Which names are surprisingly uncommon/unpopular?

[Cortina]

Just musing after pondering Christabel.

Thinking of:

Sacha/Sasha
Mirabel
Clarissa
Angus
Susannah
Julia
Mark (don't know of any who are not 30 plus)
John (just getting popular again)
Louise/Louisa
Flora

Must be more!

Juliet I like, and you'd think it fairly common, but it doesn't seem popular at all?

Lorna Sage who was a prof of literature did a lovely little history of the beautiful name Sharon - her daughter's name - in one of her books.

All those Claires, Julies, Sharons were so chic and modern and continental in the sixties and seventies. But I think when you go to school with 10 of them familiarity makes them lose their allure. Tis a shame as they are so glamorous when you think about it. My own name as well which is mentioned here and comes with a certain amount of baggage.

I love Michael but I think it is still pretty popular. I met a baby Mark the other day. My nephews go to school with a Roger...and an Ian.

You see, Mirabel and Christabel are not nice names.

I think Christabel is great and Ian is actually growing on me, surely pretty 'classic' really?

Christabel is lovely.

I think Vincent is likely to have a revival, along, possibly, with Terence and Timothy.

I have met very few of the following: Naomi / Ruth / Jennifer / Helen/a / - all lovely names.

I love Enid - ds was going to be Enid but he was a boy!
One more i am surprised at is Iris, I really thought this would become more popular. When i had my dd Iris 8 years ago, i thought that the name would get quite popular along with Daisy, Rosie, Poppy and Lily - these seem to be super popular, and although Iris is getting a bit more popular no, it never reached the top 100 with the rest of her floral crowd - this has surprised me as imo it is far more elegant and sophisticated than Lily et al

Agree with you re: Iris! Maybe there are a few Grannies still around with this name? One of the reasons I think Violet may be more popular is that there are less of the older generation still alive with this name. There were lots of Violets born around the 1880s, 1890s.

Those (older generation) called Iris I know all seem to be born around the mid to late 1940s.

Gloria and Joy

Such beautiful words but somehow they dont seem to make it as names anymore.

All those early 20th Century names have returned, but I don't see Vera or Edna.
Thankfully.

I think Vera might make it soon, if Enid, Mabel, Elsie, Maud etc why not Vera?

Perhaps because of Vera Duckworth?

never met a child called Valerie

Diana- I always thought it would be far more popular.

Disagree about Mary I know 2 under 5s and also Sarah seems to be making a comeback.

think the problem with is that we nearly all have aunts/uncles/family friends with these names, whereas most of us don't have an Auntie Ava (although our parents might have had).

When I was at school there were an abundance of Sharons and Tracys, although I think the Essex girl connotations and a certain Viz comic-strip put paid to that. Ditto Sandra.
Also, there were plenty of Tinas, Sarahs and Catherines. Not so many now.
As for the boys - Martin and Brian don't pop up all that much, nor Anthony/Tony.

To AphroditeRocks I think you are exactly right. It's why Iris probably isn't more popular than it is (I know plenty of them born around 1945). There are a fair few but would think there 'should' be more somehow.

Most Violets (older generation) are no longer with us (most born around the late 1880s/90s it seems) so this is gaining in popularity. My mother was aghast at the name Violet, to her it is like Vera. She remembers in her youth all those called Aunty Vi etc.

I've got a Clare in Year One. I have always loved the name and thought it pretty. I'm pleased that a couple of people have said it is nice, despite not being used any more as i do worry that we made a mistake and it will seem square, like Maureen would have seemed to my generation. Too late now, wish i had known about this board when i was pregnant with her to canvas opinions as everyone said it was nice when we told people we were going to use it. I do still really love it though and it suits her.
I will sit back and wait for everyone to say how awful it is now!

Meant to say that i have seen a couple of young Clares/Claires on CBeebies. One was on Nina and the Neurons and one was in Barnaby Bear on the beach with her sister Chloe. I look out for them and am always pleased when i come across another young Clare!

[mines thread for ideas]

I know a Mark, a Timothy and a Michael, all under 5.

I have never met a child named Eunice.

Also was thinking yesterday that I haven't met any 'Andrea's for a very long time.

Lol@ Vera... Hilda hasn't come back either... though we know several 'Violet's

Hilda will always be Ogden for another 20 years or so.

I met an incredibly beautiful, funky 26 year old Joan the other day. I've always quite liked Joan. I am tempted by it to be honest. I might start a trend I've already done it once it seems. It's interesting isn't it, with one of mine everyone said 'you're nuts' choosing that name (not Tinsley I hasn't to add) and then the next thing you know people copy, one being out there with that name seems to make them braver

Cortina - what are your dc's names?
Joan and Hilda are top of our lists for dc5 (along with Juniper, Jean, Morag and Sally)

Barry
Russel
Janet
Angie
Carolyn
Trisha

Top of my girls names list is Josephine and I was surprised (but pleased) that it is not in the top 100

Annie.
Used to be v popular in Victorian times but I've only known one and I rather like it.