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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unpopular names?

183 replies

zumm · 10/12/2011 13:52

Well, it's all in the spin. Tomat-o is to tom-ayto as unpopular is to unusual. Anyone managed to name a child something that isn't in the top 150? If so, share? Everyone seems to be William or Alex around here.

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cece · 10/12/2011 13:58

Do you mean names that are not common/frequently used or do you mean names that not many people like?

Original poster
zumm · 10/12/2011 14:19

Cece - both! It's all so subjective, after all. Wondering about names that you've called DC that are outside the top 100-150.

OP posts:
mistressploppy · 10/12/2011 14:33

I have a Saul - not very popular, I don't think

tummytickler · 10/12/2011 15:12

I have an Iris, Pearl and Amos, all out of the top 150. I also have an ELijah, which just creeps into the top 150.

pranma · 10/12/2011 15:16

Not many Valeries around now and Joan is one 'old' name that you never see nowadays as is Maud.
Boys errr-Trevor,Malcolm,Maurice....

aubergineinautumn · 10/12/2011 15:22

Well, considering that there are 1000s of names, most of them ARE unpopular, if you define polular as top 150.

I'd like to see a name list of all the names in use in UK atm, so including people of all ages- THAT would be the real judge of unpopularity/unusualness.

PercyFilth · 10/12/2011 15:48

Didn't the Zutons and Amy Winehouse inspire anyone to call their daughter Valerie? It may be seen by some as a bit mum/gran generation, but will always be a pretty name.

tummytickler · 10/12/2011 17:07

The trouble with Valerie, is that it is a beautiful name but Val is so horrible.
Valerie was briefly on our list, but came off for this reason.

bigbluebump · 10/12/2011 17:41

We have a Quentin - I think it was number 1300 or something last year.

Lonnie · 10/12/2011 19:38

I have Phoebe (wasnt on the top 150 list when we named her 14 years ago it is very popular now)

Eloisa I have yet to meet another but am aware Eloise is growing in popularity

Conrad Only know one other and he is 40 odd

and Aoife

For us we wanted names not in the top 10 list it bugged me how popular Phoebe became but I still love it as a name

Original poster
zumm · 10/12/2011 19:45

BigBlue and Lonnie -what lovely 'unpopular' names ;). Eloisa is especially gorgeous.

OP posts:
Lonnie · 10/12/2011 20:46

smiles thank you I particularly love Eloisa as I dreamt we had a little girl named that I feel like I got " my name" with her dh hadHis with dd1.. I've always loved Quintin too so agree with you BigBlues ds name is gorgeous

cece · 10/12/2011 21:43

Less popular names that were on our shortlist at one time or another -

Verity, Una, Gregory, Noel, Mark.

DD's name was about number 300 or 400 or so when we named her but is now hovering about number 100 I believe.

ThoseClementineShoes · 10/12/2011 22:15

Ethel
Edna
Ethel
Rosamund

Martin
Brian
Keith
Kevin
Ken

ThoseClementineShoes · 10/12/2011 22:18

Gladys
Doreen
Doris
Portia
Hortensia

Graham
Barry
Derek

bigbluebump · 10/12/2011 22:34

Thank you zumm and Lonnie Smile. Yes, Eloisa and Phoebe are very lovely too! How about John (Johnnie) or Robert (Robbie) - they're both quite underused these days?

ThoseClementineShoes · 10/12/2011 23:56

Whoops. Seem to have somewhat misunderstood the question.

Eloisa is lovely. I think I might sort of like Maud(e) too.

hohohoshedittant · 11/12/2011 00:08

I know a little Maude and I know loads of Aoife's (not in Ireland, but high Irish population).

I don't know any under 5's called;

Vincent
Simon
Garth
Sharon
Kathleen
Veronica

or Marnie, which is a name I actually really like.

PelvicFloorOfHighTensileTinsel · 11/12/2011 00:19

The ons statistics for names can be found here, the 5th or 6th tab on the spreadsheet is every name used in 2010 so you can see what number they come in at.

poppydaisy · 11/12/2011 12:21

I think Valerie is very pretty actually. And I know a little Mabel which I wasn't sure about initially but quite like now.

cece · 11/12/2011 13:23

Just looked at the lists. My DDs name, which I thought was a bit out there at the time, is now in the top 100. DS1 and 2 who both have more 'normal ' names are at about 180 and 860 respectively! LOL

JambalayaWarmMincePie · 11/12/2011 13:46

Ooooh, thanks for posting the ONS link - far more fun way of researching names than the baby book!

There are some crackers!!

Original poster
zumm · 12/12/2011 12:42

Cece - share! :)

OP posts:
Clawdy · 12/12/2011 13:26

Last two babies born in our family are Jesse and Asher (seven weeks old and one week old ). What do people think?

tammytoby · 12/12/2011 13:27

By definition 'unpopular' names, those that aren't used by the masses, are not going to be super popular or loved. But they are likely to be more timeless and less likely to date as the trendy names fall out of favour again. They also tend to be more 'useful' as a name - in terms of identifying a person (without having to add initials or other descriptive adjectvives Smile).
So I'm a big fan of classic, timeless but not popular names!