Names touted as "very popular" on here

[SomeSunnySunday]

I have noticed the name which we have chosen for our baby girl, due in 4 months, mentioned as being "very popular" and a "one of 3 in a class" name on here quite a few times recently.

I want to avoid a very, very popular name (probably top 20). However we don't know, or even know of, a single other baby, child or adult with this name (and as a mother of 2 young children, I go to a lot of activity groups etc so come across a lot of children). There are no children with this name in DC1's primary school, and when I checked the name stats for Scotland (where we live) for last year, it is listed at 155 (which I am fine with!).

Does the mumsnet demographic skew people's opinions? Are lots of posters London based? Do mumsnetters know something I don't - have hundreds of babies been given this name in the last year, and is it about to explode with popularity?

I'm just curious really, as I thought it was a less-used name than many.

Flora can't wait for the stats!

I went to a London comp and don't think I had a Becky or a Sarah in school. There was however a Tippy, Eugenia, Soledad and Alaska.

Moved to the countryside and there's a smaller selection of names. There are lots of adult Sarahs out here and there are lots of children called Sofia/Sophia/ Sophie, Isabel/LA eve/a/ie.

In London I don't know any children called Eve as its a bigger mix.

When picking a name I always ask myself why I like it? Has Zara Phillips just had a baby Mia Grace? Does it sound like something from GOT?

Its a bit like subtle name advertising!

For both my dds I had a tendacy for choosing pretentious names. But that's a trend too. Atticus, anyone?

This naming malarkey is hard!

Ooooh, love a bit of naming stat porn!

I do like checking out a good figure

I've met one Clara who is now in her early 20s, when I was living in Kent. I don't think it's an overly popular name at all, I think it's quite rare!

I like Clara and don't consider it popular at all, I know one Clara who lives 4 doors down she is 4 years old, no others I have heard of from friends or kids schools etc

But wouldn't people agree that it is almost impossible to predict certain names becoming very popular let's say 5-10 years from now? I have a friend who named her daughter Matilda 16 years ago and she didn't know anybody with that name and it didn't appear on any of the name lists in the top 100. Same I think with Oscar and other names that are quite popular now. I do understand when people say how can you use a name that's No1 now as there might be quite a few babies with the same name around but I am not sure anybody can guarantee that a name will not ever be popular.

We chose Oscar for ds2 12 yrs ago and it wasn't at Al popular but has since shit up the charts. So far he has been the only one in his year group.

Ditto ds1's name. Theodore 15 years ago and has become more popular.

I just think it means we are trend setters

Clara is a lovely name. I know 4 1 is adult the other 3 do not go to school with other Clara's

However yes I would call it a popular name. Does that matter though?

I live in SE However the Clara's I know are spread all over 1 SE 1 Devon and 1 Birmingham. (daughters of friends)

Very much looking forward to the stats coming out.

Are they released dead on midnight?

This morning. In 15 mins.

Op you might be interested in this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/a2115207-Clara-or-Alma

Strangely no one has mentioned it. But it might be popular because it's the latest companion of Dr Who. The show is quite popular! Two of the more well liked companion names in the reboot did become popular little girls name (Rose and Amelia).

It isn't super popular now. However, with people always looking for the next Isla, Ava, Olivia etc I do think it has the qualities to possibly rocket up. Depends if that bothers you.

Amelia was already really popular when that character appeared in Dr Who. And Rose is only common as a middle name really, not as a first name.

I think Clara is adorable and classic! Popular but not reaching saturation like Isla or Poppy, both of which are sleeper top 10 names (we know 5 Poppy's!), or already over-saturated like Lily or Eva.