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Baby names

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

Lara - why isn't it more popular?

58 replies

GeorgianaDevonshire · 19/06/2015 23:07

I would have loved to have called DD Lara but it didn't go with our surname: Lara Landon just didn't sound right.

My friend has called her DD Lara and people say what a lovely name it is but there don't seem to be many about.

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scarletforya · 19/06/2015 23:10

It is nice but maybe a bit nothingy. I like it, it's ok. That's it.

SycamoreMum · 19/06/2015 23:13

It is a lovely name. Sadly I had a dear friend of the same name pass away a few years ago. She was a gorgeous, good natured girl and I think that name suited her to a tee. Smile

TigerFeat · 19/06/2015 23:16

Lara Croft

cunchofbunts · 19/06/2015 23:17

Well Lara has tragic connotations. She was the rather sad heroine in Dr Zhivago.

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 19/06/2015 23:23

I think it's a bit bland. There are nicer names.

emwithme · 19/06/2015 23:30

My niece and DH's cousin are both called Lara so we had two at our wedding. It wasn't a name on my radar until DN was called it 10 years ago.

stareatthetvscreen · 19/06/2015 23:33

its nice but sounds a bit like lala - sort of a bit nothingy

Rhubarbgarden · 20/06/2015 00:26

I think it's beautiful. I like Lorna too.

ceebelle83 · 20/06/2015 07:47

I love it so much. It was the name I had picked out for the baby I'm currently carrying...until the day I found out Lara was actually going to be a boy! Hehe!

florascotia · 20/06/2015 09:58

Perhaps because it's Ancient Greek/Russian and not widely known in the UK until the Dr Zhivago novel/film. I prefer the 'long' version, Larisa/Larissa.

RedToothBrush · 20/06/2015 11:42

Lara Croft killed it. Plus L names are starting to drop off in popularity for girls. We've had the Leah and Lucy and Lily thing to death. E and A are the 'in' letters.

NadiaWadia · 20/06/2015 11:44

Simple, but lovely. Has glamorous associations with Doctor Zhivago and Lara Croft.

Benchmark · 20/06/2015 11:55

To me it is very bland like Laura or Lana or Cara Clara Carla, you get the drift - it doesn't stand out for me.

27inmyhead · 20/06/2015 11:58

It's a non-name. I used to know a Lara but nobody seemed to remember her name.

NadiaWadia · 20/06/2015 12:09

I don't see why, I suppose you would say the same about Anna, then, or Ava, or Emma?

KoalaDownUnder · 20/06/2015 12:09

It's very 70s/80s dated to me. I went to school with a few Laras, and I'm 41.

It's not the most stylish name, to my ears. Lara's siblings would be called something like Travis and Belinda.

Not horrible, just not appealing, tbh.

HollyBen · 20/06/2015 12:11

I have met a 4 year old Lara recently. Agree it's nice but a bit blah

JassyRadlett · 20/06/2015 12:13

There are two little Laras at nursery - also a Lena, Lila and Lola.

GeorgianaDevonshire · 20/06/2015 12:15

Thanks for replies

Dr Zhivago came out in the 60s so I'd be surprised if it influenced parents of new babies. I hadn't made the connection with Lara Croft but then it's not my sort of film.

I don't understand how a name can be a non name.

OP posts:
Welshcyclist · 20/06/2015 21:46

We have a one year old Lara as we loved the name from Dr Zhivago, we hadn't even thought of Lara Croft.

chocolateandbroccoli · 20/06/2015 22:24

I wanted it for DD2 but DH vetoed it on the basis that it was 'just a couple of vowels with the odd letter in between'. The same could be said of other names - Anna, Emma etc but for some reason the latter seem to have a bit more about them to me. I liked the fact that it's short, pretty and easy to spell and would travel well.

In the event DD2 looked nothing like a Lara and wouldn't have suited the name in the slightest so I'm glad we took a while arguing over it naming her.

I'm currently expecting DD3 and we're considering Greta, Thea and Flora this time round.

EmmaWoodlouse · 22/06/2015 21:04

I agree with the person who found it "nothingy". Having said that I like it better than Lana which someone I know did use for her DD.

PeppermintCrayon · 24/06/2015 06:33

It's nicer than Lara but does get nicknamed La La!

franksidebottom · 24/06/2015 12:47

My oldest dd is called lara. I did get it from lara Croft but i don't care. I love it.

Clawdy · 24/06/2015 21:47

Lara in Dr Zhivago was such a strong and beautiful character, so the name always sounds lovely to me.