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Baby names

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

Original poster

'normal' names that just don't appear on the baby name lists for some reason?

191 replies

Whippetmama · 26/08/2023 13:56

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect name, any help would be appreciated! I've noticed during my online search that there are gaps in the obvious names lists and I'm sure this little girl's name is a really obvious name that I just haven't seen on a list, could you guys suggest some obvious names that you don't often see on the "top 100" lists? For example I've been through about 20,000 names and Danielle, Felicity, Jill etc didn't show up on any of them. I'm not a fan of these names but it feels like I'm just missing an obvious one because I have immense baby brain and all names have flown away! Thanks! X

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Workawayxx · 14/10/2023 13:17

I have a Louisa too! I hadn’t realised till I looked up the popularity how rare it is and haven’t met any other baby/child Louisas. I think it had a little surge around 30 years ago as have heard of a few a bit younger than me but seems pretty rare now (other than on mumsnet 🤣).

also love felicity, verity, marianne and Lara (but think Lara is growing in popularity).

EllaWallace · 14/10/2023 13:11

I’m thinking about the girls I went to school with whose names I liked! Elaine, Jane, Zoe, Stephanie, Tessa, Sian, Alexandra, Lucy, Rosanna. Boys names: Dermot, Scott, Fintan.

Sealover123 · 13/10/2023 08:07

Meredith
Courtney
Tamara
Kelsey
Joanna
Heidi
Angela
Lauren
Sarah
Kate
Alexandra
Alexis
Andrea
Susannah
Abby
Veronica
Chelsea
Brittany
Nicole
Stephanie
Brooke
Josie
Kimberly
Laura
Tiffany
Whitney
Emily
Belinda
Melinda
Erin
Vanessa
Leah
Christina
Carmen
Candace
Monica
Kristen

Sealover123 · 12/10/2023 23:02

Natalie/Natalia
Juliet
Dorothy
Naomi
Talitha
Erica
Meghan
Dora
Alicia
Heather
Rachel
Cassidy
Holly
Millicent
Jennifer
Morgan
Robin
Jenelle
Madeline
Brianna

Bbq1 · 12/10/2023 21:16

Suzy or Katy are cute and fun. I like Lucy too. When I was at school there was lots of variation of Catherine. Clare abd Rachel were also quite popular. Anne and Lisa are 2 lovely names you don't hear anymore.

Lovelynames123 · 12/10/2023 17:57

Hazel or Heather both go well Rose

Peaceandquietfinally · 27/09/2023 00:40

OP I think you have been given too many choices
I would choose
Helena
Julia
Juliette
Olive
Annie
all beautiful timeless namesX

Daisybuttercup12345 · 27/09/2023 00:29

Angela
Lorraine
Nicola
Samantha
Joanna
Suzanne
Lynette
Victoria
Jayne
Celia
Fay
Kay
Audrey
Mary
Marilyn
Jenny
Threasa
Gemma
Tracey
Deborah
Amanda
Beverley
Caroline
Lisa
Kelly
Claire
Fiona
Collette
Tina
Pamela

Paul
Phillip
Peter
Raymond
Adam
Adrian
Mark
Christopher
Terence
Martin
David
Michael
Simon
Richard
Robert
Nigel
Jeremy
Gary
Kevin
Keith
Derek
Darren
Steven
Andrew
John
Jonathan
Anthony
Eric
Lee
Clive
Colin
Dean

iusedtaecoulddaethat · 26/09/2023 20:37

Dolores?

moonlike · 24/09/2023 16:02

Angela
Denise
Lisa
Alison
Kirsty
Suzanne
Sarah
Jennifer
Gill
Andrea
Melanie
Joanne
Kerry
Gaynor
Deborah
Victoria
Elizabeth
Elaine
Pamela
Emma
Natalie
Nicola
Vivienne
Amanda
Christine
Shelagh
Wendy
Karen
Vanessa
Carol
Claire
Collette
Diane
Tracey
Helen
Janine
Fiona

fishfingersandtoes · 24/09/2023 15:41

Jennifer
Lisa
Louise
Victoria
Catherine
Elizabeth
Helen
Rachel
Dawn
Sarah
Susan
Sally
Mary
Jane
Lucy

Twazique · 24/09/2023 15:38

I browsed some French lists for inspiration.

KirstenBlest · 23/09/2023 20:28

You could pick a year at random and look at the top 100 names for that year, or look at your family tree, or look a baby name book and open it randomly.
I only dissed them earlier because I think they could make things worse.
(Possibly influenced by an Aaron I know saying that he got his name because his parents couldn't be bothered to read any further Smile)

How about Abigail or Melissa.

Original poster
Whippetmama · 23/09/2023 20:12

I love this thank you, but my OH vetoed it :( x

OP posts:
Original poster
Whippetmama · 23/09/2023 20:11

This was the first thing I did. Kind of insinuates this whole forum pointless if that's the kind of response you're giving everyone!

OP posts:
Original poster
Whippetmama · 23/09/2023 20:10

It's not that I'm trying to be original, it's just I haven't found one that's really hit me as the right one. Chances are it'll be a very normal common name and I just asked on here incase someone happened to spout one that my awkward brain suddenly went oh yes to! Lots of people have said some great names but I don't want to say which ones as they are all names dear to me and don't want to doxx myself! X

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 23/09/2023 15:15

They're not though. A baby name book will have a few thousand names.

ClaraBourne · 23/09/2023 13:40

Buy a baby name book. They're all there.

greglet · 23/09/2023 13:07

@Whippetmama What about Sylvie?

boysmuminherts · 23/09/2023 12:59

RecklessBlackberries · 22/09/2023 15:01

We looked at the ONS annual statistics, they have a page for every name given in the UK that year. It's surprising how many of the names outside the top 100 are completely normal.

Our son's name was in the 130s I think in 2021 when he was born. It's a totally normal name that no one ever bats an eyelid at and is never misunderstood.

my boys also have very normal names. DS2 name was 138 the year he was born, in 2021 it was in the 70s though. Names just become more popular!! DS1 name gone from 87th to 28th! I guess we all think we are being original but we aren't ;)

ScruffMuffin · 22/09/2023 21:16

Some people I went to school with/ knew in the 80s and 90s:
Sarah
Katherine
Lucy
Joanne/ Joanna
Charlotte
Josie
Rowena
Lisa
Keri
Sally
Dawn
Donna
Emma
Amanda
Victoria
Cheryl
Alexandra
Deborah/ Debbie
Selena
Hannah
Adele
Caroline
Samantha
Anna
Melanie
Sonia
Tanya
Imogen
Nicola/ Nicole
Hazel
Louise
Becky
Alison
Sally
Carol
Claire
Helen
Stephanie

RecklessBlackberries · 22/09/2023 15:01

We looked at the ONS annual statistics, they have a page for every name given in the UK that year. It's surprising how many of the names outside the top 100 are completely normal.

Our son's name was in the 130s I think in 2021 when he was born. It's a totally normal name that no one ever bats an eyelid at and is never misunderstood.

peaceinourtime · 22/09/2023 14:57

Clara is great name

Nursemumma92 · 22/09/2023 14:44

Names from my primary/secondary school in 90s:

Jessica
Stephanie
Laura
Ashleigh
Joanne/Joanna
Sophie
Tamsin
Lorna
Ria/Rhea
Bethany
Annabel
Natalie
Sally
Chloe
Maria
Leoni
Anna
Holly
Amy/Ami
Harriet
Megan
Thea
Rosa
Rebecca
Kirianne
Emma
Carrie

MargotBamborough · 22/09/2023 14:40

Whippetmama · 22/09/2023 07:27

Thanks everyone. I took a panic break of a few weeks from names as it was just starting to upset me! We've got this shortlist below, a mix of names you guys suggested (thanks!) And ones my husband likes. None of them feel like the one to me but maybe she'll pop out looking like one of them, you never know! X

Clara
Poppy
Vivienne
Maggie
Rosa
Victoria
Tabitha
Susie
Sybbie - love this from Downton abbey but not a huge fan of its full version of Sybil

Surely you can't have Rosa on your list if you already have a Rose!

I would choose Clara from this list.

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