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Baby names

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

Useable girls names outside the top 1000

53 replies

BananaHammocks · 16/01/2014 06:40

I kept going through the ONS list and getting bored a few hundred into it so I decided to start at 1000 and make a list of real names. I've left out nicknames, misspellings, very foreign names and names that, to me, seem a bit made up.

I'm not looking for a critique on the list, I'm sure I've added some that you wouldn't, not added some that you would have and missed some. I just thought it would be useful for people looking for something really rare and also show people that you can pick a very, very underused name and it can still be perfectly straightforward to spell/pronounce.

They are in popularity order.

Alexandria
Christine
Marianne
Rosalind
Adela
Janelle
Georgiana
Lucinda
Cordelia
Davina
Jocelyn
Mara
Seraphina
Una
Cassandra
Isadora
Jane
Mariella
Nadine
Whitney
Barbara
Brogan
Susan
Valerie
Joyce
Kirsten
Octavia
Ramona
Winifred
Caroline
Celia
Linda
Petra
Roberta
Simone
Tina
Cadence
Frida
Julie
Nuala
Bridie
Brodie
Carolina
Catalina
Celine
Deanna
Dora
Hester
Monica
Paloma
Siobhan
Susannah
Carrie
Clarissa
Ingrid
Lilith
Marcelina
Persephone
Adelina
Alessandra
Bronwyn/Bronwen
Elowen
Gianna
Juliana
Miranda
Cynthia
Ursula
Viola
Luella
Manon
Ariadne
Elektra
Melina
Rochelle
Aliona
Dahlia
Elaine
Elora
Monique
Pia
Rosina
Eileen
Eunice
Lucille
Marla
Priscilla
Sabina
Alethea
Danica
Eliska
Felicia
Adeline
Blythe
Clemency
Delphine
Denise
Kristen
Patience
Willa
Bethel
Candice
Christabel
Christiana
Coralie
Dorathea
Elsbeth
Gwendolyn
Indira
Janice
Judith
Laurel
Maxine
Pandora
Raffaella
Wendy
Artemis
Charlene
Cornelia
Esmeralda
Evangelina
Giovanna
Leonora
Mona
Olympia
Shona
Zena
Bernadette
Clodagh
Colette
Darla
Irene
Jacqueline
Jean
Judy
Araminta
Avril
Carmel
Emmanuela
Janet
Marlena
Olga
Cheryl
Dolores
Enid
Ilona
Kerry
Marcia
Renata
Roseanne
Virginia
Yvonne
Atlanta
Bernice
Corinne
Hebe
Opal
Pamela
Philomena
Flavia
Loretta
Mirabel
Shirley
Alberta
Carmella
Cressida
Desiree
Diane
Imelda
Joan
Rosamund
Trudy
Cosima
Dominique
Ethel
Eugenie
Isolde
Lorraine
Margarita
Morgana
Noelle
Pauline
Thora
Belinda
Beulah
Brenda
Callista
Christy
Coraline
Eugenia
Geraldine
Justine
Minerva
Portia
Rhoda
Rhona
Violetta
Wilhelmina
Angelique
Annette
Blaise
Carlotta
Dawn
Edwina
Gretel
Zinnia
June
Marguerite
Maud/Maude
Maureen
Myrtle
Odette
Phaedra
Sheila
Sybil
Beverley
Bronagh
Edna
Linnea
Marcella
Marlene
Perdita
Rowena
Thomasina
Anthea
Benedicta
Carol
Doris
Eartha
Elvira
Glenda
Golda
Hilary
Hilda
Jacinta
Julietta
Magda
Mildred
Morwenna
Posy
Rosetta
Thelma
Therese
Antigone
Apolline
Augusta
Cassiopeia
Delphina
Demelza
Donatella
Elfreda
Euphemia
Fernanda
Gretchen
Loveday
Mavis
Mireille
Nerissa
Nicolette
Phyllis

I like

Octavia - totally ruined by Skoda though!
Eugenia - NN Genie! Cute!
Seraphina
Bronwen
Willa
Coralie
Raffaella
Cosima
Thora
Zinnia
Antigone - Tiggy!
Elfreda - Elfie/Freda
Fernada - Fern
Nerissa

My currrent two faves are in the top 500 though, probably unusual enough for me!

Anything you like?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RalphRecklessCardew · 16/01/2014 07:23

Yes! Am surprised as to how many usable names there are.

ginzillas · 16/01/2014 07:59

Great list, thanks.
Marianne (which is Dd's name) and Caroline or Laurel which I'd consider for a Dd2.

Theonlyoneiknow · 16/01/2014 09:00

My own name is there!

There were a couple there we had on our list for DD (Cassandra, Bronwen & Brogen although I think Brogen is more popular in Scotland where we are)

minipie · 16/01/2014 12:15

Brilliant list, thank you. Some great names along with some shockers Grin

I love Marianne (DH has vetoed)

Like loads, though not sure I'd actually use any of these

Jocelyn
Mariella
Kirsten
Kristen
Winifred (Freddie)
Bridie
Ingrid
Bronwen
Sabina
Blythe
Indira
Laurel
Elaine
Thora
Callista
Blaise
Marguerite

Thisisaghostlyeuphemism · 16/01/2014 12:17

I nearly went for Marianne.

DD looks like a Marianne. Hummph.

I love the name Jocelyn.

But DH's ex was Jo and he vetoed. Ho hum.

lebkuchenlover · 16/01/2014 13:03

What a lovely list! These names make such a refreshing change from all the little Ellies, Evies and Poppies!

In particular I like Seraphina, Carlotta, Celine and Cosima! My name is also on there Smile.

We should do the same for boys names!

SoManyIllustrations · 16/01/2014 13:06

Boys list please, I am just too lazy!

fs2013 · 16/01/2014 13:11

You could of added my name- Genevieve. That's rare and useable? :)

OhCaptainDarling · 16/01/2014 14:17

Agree with pp, would love to see a boys list equivalent. Not to be too demanding please could you have this done by tomorrow morning as I am having my section WinkWink

BananaHammocks · 16/01/2014 19:06

fs2013 yes but it's also number 397!

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 16/01/2014 19:21

I know a Bridie, very few options for shortening it, but if you do the results are delightful! (She's 40, btw).

PiratePanda · 16/01/2014 20:08

Beautiful names!

Passmethecrisps · 16/01/2014 20:11

My own name is in there. Starts with the dreaded K!

Passmethecrisps · 16/01/2014 20:11

There are some very surprising names as well - ones where I have known a few. Maybe it is different depending on where you are in the UK

Rosencrantz · 16/01/2014 20:12

Thanks OP, this is fantastic!

hawkmcqueen · 16/01/2014 20:23

Brilliant thanks! My name is there :-) I do love Alexandria

joanofarchitrave · 16/01/2014 20:24

Blimey, is Miranda really in there? - I love Miranda.

TheSurgeonsMate · 16/01/2014 20:28

Smashing list - my dds name is on it, I was looking for a name as you describe it, one that was obviously an actual name, just a bit underused.

Hebe stands out for me as a great underused name. There are some funny ones too - no one my age is going to think of Carol as a rare and unusual name!

ZenNudist · 16/01/2014 20:32

How do I do this for boys?

Rosalind is on my short list.

No to Barbara and pamela. Too soon for a revival!

lookdeepintotheparka · 16/01/2014 20:34

Great list Smile I would consider quite a few of those names.

Word of warning though - dd 1's name was outside top 500 when we named her 5 years ago - now it's just outside top 100 Shock Sad

Bragadocia · 16/01/2014 20:37

Could you share the link to the full list? I can only find top 100. Thanks!

Thisisaghostlyeuphemism · 16/01/2014 20:38

Yeah people, don't use these names!

miffybun73 · 16/01/2014 20:41

I love Lucinda, Caroline and Celia.

ginzillas · 16/01/2014 21:10

It wouldn't bother me if Dd's name moved up the charts. At least I might then be able to buy her personalised tat in the shop....the one drawback of choosing a rare name!

mum2jakie · 16/01/2014 21:11

I think Bronwen, Corinne, Rowena and Celia are beautiful names from this list.

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