Are there any names that you don't understand why they aren't more popular?

[TheNameNerd]

Which names do you think deserve more love?

I know it's very much a marmite name but I love Ambrose.

What names do you think should be used more often?

Henry is super common around here

Jerome
Tobias
Paul
Jonathan
Christopher

Miriam
Jane
Louise/a
Caroline
Emma
Sarah

Victoria. Not seen one for years.

In terms of recent usage, there haven’t been more than 70 baby Marinas per year in England and Wales since 1996 of hundreds of thousands of babies born. While I wouldn’t call it rare (and didn’t and the OP didn’t ask for rare names), Marina’s popularity level at the moment is what I would call unusual and I’m surprised there aren’t more. Often unusual names do cluster, like your experience with Marina, but nationally Marina isn’t a very popular name.

I've never met anyone called Clementine or Marina.

@toastofthetown , I know 2 my age, and it's popular with eastern european heritage girls where I live now. It's probably local.
I know one Clementine, and she's about my age.

Re Marina, it’s definitely a local thing. I actually know a fair few, but I live in an area that has a large Greek community and every Marina I’ve come across bar one has had Greek heritage.

Much less common in other areas. There were 64 Marinas born in England and Wales last year.

I think Carrie is a nice name, it fits into the Alfie, Archie, Penny, Poppy names to me. Sweet, short, nickname-y and friendly. Seems much more unusual to hear of a baby Carrie though.

I was going to say marina too.

Carmen
Cara
Sylvia
Victoria
Heather
Lorraine
Lara
Tara
Alana
Alicia
Alexandra
Jennifer
Judy
April
Joy
Hope
Brooke
Caris
Davina

Ben
James
Tom
Sam
Guy
David
Richard
Shane

June, Joan and Jean are all great and unheard of now too. Joni is lovely imo.

Cassia seems like it fits with Olivia, Sophia, Amelia, Aria, all names in the top 10 but I never see it used.

Marion.

Marilla, it’s my youngest’s name. Never even manages 3 uses a year but it’s from a well known book, isn’t difficult to say or spell, doesn’t have negative associations.

I don’t understand why it is so underused. I wouldn’t expect it to be popular but I’d expect it to be one of those names with 5-10 kids a year called it. Why isn’t it?

Christina
Suzannah
Joanna

Ian
Howard

Aww, Anne of Green Gables? That's the only Marilla I know. My son is a Gilbert ;)

Cassia seems like it fits with Olivia, Sophia, Amelia, Aria, all names in the top 10 but I never see it used

Yes, Cassia’s another one - lovely sound, similar to other popular names and it’s regularly suggested on here, but it rarely seems to actually be picked. Only 29 born last year.

Julia
Susanna(h)
Louisa
Emmeline
Helena
Amalia
Marina
Annalise/Annaliese/Annelise
Christabel
Clarabel
Calla
Rosa
Esther
Frida
Gloria
Genevieve
Isadora/Isidora
Dora
Jemima
Miriam
Rowena/Rowenna

Nathaniel
Robin
Laurence
Ezekiel/Zeke
Solomon/Sol
Evan
Isaiah
Thaddeus
Josiah
Orion
Jonas
Patrick

Quentin

Also Josiah

I have a 17 year old Quentin :) Throughout his time at school he's only come across one other, so no it's not too popular.

I also really like Marina

Showing my age here, but I find Marina very unattractive as it reminds me of the character in Last of the Summer Wine.

Richard was the first name that came to mind. Definitely due a revival.

Ida

Ivy, Isla, Ava and Ada are fairly popular but not Ida.

Anthea

Thea is popular but not Anthea. Anthea gives the options of Thea, Ann or Annie as shortenings.

Yvette

Surprised as Evie is so popular. Yvette could so easily be shortened to Evie and could be an alternative to Evelyn.

Second Claudia suggestion- so elegant, yet so underused. I don't think it can just be the supposed meaning - that hasn't hurt James/Jacob, Emily etc but most of the other ending -ia names seem more popular in comparison (even Cecilia/Cecelia meaning blind).

Also Juliet - Julie had a burst of extreme popularity in the 60's/70's, Julia has mostly hovered perennially just in or just outside the top 100, yet equally lovely Juliet is relatively uncommon for reasons I can't guess at.

For boys - classy, literary sounding Nathaniel. Nathan's popular as is Daniel, Michael, Gabriel, Samuel etc so why is Nathaniel relatively underused?