London uncommon names

[Namesforme]

A question for MN users in London, as reading MN it seems there can be major differences in name 'trends' from London and the rest of the country.

I loved the name Wren but I feel like it's very common now. . I also loved it for boys and originally understood it to be a boys' name (although MN users seem to firmly disagree on that). What names are there which are still uncommon or only just emerging in London please?

Boys and girls, unisex, and preferably short as our surname is merged / double barrelled.

I’m a Wren. I love it but no one knows how to spell it.

I posted this on another thread, I heard a girl called Fanny the other day. In London.I like it but appreciate it might be a bit tricky.

Ren is better than Wren somehow, Had a family member who had Wren as a surname, which seemed fine, as a first name, nope.

Warren, Renaldo?

And I grew up in London.

I live in London and have a 2 year old, I've met a couple of Wrens at classes / nursery, but I'd say max 3/4 over 2 years. I guess the think with an unusual name is that if there is another child with that name it's more noticeable than if there were 2 Jacks for example. I would go for it if you love it and if it wouldn't bother you if you did end up with another child with the same name at nursery or something.

DS has a fairly unusual name and we have only met one other so far in London - living next door but one to us! Luckily both me and the other mum just laughed and congratulated each other on having great taste in names!

There are some lovely old English names why the modern fixation with unusual? New age names are cute on a baby not always so on the grown adult.

Look at names outside the top 100 here:

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/top-1000-names-in-england-and-wales-2018.html

Then check whether it is increasing or decreasing in popularity by typing the name into here:

names.darkgreener.com

Wren, for example, shows a very steep recent increase so even though it's only 233 on the list, lots more kids are suddenly being called it and it is likely to climb. So it will feel very popular and of the moment.

Laura, on the other hand, although a few more children were named Laura last year (number 169), is showing a very steep decrease in popularity so will feel fresh and unusual.

Thanks @diddlediddle that's interesting.

I think I'd rather avoid the Laura type names idea (eg slipping in popularity), because I feel like it will seem dated- in fact Laura does currently feel dated. This stems from my parents naming me as something that was 10 - 20 years out of date. So even though I was the only one at my school, there were lots of Mums and teachers with the name, so it always felt a bit naff.

I'm not following any trends here, in fact I am trying to avoid that if anything. I just much prefer a name to be a one off, and not have to be known at school alongside their last initial eg Eva S. / Iris P. / Teddy E.

I think it also depends what part of London as there are different trends.

have a unique name in that traditional Irish names were not popular in Ireland in the 80s & definitely not in London were I was raised. I only met 2 other "x" in my life both when I was older. However my name became popular again about 10 yrs ago in Ireland so there are probably loads now.
I gave one of my children an unusual name (from the family tree). However it's now in the top 100 as a celeb used last yr so you can't really predict. Choose something you love

But also thinking of my dc who is at school no one in his class has the same name. Look at baby name predictions & what is trending for 2019 that can tell you more then last yrs list.

I know of a Wren but only 1.

I can only comment on popular names in London - these are the most 'trendy, I thought she / he would be the only one in their school names... oops'
Wren (definitely)
Juno / Juniper
Cleo/Clara
Margot
Sophia
Pearl
Betsy

Dougie
Arlo
Ezra
Ralph
Rupert
Eddy
Otis
Jude

I just used that website link, one of my dc's name has jumped almost 1000 places in 2 yrs.

Dana,
Aphra
Crocus
Rene (REN-ay)
Maple
Jenet

Oh other popular names I'm hearing

Erin
Remi/ Remy
Wilf
Mara
Merryn
Merryl

I don't tend to hear many welsh or Irish names. So depending on what your opinion is that is one way to have a rare name.
I'd avoid all flower names for girls
Avoid all 'old people' names Stan/Ethel etc
Another rule of thumb, if you see it mentioned on here often it's likely a buzz name - think Bear / Juno and will be fleetingly popular
Maybe look at very old classic Greek names

If you want something uncommon, then unless you're a very young mother, look at what names your friends and their siblings are called - discount any which you hear regularly and you're there!

I was at at school in the early 80s so for me the names which were popular but really aren't used much any more are:

Caroline
Claire
Nicola
Sarah etc etc

Simon
Dave/David
Andrew
Mike

There are still some (and one of my DCs has one of the names) but they are the type of names which mostly for my own DCs weren't modern enough nor old enough to be the granny/granddad ones like Stanley, Iris etc

It sounds like Wren isn’t for you OP if you want to be 100% certain that there won’t be another at the school. It’s a lovely gorgeous unisex name though

Having said that I’m in London and never met a wren. I have a friend of a friend in Cornwall have a little boy called Reni

If you’re wanting a one off unusual boy’s name then google “uk names close to extinction”

Can I suggest “Clarence” there’s only about 4 born a year in the whole of the Uk

If you chose a name like Simon, David, Laura or Kate then you’ll have exactly the same problem all over again that you had growing up. Everyone will say “oh my mum/dad is called that”

Willa for a girl. Always wished I’d used it. So rare

I’ve never heard of anyone called Wren.

OP, how many do you know personally?

How about Rudy /Rudi x

Not in a London so unsure if any of these are popular where you are but I do love Wren/Ren for either sex.
Also, based on what you've said have you thought about these for unisex:
Nox,
Reeve,
Nova,
Blue,
Bobbie,
Cove,
Bailey.

For girls:
Tara
Lyra
Pippa
Agnes
Cora
Etta
Fleur
Gwen
Bea

For boys:
Seth
James
Cole
Cohen
Rhett
Nate
Gryff
Kit
Rex
Rogie

Wrens are bolshy as hell and shout their defiance to the world in a voice louder by size than any other bird.

They're hard as nails, Wrens.

NW London here & don't know any.
Dd1 says none in her school.

I'm in Notting hill and never heard of Wren

London as well: I know 2 Wrens, both are 4. Names that I’ve also heard lately are Ada (now know 3 baby Adas), Daphne (x2), Bob (not Robert or Bobby. He’s called Bob) and a little baby Barbara.

I know three Wrens under 3 in London and one elsewhere. It's hardly like you'll be overrun with them but you can't guarantee it'll be unique either. I think it has the feel of a 2017-2020 type zeitgeisty name. Depends if you mind that or not.