Just can't find a girls' name!

[laardvark]

We do not know yet if we are having a boy or a girl. We have a boys' name but finding it so difficult to find a girls' name we like. I have literally been through the top 1000 from last year and haven't found anything we love.

Ideally we would like a name that is not too common but not unusual (e.g. the name of our 2yo was number 300ish last year).

I do tend to like names like Ivy, Isla, Scarlett, Ruby but I'm just put off by how popular they are. I also like Violet but my DH hates it.

The only ones we are vaguely considering are:

Orla - but this is still really popular
Beatrix - but I don't like the nn Trixie
Juno - but too pretentious? I can't see myself calling this out in Waitrose and keeping a straight face.

None of these seem right! Can anyone help??

When we named our DD Ivy it was fairly uncommon, even though it's grown in popularity we are yet to meet another. Don't worry about how popular it is too much - choose a name you love

Interestingly there are 3 orlas at DD nursery

I do feel like a bit of a wanker saying I'm put off by names that are too popular when I actually like the damn name. Maybe I should just get over that.

I don't think Beatrix has to have a nn of Trixie, the Beatrix I know is shortened to Bea which is cute?

I have an Olive but I know that's a bit of a marmite name!

I like all the names that you have listed. I also like:

Sadie
Nancy
Nell
Bonnie
Connie

I LOVE the name Bonnie and it was the top of my list for DD1. Unfortunately my pyscho drug dealing witch of a neighbour got a dog and called it Bonnie and it will now just forever remind me of her.

Hester
Agnes
Astrid
Esther
Cora
Edwina
Ianthe
Xanthe
Persephone
Claudia
Henrietta
Georgiana
Erica
Meredith
Leonora
Verity
Juliet
Leah
Catherine
Juniper
Flora
Thea
Helena
Cassia
Elin
Erin
Josephine
Thomasina
Hilary

Popular names are popular for a reason- they’re nice. There’s a thread on here at the moment about the name Colin- that’s the kind of thing you need to go for if you want something not popular- a marmite name that not everyone will like. You can’t have a name that everyone will like but is also not popular. If people like it, it’ll be popular.
Also, as PP has mentioned, you don’t necessarily know what’s going to become popular over the next couple of years so of you choose something based on it not being popular, you might get a shock once little one starts school.
There’s nothing wrong with a name being popular. Just chose a name you like.
My DD is Alice and she’s the only one in her class, although it’s a well known and well liked name. There are three Isabelle/Isobel etc- but it doesn’t really matter.

I think Juno is absolutely fine myself

Otherwise - Cleo, Frances, Stella, Oona, Lois, Jasmine, Zoe, Phoebe - any good? - none overused right now -

Erica
Julia
Erin
Daphne
Vivienne
Helen

Have you looked at the ONS spreadsheet of every name with at least 3 incidences in the previous year? The 2020 version will be available soon, but 2019 is there ready.

Here's the link.

Iris
Irene
Erin
Una

Beatrice or beatris?
Try LILLYDOO app?

Maybe something 70s like:

Stephanie
Lisa
Claire
Jocelyn
Anna
Emma
Sally
Jenny
Victoria
Julia
Marianna

I prefer Beatrice to Beatrix and it may reduce the chance of Trixie as a nn?

How about Constance, Verity or Felicity?

If you like the sounds of Scarlett and Juno but find them too popular/trendy then an obvious answer might be similar Juliet as it's well known, classical but currently very underused? Or if you like Violet and Isla, how about the rarer (but internationally used) Viola?

But for what its worth I don't find Juno pretentious and I think Beatrix would be more likely to get Bea than Trixie (unless you called her Trixie yourselves or she decides on it).

Lisette
Clarissa
Clarice
Esther
Dora
Maura
Evelyn
Nell
Rosa
Danielle
Antoinette
Lauren

Hazel
Robyn
Millie

Beatrix nn Bea

Thanks all - there have been some lovely suggestions here, alas a lot of the ones I really like have been taken by nieces and good friends!

You have some really lovely names on your list. Maybe Fern, Nina, Ione, Liv, Tess, Iris, Ines?

Lilian
Josie
Estelle
Una
Lucille
Faye
Marlene (pronounced Marlena)
Katinka
Marilla (as in Marilla Cuthbert from Anne of Green Gables. I think Anne went on to have a daughter called Rilla. Do wonder why it's not more popular)
Damaris
Clemency

Melissa
Bryony
Felicity
Eleanor
Elizabeth

Beatrix is great and I can't imagine anyone choosing to use Trixie when Beatrix or Bea are so much better.
Juno is fine - I don't think it sounds weird or pretencious (particularly not in Waitrose 😉 ).
Other names you might like:
Merryn
Meredith
Calista
Camilla
Hester
Heather
Rowena
Rowan
Tabitha
Carenza
Cara
Cassius
Cassia

Juno is fine - and surely it would fit right in at Waitrose.