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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Chosen baby name: Rare? No, not any more!

106 replies

arabellaandbaby · 17/12/2010 21:21

Hi All

I named my baby girl (who is now 9MO) Isla, thinking that it was rare. I even googled it before we committed it to the birth certificate lest people think it strange for a baby of no Scottish heritage, or in case it was considered strange altogether!

Since she was born though, I have come across 7 Islas in the nursery, playgroups and mum and baby groups, all around the same age as my DD. Before my DD came along, I hadn't heard of any Islas at all, and I know of so many young babies.

Anyone else out there who was trying to avoid their child having to potentially share a name with 2 or 3 other children in their class when they start school, but in fact, it seems to have gone the other way already? Similar to the Sarahs, Emmas, Rachels, Lauras, Louises etc to name a few in our generation?

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ivykaty44 · 19/12/2010 13:43

i did the same at the begining of the 90's with my dd's name, had never heard of anyone called this name.

When dd got to school there where several girls with this ame and it has got more popular and now dipped a little.

who cares i love the name and it suits my dd

whingeomatic · 19/12/2010 13:50

I was one of 6 Sarahs in my school year which at the time was really annoying but now I really don't care

DD1 is still the only one with her name in the school, DD2 is a character in the Twilight books apparently so I expect it will become more popular...

Both names were chosen because we love them

Lonnie · 19/12/2010 14:30

dd1 was named Phoebe. we named her so because dh had read JD Salingers "The Catcher in the Rye" at age 14 and said then " If I ever have a dd I want her to be called Phoebe because Phoebe is the coolest sister ever"

ffw to when dd1 was born (nearly 13 years ago) it was not on the top 100 list the year before she was born went in that year on highest riser at 47.. and EVERYONE was

OHH like in Friends?? err No after The Catcher in the Rye actually..

it did irritate me it still does nw that it became such a popular name my other 3 does nto have names that are this popular in England though dd3 has a Irish name and we do have a mug (plastic type thing) with her name on because of it) howeer with her I am learning people know it if they have Irish connections and not at all nor how to say it if they havent (Aoife) (I have a thing about silent o's)

ValiumShimmer · 19/12/2010 14:58

Edmundo you have me all worried now!

confuddledDOTcom · 19/12/2010 22:21

If you download the spreadsheet from the stats website it gives all the names registered in that year.

I used to have a female dog called Alex when I was with XH before we were married. I had to laugh when I found out he and his new wife have called their son Alex.

greenlotus · 19/12/2010 22:31

It is definitely worth checking the top 100, especially with a first child you aren't always in the loop with young babies and it's only at nursery you discover that rare and pretty name is so frequently used. If you spend your (pre-kids) days surrounded by Dave, Mike, Clare and Rachel and maybe a few Scotts, Kylies and Hayleys, you aren't aware of the "trends".

They must creep into our consciousness from the media because Chloe, Olivia and Ruby seem to be less-usual names to me, but are the top 3 of 2009, and if you took Isabelle/isabella together she would be No.2. Agree that nobody want to call their child Norbert just to be unique but there are thousands of names out there without them being one of 3 Jacks or Sophies in the class, you would think it would be possible to find one.

Mumbybumby · 19/12/2010 22:38

Same as marniesmum - thought Ella was fairly uncommon but unfortunately forgot to take into consideration all those isabellas, eleanors and others abbreviated to Ella.
Have considered insisting that school refers to all children by their given names not nicknames! (probably not a good idea!)

PublicHair · 19/12/2010 23:11

i have a clara,i've met fucking 5 of them since she was born. she's only 3.i am gutted

seeker · 19/12/2010 23:24

And you know what? It reall really really doesn;t matter!

dannyblanchflower · 19/12/2010 23:44

18 years ago, when I named my son after my Grandad I was worried that I'd chosen an old man's name...ha ha ha...he and the rest of the world are called Jack!

LoulouCapone · 20/12/2010 09:00

I think it does matter.

My DD is Ellie and she's 12. We picked it because we loved it, and when she was born it suited her more than our other choice. We didn't pay too much attention to how popular it was - and really it was around the time that it was starting to become really popular, so perhaps we wouldn't have been able to predict how it would go.

I still adore her name and it totally suits her, but now she is at senior school she is encountering problems with it. Basically she is one of 4 in one class alone, and two of them have the same surname initial. So my Ellie has been given a nickname that is a cross between her first name and surname. It's less than flattering. Her friends use it in an affectionate manner, but of course there are some who don't.

Now I realise that this is partly also due to the fact that our surname makes this possible, however if you use a name that is increasingly popular - your child will have to be identified in some other way.

In our family we have a "Big Ian" and a "Little Ian" for obv reasons. There is always a chance that your child could develop teenage acne, or be overweight, or really tall or short etc... so there is always a chance that someone will say "which Ellie?" "Oh you know, spotty Ellie".

So we're now expecting another DD and we both love the name Ava - but we won't use it because of its popularity. DS has a very unusual name - which on MN gets mixed reactions - usually the negative ones are that he'll be picked on for it, but if an Ellie can be picked on for her name, then I guess anything else is fair game too.

There are so many beautiful names out there - and when you talk about unusual names on here, there can ofter be a negative reaction, but unusual doesn't have to mean weird or out there, it can just be original.

Sorry this has been long.

diddl · 20/12/2010 09:15

"So my Ellie has been given a nickname that is a cross between her first name and surname. It´s less than flattering".

And the school have done this?

That´s terrible imo.

When I was at school Julie was a popular name & if there were two with the same surname initial then they would be Julie Surname iyswim.

Ellie is a lovely name btw.

LoulouCapone · 20/12/2010 09:22

Not the school, the other students. Her teachers use her full name from what I can tell. The problem is that our surname is a mouthful and is often pronounced incorrectly - so most don't try.

growing3rdbump · 20/12/2010 14:38

When choosing our daughter's name back in 2003 I really liked Ella. Hadn't heard it much before and had no idea it would become so popular. Luckily due to last name also containing lots of l's we didn't name her this. Instead she has the very unusual name, Nyah. Ds1 has the more popular name Ethan and now we are currently sruggling to think of a name for DC3. I want something that goes well with the other two and would prefer something that isn't too popular... it's difficult!

tethersjinglebellend · 20/12/2010 14:42

I have an Angie (2yo), and am dreading meeting another one.

Unlikely though, as everyone hates it

MyCatJeremy · 20/12/2010 15:04

A common occurrence as people of the same generation have similar tastes and references and like the same type of name. It explains the 101 Lily-maes I have met. Both of my DCs have popular names but they have been popular for generations so shouldn't date.

laughinglil · 20/12/2010 15:07

I've got an Isla who is 2 and Ive never met another one round here yet! People think her name is so strange! there like what is it Is-la no EYE-la !!!!! lol !

BalloonSlayer · 20/12/2010 15:18

My first DC has a name I thought was fairly common/popular. We don't know another and he is the only one in the school.

My second DC has a "classic" name, which is shared by a lot of adults I know. Next year she will be the only one with that name in her school.

My third DC has a name I thought quite rare and when I tell people his name they say "Oh, that's unusual" and no one seems to be able to spell it. When he starts school he will be one of at least three.

You never can tell . . .

ilovesprouts · 20/12/2010 15:26

my dcs are nicholas nn [nick] sophie and kenzie my grandsons are lucas/oakley i alo met an oakley in our local asda last week

KateF · 20/12/2010 19:40

In 1999 I gave my firstborn an unusual name-no Chloe or Megan for me I thought. The name? Isabella

Beamur · 20/12/2010 19:44

We chose a name that was fairly uncommon (we thought) and there is another in her class - there are also 2 boys with the same name, in a class of 12.

LadyCressida · 21/12/2010 14:08

Maybe the trick is to identify a name that is on its way down the tables! As not many of them seem to have two spikes of popularity...

AllieW · 21/12/2010 14:10

In which case perhaps everyone needs to go for Mollie, Amber etc!

KERALA1 · 21/12/2010 19:06

I have been surprised at the number of first time parents who gauge the popularity of the name they choose by the names that were common when they were at school. Then think they are being edgy and breathtakingly originial by picking a nmae like Ruby or Lola.

LadyMetroland · 21/12/2010 22:03

Kerala1 - I completely agree! DH is like that. He can't get his head around the fact that names like Peter, David, Emma, Jonathan etc are NOT popular anymore. He just thinks back to his schooldays and concludes that 'everyone' is called that.

He doesn't get out to playgroups or coffee mornings so no matter how often I explain that Isabella (and versions of it) is incredibly popular, he still thinks its vaguely original. Of course it is a nice name but I don't want my child to be identified by her surname once she gets to school.

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