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Original poster

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

114 replies

TheNameNerd · 06/11/2022 11:13

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?

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EdgeOfACoin · 08/11/2022 06:04

LadyWithLapdog · 07/11/2022 06:30

Re Claudia meaning lame. Yet Amelia means without a limb and is vv popular, or was a few years ago. So I don’t think it’s purely a meaning thing. I love them both.

I think Amelia also means 'work' or 'industrious', though, so it may be easier to ignore the 'limbless' meaning.

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 08/11/2022 06:21

SummaLuvin · 06/11/2022 13:08

Claudia. It’s just so nice! And always gets such a strong reception here, so many people say they almost picked it, but this popularity isn’t reflected in the overall usage. I can only think it’s the sort of name that makes a lot of shortlist but not the final choice in a lot of circumstances.

I can't bear the 'claw' sound in it.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 08/11/2022 06:28

Let’s not forget Nigel.

Gummibär · 08/11/2022 11:34

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

Some 'meanings' are much more direct than others. The name Claudia is literally derived from the Latin adjective Claudus, meaning lame/crippled.

I'm not aware of any negative connotations of the etymology of James, Jacob or Emily.

soulinablackberrypie · 08/11/2022 12:12

I like Ambrose too and I'm also quite fond of Clarence (if you think it sounds stuffy or poncey, think of Clarence Clemons!) Like Geoffrey and Edmund, and Richard has always been one of my favourites. Barnaby, Tobias (only ever seems to be chosen by parents intending to use Toby for short, but the long form is interesting in itself), Orlando.

For girls: Constance, Florence (hmm I seem to like that sort of ending!), Adelaide, Beatrice, Marielle, Rosalie (gets discussed on here a bit, but I've never met a real one), Aurelia, Sasha, Saskia, Delphine, Georgette.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 08/11/2022 19:41

Gummibär · 08/11/2022 11:34

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

Some 'meanings' are much more direct than others. The name Claudia is literally derived from the Latin adjective Claudus, meaning lame/crippled.

I'm not aware of any negative connotations of the etymology of James, Jacob or Emily.

Jacob/James supposedly means Supplanter and Emily/Emilia possibly Rival - but obviously all "meanings" are hotly debated - just look at Mary/Maria/Miriam, I've read persuasive arguments for Bitter, Drop of the Sea, Wished for Child, Beloved and others!

Claudia seems obvious due to Claudus meaning lame but I've read etymologists suggest that derision from Clausus (meaning enclosed or protected) is just as likely since Claudia/ Claudius was in popular use long before the famous Emperor with the limp. The Claudii gens were so important in Rome that the "protected/enclosed" meaning would make more sense, but after the Emperor coincidence lame has become the more commonly listed meaning over the years.

knowelsit · 08/11/2022 19:52

I have a Marina, Cassius and a Maria :)

AlwaysFoldingWashing · 08/11/2022 21:01

TheBirdintheCave · 07/11/2022 11:14

Marion.

This is my granny's name and she has Myra for a nn which I think is beautiful Smile

StarryKnight · 08/11/2022 21:52

Rosemary. Lots of Rosie/Rosa/Rosalie but I’ve not come across a Rosemary.

Elaine. El- names seem popular- Ellie, Ella, Eleanor (I have an Elspeth myself) but again, no Elaines. My 19 yo dd knows a few Laneys but I think that’s a name in its own right.

TheBirdintheCave · 08/11/2022 22:19

StarryKnight · 08/11/2022 21:52

Rosemary. Lots of Rosie/Rosa/Rosalie but I’ve not come across a Rosemary.

Elaine. El- names seem popular- Ellie, Ella, Eleanor (I have an Elspeth myself) but again, no Elaines. My 19 yo dd knows a few Laneys but I think that’s a name in its own right.

Ooh I love Elspeth. I knew one in uni whose nickname was Eppy. So cute!

Jleome · 08/11/2022 23:07

Andrew - classic but haven’t met a single one younger than 10

Yvonne- personal favourite and again g not a single one in a sight

ilo · 09/11/2022 01:10

Darrell
Antonia
Hedda
Leonie
Enid
Dulcie
Nina
Sadie

Leonard
Keaton
Saul
Silas

hellosunshineagainxxx · 09/11/2022 01:24

YouSoundLovely · 07/11/2022 07:55

John and Mary were popular for centuries, but seem to have almost completely disappeared - no comeback with the other old lady/old gent names. They're fab names, too - I like John much more than its currently ubiquitous variant Jack.

Lucy's also a lovely name that seems to have disappeared. And yes to Amanda - classic and vowel-heavy like lots of current names, but seemingly gone - possibly because of people not liking Mandy?

Emil, unlike Emily, doesn't really translate to English pronunciation-wise. It's supposed to have a longish E at the beginning (Eh-mil) and that doesn't really work in English.

I also don't really understand why names like Julia, Fiona, Victoria and Rebecca have gone so out of fashion.

I have a toddler John :)

Sheitgeist · 09/11/2022 08:35

Jacqueline. Sounds so exotic and French. There were quite a few when I was growing up in 1970s Scotland, who inevitably were called Jackie or Jacqui.

Also would like to see a resurgence of:
Michelle, Andrea, Antonia, Serena, Selena

Boys:
David, Julian, Gideon, Gabriel, Edgar, Victor

FrogletandMe · 10/11/2022 14:38

Estelle is another under-rated name.

Gummibär · 10/11/2022 14:42

There are so many beautiful underused classics on here. I particularly like

Estelle
Marina
Cecily
Antonia

Victor
John
Quentin
Leonard

IJemimaDigging · 10/11/2022 17:16

Caroline
Delphine
Estelle
Melissa
Clarissa
Kaye
Judy
Trudy
Ingrid

Fireballxl5 · 10/11/2022 17:21

Gummibär · 07/11/2022 20:03

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

Show quote history

We have a french ndn, he’s mid 20’s, called Quentin.
It’s pronounced Cantan in french.

BigFishontheTelly · 10/11/2022 21:36

Gideon

Isahlo · 10/11/2022 21:46

Astrid

BigFishontheTelly · 13/11/2022 22:49

Justine and Ursula

Mitchell

PurpleFlower1983 · 20/11/2022 23:20

Mary - I love the name and would have called DC2 it had we had another girl.

QuiltedHippo · 21/11/2022 10:45

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 07/11/2022 23:17

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?

I think the Romeo and Juliet association puts people off, my DH couldn't get past it though I really liked it.

Nathaniel always sounds like a mash up to me, I'd pick Nathan or Daniel

Schlaar · 21/11/2022 10:54

My Gran was named after Cyd Charisse. Never met another Cyd and don’t know why because it’s lovely! Sadly my kids were all boys so I couldn’t use it.

KirstenBlest · 21/11/2022 11:01

I think that Nathaniel doesn't roll off the tongue that easily, and it's long. Names like Gabriel or Jonathan seem shorter, and the diminutive is usually the stressed syllable, Jon or Gabe, but with Nathaniel it's the THAN that is stressed, not Nath.