Girls name- classic but not “try hard”

[Cinnabomb]

Looking for inspiration! I am soooooo fussy about names and have read pages of threads here. I would a name that is classic, that most people would have heard of/ know how to spell, but is not popular. I reeeeally don’t like the current trend for very frilly/ over the top sounding names (sorry, just an opinion!)

I like:
Rosalind, Susannah, Alexandra (maybe a bit too popular), Juliet,

Dislike: Ottilie, Amelie, Freya, Ophelia, Verity, the whole Ada/Eva, Ivy Evelyn set etc

Margot, Clara etc becoming too popular

Don’t like too complex names like Arabella, Genevieve,

So if there is anyone left I haven’t offended would be great to hear your thoughts! 🙈

Nina, Erin, Tess/Tessa, Ruth, Abigail, Maria.

@LizzieBet14

I used to love Alexandra but then taught a 'girl Alex' and a 'boy Alex' in the same class.... and that is how they became known.....

We've had similar, it's one of those names that is popular in multiple cultures/nationalities too so it's not unusual. There's often a lot of mayas for the same reason but at least that's not unisex

I have a Philippa and on my list for a second dd is Susannah, Dorothy, Esther, Isabel and Charlotte.

Constance

@Whatthefuck3456

My daughter is Pippa

So elegant & classy! Not over named and every one comments! I still love it years on.

Absolutely agree. Everyone knows of Pippa but most people don't know a Pippa. My daughter is 4 and we came across our first other Pippa last weekend, it was very exciting for all

I'm loving old fashioned but classic C names. Cecile. Cecily Celia. Cecelia. Celeste. Also classic Greek and Roman names. Julia. Daphne. Claudia. Penelope. Dorothea.

Other pretty and unusual choices could be Della. Audra. Astrid.

'Popular' hugely depends on your circles and where you live. Your child won't always be in these same circles. Alexandra and Katherine are really popular around here but I've yet to meet an Amelia, which has topped the 'popularity' list for years. I work with children and have 3 of my own.
Go with what you like! Not with what you perceive people will think of it.

Fwiw I like Frances, Nora, Martha, Julia, Nina, Lauren, Celia, Bethany, Elise.

I would steer clear of Diana-the name will always have an association. I know a little Myra and can’t help wondering wtf her parents were thinking

Everyone knows of Pippa but most people don't know a Pippa.

I know a few but all in the 40 - 60 age category. Grew up in horsey circles it was a pretty popular name in that crowd

Dorothy. Dotty for short

Valentina - easy to spell and a little unusual and the name of the first woman in space.

Violet
Emma

@Cinnabomb, the spelling is Philippa

Diana
Vanessa
Caroline
Katharine
Deborah

I really like Rosalind, Juliet and Susanna.

Rosamund/Rosanna/Rosina/Rosalie/Rosa/Rosemary.
Sabrina
Evangeline
Marisa
Jennifer
Christina
Caroline
Louisa
Natalie/Natalia/Natasha
Emmeline
Alicia

Eleanor?

Sounds like your choices are clustering around Rosalind, Susannah, Belinda, Juliet/Julia and so on, OP.

My favourites out of those are Rosalind, Julia and Belinda - all really pretty names!

I also have a secret weakness for Bonnie, which in my mind is quite near to Belinda.

Sounds like you need a Chalet School book or two for inspiration - for pretty, classic but not flowery or fluffy names.

I have a Nancy and always get compliments x

Oh I love Nancy

LOVE Susannah & definately think you could get away with Diana now. What about -
Monica
Nina
Louise
Caroline (an underused classic imo)
Veronica
Xanthe

Annabel
Jennifer
Suzanne or Susannah
Natalie
Dianne
Penelope (Nell)
Gemma
Mary
Naomi
Louise
Carolyn / Caroline
Sarah
Emma
Liberty
Florence
Bridget

Ruth. Short, sweet, rare and it's one of my names!

Wow surprised at how many responses I have got!

Some good suggestions. Yes the shortening’s/NNs do concern me a bit.

Love Alexandra but like PP said don’t like Alexa/ Lexi.

Concerned Rosalind would be shortened to Rosie which is such a waste IMO.

Out of the recent suggestions I like Christina but not sure if my husband could get past the Aguilera reference (he’s a fan 😬)

LOVE Jacqueline and NN Jackie but not sure if it’s too dated/ not ready for a comeback yet. I’m really feeling something with a twinge of masculinity about it maybe so this ticks the box. Altho I think lots of people would think it was awful!

@Nutsohazelnuts dying to know what you chose now 😬

Please can you tell me how you find the bottom of the charts? When I Google I can only find top 100

[quote Cinnabomb]@Nutsohazelnuts dying to know what you chose now 😬

Please can you tell me how you find the bottom of the charts? When I Google I can only find top 100[/quote]
The full dataset is here for girls which lists all the girls names in England and Wales with at least three uses.

The Dark Greener site is also great for checking popularity in England and Wales. Scotland and NI report separately if you live there.

Rebecca
Emma
Claire
Sarah
Rachel
Natalie
Natasha
Sally