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Baby names

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

Girls name - unusual but familiar

115 replies

MaryHadALittleLam · 14/11/2022 22:29

Hi, we are looking for DD name. And we're looking for inspiration

We are looking for a name that is unusual enough that it's likely that DD will not meet another person or the same name (or at least not many). But yet familiar enough that spelling/pronouncing is not going to be a big barrier. We would also like it to be recognised as a name, ie it's been used as a name for several decades or ideally longer.

Our previous DC has a name which is at about 400-450ish in popularity and fits this description. It's also a little similar feel to a very trendy name which means it feels unusual but not dated.

We were considering Imogen, Ottilie, Naomi, Harriett as a potential names. But nothing has stood out to us yet. With our first DC, when we saw their name we both liked it immediately. It could be harder because it's second time around.

I wondered if there are any suggestions that might help us?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
wishing3 · 18/11/2022 18:42

Anthea
Miranda
Leonie
Noa
June

JamSandle · 16/11/2022 23:42

Sabrina

Migoodness · 16/11/2022 23:39

Hannah
Bethia
Alice/Alicia
Claudia
Pura
Tamara

Wailywailywaily · 16/11/2022 23:29

I love the name Hester as suggested above, Nesta is also gorgeous.
Isolde
Octavia
or if you want really unusual what about Phyllida? Easy to pronounce super rare but feminine. Bit of a pain in the ass to spell though

Peccary · 16/11/2022 23:06

This was our criteria, DD (5) is called Juliet and is the only one in her school and I have never come across another little one. There are two Audreys in her year though which has been suggested as unusual so you never know when a name will have a moment

Other names I liked at various points
Zoe
Leonie
Sasha
Sadie
Carmen
Valerie
Celeste

NCFT0922 · 16/11/2022 16:05

Some of the names listed on here are very, very popular OP so I would avoid them if you want something they aren’t likely to share with a classmate. Particularly;
Violet
Ivy
Eloise
Harriet
Imogen

I know at least more than 4 under 10s of all the above.

Whataretheodds · 16/11/2022 16:02

Adele

sevenbyseven · 16/11/2022 15:50

thedust · 16/11/2022 14:08

Audrey
Pearl
Martha

Some of these listed are quite popular already and I know multiple Penelope/Penny's, Olive, Ada, Nancy and Edith's. They're nice names but I do think run the risk of having multiple in the school year.

Martha is very popular in our area - definitely depends where you live!

CaptBuckyOHare · 16/11/2022 15:28

Adeline
Miranda
Viola
Estelle
Ramona
Justine
May
Meredith
Celia
Rosa
Hilda
June
Sally

Bumzoo · 16/11/2022 15:14

The Tammy at our school was known as Tammy Pax

What about Hester, Leona, Tara or Beattie?

Bichette · 16/11/2022 14:56

Astrid
Zelda
Romy
Juno

Foxglovesandlilacs86 · 16/11/2022 14:43

I have a Tabitha and although it more popular than it used to be we’ve never met another yet and she’s 12. Probably depends on area though.

Ingrainedagainstthegrain · 16/11/2022 14:35

Valentina

Veronica

Marigold

Cecily

Kait

Ingrainedagainstthegrain · 16/11/2022 14:31

Linnet

Elspeth

Rosanna

Margot

Coco

Saffron

Marguerite

Annecy

thedust · 16/11/2022 14:08

Audrey
Pearl
Martha

Some of these listed are quite popular already and I know multiple Penelope/Penny's, Olive, Ada, Nancy and Edith's. They're nice names but I do think run the risk of having multiple in the school year.

sevenbyseven · 16/11/2022 11:56

Twizbe · 16/11/2022 11:35

My DD is Cerys. There were only 9 others born the same year as her.

Carys is much more popular and we have met a couple.

Only issue is the pronunciation. I'm amazed how many people struggle with that bit. To me it's obvious.

I love the name Cerys. It was ranked 755 in England and Wales last year (ONS figures) while Carys was 767 - both a lot more unusual than I'd have guessed! Presumably both are a lot more common in Wales.

Purpleavocado · 16/11/2022 11:38

Perdita
Miranda
Romilly
Gabrielle
Jemima

Twizbe · 16/11/2022 11:35

My DD is Cerys. There were only 9 others born the same year as her.

Carys is much more popular and we have met a couple.

Only issue is the pronunciation. I'm amazed how many people struggle with that bit. To me it's obvious.

ChairOfInvisibleStudies · 16/11/2022 11:34

Fenella
Ferelith
Marguerite
Honor

brighterthanthemoon · 16/11/2022 11:15

Natalie

brighterthanthemoon · 16/11/2022 11:15

Tamsyn
Lauren
Bethany
Lucille
Penny

VenusClapTrap · 16/11/2022 11:13

Avril
Simone
Diana
Nancy
Fleur

caroleanboneparte · 16/11/2022 10:49

Estella
Athena
Marina
Nerissa
Selena
Sabrina
Faye
Vivian
Verity
Petra
Rosemary
Dinah
Crystal
Amber
Gemma
Corinna
Gillian
Alison
Saskia
Sadie
Fiona
Cecily
Artemis
Augusta
Virginia
Flora
Clover
Jasmine
Millicent
Mariah
Sylvia
Freida
Alanna

sevenbyseven · 16/11/2022 10:15

Imogen is very popular in our area (2 in my daughter's class and another in her sports team!) but I do like it.

Otherwise how about...

Iris
Suki
Juno
Ida
Mabel
Jennifer
Claudia
Rachel
Maude
Ada
Meryn
Lillian
Margaret (Meg/Peggy/etc)
Meredith
Olive
Kendra

AboutDamnTime247 · 16/11/2022 09:48

Izzie