The ONS provides a list of all of the names used at least three times in a given year, ranked by popularity, here in [name]Britain[/name].
Around the bottom (a hundred or so names are in 4430= place, the lowest ranking), the names tend to be horribly misspelt, very, very long ethnic (normally Muslim) names, or double names.
But some are hidden gems, or at least interesting in a “Who on [name]Earth[/name] would name their child that?” capacity. [name]Just[/name] a few finds with 19 or less babies born bearing that name :
Boys :
[name]Ptolemy[/name] (19!)
[name]Ebenezer[/name]
[name]Gulliver[/name]
[name]Hansel[/name]
[name]Adonis[/name] (a lot of pressure!)
Courage
[name]Christ[/name] (really?)
Crimea (dubious, but interesting)
[name]Freedom[/name]
[name]Godfrey[/name]
[name]Jewel[/name] (well, I can’t say I actually like this one, I was just surprised that it is being used for boys at all)
[name]Leander[/name]
[name]Peace[/name]
[name]Percival[/name] (only 3 born! This is on our list)
[name]Prosper[/name]
[name]Randolph[/name] (hopefully with no nickname)
[name]Remus[/name] (but no [name]Romulus[/name])
[name]Rhian[/name] (on a boy?)
[name]Sage[/name]
[name]Usher[/name] (are their parents fans of the singer, or pious church-goers?)
[name]Vernon[/name]
[name]Willard[/name]
[name]Willow[/name].
Which is your favourite? Or least favourite? And have you ever met anyone with one of these names?
I should add that only four babies were born with the same name as my brother in 2008.
[name]Ptolemy[/name] - I can see its appeal
[name]Ebenezer[/name] - Must be a family name. I wouldn’t name a child this at all!
[name]Gulliver[/name] - love!!
[name]Hansel[/name] - like. love the nn [name]Hans[/name]
[name]Adonis[/name] - yeah, wouldnt be able to hold up
Courage - no thanks
[name]Christ[/name] (really?) - too much
Crimea - nope
[name]Freedom[/name] - too much
[name]Godfrey[/name] - I can see its appeal, but not for me
[name]Jewel[/name] - too girly
[name]Leander[/name] - I see this more as a girls name
[name]Peace[/name] - I like it as a mn
[name]Percival[/name] - eh. Kind of a wimpy name. Reminds me of [name]Percy[/name] Weasley.
[name]Prosper[/name] - no thanks
[name]Randolph[/name] - I can see this as a sib to [name]Ruffus[/name] and [name]Rafferty[/name], although Dolphin would be an ok nn.
[name]Remus[/name] - oddly, I like. Has a lot of history with it.
[name]Rhian[/name] - no
[name]Sage[/name] - girls name
[name]Usher[/name] - no thanks
[name]Vernon[/name] - Dudsley
[name]Willard[/name] - like, but wouldnt use
[name]Willow[/name] - I love the movie [name]Willow[/name]. However, it has gone to the girls now.
[name]Favorite[/name]: [name]Gulliver[/name] and [name]Remus[/name]
Least [name]Favorite[/name]: Word names
[name]Ptolemy[/name] is kind of cool. I hate [name]Gulliver[/name] because it means gullible and simply reminds me of [name]Lemuel[/name] [name]Gulliver[/name] in [name]Gulliver[/name]'s Travels, who was pretty obnoxious.
What’s the link for the site where you found the statistics, Twinkle? I’d love to check it out.
I noticed that there were quite a few virtue names (Courage, [name]Freedom[/name], [name]Peace[/name], [name]Prosper[/name]). Come to think of it, there aren’t many virtue names for boys, are there? Personally, I would use them as middles only since they sound more like words than names…
I hope [name]Christ[/name] is a nickname for [name]Christopher[/name], [name]Christian[/name], or even [name]Christmas[/name]!
[name]Jewel[/name] and [name]Willow[/name] have gone to the girls…
I associate [name]Ebenezer[/name] with Scrooge and [name]Hansel[/name] with [name]Hansel[/name] and [name]Gretel[/name]. The latter isn’t really a bad association, just the first I can think of. [name]Ebenezer[/name] would be a unique way of getting the [name]Ben[/name] nickname.
In summary, I think that a lot of these would make cool middle names, but I can’t really see myself using them as firsts.
[name]Ptolemy[/name] - Yes, this is cool! I like this as a middle name…
[name]Ebenezer[/name] - Scrooge? Other than that, pretty awesome.
[name]Gulliver[/name] - [name]Gulliver[/name]'s Travels? Gully? Eh…
[name]Hansel[/name] - And [name]Gretel[/name]? I think I like this, but I don’t love it!
[name]Adonis[/name] - Seriously? This is just too much!
Courage - Okay, this is an interesting take on virtue names…
[name]Christ[/name] - [name]Christ[/name], really? I don’t think this is appropriate. Odd…
Crimea - Well, I only think of the Crimean War, so this isn’t good…
[name]Freedom[/name] - Again, interesting take on a virtue name. Not a fan…
[name]Godfrey[/name] - I sort of like this! Sounds like an old butler, right?
[name]Jewel[/name] - No, this is semi-tacky. Sorry! And, a boy? I think singer…
[name]Leander[/name] - This is pretty darn cool, I’ll say!
[name]Peace[/name] - Again with the weird virtue names! [name]Dove[/name] for a girl, okay?
[name]Percival[/name] - It’s great, as is [name]Percy[/name]. But, I still picture a ship’s captain!
[name]Prosper[/name] - Okay, now really with the virtue names. But, I like!
[name]Randolph[/name] - Not in love, but on [name]Godfrey[/name]'s level…
[name]Remus[/name] - [name]Romulus[/name]? [name]Remus[/name] Lupin in [name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name]? No, thanks…
[name]Rhian[/name] - This is a downright hideous spelling of [name]Ryan[/name], right?
[name]Sage[/name] - This sounds too girlish for my taste…
[name]Usher[/name] - Ha! It’s like [name]Deacon[/name]. Subtle church theme…
[name]Vernon[/name] - Mount [name]Vernon[/name]? I’m not a [name]Vern[/name] fan, honestly…
[name]Willard[/name] - Oh, wow! Interesting way to get to [name]Will[/name], but lard? Oh, no.
[name]Willow[/name] - Straight up girl’s name, no question about it.
So, I liked [name]Leander[/name], [name]Percival[/name], [name]Godfrey[/name], [name]Randolph[/name], [name]Prosper[/name], and [name]Ptolemy[/name]? Okay! Cool list, [name]Winnie[/name]!
This was a pretty interesting list! I actually [name]LOVE[/name] the name [name]Ebenezer[/name]. I know it has such negative connotations, but I would really love to use it one day.
I also like [name]Leander[/name] and [name]Remus[/name] is a GP of mine, I would consider using it as a middle name.
[name]Ptolemy[/name] undoubtedly “spiked” (if 19 can be seen as a spike) due to [name]Gretchen[/name] Mol’s high-profile choice for her son.
Is it possible that [name]Adonis[/name] is linked more to [name]Lord[/name] [name]Adonis[/name] than to the mythological figure? Although I can’t see any politician, much less an aristocratic one, hitting that kind of popularity…
The lists for the province of [name]Alberta[/name] 9I’m in [name]Canada[/name]) actually give every name registered in that year - so one can find the literally “unique” choices. Thankfully, only one [name]Adisynne[/name], [name]Forest[/name]-[name]Anne[/name], and Tyranny (seriously).
My favorites are [name]Remus[/name] and [name]Prosper[/name]. I really like [name]Peace[/name] as a mn, too. I have a friend named [name]Mara[/name] [name]Peace[/name]. I think it’s lovely. [name]Prosper[/name] is actually one of my favorite boys’ names and I’m VERY picky!
