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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Emilia too popular?

37 replies

Lilacduck111 · 08/05/2025 15:16

Hi, I’ve been thinking about what name would be a good fit for my daughter. My son’s name is Alistair.

Right now, Emilia, Felicity, and Fiona are on my shortlist.

I really love the sound of Emilia. It’s soft and elegant.
Felicity appeals to me because of its sense of grace and nobility.
And I like Fiona because it pairs so nicely with Alistair.

That said, I’m a bit concerned that Emilia might be too popular. Since Alistair isn’t in the top 100 names in Scotland (where I live), I’d prefer to choose something similarly uncommon for my daughter.

I’d really appreciate some suggestions and help!

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PurpleLass1234 · 11/05/2025 08:55

CruCru · 11/05/2025 08:47

Fiona is a lovely name. I think it would be refreshing now (much like Jennifer, which I heard recently).

I have a 12 year old Jennifer! She loves how unusual her name is now!

CruCru · 11/05/2025 08:47

Fiona is a lovely name. I think it would be refreshing now (much like Jennifer, which I heard recently).

WtafIsThat · 11/05/2025 08:41

I think it would be nice to hear a Fiona for a change at school rather than yet another Evie or Ava or Olivia.

Original poster
Lilacduck111 · 11/05/2025 08:39

Thank you so much for all your suggestions!

I’m not a native English speaker, so I’d really appreciate some help understanding how dated the name Fiona might sound.
For example, names like Gordon, Desmond, or Reginald feel very classic or old-fashioned to me.
Is Fiona in the same category?

OP posts:
CruCru · 10/05/2025 17:14

I love the name Emilia BUT it is so similar to Amelia. How much will it annoy you if people call her Amelia by accident (they will, people are annoying)?

Readytohealnow · 10/05/2025 02:52

I know another Scottish lady with a daughter called Fiona - fab! i love Alastair too. But don’t pick a name purely on how they sound together. They are two separate people and may end up not liking each other or living on separate continents - and never referred to together again. Go for a name you like.
Don’t like Felicity - too name end up as Fliss. Emilia is nice.

JMSA · 10/05/2025 02:38

I work in a secondary school - in Scotland - and have also worked in primary. Trust me when I say that Emilia is not overly popular. It’s very similar to Amelia, which is popular and runs off the tongue more easily. Having the ‘E’ in front somehow makes it more awkward, though I’m not sure why. Plus, she’ll have people constantly getting her name confused with Amelia!
PLEASE go for Fiona. I love it and it’s such a natural pairing with Alistair.

TheHerboriste · 10/05/2025 02:30

All the Emmas, Emilys, Amelias, Emilias, Anelies, etc etc are SO overused.

Fiona is elegant and more distinctive.

DustlandFairytaleBeginning · 10/05/2025 02:29

Fiona would be lovely- you don't hear it much! I know one young Felicity, its a cute name on a young girl. I would avoid Emilia, I think she'll be in for a lifetime of Amelia mispellings.

thornbury · 10/05/2025 02:23

I've taught an Emilia - she's from Poland. I like the name more than your others, but Amelia is much more common now than it used to be. How about Amelie? It changes which vowel is stressed so sounds quite different.

Eenameenadeeka · 10/05/2025 02:18

Emelia is very popular where I am. It's very pretty though.

user1470907786 · 09/05/2025 22:38

Lilacduck111 · 08/05/2025 15:16

Hi, I’ve been thinking about what name would be a good fit for my daughter. My son’s name is Alistair.

Right now, Emilia, Felicity, and Fiona are on my shortlist.

I really love the sound of Emilia. It’s soft and elegant.
Felicity appeals to me because of its sense of grace and nobility.
And I like Fiona because it pairs so nicely with Alistair.

That said, I’m a bit concerned that Emilia might be too popular. Since Alistair isn’t in the top 100 names in Scotland (where I live), I’d prefer to choose something similarly uncommon for my daughter.

I’d really appreciate some suggestions and help!

Love love love Felicity!

Justgoingforaweeliedown · 09/05/2025 22:16

Amelia has been really popular where we are in Scotland and you probably run the risk of having to explain it's Emilia, not Amelia. My hairdressers's daughter is Amelia and she hates the way it's pronounced in a broad Glasgow accent so worth thinking about whether that would change the way you feel about the name. That being said, if I could guarantee how others would pronounce it, Emilia is my favourite of the three.

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 09/05/2025 01:53

I agree Amelia and Emelia are too similar and confusing.
Fiona is good - strong name and as a pp said would sound good in a Scottish accent.
Not as keen on Felicity.
How about Josephine, Lori, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Jacqueline, Maria, Francesca, Georgina.

nameobsessed · 09/05/2025 01:50

Love Felicity and Alistair together, very pretty names. Fiona is nice too, Amelia/Emilia not so much and has been very common for a while.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 09/05/2025 01:45

I’d go for Fiona - it’s v underused right now, you can start the revival

Emilia has been v v overdone, along with v similar names like Emily and Amelia

I love Felicity, but it’s getting quite popular

Verity maybe?

Iona?

violetmondays · 08/05/2025 20:24

I like Emilia but yes it’s popular where we are. As others have said, Fiona is a bit dated. I know a few people called Fiona but they all tend to be 45 or over.
I really like Felicity and it goes well with Alistair. Or Hermione would be nice too.

mum1345 · 08/05/2025 20:23

Emilia and Amelia are extremely similar and they are both (Amelia being particularly high) in the top 100. So it probably doesn’t fit in with your criteria of it being a bit uncommon alongside your sons name.

what about
Edie
Autumn
Eliza
Lara
Louise
Penny
Martha
Josie
Harriet

Emanwenym · 08/05/2025 20:20

@lapuf That's because the stress in Amelie and Emily is on the first syllable.

lapuf · 08/05/2025 20:18

I have an Emilia and everyone assumes Amelia. It’s annoying as I emphasise the Em rather than Am sound and no one confuses Emily and Amalie!

username462025 · 08/05/2025 20:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Emanwenym · 08/05/2025 19:25

Emilia gets mixed up with Amelia. Also it gets misspelt.
Fiona and Felicity are nicer,

BoleynMemories13 · 08/05/2025 19:22

Only you can define what 'too popular' means to you. Personally, I wouldn't be bothered by national popularity. From what you have said though, I would say that it probably is too popular for you, yes.

Felicity fits the bill. I much prefer it to Fiona.

Cattenberg · 08/05/2025 17:05

Amelia is extremely popular in my part of SW England. Emilia is popular too. There are two of each in DD's year at primary school and the teachers refer to them by their full names e.g. Amelia Selworthy, Emilia Trevarthen, etc. It's a bit of a mouthful.

Moreteaandchocolate · 08/05/2025 16:58

Emilia is lovely and I actually don’t know any (or any Amelia’s or Millie’s), across 3 big schools! So maybe it’s area dependent.

Felicity is likely to be shortened and I don’t like Flick / Fliss etc.

Fiona is ok - a bit dated / Shrek associations

How about

Leonie
Anneliese
Miriam
Marceline Marcie)
Lorena (Lori)
Frida

(outside UK top 100)