Names which are unpopular and you don't understand why

[detachablehoof]

I wondered about calling my PFB Topsy. 99.9% of responses were utter horror. Olive was another on my list which people were horrified by. I don't understand why?! It's not weird, it's easy to spell, it's a proper name, ...

And now I'm wondering about Beryl. A quick search of this forum tells me that I'd get a similar reaction so I'll not ask for opinions

If it was a boy I liked Leonard ... which elicited horror from my family!

Do I just have terrible taste or does anyone else find the general consensus really odd sometimes? Like why is Olive considered terrible and frumpy when Olivia is so popular?

Would love to hear which other names you wonder why they aren't used more!

My eldest has a very unusual name. I think it's beautiful and have been surprised (and happy) that there are so few around. Then there was a thread about it on here a while back and it turns out most people think it's ghastly! I would still choose it again, 100%

Topsy autocorrected to Tipsy on my phone

If someone introduced themselves as Topsy, I'd immediately think is that your stripper nickname

On a similar related note, the name that makes me sad due to reaction to it is Hayden, I ALWAYS liked the name Hayden since 90s Home And Away but it has definitely fallen foul of the Jayden/Kayden "it's rough and common" MN curse

Baby Beryl would get Peril jokes the rest of their life.

I like Beryl, I heard a Berry the other day which I thought was cute. I’m not sure why Ian isn’t more popular, other Scottish boys names like Euan are still popular.

@Bumblebeesmum

“Oh I’m so sorry you need emergency surgery, don’t worry though this is Topsy one of our best Surgeons”

Are you being serious? The main thing I'd hear is they I was getting one of the best surgeons. I wouldn't give two hoots what their name was.

Ian was very popular in the 60s, 70s and 80s so it will take a break for a generation and then come back.

I always thought Emma was the grumpy cousin of Emily as a name and asked myself why you would go for Emma when there was Emily on offer. As pp suggested a similar thought process around Olive v. Olivia but in my case popular opinion has proved me wrong and I am even coming round to Emma now I know a few lovely ones!

I'd hate to be landed with any of those 1930s names🙈

@wildcherryblossom I’m the opposite- I have a horrible name that Mumsnet seems to adore and think is utterly beautiful/cool. It’s not, it’s crap!

Topsy must be a sibling of Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail.

My niece is called Olive. She’s 4.

I like Deirdre, Carol, Joyce, Phyllis, Thomasine and Veronica for a girl (and Alec, Colin, Dunan, Geoffrey, Percival and Simon for a boy).

Like PP I would also be pleased to meet surgeon Topsy, it sounds like an educated name.... I'd prefer to be chopped into by Topsy than Olivia I think 🤔

I think I do have a thing for 1930s names! Apparently names go in 100 year ish cycles so maybe I'm just ten years ahead of my time 😂

@ShowOfHands love Agatha nn Taggie. Nothing to do with a Jilly Cooper phase. DH vetoed it and I'm not sure I entirely forgive him still.

Topsy doesn't sound educated, it sounds posh. People often confuse the two!

But as I said I'd be happy to be treated by a surgeon called Topsy, as they're still a surgeon. Likewise a surgeon called Chantal, Wayne, or Alfie-Blue.

Deirdre, Carol, Joyce i sniggered when i read that. One of those is my mum's name, very 50's!

Not sure about Joyce but Carol is cute and I like Deirdre! Much more refreshing than the usual top ten names but yet not weird or made up

Alfie, Albert, etc are in full force - why not Ernest and Edgar? Similar sounding IMO!

*are back in full force

I don't think Ian will ever come back. Two well known pedophiles bear that name. It gives me the shivers when I hear it.

There are a bajillion Ians in Scotland from the ages of 25 - 55. It will definitely come back.

Interesting point @afterschoolworry

I like Myra for a baby girl but that has horrible connotations too. I wonder if it hadn't had those connotations if it would be more popular as it fits right in with all the Mia / Mila / Lyras etc

Ernie was my ex FIL. Exh was desperate to call ds after him in 2005 but I firmly put my foot down!

We have a few Deirdres on the Irish side of the family ranging from 11 to 80 odd!

There’s a few Michaels, Davids and Peters floating around various toddler groups near me and I heard a Lisa the other week too.

Leonard (for me) is up there with the other middle class oh so not trying to be cool try hard hipster middle class names like Albert and Monty. The parents who are so studiedly breezy about everything. I know a woman with a child called Ronnie. Like the actual Kray twin. Come on. It's a name out of Dad's Army.

I don't like Olive as it somehow sounds homely, and Beryl is kind of bossy and matronly. Sorry.

Harsh, I'm sure, but you asked for opinions.

I know of an 8 yr old called Ian so it's not quite obselete yet

My Leonard is named after my grandad. We’re working class cockneys from east London as far back as you can trace, and as far from middle class as you can get 🤣

My other grandad was an Albert and was number 2 on the list!

There are tons of little Leonards (Lennys) near me. Also Ernests (Ernies) and Alberts (Albies), which are downmarket, and Dorothys (Dots), Margarets (Margots) and Mabels, which are favoured by the middle class families.

I've met a baby Darlene and a baby Alan, which made a nice change.