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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Older MNers who had kids in the 80s/90s

64 replies

PortSalutPlease · 19/10/2025 01:23

Why the fuck did we all get the middle name Louise?! Have just left a hen do, and of the 12 women there, 9 of us. NINE. Was there some kind of 80s rule about it?

OP posts:
anon4net · 19/10/2025 03:15

Definitely a large number of the girls I went to secondary/sixth form with had the middle name Louise. Most popular middle name for girls by far. Also had several with it as a first name in my year, probably 4 I think. Almost every Katie was Katie Louise.

I think Louise was followed by Marie. 15/20 years ago every other baby girl we knew seemed to have Marie as their middle name.

Then Grace as a very popular middle name. 10/15 years ago. I know/have heard of about 6 Lilah's/Lila's and they all have the middle name Grace - ranging in age from 3 to 18 or so. I think Kate Moss named her daughter this and it feels like everyone followed suit!

Now I know many people who have given the middle name Rose in the last 5 years or so. Lucy Rose, Emmerson Rose, Grayson Rose, Charlotte Rose, Emily Rose, Stella Rose.

I often see annual top baby name stats but I always wish they published middle names lists too!

EBearhug · 19/10/2025 02:58

My middle name is Louise, as were many girls at school with me - we were born early '70s.

My parents apparently thought long and hard about my name, to make sure they chose something not commonluly used. They failed. My first name is also popular.

RubySquid · 19/10/2025 02:43

I like the name Louise and woudve gone well with both DDs names but not our surname so couldn't use.
Every Charlotte I knew at the timr had Louise as a middle name

MarchInHappiness · 19/10/2025 02:40

Shareitout · 19/10/2025 02:30

Well I was born in the 1950s and I think
most of the girls that were born in my area had the middle name Anne.
There were 4 of us in my class when I went to secondary school who not only had Anne as the middle name: we had the same first name as well.

My niece who was born in the 1980s has Louise as her middle name. I had no idea until I read your thread that it was a common thing. I actually love the name Louise and infinitely prefer it to my own middle name.

Edited

DD was born in the 1990s, her middle name is Anne after MIL. We had a raft of potential middle names but Anne rolled better with her first name. Kind of regret it now, especially as we have had a strained relationship with MIL for many years and irrespective of that I wished we went for something less common. DD doesnt really like it either. But cant turn back the clock.

I was born in the early 60s, and my middle name is Louise. Maybe my parents were ahead of the trend!

Shareitout · 19/10/2025 02:30

Well I was born in the 1950s and I think
most of the girls that were born in my area had the middle name Anne.
There were 4 of us in my class when I went to secondary school who not only had Anne as the middle name: we had the same first name as well.

My niece who was born in the 1980s has Louise as her middle name. I had no idea until I read your thread that it was a common thing. I actually love the name Louise and infinitely prefer it to my own middle name.

tartyflette · 19/10/2025 02:03

Ditto, my DC's middle name (born mid 80s) is William...

DramaAlpaca · 19/10/2025 02:00

Well, I had my children in the 90s and none of them have the middle name Louise.

It might be because they are all boys Grin

It's not confined to that time though, my cousin born in 1963 has Louise as her middle name.

LetsFlyHighAway · 19/10/2025 02:00

It's like rose now

Floranan · 19/10/2025 01:59

I have 2 nieces with Louise . With me it’s Jane , I have Jane as a middle name 2 of my SIL’s have Jane 4 of my nieces

why ? It’s as if the parents spent so long choosing the first name they ran out of ideas and went with Louise or Jane. I really don’t need a jane it doesn’t mean anything in the family and I have 5 names! Wasn’t 4 enough or was it just thrown in to0 because why not go for 5

edit to add I’m a 60’s baby had children in the 90’s

SheSaidHummingbird · 19/10/2025 01:55

@PortSalutPlease It's a beautiful name!

TheNinjaWife · 19/10/2025 01:45

I had a daughter in the 80’s. Middle name Jade.

mathanxiety · 19/10/2025 01:37

Marie is another uber popular middle name from that era.

Anonymousemouses · 19/10/2025 01:35

I was born I the 70s and it's one of my middle names.

I know a 10yr old with it as a middle name too.

OSTMusTisNT · 19/10/2025 01:29

My niece (90's) has that middle name as that was her Mum's name (70's).

We now have the next generation 2020's with a Louis in the family.