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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls Names - Unusual but not dated or whacky?

37 replies

PitterPatter3 · 23/03/2024 06:36

Looking for a girl’s name which people will know but has never been in the top 100 or so and isn’t really whacky either (e.g. I wouldn’t go for Indigo or River).

My shortlist so far is:

Eloise
Anastasia
Gabriella
Clementine
Tabitha
Jemima
Camelia
Tatiana
Christabel

Any other suggestions?

OP posts:
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user1492757084 · 25/03/2024 12:41

Photina
Fotini
Lucille
Edwina
Bridie
Benedikte
Mary

bringmorewashing · 25/03/2024 12:13

My DD's name is fairly common (but I love it so went with it anyway) and some of the more-unusual-but-not-too-wacky middle names we considered (mostly Latin/Italian-inspired as she's half Italian and her first name is very English) were:

Aurora
Aurelia
Alessandra
Alessia
Alyssa
Mirella
Marina
Marissa

RosesAndHellebores · 25/03/2024 09:11

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Meriel
Isolde
Mirabel
Xanthe
Marina
Davina
Rosamund
Cicely
Verity
Araminta
Nerissa
Leonora

PastaBakeOfGreatness · 25/03/2024 09:05

Outing so I'll change my name now but my DDs are Ginevra and Fleur which I think hit the mark!

Dia11 · 25/03/2024 09:00

I think if you want an unsusual but pretty name you have to choose a less unusual one and give it a twist (as a tip)
unusual pretty names I like:
Lilia (pronounced lily-yuh)
Viviana
Attealia (pronounced Uh-tear-Leah)
Joanna
Mabel
samara/amara
rowena
Mariana
Birdie
Quincy
Alexia
Daphne
Aurelia (uh-ray-Leah)
Elaila
Asterin
Kalilah
good luck :)

Mayim · 25/03/2024 08:58

Ariella
Tahlia/Talia

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 25/03/2024 08:44

Leandra
Beatrix
Leontine
Georgiana
Clarissa
Flora
Flavia
Fabia
Oriana
Amadea
Zipporah
Xanthe
Cressida
Claudia
Cecilia

Enko · 25/03/2024 07:54

If you like Eloise that has crept into the top 100 a few time what about Eloisa that never has been close?

Saffy118 · 25/03/2024 07:50

Arabella
Annabel

steeplesheeple · 24/03/2024 22:07

Penelope
Peronel
Violet

ThursdayTomorrow · 24/03/2024 21:36

Mercy
Olive
Isolde (Is-ol-da from the medieval legend)
Ophelia
Cecily/Celia/Cecilia
June (if born in June)
Lilac
Tulah
Dahlia
Verity
Honor
Melanie
Xenia
Xanthe
Enela
Odette
Joy
Perdy
Margaret/Peggy
Saskia/Sassy
Sasha
Posy
Marigold
Hazel
Ettie
Sarah
April (if born in April)
Otillie

RosaSkyes · 24/03/2024 21:26

I loved Gabriella but wanted to avoid Gabby.

my vote based on your list is for Ottilie or Calliope

Original poster
PitterPatter3 · 24/03/2024 16:40

Thanks all. I can’t believe I’m posting this for real and that I’m actually pregnant with a baby girl, unlike hypothetical threads I’ve started over the years.

OP posts:
Claramay78 · 24/03/2024 16:33

Lavinia

valorie · 24/03/2024 16:30

Penelope
Felicity
Vanessa

theduchessofspork · 24/03/2024 16:25

I really like Christabel but it will get shortened - Chris and Chrissie are very dated, Bella way overdone, and Kit very popular for boys right now, so I wouldn’t.

Eloise and Clementine are pretty popular so I’d get rid of those - especially Eloise because she’ll inevitably end up as yet another Ellie

Anastasia will likely end up Annie or Ana of which there are loads

Gabriella - only if you like Gaby

Tabitha and Jemima I like in a Beatrix Potter sort of way.

I know a feisty Tatiana but it’s slightly odd without Slavic inheritance, Camellia is a bit fussy - but they are both nice

Maybe

Allegra
Constancia
Adela
Cassia
Yolanda
Saskia
Diana
Sabrina
Serena
Fernanda
Miranda
Viola
Selina / Selene
Iona / Ione
Ianthe
Verity
Estella
Genevieve
Cecile

Jocelyn
Meredith
Raphaelle
Lucienne

ghislaine · 24/03/2024 16:02

Thirza
Esmeralda
Opal
Lettice
Sorrel

Original poster
PitterPatter3 · 24/03/2024 15:58

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 23/03/2024 22:25

@PitterPatter3 You’re welcome ☺️
I meant to add that I like many of the names on your list like Tabitha, Gabriella and Camellia - but especially love Christabel.

I’ve never understood why Christabel isn’t more popular - it’s not that different to popular Isabelle in style/sound but has a huge choice of nn’s (Kit(ty)/Chris(sie)/Christy/Tab(by)/Bel(la)) and well as wonderful namesakes in British culture (Suffragette Pankhurst and the eponymous Coleridge poem). It would have been an obvious one on my underused “British” names list!

Btw - if you like “l” heavy names and/or Slavic style ones like Anastasia and Tatiana - have you also considered lovely Lilia or Larissa/Lara? While Lily is popular, Lilia is more elegant imo yet underused and Lara (not Larissa) has only occasionally crept into the lower top 100. Yet they are well recognised and used internationally and not wacky.

This is a good point about Christabel. I only know of one.

I think we have a front runner and it’s in this thread!

OP posts:
WaftherAngelsthroughtheskies · 24/03/2024 08:38

I live the Latinate names ending in '-ia'. But as a word of caution, they often have a direct meaning you wouldn't intend. My own name translates as ' lame' or 'limp' for example. Another lovely sounding Latin name is 'envious'. These aren't generally recognised but worth checking whether you or your DD would mind...

Motherofpearlxoxo · 24/03/2024 08:34

I think Clementine and Constance are beautiful. Also love Cicely and Polly.

I have a baby Olive. It’s the perfect name for her and I love it but when stating my pre birth naming intentions people were a bit rude about it! Bet they are wondering if I remember…I DO!

Motherofpearlxoxo · 24/03/2024 08:33

Saffy118 · 24/03/2024 08:13

Primrose
penelope
persephone
seraphina
Valentina

Love Persephone!

Rainbowqueeen · 24/03/2024 08:23

Antonia
Claudia

Batinthehouse · 24/03/2024 08:18

Merryn

Saffy118 · 24/03/2024 08:13

Primrose
penelope
persephone
seraphina
Valentina

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 23/03/2024 22:25

@PitterPatter3 You’re welcome ☺️
I meant to add that I like many of the names on your list like Tabitha, Gabriella and Camellia - but especially love Christabel.

I’ve never understood why Christabel isn’t more popular - it’s not that different to popular Isabelle in style/sound but has a huge choice of nn’s (Kit(ty)/Chris(sie)/Christy/Tab(by)/Bel(la)) and well as wonderful namesakes in British culture (Suffragette Pankhurst and the eponymous Coleridge poem). It would have been an obvious one on my underused “British” names list!

Btw - if you like “l” heavy names and/or Slavic style ones like Anastasia and Tatiana - have you also considered lovely Lilia or Larissa/Lara? While Lily is popular, Lilia is more elegant imo yet underused and Lara (not Larissa) has only occasionally crept into the lower top 100. Yet they are well recognised and used internationally and not wacky.