Is there a good reason why these names are not more popular?

[PitterPatter3]

I’m looking for something not too popular and am considering both of these for DD due in the autumn. I just wanted to check there’s not a good reason why they’re so unusual which I’ve missed?

Miranda - There were only 7 born in 2021. Did the Hart connection put people off? Or was it Sex & the City? Or something else?

Serena - Do people just think of Serena Williams? Or is the Gossip Girl connection problematic?

Miranda comes from a beautiful medieval English carol, There is no rose of such virtue. In part, the translated words say:

For in the rose was contained
Both heaven and earth in a small space
Res Miranda (tr.= a wonderous thing)

I love it.

I know a primary school aged Miranda. It’s quite a refreshing name amongst the more popular ‘trendy’ girls names.

I’m surprised that some posters say Miranda sounds hard; to me it really doesn’t. Perhaps it depends on their accent? It’s a name I have always loved, but I have never met one despite being of the Philippa/ Belinda generation. It has never been very popular, even though it is strong yet pretty classic.

Serena is also a beautiful name, again sadly under used.

@ASuitableName , it does compared to names like Lily, Ellie etc.
I'd think of it as being more like Olivia and Sophia. They didn't strike me as a 'baby girl' sort of name until they became popular.

I really wanted Serena for my daughter, but didnt win that one. It’s a lovely name. I wonder if it’s a name that ends up on a lot of short lists and gets pipped to the post.

I think the same - it's not a super frilly name but I don't see it as "hard"

Selena is an alternative for Serena, only met one so far!

I always thought it was strange that, despite her worldwide popularity Princess Diana's name never "took off".
I've not heard of one baby Diana since Princess Diana became world news at the start of her relationship with Charles.

Probably because Diane was dated when Diana hit the headlines, and Diana too closely associated with one person.

Both are beautiful, but I personally prefer Miranda due to it making me think of The Tempest.

I’ve thought this too. Following both her marriage and her death.

Love the name Serena and I think it could be happily shortened to Nina or Seren.

I quite like the name Miranda but it sounds more suitable for an adult than a child to me (similar to Monica), so perhaps that's why it's not used more. Sadly, the only Miranda I've known in real life used the shortening Randy which is a bit unfortunate.

@PitterPatter3 @LadyEloise1

completely agree about Diana. It’s such a good, strong classical name too. I feel the same about Sybil.

Both beautiful names, I genuinely don't know why they aren't used more.

I like both, especially Miranda

I'm considering Serena too, I think it's really pretty.

Do you think people will try to shorten it though? I don't think there's a natural nickname? (I like the full name, but will it get shortened?)

It always baffles me how low down the ranks Miranda comes. I just don't understand it. I think it's beautiful. Plus, it's a name that everyone has heard of and it's in Shakespeare - so strange that it's so unusual. I think it's a little more popular in the US - this only occurs to me because Jemima (which I see as a similar name) is used here but not in the US due to Aunt Jemima so I did wonder if there was a similar problem here with Miranda. But I've never found one.
I have taught 2 Mirandas in 18 years and know a Mimi who I think is a Miranda but I actually think that's over representative of how common it is (possibly because I work in a private school).

Serena - I don't think it's unusual enough for Serena Williams or Gossip Girl to be the only associations and, even if they were, there's nothing wrong with either of those namesakes. So I don't think it's unusable. It's a pretty name. I know one but she is 40ish.

I love Miranda, I don't think it sounds "hard" as some people have said. But I was put off by the thought of the nickname "Randy"! I don't think there is a sensible nickname, really, and the same goes for Serena ("Reeny"?)