Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Unusual and rare name advice needed.

110 replies

secretcove · 06/06/2009 19:51

I'm not ashamed to admit that want an unusual name for this baby, I don't want her to have the same name as anybody in her class or school. I know that this can still happen with a rare name but it's less likely.

So I need your wise thoughts on my names and more suggestions of rare names which are not likely to become popular in the future.

what do you think of the following:

Euphemia
Delilah
Juniper
Perdita
Isolde
Drusilla
Magdalen
Pandora
Cressida
Vi ola
Ismene

more suggestions please.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
GoodWitchGlinda · 08/06/2009 15:01

Euphemia sounds like an illness to me.

Juniper is my fave from this list. Most of the others sound like the baddies in Disney films to me.

Fimbo · 08/06/2009 14:44

Ds (5) has 2 Alana's in his class!

Raephella

MrsMotMot · 08/06/2009 14:37

Isadora is lovely, AuntyAnna. Isadora Duncan was the founder of modern dance I think? But I do detest Izzie...

MrsMotMot · 08/06/2009 14:35

Wow. A few on here I've never come accross before.

Out of the list Isolde is my favourite.

As for unusual, I went to school with a Jacobina and have never come across another. (Prob for good reason)

More in keeping with your list how about Octavia? Although this is a Skoda car, mind you. Hmm.

I like Spanish language names like

Aurelia
Rosa
Frida (German originally with an 'e')
Ximena (pronounced heee men ah)

And I like Pearl.

All minus Rosa vetoed by DH!

loobylu3 · 08/06/2009 12:35

I like the same names as aunty anna with the addition of Viola. Prefer Magdalena to Magdelene.

frisbyrat · 08/06/2009 09:51

Maybe, ILoveDolly. But she stood up for what she believed in, her duty to her family rather than to the state.

AuntyAnna · 08/06/2009 09:49

I like Delilah, Isolde, Juniper, Pandora, Magdalene.

What about Isadora?

babynamelover.wordpress.com/

LaDiDaDi · 07/06/2009 23:17

Euphemia-nice but I wonder if the nickname Effie might actually start to be more popular as a formal name, a sort of Archie/Archibald iyswim where the nickname is now a common first name but the formal version is still rare?
Delilah-I like it, unsure of popularity
Juniper-lovely
Perdita-pretty name but a bit of a sad meaning.
Isolde-I like this but what if she got the nn Issy which is very popular because of the popularity of Isobel and all it's variants.
Drusilla-yuck. Makes me think of witches. Unusual for a reason.
Magdalen-very nice but is it not a bit too close in sound to Madeleine? Again if you really want unusual I'd be wary of using this in case she got the nn Maddie.
Pandora-Great name, not popular.
Cressida-don't like it but not sure why.
Vi ola-nice but Violet is rising in the charts so maybe Viola will too? I prefer Viola to Violet though.
Ismene-not heard of this before so def. unusual, how is it pronounced?

ILoveDolly · 07/06/2009 23:00

Didn't Antigone hang herself in a cave after being imprisoned by her stepfather for trying to bury the body of her dismembered brother? Cursed bythe gods as the child of incest? Nice NAME!

dizzydixies · 07/06/2009 22:57

I know a few alana/alanah's up here but we're in Scotland

starshaker · 07/06/2009 15:54

well my dd is called alana and as of yet (she is now 4) i have not met anybody else with the same name as her

frisbyrat · 07/06/2009 15:51

Ismene is a meany?

Perdita means 'destroyed' as well as lost.

I know a lovely Viola, who's German, and it's fairly unusual over here I think.

You seem to like classical names.
Alcyone? (Al - sigh' -oh -nee)
Antigone?

Original poster
secretcove · 07/06/2009 15:11

Thank you for all your ideas and comments.

Poppy-Rose wasn't the sort of usual I was thinking of.

I'll print this off now!

OP posts:
hester · 07/06/2009 14:56

I have to admit I hate most of the names on this thread!
Except for Dorcas - which you would have to be very brave to take on - but you mark my words, one day its time will come.

pranma · 07/06/2009 14:52

Cressida and Viola lovely

Bonneville · 07/06/2009 13:30

Op is definitely having a laugh! Why would anyone do this to a child? What is wrong woth proper names?

MrsMattie · 07/06/2009 13:12

Maybe she likes the music?

Matty is a great name, btw!

SoupDragon · 07/06/2009 12:55

Yes, each to their own. no idea why on earth anyone would want to nickname their DD Scar though.

barnsleybelle · 06/06/2009 23:51

Love Poppy, and i don't know any either, so not that common, at least round these parts.

Tiredmumno1 · 06/06/2009 23:21

Poppy-rose - i know its not that unusual, but such a pretty word, how many poppy-roses do u know.

Debs75 · 06/06/2009 22:56

Each to their own soupdragon

MaggieBee · 06/06/2009 22:42

Matilda not unusual. Zelda or Belinda both nicer and more unusual.

barnsleybelle · 06/06/2009 22:12

I think it was when i said i wanted to shorten it to Matty as my special name for her dh lost the plot!

SoupDragon · 06/06/2009 22:10

"Scarlett - so I could shorten it to Ska"

Ska??? That's a horrendous nickname!

Debs75 · 06/06/2009 22:09

One of our friends said he could imagine a little stout german girl when he heard Matilda which put DP off