Little used but 'known' names....

[fizzpops]

I am trying to think of names (boy or girl) which are not much used but are still names that people are familiar with.

I don't mean names that were popular in the 1970s and for that reason they aren't used now, but names like Lois or Elijah which everyone has heard of but which haven't reached saturation point. Or at least not where I live!

What names do you know that are surprisingly underused?

I love Emile for a boy.

Yes, that is lovely but in England I'd spell it Emil.

There are 3 girls called Polly at DCs primary school, so its frequency must depend on where you are (go and have a listen in a playground or swimming pool).

Inspired by another thread today, how about Thelma? Especially if you're in Norfolk?

Elodie is not very common but relatively "normal" for a girl - unsurprisingly I love it. I also love Esme.

I love St John (pronounced Sin-jun). Not sure I'd ever have the balls to ever call a child that but would think be terribly impressed if I ever came across someone who did!

Ooh - also came across a Jago in the playground the other day. His sister was called Atalanta!

DS is Fergus. I think there were 96 boy's called Fergus in England & Wales last year (presumably much more in Scotland/Ireland though)

I agree about it being very area specific. DD is also Matilda and she is the only one I have met irl, despite hearing how popular it is on here

All these responses are so interesting and I am getting some great ideas.

Thinking about it yesterday I realised that (rather unfairly) my criteria would be that it would not the be the name of anyone I had met so although some names are little used nowadays I think most people would have met an Andrew, Thomas or David.

Having said that I have met an Esme and a Polly so it instantly becomes a 'real' name and not a hypothetical one. I think this all stems from the fact I want a name for my child which is not 'after' a relative or friend and does not have too many associations with another person.

VivianDarkbloom - I would be happy with either boy or girl, but have a DD so would be overjoyed with another one. Had a dream the other day it was a boy though!

lets hope your child's godparent doesn't use it for their child, as ours did - despite knowing we had similar criteria to yours

Foxtrot - I know two Atalantas!

its just luck - both mine were unsusual but 2-5 years later are popular. just go with something you love x

But you can avoid a name once it HAS become popular. I'm surprised, for example, how many boys still get named Jack despite being THE number one spot for many years. However much I'd love a name, too me that is too overused... but I'd probably not love the name in that case .

I'm not averse to a popular name particularly as long as I don't know any! I don't actually know any Jacks at all (yet) but the extreme popularity of it may be a bit of a factor as I could imagine meeting one any minute. I do know a lot of James's though and always have done.

For my DD's name we deliberately chose from the top 100 as my DH prefers more traditional and I prefer something unusual. We didn't know anyone with the name at the time and three years later have heard of two adults and three children with the name (and a lot of dogs!) but we both still love the name and part of it for me is not connecting it with anyone before DD.

We have a Tessa. Yet to meet another one under 60 :)

Tried the same approach for DS although his is a shortened version of a more popular name - there seem to be a few boys at school with the longer name that is shortened so not quite as unusual.

I have a good friend in her early 30's named Tessa, feetheart, and went to school with two others. (Not in my grade, though) :)

I feel this way about Peter. I know a few of them, but not well. But everybody can spell it, everybody can pronounce it...I love it! :)

I know what you mean about Jack, tammy. It's actually my number one boy name, but I don't know a single little boy named Jack, and I work at a school. (I'm in the US) But I know a million Jake/Jacobs. I used to think it was a great name, and now it's kind of like, oh, another one. Same with Madison and Isabelle/Isabella. I do kind of like Isobel, though.

Melanie, a pretty name but I've never met one younger than 30.

Beulah
Cleo
Dinah
Ruth
Miriam
Frances
Audrey
Letitia
Laurel

I like Greenwing's boys' names.

Also
Isaiah
Edmund

mathanxiety - you've covered off 3 of my 9 great aunts with that last list. Beulah is dire though. Great Aunt Beulah was not happy with her name.

I want a Miriam.

What about Margot?

Victor or Eli?

I'm giving away my own name list here, peeps

Lisa, Jacqueline, Pippa, Melanie, Mary.

My sister is Lisa, and everyone knows the name but I've only met one other.

Peter
Simon
Duncan
Christoher
Paul
Jonathan

Sally
Sarah/Sara
Jennifer
Claire
Susan
Rachel
Gail

Just realised these are all quite retro