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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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ValiumShimmer · 22/12/2010 18:54

You have to show them the statistics. ONLY way to get through to them!

My xmil was the same. She thought that Archie was a crazy name for a baby. SHe kept saying to me "you have to think of the child but she hadn't a notion what babies were being called. NOT a notion. And she wouldn't be told either. My son isn't called Archie but I jsut remember her laughing at it as though it were, I don't know......... Cyril.

growing3rdbump · 22/12/2010 20:17

There is a child in my son's nursery class called Ella-Daisy - not keen myself as seems a strange way to make the name sound slightly original!

JooLoo · 22/12/2010 20:46

Its a gorgeous name. Speaking as someone who was one of four Jo s in class I don't think it will get that popular!

LittleYellowTeapot · 22/12/2010 21:12

I had no idea how popular my DD's name is - she is one of two in her year group. I still love it though and it suits her.

mathanxiety · 23/12/2010 06:46

I managed to give DD4 one of the most popular names of the last ten years; there are two in her class and a few others in the school as a whole, and I hear the name everywhere. However, I like the name very much (although the runner up name I had in mind would be very unusual and the nn I wanted would have been unique) and it's her now.

With DD4 otoh, I was pretty sure I had chosen a truly unusual name but BAM, on the first day of school we ran into the only other one I have ever met, so she is also one of two in her class, although they use different nns. I have since then met the other girl's aunt after whom she was named, and the girl's family have met the relative of mine after whom DD4 was named -- there were once four of them in the same room, different generations...

petitdonkey · 23/12/2010 07:50

Another Mum to a four year old Ava here. I still love the name and it suits my daughter but the only drawback is that, as it can't be shortened, if there is another at school she is bound to be Ava Initial or Surname. There are two Toms in DS's class and I actually think that he thinks they are called their full name all the time! We were at one boy's for tea and my DS was calling him Tomsmith (not his surname but you get the idea) all the time as if it were one name!!

I will stamp my foot if this happens and insist that she is simply Ava but there are no others in the nursery at the moment.

woofie · 25/12/2010 01:42

Yep, and another mum to a nearly 5-year-old Oscar Grin Didn't think we were being breathtakingly original, we just both loved the name, but obv had no idea that all the other new parents of 2006 were thinking the same thing!

If dc2 had been a girl, she would have been Clara or Florence, both of which seem quite zeitgeisty now, even though they'd always been my faves. In fact he was a boy, and there were only 400 odd babies given his name last year, so just waiting for it to be the next big thing!

Wouldn't change Oscar though- it suits him through and through

A1980 · 25/12/2010 19:49

If you genuinely like the name you have chosen what does it matter if it is popular?

I will choose names because I like them and I couldn't care less how many other children have the name as long as I like it. My favourite for a girl is Amelie and that is very popular. I don't care, I like the name. If you wouldn't have chosen the name if you'd known it was popular then you can't have liked it that much.

With the name Isla, I knew one at University. She hated it. She said it sounded like slang for "Isle of". That may be becuase her husband to be's surname was White. So her name was going to be Isla White when she married Shock

She also paired it with Isla Dogs, Isla Man and all in all said she wished her parents had never ever given her such a stupid name.

swanandduck · 26/12/2010 14:54

I nearly called my dd (now 8) Maisie after my Grandmother but dh thought it would sound 'weird' when she went to school. There are three Maisies in her year and absolutely no Tessas (her name).

NiceShoes · 26/12/2010 15:04

No,It doesn't matter,and isnt significant that popularity of name increases.Can't get precious that name is used by others. Tons of factors influence name popularity e.g.media, movies and they come in and out of vogue. You pick a name in good faith,but that doesn't give you special claim to it.

swanandduck · 26/12/2010 16:59

True, but at the same time people are totally put off names that were very popular when they were at school eg Louise, Debbie, Joanne, so it's understandable they don't want their child to be one of hundreds also.

Although I agree, it's not something you can control

christmastimemistletoeandwine · 26/12/2010 17:17

my dd is called Raven.i dont know of any others yet.

NiceShoes · 26/12/2010 17:20

Given no one can predict popularity you pick should what you like.Do gen up on soaps, movies, bands and read popularity lists,and celebrity names in magazines if not having an "in" name matters.

But even doing that is no guarantee.

ValiumTinselton · 26/12/2010 17:25

I know of two other ravens. My old flat mate niece, and a colleague from Essex, also her niece.

K12Mom · 28/12/2010 05:13

I knew a Raven, a boy. He would be in his 40s now. I think it's a beautiful name. I wanted to call my son Raven as I thought he would be dark, but he came out with bright red hair!

goingroundthebend4 · 28/12/2010 05:25

Ds1,ds2 not often heard in this country

dd have heard few others often spelt the eric Clapton way not the orginal way

ds3 not heard it at all in this country Boone can say it either but it is so him loved the name

sweetandtenderhooligan · 28/12/2010 06:36

I think Isla's popularity might have something to do with Isla Fisher, the actress. I know 3 Isla's varying in ages from 8 weeks to 4 and a half. Agree with others though, if you like it go for it. My name is one of those old great auntie names thats just starting to become popular again. Hated it as a child, love it now.

ooma · 28/12/2010 12:56

My husband named our eldest daughter after the first yacht he worked on in the 1960's. The yacht was called the Yolanda Barbara, to my knowledge our Yolanda has only come across two other Yolanda's in her 35 years.

nappyaddict · 28/12/2010 12:58

Wigeon I know loads of Eves, Evies, Evelyns but strangely no Evas.

nappyaddict · 29/12/2010 01:07

veryberry I don't know any Jaspers if that's any consolation :)

swanandduck I know a Tess but not a Tessa. I think it's a lovely name.

PublicHair I only know Caras, no Claras :)

KenDodds Orla is popular in my area already.

growing3rdbump How do you pronounce Nyah? I know a Nia which is Welsh I think and rhymes with Hiya.

tethersjinglebellend Is your Angie short for another name?

ilovesprouts I know a girl called Mackenzie. Is your Kenzie a boy or girl? There was an Oakley at DS' old school and a few Lucases too.

AllieW Molly and Amber are quite popular where I live.

LadyMetroland I disagree. Emma, Peter and Jonathan are still popular. David not so much though. I wish I liked the name David because it is my Dad's name and also not popular so would be excellent for a future baby.

Can you all tell I am also a name freak Grin

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 29/12/2010 01:14

as far as i know there are only two boys with my son's name and the second was named after my son Grin

tehre are a few of ds2's name about but i am in ireland and it's quite a common one here.

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 29/12/2010 01:15

i know an Oakley

rostbeef · 29/12/2010 11:57

I am thinking Marmaduke for a boy. NEVER met one. Have you??

Ivette · 29/12/2010 12:10

I named my daughter Anna, I dont know any Anna in her age!! ;D

Ivette · 29/12/2010 12:11

@rostbeef - do not hurt your baby by giving him that sort of name, pleeeease!!!