Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Which names are surprisingly uncommon/unpopular?

86 replies

Cortina · 25/09/2009 12:03

Just musing after pondering Christabel.

Thinking of:

Sacha/Sasha
Mirabel
Clarissa
Angus
Susannah
Julia
Mark (don't know of any who are not 30 plus)
John (just getting popular again)
Louise/Louisa
Flora

Must be more!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
pranma · 27/09/2009 13:19

never met a child called Valerie

Original poster
Cortina · 26/09/2009 19:20

I think Vera might make it soon, if Enid, Mabel, Elsie, Maud etc why not Vera?

Perhaps because of Vera Duckworth?

OP posts:
clam · 26/09/2009 19:10

All those early 20th Century names have returned, but I don't see Vera or Edna.
Thankfully.

chegirl · 26/09/2009 18:53

Gloria and Joy

Such beautiful words but somehow they dont seem to make it as names anymore.

Original poster
Cortina · 26/09/2009 18:25

Agree with you re: Iris! Maybe there are a few Grannies still around with this name? One of the reasons I think Violet may be more popular is that there are less of the older generation still alive with this name. There were lots of Violets born around the 1880s, 1890s.

Those (older generation) called Iris I know all seem to be born around the mid to late 1940s.

OP posts:
tummytickler · 26/09/2009 18:10

I love Enid - ds was going to be Enid but he was a boy!
One more i am surprised at is Iris, I really thought this would become more popular. When i had my dd Iris 8 years ago, i thought that the name would get quite popular along with Daisy, Rosie, Poppy and Lily - these seem to be super popular, and although Iris is getting a bit more popular no, it never reached the top 100 with the rest of her floral crowd - this has surprised me as imo it is far more elegant and sophisticated than Lily et al

janeite · 26/09/2009 17:34

Christabel is lovely.

I think Vincent is likely to have a revival, along, possibly, with Terence and Timothy.

I have met very few of the following: Naomi / Ruth / Jennifer / Helen/a / - all lovely names.

Original poster
Cortina · 26/09/2009 17:23

I think Christabel is great and Ian is actually growing on me, surely pretty 'classic' really?

OP posts:
dogonpoints · 26/09/2009 12:56

You see, Mirabel and Christabel are not nice names.

BelleWatling · 26/09/2009 12:09

Lorna Sage who was a prof of literature did a lovely little history of the beautiful name Sharon - her daughter's name - in one of her books.

All those Claires, Julies, Sharons were so chic and modern and continental in the sixties and seventies. But I think when you go to school with 10 of them familiarity makes them lose their allure. Tis a shame as they are so glamorous when you think about it. My own name as well which is mentioned here and comes with a certain amount of baggage.

I love Michael but I think it is still pretty popular. I met a baby Mark the other day. My nephews go to school with a Roger...and an Ian.

Original poster
Cortina · 26/09/2009 11:46

Juliet I like, and you'd think it fairly common, but it doesn't seem popular at all?

OP posts:
NormaSknockers · 26/09/2009 10:48

Bridget & Mary spring to mind

mrswoolf · 26/09/2009 10:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Cortina · 26/09/2009 10:27

Wow, love Enid. That's quite a brave choice now IMO but imagine it will grow on people.

OP posts:
Iwillpopthekettleon · 26/09/2009 10:22

I know a little Peter, Betty, Sarah, Enid, David, Andrew+ Mark, all preschool age

Original poster
Cortina · 26/09/2009 10:14

Mirabel was around/popular in the 40s, the games captain in one of the Enid Blyton school series I think.

OP posts:
sweetkitty · 26/09/2009 09:56

Thinking of under 5's I know, I know a

Colin
Brian
Andrew
John
Michael
Robert

Susannah
Laura
Fiona

thedollshouse · 26/09/2009 09:50

Mirabel is beautiful. I'm surprised there aren't loads around here, in fact I don't think I have ever come across a Mirabel.

TishTosh21 · 26/09/2009 09:40

Roxanne is my fav for a girl, followed by Elsie. Dylan is number 1 if i have a boy.

SardineJam · 26/09/2009 09:35

Nicholas, Craig, Antony, Shaun, Stephen
Patricia, Karen, Carol, Jean

bellissima · 26/09/2009 08:13

Also two Samanthas in DD2's class - each with a North American connection.

I come across a fair few (adult) South African Joanne/Jonannas. Now associate with S African accent.

bellissima · 26/09/2009 08:09

Each of my DD's has a Helena in her class - and both Helenas have an Indian connection so I sometimes wonder whether there is a similar Indian name (I know two half-Japanese Mias and I know that's because Mia is common to both English and Japanese names). But certainly agree have never met a little Helen.

Nigel also not very common!

Mirabel kind of makes me think of skiing.

dogonpoints · 25/09/2009 22:25

We seriously considreed Vincent/Vince. Ace name. I am sure it will catch on one day.

chickbean · 25/09/2009 22:18

Jane is a common middle name but is quite hard to use as a first name if you want a middle name that flows well afterwards.

Names that aren't so popular now from the 60s/70s:

Michelle
Samantha
Joanne/Joanna
Amanda
Susan/Suzanne

Michael
Richard
Mark

lockets · 25/09/2009 20:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn