Favorite "non-Nameberry" names?

[holbs]

Lets see...there are some I can think of which got quite negative (but constructive) feedback when I asked for opinions on them--generally even if I don't think its a "Nameberry name" I really like hearing opinions on it. Most of them qualify as guilty pleasures though, so it didn't bother me:

Mafalda
Araxie
Dagmar
Myfanwy
Montserrat
Gunnora
Heloise
Synnevah (spelled this way)
Vigdis

Saint John (prn the English way, Sin-jin, but spelled the correct traditional way)
Klaus

[aj_bear]

I like most of the nameberry names, with the exception of Vivienne (this spelling is just so fru-fru; same goes with Juliette), Penelope, and Wren (nice enough, but I would never use it.)
I love the name Frederick, and it's Nameberry approved, but it hasn't gotten a lot of love on the forums. Apparently there's an ick sound that's hard to get over. Winston, Cecil, and Alistair aren't getting too much love either.
A name that I really love but is seen as too much or too old is Dorothea. Oh well! It'd be boring if we all loved the same names- there's still variation here!
-Athena

[maple_blythe]

Chester, Jerome, Marion, and Carole (I expected the meh reactions to Marion and Carole, but the slightly over-vehement responses to Chester and Jerome took me by surprise). Some of my other favourites generally don't go over well, but I don't think I've bothered to try out Roger here.

Sometimes the viciously glib tone of the definitions in the NB database and the baby name bible bother me...check out Alethea and Arlette, Helga, Bertrand, Cary (which I find dashing on a boy/man, and I *know* I'm not alone). Also, there's a mean-spirited Anice entry; Annis/Annice etc. was the vernacular form of Agnes used in England for, oh, eight hundred years or so (check any British census data prior to 1900). If a name's not in style, there's no need to be mean about it!

[beautifulspoon]

I have always loved Isabella! Stupid Twilight ruining it. Luckily, I have a niece named Isabella and we call her Bella. Her mom has never even read Twilight...she just loves the name. I love it because it's very feminine like my name (Jennifer) and my sisters names. We all have names that would NEVER be used as boy names and I think Isabella fits into that category, too.

[jessicat11]

I love this thread and so many of your responses! Reading these feels like sneaking candy on a diet.

Girls:
Avery
Mackenzie
Harper
Elliette

Boys:
Aidan
Mackenzie
Addison

I'd also love to use my maiden name as a first name for one of my children, either gender, (though its not spelled the same its pronounced like a man's name). I think that is a great way to pass on my heritage. I don't understand why surnames are considered "trendy".