelia, which has topped the 'popularity' list for years. I work with children and have 3 of my own.
Go with what you like! Not with what you perceive people will think of it.

Fwiw I like Frances, Nora, Martha, Julia, Nina, Lauren, Celia, Bethany, Elise.

Hobbesmanc · 09/03/2022 07:00

I'm loving old fashioned but classic C names. Cecile. Cecily Celia. Cecelia. Celeste. Also classic Greek and Roman names. Julia. Daphne. Claudia. Penelope. Dorothea.

Other pretty and unusual choices could be Della. Audra. Astrid.

goliaths · 09/03/2022 06:55

@Whatthefuck3456

My daughter is Pippa

So elegant & classy! Not over named and every one comments! I still love it years on.

Absolutely agree. Everyone knows of Pippa but most people don't know a Pippa. My daughter is 4 and we came across our first other Pippa last weekend, it was very exciting for all Grin
dephlogisticated · 09/03/2022 06:52

Constance