Is there a good reason why these names are not more popular?

I love Miranda, I don't think it sounds "hard" as some people have said. But I was put off by the thought of the nickname "Randy"! I don't think there is a sensible nickname, really, and the same goes for Serena ("Reeny"?)

It always baffles me how low down the ranks Miranda comes. I just don't understand it. I think it's beautiful. Plus, it's a name that everyone has heard of and it's in Shakespeare - so strange that it's so unusual. I think it's a little more popular in the US - this only occurs to me because Jemima (which I see as a similar name) is used here but not in the US due to Aunt Jemima so I did wonder if there was a similar problem here with Miranda. But I've never found one.
I have taught 2 Mirandas in 18 years and know a Mimi who I think is a Miranda but I actually think that's over representative of how common it is (possibly because I work in a private school).

Serena - I don't think it's unusual enough for Serena Williams or Gossip Girl to be the only associations and, even if they were, there's nothing wrong with either of those namesakes. So I don't think it's unusable. It's a pretty name. I know one but she is 40ish.

I'm considering Serena too, I think it's really pretty.

Do you think people will try to shorten it though? I don't think there's a natural nickname? (I like the full name, but will it get shortened?)

I like both, especially Miranda

Both beautiful names, I genuinely don't know why they aren't used more.

@PitterPatter3 @LadyEloise1

completely agree about Diana. It’s such a good, strong classical name too. I feel the same about Sybil.

Love the name Serena and I think it could be happily shortened to Nina or Seren.

I quite like the name Miranda but it sounds more suitable for an adult than a child to me (similar to Monica), so perhaps that's why it's not used more. Sadly, the only Miranda I've known in real life used the shortening Randy which is a bit unfortunate.

Both are beautiful, but I personally prefer Miranda due to it making me think of The Tempest.

Probably because Diane was dated when Diana hit the headlines, and Diana too closely associated with one person.

I always thought it was strange that, despite her worldwide popularity Princess Diana's name never "took off".
I've not heard of one baby Diana since Princess Diana became world news at the start of her relationship with Charles.

Selena is an alternative for Serena, only met one so far!

I think the same - it's not a super frilly name but I don't see it as "hard"

I really wanted Serena for my daughter, but didnt win that one. It’s a lovely name. I wonder if it’s a name that ends up on a lot of short lists and gets pipped to the post.

@ASuitableName , it does compared to names like Lily, Ellie etc.
I'd think of it as being more like Olivia and Sophia. They didn't strike me as a 'baby girl' sort of name until they became popular.

I’m surprised that some posters say Miranda sounds hard; to me it really doesn’t. Perhaps it depends on their accent? It’s a name I have always loved, but I have never met one despite being of the Philippa/ Belinda generation. It has never been very popular, even though it is strong yet pretty classic.

Serena is also a beautiful name, again sadly under used.

I know a primary school aged Miranda. It’s quite a refreshing name amongst the more popular ‘trendy’ girls names.

Miranda comes from a beautiful medieval English carol, There is no rose of such virtue. In part, the translated words say:

For in the rose was contained
Both heaven and earth in a small space
Res Miranda (tr.= a wonderous thing)

I love it.

I’ve also worked with a few Mirandas (well two!) who would be 40-45 range now. One shortened it to Milly but that was probably because there was another Miranda in our small team! I think it’s a nice name. I went into teaching afterwards and never came across/ taught one in 16 years.

Serena was on my list, but DH wasn’t keen. I really like it and think Serena Williams is not a bad connotation to have! If we’d have gone on to have another one I might have lobbied a bit harder for Serena.

I also really liked Marina but that was an outright veto from DH!

I had both a Serena and Miranda in my year at school but we were all born 1984/85. I love Miranda and have done for years. Ever since listening to The Tempest on cassette tape aged 9. I also think of the actress Miranda Richardson who played Queenie (Elizabeth 1) in the second series of Blackadder and more recently Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I have a like dislike relationship with Serena thanks to my classmate but there is nothing wrong with the name.

Miranda I definitely immediately thought the comedian. I’ve also just binge watched And just like that so it did make me think of that. I worked with a few Miranda’s in the early 00s, never been a favourite for me.

Serena I just thought mythical for some reason, sort of like Siren, not sure why, I didn’t make the Williams connection

I don't think boys names want the opposite, not locally to us anyway.

Lots of softer sounding theo, Leo, Luca, Tommy, ruari, alfie types of names are popular.

Love them both, also love Marina and Meredith which are a similar style to my ear

Our adult daughter is also Miranda, her name chosen because we like Shakespearean names and like its meaning of ‘she who must be admired’. I’m surprised the name has become as rare as it has but, as others have said, trends and fashions change.

Yep, @TempsPerdu the trendy “O” does make a difference for Ophelia - everyone is looking for the new Olivia. But I also agree with you about the current unpopularity of “harsher” consonants compared to the softer vowels and “l” sounds - otherwise I can’t explain why Octavia hasn’t risen as quickly as Ophelia (since it’s also 4 syllables and Shakespearean like Olivia and Ophelia).