Outdated or ahead of the curve?

[Quasilulu]

A lady in my ante natal class has just called her twins Amanda and Denise. Not horrid names but unusual for now? What do you think?

[mrstweefromtweesville]

Family names? Popular in the late 1950s. I don't know - everything seems to be coming back. Expect Susan, Gillian, Julie, Janet and Angela to follow. Not to mention Sharon.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Oh I think they're nice and yes very different, now. A whole lot more refreshing than another bloody Lily-Mae and Amelie, to give an example.surely those 2 names have had their day now!
Perhaps as pp says they're family names or perhaps she was looking for unusual names

[NerrSnerr]

That's a coincidence, I put Amanda on my mental list for baby number 2 (who is not on the way yet) yesterday.

[DampAndRotten]

I wouldn't say "outdated" as I like a lot of the names from that era, but really don't think those particular names are nice.

[wigglesrock]

I don't mind Amanda, not my cup of tea but not my baby. I wouldn't call a baby Denise, I know a few in their early 40s and it even sounds dated and old fashioned on them.

[MamaLazarou]

A refreshing change!

[lastqueenofscotland]

I think Amanda is a nice name though there was a transgender person called Amanda who worked in the local shop when I was at uni and us cruel students thought it was hilarious (a man, duh)

[reuset]

Good for her! I think they're good names, especially Amanda, I'm not as fond of Denise.

She's probably just slightly ahead of the curve for mass mainstream taste (and you'll get one or two raised eyebrows from that section) but definitely to be used now. They're still both names being used currently and more so than some of the lauded 'older lady chic' names.

[PuppyMonkey]

Yes to Amanda
No to Denise

[FishCanFly]

Very nice names

[Sophronia]

Ahead of the curve. I agree that they're a refreshing change.

[Marisola]

Amanda has a much nicer sound than squeally Amelia. Meaning is 'lovable', but it also reaminds me of the French for almond. I've always liked Amanda, and although it can be shortened to Mandy, I know some Amandas who are never shortened.

Denise, nothing wrong with that either. It's from my generation, but I've only ever met one Denise as far as I can remember.

[SylvaniansAtEase]

Yes, ahead of the curve... but Amanda is nice and will come back, and Denise... isn't.

Amanda, Sarah, Karen, Alison etc. - to be back soon.

Denise, Trudy, Donna, Anita etc. - sadly, also to be back soon.

[Whiteshirt]

Well, outdated and ahead of the curve are just instances of the same thing, aren't they, when it comes to baby names? Names circulate in and out of fashion over time, and currently the fashionable 'period' ends well before Denise and Amanda were at their height. (I'm 42 and was at school with several of both.) The cycle will come around to those names returning to fashion, but not just yet - so those girls will probably be swamped with baby Amandas and Denises when they are in their twenties or thirties, but those names will remain rare for children born in 2015.

[reuset]

Well, I suppose one person's outdated is another's 'ahead of the curve' Though Amanda is far from rare even in 2015. 70 babies named Amanda in 2013!

Sylvanians - Sarah isn't 'to be back soon' it's never been away. One of those few well known names which has not been out of the top hundred in over a century.

[NadiaWadia]

That's funny, I went to school with twins called Amanda and Denise. We were born in the 60s.

I actually think Amanda is a pretty name, and it would be good if it 'came back'. Not that keen on Denise, though.

[DramaAlpaca]

I think Amanda is a perfectly nice name.

I can't stand Denise, having been horribly bullied by one at school.

[Fruitbaseddrinkforalady]

On behalf of not all that old Denises, ouch

[grabaspoon]

I know a 20something and a 40something Amanda. I quite like it.

[AwfulBeryl]

I think I don't like the name Denise because of The TV show, the row yo family.
It's silly isn't it how things like that can effect your judgement, when I think about it, Denise is a nice sounding name, and I love the nn Denny.
I just can't help but associate it with "Our Denise"

[AwfulBeryl]

Row yo family ? Has Jesse Pinkman hijacked my auto correct...
I mean the Roayl Family - yo.

[HainaultViaNewburyPark]

I think of Amanda as being a 1970s name. I do like it though. I'm less sure about Denise.

I know a little Dennis, which is presumably equally unusual?

[reuset]

That's about right, Hainault. Amanda peaked in the 70s. Denise in the 50s.

[ginzillas]

She's pretty Identifiable from your post OP. I hope she doesn't come on here and read some of these comments

[Quasilulu]

Ginzillas she knows I've put this She was as interested as I was to gauge opinion and tough enough to take it! Thanks. Really interesting. She chose the names with no family connection.