names that aren't lacklustre or pretentious etc

[obesensitive]

My name is very unusual so I'm finding myself drawn to safe names for DD, however!!! On my previous name post about my list of names I like the initial responses were about the names being lacklustre/pretentious etc. Which has opened a curiosity in me.

I would like to get some suggestions of girls names that you like that aren't as play-it-safe as my original list which is: Anna, Annie, Emma, Emily, Alice.

Thanks, obese nsitive. X

Are you after names starting with an A or E in particular?

Love Anna, Annie and Emily is nice but a bit overdone IMO. I'm 31 and know a million Emilys
Have you considered Emmie

Emilia
Annette
Elodie
Eloise
Agnetha
Annelise
Anisa

And on the offchance you're Irish:
Eilish
Eithne

Anita
Eleanor

It would be hard to suggest names that you might like if you want names that are not like the ones you already have.
But also the names you have are safe because they are commonly used, generally well liked and well recieved, easy to say and spell and will generally cause no issues for the owners of the names. All of that sounds great to me.
I would probably prefer a pretty and simple name like Alice/Anna/Emily than an 'exciting' name.

Very slightly less safe names to me are like
Scarlett
Electra
Roxanna
Carmen
Billie
Liza
Lilith
Paloma
Ramona
Rowena
As in regular names that might be a little more memorable than Emma.

I think your first list is fine - they're names you can be anything with, not 'my parents are fun!' names but traditional so easy to spell, easy to pronounce, your daughter could be anything with one of those names - judge, doctor, politician etc.

People do make assumptions re clas and educational attainment based on names, whether we like it or not, so quirkey names don't do kids favours.

I like Anna best, you could use Annie as a knickname when she's small.

How unusual is your name? Has it always been unusual or is it, eg dated/from a different culture/spelt uniquely.

I have a very common, safe name and I don’t like it. So I purposely chose names for my three from outside the top 1,000, however I totally guarantee you will have heard of their names and will also know how to spell them.

Here are some probably-familiar names from outside the top 1,000 in England and Wales last year.

Angelica
June
Valerie
Caroline
Dora
Elinor
Danielle
Irene
Cassia
Bethan
Marianne
Nicola
Christine
Kimberley
Nadine
Anita
Teresa
Elaine
Rhiannon
Tamsin
Gemma
Sharon
Simone
Miranda

I’d stay away from vowel initials as they’re totally ubiquitous and all blend into one hence lacklustre.

How about:
Hallie
Zadie
Jessica
Jemima
Marnie
Francesca

?

Lucy
Rebecca
Laura
Abigail
Amanda
Alison
Clara

I love Anna and Emma! Totally timeless.
I know twins (in their 30s) who are Anna and Ella, and they both love their names. I always think “would I be happy to introduce myself as (insert name)..? Anna and Emma definitely fit the bill

People on the other thread also said the names were beautiful classics. Honestly, whatever you choose someone won't like it so don't discount your original list just because you got a few negative responses. I think those names are all lovely.

How about Astrid?

Emelia
Emmy
Albany
Alicia
Ava

There's nothing wrong with your list! You could go for Annabel nickname Annie or Anna. Or Alicia instead of Alice. But I like Alice too, nothing wrong with your list.

I like your list a lot.

I also like:
Catherine (Kate or Katie for when smaller)
Imogen
Sophie
Carys
Sara

Perdie
Olive
Lilac
Tulah
Enela
Violet
Joy
Isolde (from the medieval legend, pronounced Is-ol-da)
Mercy
Melanie

Seren
Zara
Harlow
Paisley
Cerys
Carly

If those are the names you like use them they are not offensive in any way. Not my style but then I've liked having an unusual name.

I'd suggest
Lucia
Louisa
Stella
Brooke
Abigail
Tina
Carla
Katrina

Alanna
Hazel
Sophie
Sarah
Rebecca
Ida
Polly
Jasmine

I like that your list is "plain". One of the quirkiness, most interesting people I've met is called "Jane". A simple name means your child can make the name fit them, rather than trying to become a Persephone or an Anastasia.

*quirkiest

Piper
Eden
Rosalie
Cora
Wren
Quinn
Iona
Dorothy
Juliet
Aurora
Clara
Olive
Helena

I absolutely love Annie and Emily.
I think they're timeless and beautiful. Those two imo are not lacklustre.

Lara

If you want classic but a bit more unusual then

Susannah
Claudia
Caroline
Julia
Mary
Marianne
Lydia
Frances
Serena
Verity
Selina
Lois
Katherine
Celia
Jane
Clare

Alternatives to your list

Hannah, Annalise or Annis rather than Anna, although I like Anna actually, it’s a classic. Annie is better as a nn.

I would stay off Em names as so many - but Emma has been less popular lately so that’s your best option

Annis or Astrid rather than Alice? Astrid has had a mini surge but certainly not overused like Alice