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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

OP posts:
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MargotBamborough · 22/09/2023 14:38

Caroline and Louise are really rare now.

Twazique · 22/09/2023 07:45

Its a good list OP. I found it hard to find the perfect name second time around, nothing clicked, but a few years on I am happy with the name we chose.

How about
Delphi
Kate
Emma
Vita
Lois

Original poster
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

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 22/09/2023 02:40

Lorna
Meghan
Roslyn
Jean
Brenda
Desma
Audrey
Winona
Pam
Janine
Lynette
Christine

Housenoob · 22/09/2023 02:10

Holly?

MrsPepperpotspickles · 22/09/2023 01:34

Kayleigh
Bethany
Hannah
Melissa
Caitlin
Tamsin

LovelyBranches · 21/09/2023 22:03

How about Heidi? It’s such a pretty name but I’ve never met a Heidi in person

TedWilson · 31/08/2023 22:58

I like adding "a" to regular names which often brings back to the English version of a name although we may be more accustomed to the French version.

Eg -

Louisa
Carolina
Helena
Natalia

KellyanneConway · 31/08/2023 22:53

From the examples you give it seems you like quite current kinds of names that are familiar but not overused rather than 70s names. I’m thinking

Erica
Bryony
Nicole
Claudia
Neve
Violet
Delilah
Lola

Original poster
Whippetmama · 31/08/2023 12:41

Wrongsideofpennines · 26/08/2023 16:05

We had a book with 10000 names in and it had all the 'normal' names like things like Jane, Sarah, Laura, Jessica, Katie etc It was probably about 10 years old though so that helped. Maybe try your library, often you can borrow as an ebook.

Thank you to this advice and everyone else who replied with name suggestions, film credit , census lists etc. It's all been incredibly helpful although probably not in the way you imagined. I didn't find a new name (although I will keep scanning credits until the time!) But it has settled my hormones a bit and I feel more at ease with our shortlist now, that there isn't some lightning bolt name out there ready to strike that I just haven't found because I feel like I've exhausted all avenues now and I've seen all the ones that are likely to appeal to both me and my OH! X

OP posts:
PresentPrincess1 · 29/08/2023 12:50

Cassie

PresentPrincess1 · 29/08/2023 12:50

Estelle
Stella
Marcella
Janet
Jean
Janice
Justine
Carrie

lemmein · 28/08/2023 02:58

What about Liliana instead of Lily?

Or Leonie maybe.

Loub55 · 28/08/2023 02:27

gohomeroger1 · 27/08/2023 11:57

We have a two year old Felicity. You don't see many Catherines/Katherine's any more which is surprising with the popularity of the Duchess of Cambridge

My 2 year old DD is Felicity Katherine ☺

Bbq1 · 28/08/2023 01:57

Lyndsey, Joanne, Helena, Gabrielle

Bbq1 · 28/08/2023 01:55

Andrea, Katy, Catherine, Kirsty, Lisa, Lauren

46mumof6 · 28/08/2023 01:50

I like
Clementine
Calliope
Amity
Paloma
Clara
Lydia
Melody
Olive
Peony
Tandie

A mixture of names here really

If I was to have another girl I would call her Clementine

mathanxiety · 28/08/2023 01:38

Also:
Liberty
Trinity

mathanxiety · 28/08/2023 01:37

If you're not averse to "American" names that were popular in past decades, how about:
Kelsey
Addison
Alyssa
Kaylee/ Kayleigh
Taylor
Mariah
Sierra
Jordan
Madison
Ashley
Paige
Whitney
Megan/ Meghan
Dakota
Kelly
Kaitlyn
Morgan
Brooke
Brianna
Cheyenne
Amber
Casey
Jamie
Chelsea
Shauna
Sydney
Shelby

ShoesoftheWorld · 27/08/2023 18:46

Kirsty
Sabine/Sabina (seeing as you like Sabrina)
Carla (or Carola)
Rowan
Katy
Alison
Nina
Marguerite
Bryony
Liane/Liana
Stephanie

cherryassam · 27/08/2023 17:46

Based on Sage and Kayla being liked:

Kyra
Jada
Keira
Kyla
Caitlin
Kelsey
Shelby
Sierra
Adora
Ashlyn
Avalon
Brielle
Clea
Colette
Cosette
Gracelyn
Jayla
Nyla
Kayley
Lorna
Nia
Skyler / Skyla
Tiana
Ayla
Aida
Etta
Kenna
Lena
Mona
Nika
Mika
Tavia
Clover
Aspen
Alma
Della
Juniper
Sloane
Aria
Cadence
Charity
Doe
Ever
Haven
Hope
Liberty
Lux
Maven
Rue
Scout
Sky / Skye
Tawny
Winter
Alba
Amara
Billie
Callie
Dakota
Hadley
Livia
Lumi
Noa
Rio
Shea
Sunny
Tatum
Zia

BoleynMemories13 · 27/08/2023 17:42

Whippetmama · 27/08/2023 17:31

It's not quite so much that I'm trying to avoid popular names, it's just that I felt like the lists that all pop up when you Google seemed to have some names missing off that seemed like obvious names to me, if that makes sense? Of course having been through the links people have linked I can see that all the baby name lists are just taking them from the top 100 used each year and that's why I'm seeing all the same names! But then if you Google unusual names to try and get a wider pool you end up with some quite odd ones, I felt like there was a middle elusive ground that I couldn't master! X

Show quote history

There's definitely middle ground, I agree, but name trends change over the years so it's unsurprising most lists will either include current popular names or up and coming trendy names, or totally way out if you're searching for unusual.

The ones which don't appear in any tend to be those dated names which were popular when we or our parents were young, so definitely not unusual, but hardly anyone is using right now (for a good reason in some cases!).

Names from the 50s-80s will have their day again one day, probably when our own kids choose to honour us or their grandparents, but currently most of them seem very dated, baring certain timeless classics which never seem to go out of style (James, William, Emma, Elizabeth etc).

If it's classic you're after Lily probably feels the most classic on your list, if that helps, but with a Rose already (also very classic) you may wish to avoid another floral name. For what it's worth, I'd say Clara probably sounds the nicest with Rose and isn't as popular as Lily or Poppy (which feel a bit matchy with Rose, to me).

Original poster
Whippetmama · 27/08/2023 17:36

cherryassam · 27/08/2023 17:30

Sage and Kayla both lean a bit American to me, so it might be worth looking at the American top 100 / 1000 as well?

I’ll have a look and see if anything stands out

Oo good idea!

OP posts:
Original poster
Whippetmama · 27/08/2023 17:35

Notveryanything · 27/08/2023 17:32

Vivienne - one of my favourite names.

Love this! OH has agreed to add to the maybe list!

OP posts:
Notveryanything · 27/08/2023 17:32

Vivienne - one of my favourite names.

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