Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Why has Felicity become trendy?

83 replies

Livingintheunknown · 07/08/2026 18:00

I love the name Felicity but have noticed that it's become trendy. It used to be an unusual name but experienced a (seemingly random) sudden rise in popularity. It's quite literally everywhere now. Why is this? Did some celebrity or 'influencer' name their child Felicity? Has there been a character called Felicity? I've had to take it off the list. I just can't do trendy names as they always date terribly. By trendy, I'm referring to names that experience a sudden rise in usage, usually due to a cultural phenomenon, when they were once uncommon.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ScallopShelled · 08/08/2026 12:32

Shloopie · 07/08/2026 18:13

Quite literally everywhere? The stats say otherwise.

Such a twee, pony club name.

Yes, it’s a terrible name. Definitely to the Pony Club vibes.

(I know the Thelwell child was called Penny, but this is pure Felicity vibes for me.)

Why has Felicity become trendy?
Theweedshavewon · 08/08/2026 12:32

I know a couple of felicitys! (I do not have a horse. One of them did though). It’s also quite a literary name .

I loved it, DH absolutely did not, we chose another random chalet school type name which has a lot of variants in different countries.

FunnyOrca · 08/08/2026 12:28

I love the name Felicity. My husband does not. I have never come across one as a teacher. I did go to school with one a year or two older than me.

Namiemcnameface · 07/08/2026 21:23

Have never met anyone called Felicity. I like it though.

DinoDances · 07/08/2026 20:19

PollysKenwood · 07/08/2026 18:29

I know. I’m in Scotland, I know loads of Islas from mid-teens downwards but as “famous” Islas, I can only think of Larry Grayson’s assistant Isla St Clair and the author Isla Dewar. I didn’t go to school with any Islas, I’ve always just wondered if something in particular sparked it off but not sure what.

I think it was Isla Fisher, plus it fits with the trend of names starting and ending in a vowel with soft consonants.

HappiestSleeping · 07/08/2026 19:08

Hopefully 'the Young Ones' is long forgotten otherwise everyone will be quoting Rik's poem about Felicity Kendal.

EverMissWicklowSometimes · 07/08/2026 19:07

I know one Felicity (4 years old). I think it's a lovely name.

DuckWrap · 07/08/2026 19:07

I don’t know any Felicity’s or have met any.

YoQuieroVino · 07/08/2026 19:05

Livingintheunknown · 07/08/2026 18:42

I agree. Maybe faddy is a better word to describe what I'm talking about.

What are you basing that off though? Have you seen a sudden influx of babies being named Felicity?

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 07/08/2026 19:03

I know of felicity’s in mid thirties but no children/babies. I think it’s one of those not commonly used but also well known names that exists within every generation.

iIf you like it use

Livingintheunknown · 07/08/2026 18:42

BluesReds · 07/08/2026 18:19

I guess it depends on what your definition of trendy is. To me, a name doesn't have to be in the top 100 for it to be trendy. I can think of many names that haven't reached the top 100 that I would still regard as trendy and faddy.

I agree. Maybe faddy is a better word to describe what I'm talking about.

OP posts:
glittermittens · 07/08/2026 18:42

I have a Felicity too, mine is 13 and it really suits her, she gets called Fliss or Flissy. We are not members of a pony club but she does love horses.

Livingintheunknown · 07/08/2026 18:39

SheSpeaks · 07/08/2026 18:16

It’s on a downward trajectory. It slipped inside the top 100 in 2016 but it’s been going on a downward line since.

I didn't know this!

OP posts:
YoQuieroVino · 07/08/2026 18:29

Shloopie · 07/08/2026 18:13

Quite literally everywhere? The stats say otherwise.

Such a twee, pony club name.

I have a Felicity 😊. It really suits her as she’s a very happy, sunny character. She’s never been to pony club.
She’s 13 and we don’t know any others.

PollysKenwood · 07/08/2026 18:29

I know. I’m in Scotland, I know loads of Islas from mid-teens downwards but as “famous” Islas, I can only think of Larry Grayson’s assistant Isla St Clair and the author Isla Dewar. I didn’t go to school with any Islas, I’ve always just wondered if something in particular sparked it off but not sure what.

ilovepixie · 07/08/2026 18:28

I like Felicity. It’s very chalet school.

misstwaoyu · 07/08/2026 18:25

@PollysKenwood Isla is in the top 5 girls name, it is very popular.

Nursemumma92 · 07/08/2026 18:25

I know 2, one who is 18 and one who is 5. I meet lots of children and babies at work and it doesn't jump out as a name that is trendy.

PollysKenwood · 07/08/2026 18:24

I feel the same confusion about the name Isla. I’m not saying I don’t like it as a name, it’s just about 15 years go it suddenly seemed everywhere and still seems popular and there didn’t seem to be anything in particular that sparked it. I remember receiving an email announcing the birth of someone’s daughter, name Isla, then 2 seconds later a follow up to say the name was too popular and they’d changed their mind, child to be named something else.

BluesReds · 07/08/2026 18:19

I guess it depends on what your definition of trendy is. To me, a name doesn't have to be in the top 100 for it to be trendy. I can think of many names that haven't reached the top 100 that I would still regard as trendy and faddy.

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 07/08/2026 18:18

My 2nd dd is Felicity. It really suits her, she's lovely and sunny and good natured.
But she gets called Fels, Flick, and Fliss!
She's 40, btw.

p0pple · 07/08/2026 18:17

Possibly girls being named after grandmas with the name?

SheSpeaks · 07/08/2026 18:16

It’s on a downward trajectory. It slipped inside the top 100 in 2016 but it’s been going on a downward line since.

Morethanadecade · 07/08/2026 18:16

It’s a nice name but not at all popular. I know two and they are both in their late 60s.

Ilovemyfam · 07/08/2026 18:15

I wanted to call my second Felicity but family talked me out of it. It would actually have been quite apt, she is a happy character. She was born 34 years ago. I still have not come across another irl. I worked with children and met lots.