Underused Names

I called my baby Polly and I'm always surprised the name doesn't get a more positive reaction when I introduce her .

Most frequently a 'hmmm' accompanied by a deliberately bland/trying to hide real feelings expression!

My friend recently called her newborn boy Gabriel Alistair Stockton. His initials would make him a mockery if someone in the class breaks wind... and it needn't even be him. For the sake of making fun of someone, kids can be cruel!

With a son potentially nicknamed Willy Burn, perhaps your friend may thank you if you warned her now rather than later when it's all set in stone on the birth certificate! Poor child!

Always suprised Sadie, Zoe and Maria aren't more popular -generational, I'm sure, but it's odd how Lucy and Sophie grew in popularity over the last 30 years when other pretty names sank.

Agree re Juliet, gorgeous and under-used (so long as the nn's not Julie, which does seem dated to me! Jules, I like, as an informal nn).

I know, some people are afraid of an honest opinion! but I think it's invaluable. You can hear 'that's lovely dear' from your neighbour/friend/colleague....

A girl I know called her son William Byrne and I just gulped and said NOTHING about the fact that he will be nick named Willy Burn when he's about 13... it'd be naive to believe otherwise, but I was not going to be the ONE to make her face up to that!!!

MaggieMaeve, thanks for your opinion. A few friends have also advised me to steer clear of Annabel as it could easily be shortened to Bel/Belle which friends and family already sometimes call me (though I'm more commonly known as Bella). I think the general consensus appears to be to leave it well alone. Good to get an impartial opion on here though. Never considered Anneliese before, it's quite rare, isn't it? Hazel is nice too.

Where is Juliet in the stats? That is a name I really wish I'd thought of!!

Annabel seems (to me) plainer than Isabel.

Hazel is beautiful. I thought that would be a lot more popular by now.

Yes, I've wondered that. Why is Isabel so popular but Annabel fairly uncommon still? I also prefer Polly to Molly and it's not just because those names are less popular.

Juliet is lovely, but mgiht be on a slight upward climb imo. It keeps cropping up on MN lately.

In old lady names, I can't understand why Mabel isn't more popular than it is. May is popular. Bel names are popular.....

I like Sophie, but I wonder why a few more of those Sophies aren't Sadies, Susies and Sylvies.

Why aren't a few more of the Graces 'Joys'?

Why aren't a few more of the hannahs called Rachel!?

NOT that it matters!

Arabellanadbaby, I wouldn't tbh. Anneliese?? perhaps. I don't like that so much mind you. BUT Annabel Hesseltine called her baby Isabel. and I remember thinking, hmm, odd (when I read it in the DM, lol). My cousin is a Natasha and called her baby Sasha! We all kind of gently raised an eyebrow. Nothing tooo mocking though, honest!

Jezebel.

Lovely, but anyone dared use it?

I'm having a girl and love the name Annabel but my name is Arabella and they sound too alike. What does everyone else think?

Annabel is like something on the top of the Christmas tree, sorry. Annabel/Tinkerbell/Ring my bell.

Gwendolen is the whiney one from Mallory Towers.

Coral is a betting shop innit?

Julia/Anna/Clara/Lydia all nice.

Annabel!

Beautiful name and we are falling over Isabelles so why not Annabel?

Juliet
Emma

I know 3 Esmes born recently so maybe it's on the rise!

I agree with Polly. Molly is well used, so why not Polly?

I am shocked that Gwendolen is not more popular, only a couple born in 08 and it such a lovely name. I also thought Iris would come back in a big way, but it hasn't as much as I thought it would - mine is nearly 9 and we have only met one other.
Also Coral, Margaret, Elspeth and Polly.
I don't like Esme, but I am surprised it is not higher as I cant move for them here!