The next big thing...?

I completely agree with you about using Classical names that don't date. However, it can still be difficult in practice. We are v multicultural (although children ethnically 3/4 Asian). We decided to choose a v classical Indian name for our oldest DD, Maya (although we spelt it Maia as loved the classical Greek and Roman links too). I was amazed when there were suddenly lots of little Caucasian Mayas popping up everywhere! So, even if you choose some traditional and personal to you, it can still become popular (some might even describe it as trendy)! For our son, we choose Lucas, as a classical Roman form of Luke and a name that we again thought was v multicultural. I had never met nor heard of anyone called Lucas then but it has now rocketed in popularity! Our DD2 has a classical but English name. Will have to hope that doesn't leap up in popularity too

looby - we are not scottish but all their names have a Scots/Irish slant, but then didn't all nineties babies?!! You don't realise you are part of a zeitgiest (sp?)until after it's over! If I were doing it all again now (with the benefit of hindsight obviously) I'd go for very classical (but not boring) names, like Georgiana, Cecelia, Sebastian, Julian, as they rarely date or get too faddy.

I know of two Emses (one with accent and one without) in the past week so maybe it's on the rise?

TiggyR- I don't think Cameron is over used (unless you are in Scotland perhaps). Do your other sons have Scottish names? I am trying to persuade a Scottish friend of mine to call her shortly to arrive Hamish if it is a boy! I think it's fab but she says it is too old fashioned there

Robert or Edward after the 'Twilight ' star, and yes I am old enough to be his mum(just)!

My predictions for the next 5 years are:

John
Mary
Anne
Philip
Wendy
Stephen
Paul
David
Simon
Matthew

My middle child (nearly 15) was SO going to be Stanley or Angus, but everyone laughed like a drain or pulled a horrid face for nine months solid, and I lost my nerve. I plumped for Cameron which went on (about 5 years later) to be sooo over-used, and I really regret it. That's the thing - you can just never know!

You lot are so lucky now with the internet, it's as close to a crystal ball as you could ask for, with access to statistics and all these polls and opinions. It amazes me that with all these facilities you still get clusters of the same four or five completely over-used names doing the rounds in 5 year cycles. I guess most people just don't mind sharing!

My eldest son's name is so far a winner - well known but still fairly unusual, ageless and timeless. And my youngest son's name has managed to stay pretty unique as in ten years we've never met or heard of another, and people always say 'Ooh, what a great name!' - which he loves! I suspect it will surface in the next few years judging by the general direction and feel of the Freakonomics boys list for 2015, and I just have to hope it doesn't become ubiquitous. At least he'll be 12 years or so older than the rest!

Must be about time for Elizabeth and all her variants to make a comeback, no?

My DD (Evie,6) was born in ROI and I still have to spell it for people.
Hate the fact its got so common in UK.

How about Jennifer? Has it sunk without a trace?

mine are Angus and Stanley - everyone always says "what lovely names".

Angus would have been Maisie and Stanley Violet - prob too old lady too be cool but I like both.

I predict a comeback for Lennie, Raymond, Victor, Donald and Douglas. And Richard. Richard is a great name.

Also, what about Steven? Or Simon - for boys.

For girls - Margaret, Emma, Jane, Jenny (lovely name), Helen, Anne (lovely name).

When I named my dd in Feb 2004, I had to spell her name as people were so unfamiliar with it. I used to get "oh, that's SO unusual!" all the time. Her name is Ava! It's amazing how quickly a trend takes hold and runs away. She is named after Eva Peron (not because we are great admirers of hers but because we were trawling through musicals looking for nice names!) and I am guessing that perhaps lots of other people did that too!

It annoys me a bit when Ava is put together with Evie. I like the name Evie, but it has a very different vibe to me - less grown up than Ava.

DS name is very, very unusual, although it is in that Freakonomics list for top US baby names in 2015. I am not sure whether he'll thank me for it or not, especially as it can be used (with a different spelling) as a girl's name...

Alice, Margaret, Pearl, Ruth, Esther, Aoife, Orla, Anne-Marie, Sylvie, Frances

Yomojo, I don't think the Irish are more inclined to nick name. In fact, I found londoners the most inclined to just call me *Mags.

Over here though, a Sean might be called John on occassion, or a LIam William. THere are a few names which slip from Irish to English. Not all, but there are names which lend themselves to this translation.

Never heard Wilhemina used before - it's absolutely lovely! I really loved Clementine for a girl, with all three of mine (the youngest is ten) but couldn't use it because with my last name beginning Cl...it's a tongue twister!

My friend called her baby Wilhelmina and her cousin is called Clementine.

My DS is Jack and there are only 3 in his school of 300. Maybe I wouldn't have chosen it if I had realised it was so popular, but I still love it.
My DD is Beth - don't know any of those.

I try to choose "timeless" names. I called DS Sam b/c you wouldn't know, upon hearing it, whether he was 8 or 108 IYSWIM. I'm stuck on Eleanora, nn probably Elle, for a DD if we have one, and Will for another DS. I say I'm going to go with Elle anyway! I've always wanted Eleanora, but over the years the nn has been Ella and then Ellie and now finally Elle. We'll see...

I think it depends, though. I'm a Megan born in 1982, and I know tons of women w/my name who are a few years older/younger than me. I still like it! Name your kiddos whatever you want.

Oh no, not Pearl - my 4 year old is called Pearl - I would hate for it to become as popular as Ruby! My other dd's name has been mentioned too!
Avada - I dont know where you live, but down here there are so many Charles, William and |Edwards - I certainly would not call them untapped!
My Pearl has 2 Florences in her class at school, we know a couple more at nursery/toddler group, think it will get much bigger!

I'm thinking for girls it'll be jewel names - Ruby, Pearl etc

Boys- some relatively untapped old man names like Charles, William, Edward

Francesca seems to be the popular choice in my friends and family. I now know three.

There are millions of Lexi's and Oscar's around here.