Clara... big increase in popularity according to latest stats...last minute alternatives?

[kaycat]

Expecting in a few weeks and have I liked Clara since the beginning. One of my criteria is that I do not want a top 100 or trending name (I know many people will say that this shouldn't worry me, but as I myself have a very common and dated name, it does bother me and I would very much like to avoid a trending name if poss ). Just looked at the recently published 2013 stats and Clara has gradually increased in popularity over the past few years but in the past year alone gained 40 places to 139. It's starting to feel like Clara could be the next vintage high climber like Amelia/Florence? (no disrespect - I adore these names but they have become extremely popular). Should I be worried? Also, does anyone have any other suggestions? DH is very keen on Clara so it may be that we do stick with it, but having a wobble!

Clary

I think you should stick with it, as you sound as if you adore it. Have you any Germanic or Eastern European links to consider going down the Klara route, as an alternative?

I like Honor and India best of your other choices, but I don't think they go as well with Lucien as Clara does.

I don't know any.

Whereas Nancy, which was outside top 100, I know three of them.

Isadora (nn Dora if you want - doesn't have to be Izzy)

Greta

Honor - my fave!

Honour! Perfect!

But not with that spelling, my phone 'corrected' it.

What about Clea? Similar sound to it but probably not top 100.

I love the name partly because I'm a fan of actress Clea Duvall.

Penguins that is so strange, I almost suggested Vivienne to DH last night. It is beautiful. The only issue I have is that I have a cousin Vivian and she is "Viv" which I've never really liked. Not sure what else it could be shortened to though and it feels like a name that will inevitably be shortened. I'll run it by DH this evening. Bird of the North, Honor was on my list last time and DH was not persuaded, but he seems to be coming around, so it is a contender. I should also say that we don't know what we are having this time around, we just have a hugely strong girl feeling and I now feel a bit unsettled by re-thinking our chosen name at short notice (but maybe just unsettled generally with a massive bump, the house to sort etc!!). Please keep any suggestions coming!

The Vivienne I know is Vee.

Honor seems very popular. It doesn't feel like one that will climb either. It was also on my list last time so it is another name I've continued to like over the years, which is a good sign. DH was not persuaded last time, but I mentioned it again last night and he was actually considering it, so it is a contender. I'll keep you posted. Once we have a girl name re-settled, I'll finalise boys!! I'm anxious to try to have something settled before baby arrives this time. DS was unnamed for 6 weeks (he was registered a day late in the end). It wierdly got harder once he was born, I didn't feel that there was a name that "fit" him. In fact the name we went for (Lucien) is hard for a tiny baby to fill, so we had faith he would grow into it and he did of course! But...it was a stressful 6 weeks

Vee is better definitely, or even Vivi, just not Viv! Hmmm, do really like it. It also has the Anglo-french element like Lucien. Penguins do you have any others?!

I went the name I loved for ds2. It's getting way more popular.

Does it bother me? Yes, a little. Does ds suit his name? Yes. Does it really matter? Probably not.

Would I have named him it if I had known how popular it was going to become? Possibly not, but then I didn't love the alternative so much. It's difficult, isn't it?

What about Xanthe?

Probably not so popular. I also like Hermione (would have been DS's name), Jacqueline, Camille, Penelope, can't remember the others.

If it's the name you want stick with it. Chances are in real life there won't be scores of other little Claras where you live, and even if there are, so what?

Both my son's names are top 20 - I seem to have a knack for it, even though I knew one person ever each before they were born with those names. I know one baby Clara but be warned - I like it so with my terrible popular naming knack it will prob rise like an eagle!