Nursery nurse Charlotte Thomson was a tiny size 8 and only discovered she was expecting hours before she gave birth
Then Charlotte Thomson went on a night out with workmates at the end of November 2015, becoming a mum couldn’t have been further from her mind. But just a week later, she gave birth to her first child.
The 23-year-old nursery worker, from Newcastle upon Tyne, says, “People think it’s crazy that I didn’t realise I was pregnant– but I was having regular periods, my stomach was completely flat, and I was still wearing my size 8 dresses. I found out I was pregnant just hours before I gave birth to Molly, who’s now a cheeky three-year-old. I can’t imagine life without her.”
Before becoming a mum, Charlotte was a typical 19 year old – working hard in the week and partying at the weekend. She’d only just started seeing someone, and they had no immediate plans to settle down.
She says, “I loved dressing up and going out with my friends for drinks. I had recently begun to feel tired, but put it down to burning the candle at both ends.
CHECK OUT these unusual baby names for girls
CLOSER - Unusual Baby Girl Names SLIDER
1 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with A
AdoreMeaning: "a gift; beloved; adored". Adore is a version of Adora (Greek, Old German, Latin).AileyMeaning: Comes from the Irish origin, meaning "light".AlaskaMeaning: After the American state, this name originates from the Aleut aleyska, meaning "the mainland" or literally "the object toward which the action of the sea is directed," or alternatively "great land".AlluraMeaning: A name with a British origin, Allura means "Godly adviser".AmandineMeaning: Amandine is originally Latin and means "beloved".AmaryllisMeaning: This is a Greek name, meaning "sparkling". A flower name after the lily-like plants called Amaryllis; poetically used to mean "a simple shepherdess or country girl".AnoukMeaning: Anouk originates from France and it means "grace".
2 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with B
BethanMeaning: This beautiful girls name means "God has promised".BlissMeaning: English origin: a nickname for a cheerful person, from Middle English blisse "joy" - it is similar to the name Blythe.BlueMeaning: We think some parents may be taking inspiration from Beyoncé and Jay Z on this one! In Middle English, it was spelt bleu or blewe.BunnyMeaning: ...And this one may have been inspired by Katie Price and Kieran Hayler! A bunny is a "little rabbit" - cute!
3 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with C
CandyMeaning: A sweet treat, or short for Candace. In Latin, it means "dazzling white", or "bright glowing light".CarounMeaning: This Armenian girls name means "springtime". If you're due to have a little girl in the spring this name definitely seem fitting.CiciMeaning: This is an alternative spelling to Cece, short for Cecelia. In Romanian, Cici means "blind".ConstanzaMeaning: This unique name originates from Italy and means "constant, unchanging".CrimsonMeaning: A deep red colour, in Japanese is "Kurea".
4 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with D
DashaMeaning: This Russian name simply means "nice, energetic and - of course - dashing quality".DollMeaning: Other than being a cute pet name, it also means "gift of god".DuniaMeaning: Also can be spelled Dunya, meaning "life" or "world" in the Middle East.
5 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with E
EdwigeMeaning: This Teutonic baby name means "refuge from war".ElspethMeaning: A Scottish version of Elizabeth, meaning "chosen by God" or "consecrated by God".ElunedMeaning: This Welsh name means "idol, image".
6 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with F
FawnMeaning: An English baby name, meaning "young deer". The Greek mythological deity of fertility and nature was Fauna. She was famous for her chastity.FleurMeaning: "flower" in French. Possibly on the rise thanks to the Harry Potter series...
7 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with G
GigiMeaning: "earth worker", or "God is gracious" in Greek, it may also be used a short version of Georgina. Is this thanks to Gigi Hadid?GinevraMeaning: This name strangely reminds us of Ginny from Harry Potter. This girls name originates from Wales and means fair, white, soft.GrayMeaning: Traditionally a boy's name, the name Gray has come into prominence in the last year as a popular girl's name. It means "gray-haired; pleasant".GretelMeaning: Best known as one of the two main characters in the old fairy tale Hansel And Gretel, it means "a pearl", or alternatively is another version of MargaretGypsyMeaning: "a bohemian traveller".
8 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with H
HonestiMeaning: An alternative spelling of Honesty, this name means "truthfulness".
9 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with I
IsabeauMeaning: This baby girl name reminds us of the gorgeous name Isabelle. However, Isabeau is slightly different; it originates from France and means pledged to God.
10 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with J
JubileeMeaning: "anniversary celebration" in English, this name can be used for both baby girls and baby boys.JupiterMeaning: Thinking of naming your baby after the planet? Jupiter derives from Latin Iuppiter, which was ultimately derived from the Indo-European *Dyeu-pater, composed of the elements Dyeus (God in Latin) and pater - "father". Jupiter was the supreme god in Roman mythology.
11 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with K
KalindaMeaning: Kalinda means sun, name of mountains and its origin is Hindi.
12 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with L
LadyMeaning: Are you a Lady and the Tramp fan? This name is a girl's name of Old English origin, meaning "bread kneader" and may refer to someone in charge of a household, and therefore of high rank.LilacMeaning: This is a pretty name, taken from the pastel purple colour of the lilac flower.LilouMeaning: This female name is originally from France and simply means Lily.LottieMeaning: Short for Charlotte, the French feminine version of Charles, which means "man". Charlotte can also mean "petite".LovelleMeaning: This is a feminine version of Lovell, which derives from the Old Norman French Louvel, which means "wolf cub".LuluMeaning: Short for any girl's name beginning with Lou, for example Lucy, Louise, Louisa etc. It could also be the feminine version of Louis, which means "famous warrior".
13 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with M
MelroseMeaning: This is a Scottish name which means the bald moor (treeless hill). Could also be an almagamation of Melanie or Melissa and Rose.MiamiMeaning: After the place in America, but was originally named after the Mayaimi, a Native American tribe.MignonMeaning: Mignon has an adorable meaning for your little one: dainty, petite. The name originates from France.MildredMeaning: An Anglo-Saxon name of Old English origin, which means "gentle strength".MistyMeaning: With the rise of Pokémon Go last year, it's no wonder that the name Misty has made its way up the name lists this year. Deriving from mist, meaning "light fog".MoonMeaning: We're sure you can guess this one... But the word moon in Old English was Mona, another pretty girl's name.
14 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with N
NimratMeaning: This is a really pretty Sikh name, meaning "humble".
15 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with O
OdeliaMeaning: A Hebrew name, meaning "praise God". Can also be shortened to Delia.OlwenMeaning: Not only is this Welsh names unique but the meaning is too. It means "white footprint".
16 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with P
PaizleeMeaning: An alternative spelling of Paisley, which makes us wonder whether Paisley from Tattoo Fixers has had a wider effect on the world this year? The meaning of Paisley is not only a town in the Scottish Lowlands, it is also a type of fabric and a pattern.PandoraMeaning: A Greek name, Pandora means "all-gift". Also well-known for the Greek fable "Pandora's Box".PatienceMeaning: A popluar English name in past centuries, meaning "patient".PepperMeaning: Aside from being the popular foods, it is both English and North German - from Middle English peper, piper, hence a metonymic occupational name for a spicer; alternatively, it may be a nickname for a small man (as if the size of a peppercorn) or one with a fiery temper.PilarMeaning: The meaning of this Spanish name is similar to the meaning - "pillar".PinkyMeaning: Of Indian origin, meaning "pinkish".
17 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with R
RooneyMeaning: Originally a Gaelic name, Rooney means "red haired".RozaMeaning: Similar to the name, this Latin name means Rose.
18 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with S
SaskiaMeaning: This is probably the least unique name on this list (we're sure you've heard of it before) and the German meaning is Saxon.ShoshanaMeaning: This cute name is originally from Hebrew and means "lily".SignyMeaning: This Scandinavian name simply means "new victory". That's a pretty cool meaning for a name.StarrMeaning: An alternative spelling of Star, you could also think about Stella, which is star in Latin.StormMeaning: Are there any X-Men fans out there? The definition of storm is: a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.StrawberryMeaning: It would be adorable to name your baby daughter after the cute fruit.SundayMeaning: Traditionally the first day of the week, this day was named after the sun. Also, the Greek word for Sunday is "Kyriake", meaning the "Lord's Day", and this is also a girl's name.SuzuMeaning: This name originates from Japan and means "little bell".
19 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with V
ValentineMeaning: Although commonly a boy's name, this has crept up the charts for girls this year. Derived from Valens, meaning "strong, vigourous, healthy".VarvavaMeaning: This Greek name means "stranger".VerityMeaning: Derived from the Latin Veritas, which means "a truth, a reality".VeronaMeaning: This is an city in Italy, and is a very pretty name. Also, where Romeo and Juliet is traditionally set.VictoryMeaning: It may be derived from the Latin Victoria, which means "to conquer".
20 of 20Unusual Baby Girl Names - beginning with Z
ZyraMeaning: "brightness of the morning".
“On a work night out in November 2015, I wore a fitted blue dress, and everyone said I looked great – one colleague even said they wished their waist was as skinny as mine.”
Just a week later, Charlotte was staying at her then-boyfriend’s house when she woke up in the early hours with cramps and began bleeding.
Charlotte says, “I was worried, so we got a taxi to the hospital. Nurses examined me and said they thought I was pregnant. I told them they were wrong, but ten minutes later a midwife performed an ultrasound. She said I was full term – and about to have a baby!
“It was surreal. I realised it couldn’t be my boyfriend’s, as we’d only been together three months, so it had to be my ex’s. It was so much to take in. I began to panic about what my parents would say. I thought they’d be so disappointed in me. The nurse called them, and when they arrived I burst into tears – but, thankfully, they were excited and reassured me they’d be there for me.”
Charlotte gave birth just a few hours later to 6lbs 15oz Molly, and felt an immediate bond.
She says, “Doctors explained I’d had no bump because Molly had been tucked underneath my ribs. I was worried that I might have harmed her, as I’d been going out partying, but all the tests showed there were no ill effects from my drinking.”
Two days later, Charlotte was discharged from hospital. She says, “I lived with my parents, and my mum had bought nappies and a moses basket so Molly could sleep in my bedroom with me. It was hard to get my head round what was happening, though! My friends didn’t believe me, and my work colleagues were just as stunned, too.
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“But, within a few weeks, I adjusted to having Molly, and I wouldn’t have it any other way now. I split up with my boyfriend when she was three months old – it was just too difficult.”
Charlotte is now a happy single mum, and says Molly is the best surprise ever.
She says, “We moved into our own home in February 2018, though my parents are very much involved. Even though Molly was unexpected, we all feel blessed to have her.”
Katherine Hales, a community midwife with 25 years experience, says, “What happened to Charlotte is known as a cryptic pregnancy, and though it’s rare, it does happen. You might not feel or see the baby moving because of the position of the placenta and how the baby is lying. And bleeding through pregnancy is just a hormonal quirk, which is why Charlotte still had periods."