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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:
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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