To think names considered trashy 20 odd years ago could reemerge as classy name choices in the late 2020s?

Will Kayden, Brayden and Jaden be posh in 2040?

My Grandmas (born c. 1905) were Dorothy and Noreen. No massive resurgence there! (Maybe a few Dorothys but never heard of a baby Noreen!). Not ALL names come back.

@WaitingForMojoI think names like Florence and Mabel are incredibly cute. My grandad had a sister who passed away in childhood called Zipporah, which I love, but he forbade anyone naming their daughter that name apparently according to my DM.

I met a senior citizen Bonnie at the library in the summer. I almost fell in love with her straight away . Some names do indeed have a warming effect on us.

My class friends were
Bonita
Hazel
Claire
Gabrielle
Marina
Lisa Marie
Sharon
Michelle
Amanda
Amelia
Maxine
Tina
This was the 80s.

It looks to have been vanishingly rare until 1960s in UK: x1 registered in 1870s, x1 in 1880s, x1 in 1923, x 1 in 1940s: 1948, 0 in 1930s..A few in 1950s. Then it takes off from 60s.

None registered from July 1837 to 1871.

Poss more common in much earlier times?

The historical conundrum of a name sounding too modern to be historical is actually called the "Tiffany Problem"!

When I think of my primary school class we had among other names Sarah, Linda, Caroline, Tracey, Helen, Melanie, Sharon, Angela, Nicole, Nicola, Donna, Kathy/Kathryn, Catherine, Mandy, Lisa.

Boys were Matthew, Mark, Paul, Nicholas, Ian, Nigel, Kevin.

This was late 70s/early 80s.

Yes. The generation who are naming babies will have to have no memories of living Chantelles for it to potentially become chic again. And there’s a long way to go first. We still have to have the surge of babies called Paul, Susan, Linda, Denis, Keith etc.

Across the pond Maddison isn’t trashy. Chantal still is though.

I think Tracy could have a comeback as a boy's name. There have been a few well known American sports players called Tracy over the last few years and there was a rapper called Tracy Curry.

There's been a couple of Country Music stars called Trace and then there's Spencer Tracy, Dick Tracy.

I think it could be a name that only needs one really famous male Tracy. I think Trace is more likely at first, then the inevitable nickname of Tracy or Tracey or TrayCee.

Trey is a name.

Stop sniggering at the back there. You teacher types will get back to me one day to say you've got a little boy called Tracy or Trace in your class. You will!

Chantal sounds French because it is an old French name from the Aquitaine region. It also has religious associations but the name predates the Catholic saint from the region. It was particularly popular in the Basque region when I had cause to look.

A few weeks ago I was looking at the history of a ruined castle we came cross on a walk. The lady of the manor, in the thirteenth century, was called Tiffany! I thought that was a 20th century invention….

Meanwhile the most popular girl's name in France for 2026 is Louise which is fair enough but the second most popular is Jade.

Pronounced Jhadde with a short a somehow. Didn't see that one coming.

Was it Chantal that was married to Preston (which is not a proper name imo). She looked like a British Paris Hilton?

I wonder sometimes if all the French names that the English find chic (like Ottilie, Amelie, Aurelie, Genevieve) will end up being the Michelle of the 2020s.

I think an issue is it was appropriated by Brits and then can sound a bit naff, ditto Michelle (with apologies to Michelles) thought chic.

Like being posh using serviette & dessert.

Chardonnay, Chelsea and Destiny and the like were never classy first time around and never will be.

I also didn't know that! I feel like it's quite common in my area, my little niece is called Maddison

I absolutely LOVE Martin! Was very near the top of the list if I'd had a son!

Possibly because I crushed on a very cute Martin when I was 9 😂

A family member was upset that none of her dgc had been given her name as a middle name but the boys had been given her dh name and her sisters dc had used their dm name.

Her name is Tracey. (Her sisters and Dh have more classic names).

Trashy never crosses the bridge to classy. Not in a million years.

Biblical names seem to generally stand test of time.

Sharon hasn’t fared well & I wonder that’s because using it was being a bit cool/trendy - rose of Sharon etc, a feature/location not a name?

Very much “below stairs” in Agatha Christie mansions etc. :) Which are the equivalent today?

Martha, Esther and Naomi are all biblical names, so that makes some sense. I'm not sure about Louisa.
Poor Aurora. I wonder what happened to the bloke involved?

I’m Scottish and went to school in the 90s/early 00s. All through primary and high school there were about 3-4 Lindsay’s with various spellings in my year. All girls, all Scottish.