Mumsnet Talk

JW what names you think can suit any age? For example I would be (pleasantly) suprised to meet a baby named Doris but not an adult named Jane IYSWIM?

I always think Sophie suits any age. I can picture easily a baby, child and teen called Sophie or 'Soaf'. Then a strong, artistic looking woman in her 30's and also as a kindly looking, grey haired elderly lady with a sparkle in her eye. They would have to have long thick hair they put in a loose, messy bun though!

Seriously though, I think the name becomes te person, not the other way around. I know a toddler named Doris who absolutely couldn't be anything else now, even though I was a bit when I first heard it.

Sam
Maggie

Sarah
Catherine
Rebecca
James
Jack
Edward

Any name that hasn't been overused by a particular age group.
In other words classic names that are timeless, such as
Dominic
Antonia
Quentin
Sarah
Thomas
Seraphina

Anna and agree with Sam - it's a lovely name.

Rex
Cassius

Kate
Megan
Scott
Harry

Any name that isn't " in fashion"

All the Kayden/caiden /Kai type boys of now will be very much of their time as were the Traceys and Sharons of the 1970s

Charlotte
Elizabeth
Victoria
Catherine
Katy
Kate
Emma
Emily
Anna
Alice
Sarah
Harriet

Jack
William
George
Thomas
Joseph
James
Edward
Henry

I would have said Isabel(la) a few years ago but I think that it's going to date now that it's so popular.

I know babies, children, teenagers and adults of most of these names.

I would say the name Kirsty is fairly timeless (biased though, my dd's name), not hugely popular for her age group but I have heard a couple of little girls called the same.

James, Chris(topher), Adam, William, Lucy, Annie, Olivia.

Your OP made me smile. My mum has a saying:

"I like a name that looks as good on a birth certificate as it will on a pension book"

I shall have to tell her that she was way ahead of the curve for classic and timeless names.

Some of her lecturing must have sunk in as I have three children, two with names already mentioned and I would probably add the third - Joanna because I am biased

All four of our children have these names. Three of their names have been mentioned on this thread more than once.

They each have two middle names and I've just noticed that most of those are on here too!

For the sake of completeness:

Alexander/Alex
Benjamin
Theo

All twelve names represented now!

Don't think I'm outing myself too much as I haven't said which are first names and which are middle names.

I think (hope) my children's names match the baby/teacher/pensioner rule. They are Evelyn and Sebastian.

I agree with Anna, but I guess it is based on who you know as I know an adult Jane and would assume it was an adult name and would view Sophie as a baby/little girl name, certainly not an old woman name. One of my sons is Rory and I have been told that is an "all age" name but I think that's because of the combination of Roary the racing car, Rory on Dr. Who, Rory McIlroy and Rory Bremner rather than because of any intrinsic features of the name itself!

ElfOnTheTopShelf: what if they don't want to go into teaching? I'm just teasing, they're both lovely names.

Hi i think Victoria is a lovely name that suits both a baby and adult. Tom is another good choice.

I think they may be names that suit mugshots too :-D

My kids names are Hattie,Dexter and Felicity.Lots of short versions to keep them going throughout their lives I should think! Did anyone do the 'Grandparent Test' when they named their kids? Nanny Hattie,Nanny Fliss and Grandad Dex-sound fine!

In no particular order my children's names are Olivia, John, Rachel, Edward, Megan and Connor.
I'll let you decide how many children and how many names they have

I ^ think^ they're all pretty timeless

I wonder how many parents are going to say that they cannot picture their kids' names at any age