Barbara?

[Missmodular]

It's got the exact ingredients I'm looking for, in that it's not remotely unusual and yet nobody is calling their daughters it any more. But I still can't take it seriously - must be the Barbara Windsor association!

But can anyone think of other girls names along this ilk?

[Lubyloo]

Margaret
Pauline
Jill
Pamela
Shirley
Deborah
Janice
Janet
Jean

Are these the sort of names you're after?!

[sphil]

Susan
Joan
Diane
Christine
Anne
Jacqueline

[singyswife]

What ingredients are you looking for??

[girlandboy]

Dorothy

[Yurtgirl]

Barbara shortens to Barbie though - urgggggggggghhhhhh!

I like those as suggested by lubyloo and sphil

[fishie]

Sheila
Katharine
Caroline
Kylie
Victoria
Genevieve

[hullygully]

I love Barbarella, look at Jane Fonda in that film. Phwooarr.

[SuperBunny]

I know babies with the following names:

Dorothy
Elsie
Viviana
Sylvie

[Yurtgirl]

Oooh I like Genevieve

[cece]

Jane

[piscesmoon]

I think Jane is a classic.
I would have thought it was more names like:
Brenda
Patricia
Linda
Belinda
Vivienne
Angela

[fishie]

brenda v good.

it is the female version of derek we are seeking here.

[Bessie123]

Mary
Patricia
Laura
Nancy
Helen
Deborah
Carol
Amanda
Irene
Claudia

[Bessie123]

Oh yes, Brenda is a good one

[llareggub]

Penelope
Elaine

[Missmodular]

Wow - thanks for the swift responses - am impressed!

I suppose I just want to explore names that are currently considered unfashionable - to see if there are any nice ones lurking that might have been forgotten about.

Of the suggestions so far, I like Linda, Angela and Elsie - but please keep 'em coming!

Thanks again

[Bessie123]

Doris
Dorcas
Deirdre
Mariah
Rita (too unusual?)

[Missmodular]

Ooh, I love Claudia too - but it's been vetoed by DP

[FriendNeedsHelp]

I love Sally - and it's never used now.

[Bessie123]

Lesley

Am sniggering a little at the thought of a baby called Lesley, though it seems to suit some adults

[Wispabarsareback]

The problem is that most of these names sound FRUMPY (except Claudia, which doesn't seem to belong on this list) - and why would you want to inflict frumpiness on your little DD? Honestly, most of these sound like the names of middle-aged personal assistants.

(But if you like this kind of thing, don't overlook Jennifer, Rosemary and Maureen. GAH!!)

[Missmodular]

The point is that because noone is naming their children these names any more these 'frumpy' associations will soon become obselete - so why not consider them in their own right?

I'm not looking to inflict anything on my dd except a name that she won't have to share with six other girls in her class.

[Wispabarsareback]

Quite right too. And if you call her Pauline or Elsie I think you can be quite confident that she'll be the only one in the class. It's just so unaspirational, dah-ling.

[merrykittymas]

Margaret
Elsie
Joan
Frances
Monica
Elaine
Sharon
Vera
Patricia
Angela
Lisa
Maureen
Morag
Betty
Norma
Nora
Elspeth
Tracy
Deirdre
Maralyn
Fiona
Shirley
Lesley
Claire
Anne
Belind a
Joanne
Lorna
Laura
Amanda
Alison
Louise
Lorraine
Donna
Christine
Esther
Kirsty
Katrina
Debra
Doreen
Julie
Karen

[Wispabarsareback]

Am LOVING Marilyn. Yes, yes, do it!