Professional baby namer shares top "guilty pleasure" monikers mums love but don't feel "cool enough" to use

A professional baby namer has shared top "guilty pleasure" monikers - mums love but don't feel "cool enough" to use.

SJ Strum, 43, shares top baby naming trends and always has an ear to the ground for popular and emerging monikers.

The baby naming consultant did a poll asking mums on her Instagram what their "guilty pleasure" names were.

She clarified this means "more daring names" that parents love, but don't feel confident enough to give their child.

More than 7,000 mums responded to the poll - which revealed some unusual choices for both little girls and boys.

The top two most popular girls choices were Honey and Calliope, while the top for boys were Wilder and Atlas.

Mum-of-three SJ, from Richmond, Surrey, said: "People want a name that's not popular, but everyone likes it.

"People think 'am I cool enough to call my child a daring name?'.

"But on the playground, children are used to kids having more unique names.

"Just because a name is less used doesn't mean it's less liked."

SJ noted that 'Honey' for a girl may be on the rise, thanks to celebrity inspiration Fearne Cotton, who named her daughter Honey.

She thinks 'Calliope' would be more common but people steer clear as they "know it might be mispronounced".

Other top guilty pleasure names for girls included "whimsical" monikers such as Tallulah, Tigerlily, Lavender and Clover.

For boys, other top choices featured Ziggy, Rex, Cosmo, Peregrine, Chase, Wulfric - shortened to 'Wolfie' - and Ernest.

SJ suggested parents shying away from using a name they love because it's unusual opt for it as a middle name instead.

She said: "With the middle name, you can be a bit braver.

"You don't have to say it, and it's not asked often, but you’ll know it’s there.

"If you use it as a first name or a middle name, you’ll always love it.

"If you throw it away, ask yourself - will you regret it?"