Have been told these names are 'downmarket'. Your help please.

[monkeyandguitar]

I like the following names for our DD:
Ellie
Ella
Millie
Molly

However, more than one person has either made comment or pulled a face about them being too common - to mean both overused and downmarket. What are your thoughts? I'd really like some objective and subjective opinions - are these names really awful?!

I don't want to give poor DD a name that people see as 'downmarket' - I just want a nice name that isn't overly complicated, but at the same time isn't overly popular. Any other suggestions are very welcome.

All VERY widely used already and people are getting a little tired of them imo.

Cassiopeia - nickname Callie - now that would be classy.

I like Cassie a lot.

What about

Elizabeth - lots of nn potential
Evangeline
Cora
Marla
Marnie
Aliah
Matilda
Maddeline

Whoops - nickname Cassie

Milly
Millie
Molly
Mollie
Ellie
Elly
Maisy
Maisie
Darcie
Darcy
Daisy
Daisie
I am so fed up of twee names where the parent tells you it's spelt wrong.

How about Nell? Quite similar, but not over-used.

Also love Matilda, Harriett and Ruth.

I don't think they're downmarket. But the original list sound to me all a bit 'tired'. By that I mean overused I suppose. Not at all keen on Cassie or Edie.

Recent names round these parts I like
Sadie
Erin
Imogen
Rosalie

I have friends with children called Lotte and Erin.

Also love Imogen.

I only know one Ella, and it is such a lovely name and isn't (for her) short for anything.

Go for a name that you and your DH love, not what anyone else thinks about it (including me )

Love both Edie and Cassie.

Is anyone else thinking about Milly Molly Mandy? She was Millicent Margaret Amanda IIRC.

You'll never find a name that everyone likes so you need to pick something you're really happy with.

My Dd is one of those. I didn't know any when we named her, now I know a few but she is the only one in her school of 400 children. I hope it isn't downmarket, but if it is who cares? I still love it.

They are not downmarket just popular. Go with the name that you both like.

In my bit of london they were popular ten years ago but less so now. All lovey names but surely all nicknames?

I was thinking milly Molly mandy, Prudence... but you beat me there.

Cassie would be my favourite. It was my Nana's name, short for Catherine.

I wouldn't say any of the others were common in the downmarket sense, just very popular.

They are not downmarket just popular.
Cassie sounds like a nn to me too.

Well I have an Ella and an Edie and they are both the only ones with their names at their school... I think they're lovely names (obviously!), popular yes, but if you like them then does it matter?

my DD3 is Eliana - shortened to Elli or Annie (depending on mood)
I love Millie, but DH says it's a cat name.

Very popular, which may not bother you. The nickname thing does grate - why not give the poor kid the full name on her birth certificate so at least she has the option and isn't condemned to little girlhood for her whole life?

I don't think "trawling through the posts here" is a very good way to find inspiration, tbh. You just find the same names recycled over and over again.

A good start is to go to the ONS website and find the complete lists of names registered for the last 10 years or so. (the lists are on Excel sheets and you need to look at the last tab) Ignore the top 20 and even the top 100. You'll find scores of lovely names that are not much used.

They're only seen as common in one sense because they're common in another - i.e. v popular! All are good names.

Just use a longer full name -

Ella/Ellie - Ellery, Elinor, Elise, Ellen
Millie - Romilly?
Molly - Margaret!

Lots of nice suggestions here.
I don't mean to be rude, but IMO Milly and Molly are just awful.
Eliie and Ella are nice.
I love Nell and Evangeline.
I also quite like Rosaline, Sabrina and Rachel

if popularity of names is relevant look at top English & welsh names and Scottish names