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

Pretty but slightly unusual girls names....

73 replies

allydennis · 18/02/2010 12:56

We are currently toying with either Romilly or Darcey for DC2 (due in 2 wks). I think both these names are very pretty and slightly unusual. However, I don't feel that either of them is THE ONE. Inspiration needed along the same lines please.... DH is of no help whatsoever!!

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spudmasher · 18/02/2010 12:57

I like the name Ottiley- along the same lines. There are various spellings.

belgo · 18/02/2010 12:58

Ottilie and Ottoline are lovely. Romilly is a nightmare to say if you have trouble with the 'r' pronunciation.

CantSleepWontSleep · 18/02/2010 13:00

Darcey is I'm afraid bordering on the chav camp, so best avoided really.

Romilly is pretty.
Ottilie is the usual spelling isn't it spudmasher? Never seen it the way you've put it there.
Clarissa
Carly
Pippa
Verity
Felicity

spudmasher · 18/02/2010 13:02

Very possibly CSWS! I see allsorts in my job...

MummyTumble · 18/02/2010 13:04

Verity
Elodie
Eloise

Not sure that they;re 'unusual' but certianly not overly popular, despite being very pretty yet strong IMO

mrsvwoolf · 18/02/2010 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Metatron · 18/02/2010 13:56

Odette, Arabella, Arabel, Lara, Larissa, Claire is actually unusual now.

allydennis · 18/02/2010 14:04

Thanks everyone. CSWS and MrsVWoolf - you hace confirmed my fears about the name Darcey...
Some very pretty names here though.
Just a bit more help so you know our taste in names - DS1 is Jacob and DC2 will be Hugo if it's a boy...

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scoobydont · 18/02/2010 14:06

sophia
alicia
phoebe
faye
natasha
natalie
helena
freya

not sure they sound "pretty" but i like

sara
laura
martha

very pretty but popular

chloe
sophie
lucy
olivia

SqueezyB · 18/02/2010 17:21

I've met several Darceys, I have a feeling it will be shooting up the popularity list soon..

Romily is nice. Other pretty names -

Rosa
Rowena
Rowan
Phoebe
Lorna
Tess/Teresa
Imogen

These last 2 are my fave girls names for my bump at the mo, so I may be slightly biased

Heated · 18/02/2010 17:22

Blythe

AngryPixie · 18/02/2010 17:40

Arden

Esmee · 18/02/2010 20:24

Cecily
Bryony
Adelaide
Emmeline
Georgiana
Sylvie
Leonora

CrowAndAlice · 18/02/2010 20:57

Rowan - it's timeless, strong and pretty IMO.

gremlindolphin · 18/02/2010 21:38

Jodie
Ravenna
Trinity

lou031205 · 18/02/2010 21:41

Millicent
Jasmine (quite popular though)
Isla (ditto)
Keziah
Hope
Liberty

PandaEis · 18/02/2010 21:44

Lorelai
Elouise
Anastacia

i LOVE Romilly though but DH would NEVER agree to it

allydennis · 18/02/2010 23:38

A friend this evening also suggested Matilda or Pandora??? I'm SOOO indecisive I really need your opinions!

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MaggieMaeve · 18/02/2010 23:48

If you go for something like Melanie, which is pretty but considered dated now, you will be guaranteed to have a pretty name and she will be the only one in her class. I really paused over Melanie in the name book. Also Jillian. And Lindsay too, very pretty.

ChickenInABasket · 18/02/2010 23:59

I'm sorry to say that there are quite a few little Darceys here in London! How about one of these instead?

Estelle
Elise
Naomi
Amelie/ Amelia
Coralie
Cecille/ Cecilia
Clementine
Anabelle
Marianne
Juliette
Ophelia
Sasha
Tabitha
Violet

lowrib · 19/02/2010 00:33

Elodie

bellissima · 19/02/2010 08:30

Ahem, I would say both Elodie and Elouise now bordering on, well, don't like using the 'ch' word....

Rather agree with MaggieMaeve on Melanie. The basic problem with seeking a 'pretty but unusual name' - which frankly seems to be the holy grail for girls names on here - is that you have to ask yourself whether you are going to be incredibly bitter and twisted if another 'Darcey' or 'Elouise' turns up in your daughter's class? After all one of your criteria was that the name should be 'different'. And yet the same kind of names are coming up here as on most threads. Only Maggie has bucked the trend by coming up with something that is both pretty and 'not that long ago' - which is indeed the best way to ensure that, for a new baby, it's fairly unique.

onebadbaby · 19/02/2010 08:33

Melodie

MaggieMaeve · 19/02/2010 09:00

It does seem to be the holy grail doesn't it?

I think that instead of just looking to see where a name was ranked last year, it would be an idea look at how many places it has risen each year for the last few years.

Tbh, any name which has been rising five places every year for five years in row, is not going to be unusual for long, even IF at present, it's still OUTside the top 100. Because it's heading that direction. Loads of parents are all independently but simultaneously choosing it.

If you want a 'pretty' name, what about Lydia? That was only briefly inside the top fifty. SOme years it even went down a place or two. I think it's actually falling now.

Susie is another name I like in the Melanie/Jillian category.

SqueezyB · 19/02/2010 09:03

Polly - my DD's name and I've never met another one.

Julia? V pretty and not particularly popular at the mo.

After reading some of the threads on here, I am now convinced if you called her something 'normal' for our generation like Nicola, Rachel, Claire etc she would definitely be the only one!