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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

I'll eat my hat if that name comes back!

390 replies

AllieW · 18/12/2010 12:16

There are some names which I've been quite surprised to see returning. For example, Edith was my granny's name. Much as I loved her, I was never keen on the name and can only presume the little Ediths now arriving are due to the Radio 1 DJ or something.

Are there any names which would surprise you if they were revived? For me, the list might include:

Girls

Doris
Ermyntrude
Gertrude

Boys

Arnold
Herbert
Roderick

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hifi · 19/12/2010 12:20

timothy

hifi · 19/12/2010 12:20

eunice
craig
jeffrey
barbara
brenda
cecil
mavis
mable
douglas
bernard
grahame
horace

Gemjar · 19/12/2010 12:09

I've said it before on previous threads coz it makes me laugh being my dad's name, but Derek can surely never make a comeback.

Also Kevin, one of our best friends is called Kevin and our DS2 was born on his birthday this year, he was a little gutted that we didn't decide to name the baby after him, but there was just no way that I could do that to the poor boy Grin

harpsichordcarrier · 19/12/2010 12:05

I Am delighted to see on here:
my first and middle names
two sisters names
my mum's name
and three no less of my ex boyfriends :-)
not to mention ALL my address book
I am OLD and COMMON Grin

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 19/12/2010 12:03

Shock at a 9 year old Yvonne.

NorbertDentressangelOnTheTree · 19/12/2010 11:55

The more I think about it I think the only names likely to not make a comeback in the UK would be names with another (dodgy) meaning eg. Fanny and Randy.

Also names that are just too associated with a particular person eg. Adolf

SnowMuchToBits · 19/12/2010 11:52

There is an Yvonne in ds's class at school (age 9/10)

BabyGiraffes · 19/12/2010 11:50

Ethel? Mildred?
And I can't imagine someone calling a baby Colin... Hmm

darleneconnor · 19/12/2010 11:50

girls

maud
hyacinth
virginia
regina
dolly
patty
peggy
nettie
chastity
jean
ina
myra
willimina
ethel
adamina
jan
bernadette
lolita
mercedes
yvonne
yvette
agatha
eunice
shelly
shirley
bunty
sandy
barbie
sindy
candy
fanny

boys

cedric
cyril
bertrand
randy
rusty
stuart
dick
eugene
terrence
humphrey
frank
morris
norman
oswald
dwayne
dilbert
boris

tyler80 · 19/12/2010 11:46

I think there are very few names that will never make a comeback, especially in increasingly multi-cultural times.

Amongst friends this year we've had a baby Boris and a baby Marjorie

NorbertDentressangelOnTheTree · 19/12/2010 11:44

Clotilde/Clotilda.

Anything with the potential nickname of Clot has got to be avoided surely?

missmiss · 19/12/2010 11:40

Morris/Maurice? I quite like the second version.

Zilpah
Hepzibah

LynetteScavo · 19/12/2010 11:22

Did Jeremy go out of fashion?

It was on my list for DS2. I think of it as a classic.

I wonder if Yvonne will ever make a come back.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 19/12/2010 11:02

KenDodd it was Zoe Ball.

SuePurblybiltbyElves · 19/12/2010 11:01

No, I like it washngo. It was very popular in Britain in the early part of the twentieth century.It's due for a late come-back praps Xmas Grin

washngo · 19/12/2010 10:39

Have to say though re Lydia, was it ever very popular? I was always the only one amongst a sea of sarahs and louises. I don't really think Its one that's "made a comeback", more suddenly become popular. I think the only reason that it's on this thread is that somebody near the beginning said how ghastly they think it is (no taste obviously Grin) so people keep mentioning it.

Flumptious · 19/12/2010 10:14

Enoch?

Wigglesmummy · 19/12/2010 10:11

Adolf. All others are possible but that one has been used up. I know Barneys, Lydias, Nells and Sids - all fine - but never Adolf.

washngo · 19/12/2010 10:02

I love the name victor. My name is Lydia and I have always loved it. Can't see Wayne regaining popularity...?

longlady16 · 19/12/2010 09:54

My nan was called Florence but didn't like it so used her middle name of Beryl.

longlady16 · 19/12/2010 09:54

Beryl

Bathsheba · 19/12/2010 09:51

DD3 would have been Scott if she had been a boy....

saffy85 · 19/12/2010 09:41

Stacey- loads aged around 20-30 but no one under 15. Same with Kelly.

Know a Victor Smile He's 3 and my DD's favourite boyfriend.

valleyqueen · 19/12/2010 09:06

I work with a lot of West African families there are a lot of babies with names like Jeffery, Timothy, Anthony. There is a Derek and a keith to.

They tend to name their daughters things like Precious, blessing and praise. Which I think is really sweet.

PureBloodMuggle · 19/12/2010 08:49

ooh and i meant to say I'm surpirsed at some of the names mentioned here, such as Alison and Helen - they are hardly that strange are they?