Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

'normal' names that just don't appear on the baby name lists for some reason?

191 replies

Whippetmama · 26/08/2023 13:56

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect name, any help would be appreciated! I've noticed during my online search that there are gaps in the obvious names lists and I'm sure this little girl's name is a really obvious name that I just haven't seen on a list, could you guys suggest some obvious names that you don't often see on the "top 100" lists? For example I've been through about 20,000 names and Danielle, Felicity, Jill etc didn't show up on any of them. I'm not a fan of these names but it feels like I'm just missing an obvious one because I have immense baby brain and all names have flown away! Thanks! X

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Bbq1 · 28/08/2023 01:55

Andrea, Katy, Catherine, Kirsty, Lisa, Lauren

Bbq1 · 28/08/2023 01:57

Lyndsey, Joanne, Helena, Gabrielle

Loub55 · 28/08/2023 02:27

gohomeroger1 · 27/08/2023 11:57

We have a two year old Felicity. You don't see many Catherines/Katherine's any more which is surprising with the popularity of the Duchess of Cambridge

My 2 year old DD is Felicity Katherine ☺

lemmein · 28/08/2023 02:58

What about Liliana instead of Lily?

Or Leonie maybe.

PresentPrincess1 · 29/08/2023 12:50

Estelle
Stella
Marcella
Janet
Jean
Janice
Justine
Carrie

PresentPrincess1 · 29/08/2023 12:50

Cassie

Original poster
Whippetmama · 31/08/2023 12:41

Wrongsideofpennines · 26/08/2023 16:05

We had a book with 10000 names in and it had all the 'normal' names like things like Jane, Sarah, Laura, Jessica, Katie etc It was probably about 10 years old though so that helped. Maybe try your library, often you can borrow as an ebook.

Thank you to this advice and everyone else who replied with name suggestions, film credit , census lists etc. It's all been incredibly helpful although probably not in the way you imagined. I didn't find a new name (although I will keep scanning credits until the time!) But it has settled my hormones a bit and I feel more at ease with our shortlist now, that there isn't some lightning bolt name out there ready to strike that I just haven't found because I feel like I've exhausted all avenues now and I've seen all the ones that are likely to appeal to both me and my OH! X

OP posts:
KellyanneConway · 31/08/2023 22:53

From the examples you give it seems you like quite current kinds of names that are familiar but not overused rather than 70s names. I’m thinking

Erica
Bryony
Nicole
Claudia
Neve
Violet
Delilah
Lola

TedWilson · 31/08/2023 22:58

I like adding "a" to regular names which often brings back to the English version of a name although we may be more accustomed to the French version.

Eg -

Louisa
Carolina
Helena
Natalia

LovelyBranches · 21/09/2023 22:03

How about Heidi? It’s such a pretty name but I’ve never met a Heidi in person

MrsPepperpotspickles · 22/09/2023 01:34

Kayleigh
Bethany
Hannah
Melissa
Caitlin
Tamsin

Housenoob · 22/09/2023 02:10

Holly?

user1492757084 · 22/09/2023 02:40

Lorna
Meghan
Roslyn
Jean
Brenda
Desma
Audrey
Winona
Pam
Janine
Lynette
Christine

Original poster
Whippetmama · 22/09/2023 07:27

Thanks everyone. I took a panic break of a few weeks from names as it was just starting to upset me! We've got this shortlist below, a mix of names you guys suggested (thanks!) And ones my husband likes. None of them feel like the one to me but maybe she'll pop out looking like one of them, you never know! X

Clara
Poppy
Vivienne
Maggie
Rosa
Victoria
Tabitha
Susie
Sybbie - love this from Downton abbey but not a huge fan of its full version of Sybil

OP posts:
Twazique · 22/09/2023 07:45

Its a good list OP. I found it hard to find the perfect name second time around, nothing clicked, but a few years on I am happy with the name we chose.

How about
Delphi
Kate
Emma
Vita
Lois

MargotBamborough · 22/09/2023 14:38

Caroline and Louise are really rare now.

MargotBamborough · 22/09/2023 14:40

Whippetmama · 22/09/2023 07:27

Thanks everyone. I took a panic break of a few weeks from names as it was just starting to upset me! We've got this shortlist below, a mix of names you guys suggested (thanks!) And ones my husband likes. None of them feel like the one to me but maybe she'll pop out looking like one of them, you never know! X

Clara
Poppy
Vivienne
Maggie
Rosa
Victoria
Tabitha
Susie
Sybbie - love this from Downton abbey but not a huge fan of its full version of Sybil

Surely you can't have Rosa on your list if you already have a Rose!

I would choose Clara from this list.

Nursemumma92 · 22/09/2023 14:44

Names from my primary/secondary school in 90s:

Jessica
Stephanie
Laura
Ashleigh
Joanne/Joanna
Sophie
Tamsin
Lorna
Ria/Rhea
Bethany
Annabel
Natalie
Sally
Chloe
Maria
Leoni
Anna
Holly
Amy/Ami
Harriet
Megan
Thea
Rosa
Rebecca
Kirianne
Emma
Carrie

peaceinourtime · 22/09/2023 14:57

Clara is great name

RecklessBlackberries · 22/09/2023 15:01

We looked at the ONS annual statistics, they have a page for every name given in the UK that year. It's surprising how many of the names outside the top 100 are completely normal.

Our son's name was in the 130s I think in 2021 when he was born. It's a totally normal name that no one ever bats an eyelid at and is never misunderstood.

ScruffMuffin · 22/09/2023 21:16

Some people I went to school with/ knew in the 80s and 90s:
Sarah
Katherine
Lucy
Joanne/ Joanna
Charlotte
Josie
Rowena
Lisa
Keri
Sally
Dawn
Donna
Emma
Amanda
Victoria
Cheryl
Alexandra
Deborah/ Debbie
Selena
Hannah
Adele
Caroline
Samantha
Anna
Melanie
Sonia
Tanya
Imogen
Nicola/ Nicole
Hazel
Louise
Becky
Alison
Sally
Carol
Claire
Helen
Stephanie

boysmuminherts · 23/09/2023 12:59

RecklessBlackberries · 22/09/2023 15:01

We looked at the ONS annual statistics, they have a page for every name given in the UK that year. It's surprising how many of the names outside the top 100 are completely normal.

Our son's name was in the 130s I think in 2021 when he was born. It's a totally normal name that no one ever bats an eyelid at and is never misunderstood.

my boys also have very normal names. DS2 name was 138 the year he was born, in 2021 it was in the 70s though. Names just become more popular!! DS1 name gone from 87th to 28th! I guess we all think we are being original but we aren't ;)

greglet · 23/09/2023 13:07

@Whippetmama What about Sylvie?

ClaraBourne · 23/09/2023 13:40

Buy a baby name book. They're all there.

KirstenBlest · 23/09/2023 15:15

They're not though. A baby name book will have a few thousand names.