Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

What’s the problem with Lara then?

33 replies

Milasmummy · 15/01/2019 05:19

Thanks so much for all your responses before. Seems like the name Lara has such glowing reviews and compliments.

But what’s confusing me, is that if Lara is such an amazing name...

Then why isn’t it so popular?

For example, when Lara was compared to Lily on my previous thread, it was vastly preferred than Lily (which is miles more popular).

So I’m a little confused! Please could you elaborate as to why Lara isn’t more popular if it’s such an amazing name!

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

flapjackfairy · 15/01/2019 05:42

No idea to answer your question.
I like both Lara and Lily. But why do you care what others think at the end of the day. ? If you like Lara then have that as your daughters name and love it. Or you could have Lily? Not much use to you I am afraid.

Inktank · 15/01/2019 07:47

Lara sounds cold and stark.

Holidayshopping · 15/01/2019 07:51

Stop worrying about what a small survey of mumsnetters like-it’s one snapshot on one day. I’m sure some people thing it’s a very nice name but others will think it’s horrible.

Did 100 people really all say it was actually amazing?!

If you like it, use it.

IVflytrap · 15/01/2019 07:55

I think it sounds quite classy, elegant and grown-up. But the current trend is for cutesy and/or frilly (all the -ie and elle/bella names). Also it has the more "unpopular" vowel sounds. Popular sounds are ay, ee, I, as in Ava, Evie, Isla. The Ar sound isn't that popular at the moment (apart from in Aria, and that's more due to GoT).

If you like Lara, go for it! It's a classic.

ImportantWater · 15/01/2019 07:55

Well, I think it’s because Lara is less popular than Lily that people like it more, if you see what I mean. I think Sarah, for example, is a beautiful name but I didn’t think so as a child because you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting a Sarah.

RedDwarves · 15/01/2019 07:56

I don't like it, personally.

The only Lara I know is a moody prat who is only pleasant to be around 25% of the time.

I don't like any "-ara" names.

I find it difficult to say - it's not a name which rolls off the tongue easily, IMO.

It's a bit of a nothing name. It's not elaborate and beautiful; it's not particularly classic (at least in the Elizabeth, Alexandra, Madeleine sense); it's not short and spunky; it's not different or unusual; it has no standout meaning.

Huffleypuff · 15/01/2019 07:57

This is such an odd thread OP.

I don’t think Lara is an amazing name, I think it sounds quite harsh and for that reason I didn’t even consider it for my DC.

Clottedcreamfudge · 15/01/2019 07:59

Lily is a nice enough name but there are dozens of lily/lily-mae's around my area which puts me off it.

Never met a Lara so I definitely prefer it.

planespotting · 15/01/2019 08:01

What is the point if this second thread OP?

TopicalUseOnly · 15/01/2019 08:04

Lara's a great name. Stop overthinking it!

tammytoby · 15/01/2019 08:06

Op, you sound very insecure in your own choices.

Personally I don't like Lara, nor Lily! But who cares, because YOU need to like it.

BluthsFrozenBananas · 15/01/2019 08:08

Why are unicorns and running leggings trendy, rather than, say , selkies and silk shirts? Many lovely things aren’t massively trendy, doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with them. If you like Lara use Lara, don’t overthink it.

DoingMyBest2010 · 15/01/2019 08:10

Maybe it reminds people of Lara Croft? And Lily of ....Lily Allen, Lily Cole? I have no idea. Don't listen to people, if you like it, use it :0).

Holidayshopping · 15/01/2019 08:16

Just because a few people here said some nice things about it, doesn’t mean the whole population thing it’s ‘amazing’ and it will instantly be reflected in the baby name popularity polls.

ReginaPhalange89 · 15/01/2019 08:38

It's not a bad thing that it isn't popular. I would far rather have a name that I love that's not common than use a name that there are going to be 5 of in her class at school

ZebraKid71 · 15/01/2019 12:09

People will have likely preferred it as Lily is so overused that Lara seems like the better option, even if they actually prefer the name Lily - if that makes sense.

I don't think it's an amazing name, but there's nothing wrong with it.. Its just.. Normal!

Ribbonsonabox · 15/01/2019 12:16

Maybe people now prefer it to lily because lily got too popular and so sounds dated/overused whereas Lara still sounds original?

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 15/01/2019 12:18

Possibly the Lara Croft connection...

MikeUniformMike · 15/01/2019 13:15

I like it, it's nice. I think it sounds a bit cold but that's probably because I associate it with Dr Zhivago. I prefer Cara as a similar sounding name.
The current trend seems to be with girly or cutesie names, which I'm not so keen on.

You are not sure OP, so why not think of some other names. I think you already have a Mila and you liked Lily, then why not use Lily?

daisypond · 15/01/2019 13:31

Lara is fine. I personally find it too bland and a bit "nothingy" so I would never use it, but it's harmless.

SumAndSubstance · 15/01/2019 15:59

People who use the baby names board on Mumsnet are quite into names and are drawn to the more unusual. Lara wins votes here because there's nothing really wrong with it and it's relatively unusual. We don't like popular names on here because we don't understand why people who think carefully about baby names should plump for something that everyone else is using. However, outside of this fairly niche place, most people don't overthink baby names so much and therefore aren't attracted to Lara just because it's unusual. It's one of those names that there's not much wrong with it, but there's nothing particularly right with it either. It's just fine.

Pemba · 15/01/2019 16:23

If Lily were less popular, I would still prefer Lara to Lily, although I do like Lily.

Lara sounds more mysterious and exotic, due to Dr Zhivago associations I suppose.

Trinnidad · 15/01/2019 19:15

I think it just went out of fashion - was really fashionable when Dr Zhivago with Julie Christie came out ( and the tune Lara’s Thene) from the film. Interestingly, in Dr Zhivago Lara is short for Larissa...

Cbeebiesrehab · 15/01/2019 19:40

There are lots of names I really like but would never personally use for my own child. Lara being one of them.

Pemba · 15/01/2019 22:32

But I don't think it was popular to name your daughter Lara in the sixties or early seventies, was it? In spite of the popularity of the Doctor Zhivago film.
I mean I was born in the sixties and don't remember coming across a single Lara, at school or anywhere else. So it wasn't really 'in fashion' in that sense. Surprising really, as there were lots of 'Michelles' named from the Beatles song.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread