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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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StarExpat · 18/12/2010 22:30

But doesn't barney have another meaning in British English? I swear I've heard people (maybe just on TV not in RL... can't recall where I've heard it) using it in conversation? Or is that another word that sounds similar? Blush

Original poster
AllieW · 18/12/2010 22:24

Oh and just realised Hortense is a good contender for this thread!

OP posts:
Partyof52010 · 18/12/2010 22:23

I like Percy. and Henry. I like Barney too, thought it was gaining popularity but not sure. We considered it but my nephew was mad about the giant purple dinosaur so we dismissed it!!

Original poster
AllieW · 18/12/2010 22:22

Party of 52020 - have you bought MIL a DVD of Willow the Wisp?! ;)

OP posts:
Bexamundo · 18/12/2010 22:22

Winifed?

StarExpat · 18/12/2010 22:20

I like percy, too. I Like all of the Thomas the Tank Engine train names!

StarExpat · 18/12/2010 22:19

Today I met a 4 year old called Barney.

Was that a popular name in the UK 4 years ago? I've never met another one in my life (other than the american purple dinosaur). I"m not saying it's a bad name. THe child was very sweet.

Partyof52010 · 18/12/2010 22:18

My MIL is Edna. When we had DD we gave her my mums name as middle name (mary) she has never forgiven me for not including Edna.
My argument? DD would never have forgiven me if i had. Grin

dementedma · 18/12/2010 22:16

I know two Dorothys but both are in their 50's. Don't have much to do with babies these days but the last two i met were called Grace and Samuel, respectively.

Kitta · 18/12/2010 22:15

I work with a lot of people from the Philippines and without exception they all have what I would term as old man/woman names, Beryl, Ivy,Arthur, Fred, Mary
For me when ever I see Roderick I hear Rod-errrr-rick.

FrustratedHippy · 18/12/2010 22:14

Claude? it's lovely!

smilingserenely · 18/12/2010 22:14

hilda / hildegard
doris
mavis
ena
hepzibah
mehitabel
tracey
sharon

horace
noris
boris
elvis
orville
wilbur

love percy btw

pranma · 18/12/2010 22:13

Dorothy is lovely and I know a couple of babies with that name

pranma · 18/12/2010 22:12

Thelma
Norma
Myra

Cuthbert
Cecil
Claude

sharbie · 18/12/2010 22:11

and i think alice is prob updated alison

sharbie · 18/12/2010 22:09

the oldies always do that sheep - a friend of mine had a ds ryan my nan always referred to him as bryan Smile

Maybee · 18/12/2010 22:06

Yes Percy is a fab name and goes well with Nellie.

MissTFied · 18/12/2010 22:03

I like Percy too, though wouldn't get that one past dp.

DownyEmerald · 18/12/2010 22:01

Dorothy?

sheepgomeep · 18/12/2010 21:52

My dd1 is called shannon. She is always mistaken for a sharon especially by my mil. mil is incapable of getting her name right.

My grandad was called Herbert. i quite like it Blush

cenicienta · 18/12/2010 21:47

I live in South America and the popular names here for babies and young people are:

Beryl
Muriel
Wilma
Norah
Gloria

Walter
Cedric
Brian

I know in Europe Hilda, Agnes and Irene are quite popular at the moment.

It's all so context specific... no one thinks twice about a baby Muriel here but I imagine in the UK it would cause histerics :)

LunarSeasonsGreetings · 18/12/2010 21:45

I met a baby Jezebel a couple of years back. Can't actually see that one topping the lists.

sarahfreck · 18/12/2010 21:40

Meggie
Allie/Ali as a nn for Alison?

Meggie2110 · 18/12/2010 21:35

Sorry....didn't mean to add the above? :S

Meggie2110 · 18/12/2010 21:34

Allie/Ali? I love this as a nn but can't decide on a full name? Alice, Alexandra? These are the only two I can think of?