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Baby names

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

Original poster

avoiding popular names? would you?

31 replies

missytequila · 09/03/2010 20:04

I always have liked being unique, and hate the idea of following everyone else. I really wanted to find a pretty but unusual name for my little girl on the way. I hate the un-original route...

Problem is this is the list I have come up with:

Isabelle
Ava
Isla
Georgia
Liliana
Sophia

I like these names, but hate that they are so popular!
Would you avoid a name based on its popularity?
Why is the name such a dilemma for me?
Anyone else out there with this problem?

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Intergalactic · 09/03/2010 20:11

I'd avoid a name that's in the top 20 but not worry about it after that. Also I suppose it depends what's popular in your area - I see a lot of threads inherent where people know loads of babies with particular names, but I never seem to come across them (north/south divide?).

I think the only really popular name on your list is he first one (sorry typing on my phone so can't see if it was Isabelle/Isabella). Liliana strikes me as unpopular tbh - I think Lily is v popular but have never heard of Liliana.

The ONS lists are v good for finding less popular names (can be a hard slog though as there are thousands of names on there!)

paulaplumpbottom · 09/03/2010 20:11

My husband and I crossed off everything that was on the previous years top ten. I didn't want them going into a class and being one of 5 with that name. This eliminated some of my favorite names but she is the only one in her year with her name (it was number 11)

thisisyesterday · 09/03/2010 20:09

yeah, I did avoid names because of popularity actually. except ds2 who is Gabriel, which, while not that popular is certainly heading that way. esp round these parts.
I did have a waver when i saw that it was "just" in the top 100

BlueBumedFly · 09/03/2010 20:08

We avoided all names due to popularity, went for an old fashioned name from an historic book and film we both loved. I told it's making a comeback which is slightly worrying but not met another one as yet.

AllieW · 09/03/2010 20:07

Isla is gorgeous and I didn't think it was that popular? I would have thought about it for DD1, but since our surname is Whiteley it would have been utterly ludicrous!

It might be worth going through a names book (the Oxford name dictionary is excellent) and trying to find names with a similar meaning or derivation.

For example, Isabelle comes from Elizabeth, so other possibilities could include:
Elizabeth/Elisabeth
Elisa
Elise
Elspeth
Beth
Bethan

Hulababy · 09/03/2010 20:07

No, DD has a reasonably popular name (Mollie) but this did not put me off at all. As it happens we don't actually known anyone else with the name (bar an adult friend of my mum) and there are non in DD's school.

I would chose a name you like and not worry about popularity.