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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!

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jacyjwc · 25/09/2009 20:12

I know a couple of baby Patricks - love the name.

I know a young Sarah and remember being surprised when her mum said her name - even though it is not a strange or unpleasant name. I just link it to women in their early 30s.

I also know a 4 year old John. Loads of little boys must have it as a midde name though, just not a first one. There are a few baby Johnny's around though. I think it's nice.

Sunshinemambo · 25/09/2009 20:07

I know an Esther, Ruth, a few Patricks (love Paddy) and a Joel.

Things like Lesley, Lindsey and Melanie have died a death.

RunningGirl · 25/09/2009 19:58

Oh yes, just re read a couple of posts - Sally is such a great name, considered for DS if he'd been a girl. I know a few my age and they are all smiley and lovely happy people but don't know any children called this

Binkster · 25/09/2009 19:57

I don't think Patrick is in the top 100 is it? I found that quite surprising- one of my favourite names!

RunningGirl · 25/09/2009 19:56

Lovely and under used but not unusual names

Helen / Helena
Esther
Ruth
Clare

Joel

can't think of any other boys names that come under this category other than the 70#s ones already mentioned. I know a 5 year old Richard, such a common name for people of 30 odd but v unusual for a small child. Not keen though!

mrswoolf · 25/09/2009 17:50

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mrswoolf · 25/09/2009 17:46

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Sunshinemambo · 25/09/2009 14:42

Andrew isn't a very popular name these days but, in my NCT group of 4, two of the mums named their DS's Amdrew.

TitsalinaBumsquash · 25/09/2009 14:36

My DS goes to school with an Alan.

You don't hear of many children called Jim or Malcom anymore or Walter come to think of it.

Also Barbara, Thelma, Janet you don't hear a lot of. I guess they will all come back into fashion is time.

tummytickler · 25/09/2009 14:33

I am surprised there are not more of Sally, Jean, Mary, Margaret, Lorna, Philippa,.

I know 2 Sarahs under 4 - and still find them surprising!

Boys - Graham, John, Robin, Gideon, Amos, Raphael (really thought that was going to come back!), Raymond, Godfrey (love this!), Lawrence, Ezra

bellissima · 25/09/2009 14:31

Ladyofthebathtub - agree re Sharon. I think the same of Maureen. It's actually a rather nicer sound than the Maura's, Moira's M-woteverotherisrishname than Maureen....

HeadFairy · 25/09/2009 14:28

Cortina - There's something about Mary?

navyeyelasH · 25/09/2009 14:28

I'm a Hayley and don't know any others!

bodeniites · 25/09/2009 14:27

i love Michael

Original poster
Cortina · 25/09/2009 14:12

Not keen on Gaynor. Like Peter, Mark, Andrew, Claire. I guess a Claire would stand out in a reception class these days.

OP posts:
brimfull · 25/09/2009 14:11

John

Claire

brimfull · 25/09/2009 14:10

Michael
I know one young boy.

I love the name

FimboFortunaFeet · 25/09/2009 14:07

Children I know of a similar age to my dd (11) and ds (6) whose names I consider old fashioned.

Mary-Anne
Mark x 2
Andrew
Claire
Peter
Nicola
David

I wanted Gillian or Jennifer for a girl but had a ds, dh wasn't keen.

Someone else mentioned Gaynor, I think it is due a revival. It is also my bf's sister's name.

Original poster
Cortina · 25/09/2009 14:00

Sarah/Sara are so classic I am surprised they seem to have gone out of fashion. Mind you Zara has probably replaced?

I know a few Phillips under 6.

OP posts:
happywomble · 25/09/2009 13:52

Other names I remember from the 70s that aren't v. popular now:

Karen, Peter, Philip, Sarah, Gail, stuart, Laura, Stephen, David, Samantha, Amanda, Jennifer, sally

Original poster
Cortina · 25/09/2009 13:00

Wasn't there a young girl Mary in a mainstream v popular movie a while back? (that had a sequel I think)? More common in US?

Helen seems used fairly rarely too these days?

Quite like Melissa wasn't that about in the 80s?

OP posts:
Sidge · 25/09/2009 12:59

You don't see many of:

Graham
Derek
Alan
Brian
Joanne
Lisa
Alison
Louise
Tracy

All these are names that seem quite 60s/70s to me.

Botbot · 25/09/2009 12:55

I love Anne (mainly because of Anne of Green Gables) but couldn't use it because surname begins with N.

I'm always surprised that Mary isn't more popular. One of the timeless classics. Elizabeth still gets used a lot - why not Mary?

cyteen · 25/09/2009 12:51

Melissa doesn't come up much anymore.

Sunshinemambo · 25/09/2009 12:49

I know a few Angus's and I also know someone who wants to name her next baby Vince.

70s names definitely unpopular. Ian was a very popular name (and I meet lots of them at work, apparently most Ians went into project management) but not a name you hear for babies.

Also in my year at school there was lots of Andreas, Carolines and Gaynors. Not names you hear these days.