Why did this name surprise us all so much.....

[Clawdy]

One of my friends had a baby girl this week. She had talked about names and was thinking of Athena or Elena. Her MIL arrived at toddler group and announced baby will be....Nicola. Everyone looked amazed. Isn't it very dated? anyone know a Nicola under the age of 22?

I know a couple in their teens. I like its a lovely name

Lovely it isn't dated and it won't date. My friend's new dgd is Janet Mariah

I know a couple of Nicola's however they are over 22. That doesnt make it a bad name though. Better than most, tbf.

My friend Nicola has difficulty in the USA when she goes over for work as they just cannot pronouce it. It's like it's half a name over there.

Nextdoor have a 5yr old called nicola. Ilike the name but I am over22!!

I think it's quite nice.

It's a nice name, but yes, it's dated.

It peaked in popularity in 1974 (when it was the 3rd most popular girls name), dropped out of the top 100 names round about 1998, and was ranked as the 263rd most popular girls name in England & Wales in 2010.

Not keen. I thought it was out of date now.

Its a lovely name and it is surprising when you here a name that you think is dated.
I met someone in her early 20's called Donna. I was a bit surprised as I thought it had been out of fashion since 70's.

I think it's dated. Prefer Nicole.

Yes, it was very popular in the early 1970s and we therefore know lots of 35-40 year old Nicolas.

But it is a lovely name and makes a refreshing change from all the cutesy trendy names these days. Little Nicola certainly won't have to add her surname initial to her worksheets - and she will probably have a super trendy cool name as an adult (as our kids will probably love it for their kids) .

Overall, a great choice imo!

It is a bit dated but it's still a nice name. Nicola will be back in fashion in a decade or three and everyone will think her name is so chic. Her friends Lily, Lily, Ava, Ruby, Isabelle, Evie and Lily will be so jealous :)

Am finding some comments here very amusing e.g. " I thought it was out of date now". Why on earth are parents expected to pick only names that are currently 'fashionable'?

Actually I think it is lovely that parents choose names they love and not be influenced by what is 'trendy'. Why does a name have to 'current' to be acceptable?

And the more I think about it the more I actually like the sound of Nicola more than that of the current fashionable Lily, Milly, Evie type names. It has more 'substance' which I like! Maybe I'm just getting a little tired of the cutesy names...

I like Nicola, I have a lovely friend in her 30's with that name. I also know an 8 yr old called Nikola which makes my teeth itch

Just because it's not popular anymore doesn't mean it's "dated". I think it's a lovely name and better than all the Milly, Molly, Lilly, Evie type names around at the mo'.

Should have read the thread more closely, I see Tammy got there first with the Millies and Mollies

It's my name and I've never liked it. I am a child of the 70's.

Me too simonthedog. I especially don't like it as I've sort of got stuck with being called Nicky, which I now feel too old for. But how do I suddenly become Nicola again, which I think I suit more now?

It is dated and therefore surprising, but I have always thought it was one of the prettier 70's names!

I like the name. I also like Laura a lot.

I've never really liked the name. It's my name though :o
How about Sarah?

DD has a classmate called Nicola, and they are both 9. I quite like it.

I work with a lot of polish children and Nikola is a v common name.

My best friend is 29 and a Nicola. Every calls her Nikki though - her parents call her Nik. I think it's a great name!

I know a primary aged Angela which is in the same vein I think.

I think it's okay.