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Baby names

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

Original poster

Common name for a sibling that has an uncommon name?

85 replies

Chipstickcats · 17/12/2025 14:41

Hello, hoping for some opinions on this as I can’t decide!

my DD1 has a fairly unusual name - April, which was ranked 360 last year in the UK. We love the name and have only ever come across one other.

we are expecting a baby in May, and currently love the name Ivy, however this name was ranked fifth last year.

Is it weird to have names so different in popularity? My main worry is that Ivy would always be able to find her name on personalised things and April wouldn’t, is that silly?

We don’t actually know if we’re having a girl or a boy yet, and the 2 boys names we’re choosing between are also outside the top 100.

if you do think it’s an issue, does anyone have any other suggestions?

names we loved but can’t use:
Matilda
Florence
Poppy
Edie
Mabel
Martha

thank you!

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Original poster
Chipstickcats · 17/12/2025 16:12

@BoleynMemories13thank you! I’m feeling much less worried now.

OP posts:
BoleynMemories13 · 17/12/2025 16:00

It's absolutely fine this case. April is a well known name, which just so happens to not be very popular. It's stylistically similar to Ivy. I wouldn't pair a practically unheard of name with a popular one, but everyone has heard of April.

Original poster
Chipstickcats · 17/12/2025 15:00

@etataurithank you, that’s really reassuring!

OP posts:
Original poster
Chipstickcats · 17/12/2025 14:54

@JamesWebbSpaceTelescopelaughing at February 🤣 thank you!

@yorkshiretoffeethank you, that’s reassuring. Olive is really pretty but dh hates olives and so says no way, I have suggested before!

@GiddykiddyI don’t think I would use another A name but Esme is pretty, thank you!

@Prelimme too to be honest! I think they sound so lovely together, but the stats worry me, and my silly hang up about personalised things!

@Endofthetunnel25haha, I’m tempted for a middle name. It’s a late May due date, so June is another option haha. But then what if I have a third baby that gets left out of the months… can you tell I overthink these things?! 🤣

OP posts:
Etatauri · 17/12/2025 14:51

I wouldn't over think it. We've got 2 with names that are never going to appear on a mass-produced personalised items and one with a classic name which has been popular since about the 4th century BC. They're individual people. It's fine!

Ivy is a lovely name. As is April. Also now we live in the time of wonderly and being able to personalised pretty much everything through Etsy so you can buy things with names on if it's important to you.

Endofthetunnel25 · 17/12/2025 14:48

I would definitely call her May!

Prelim · 17/12/2025 14:48

April and Ivy seem very much in the same vein to me. I wouldn’t think of April as being an unusual name.

Giddykiddy · 17/12/2025 14:47

Amelie
Esme

yorkshiretoffee · 17/12/2025 14:46

I like both names and they are both unusual to me as I don't know that many very young kids. I think names pass in trends so I wouldn't be too worried about there being a million Ivys.
Of the other names you listed, I know many kids with those names but only one young Ivy.
The Ivy I know has a sister called Olive - is that any good?

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 17/12/2025 14:45

I’m puzzled why some months of the year work as names (April, May and June) but others really don’t. A baby February would be a bit odd.

OP don’t over think it, you have 2 very nice names that sound good together, that is all ghat matters.

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