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Baby names

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Original poster

'Old-fashioned' names that might NOT make a come-back?

338 replies

PrincessFiorimonde · 04/04/2011 07:08

I was thinking about names that might have been popular about 100 years ago or more, and were then considered old-fashioned 30, 40 or even 50 years ago - but are now becoming more popular again. For example, Dorothy and Archie are names that are probably used more now than they were for babies born in the 60s or 70s.

So I wondered if there are names that have not made a come-back, and are not likely to?

For example, does anyone think these names are used much for babies born recently:
Eustace
Eunice
Jean (for a girl; not the French boys' name)
Joan (for a girl; not the Catalan boys' name)

I'm not trying to start a 'these are horrible names' thread. I'm just wondering which 'old-fashioned'-type names haven't really been revived. (Or perhaps I should say: haven't really been revived yet!)

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sleepdodger · 30/07/2014 21:59

I loves Agnes

TheFillyjonk · 30/07/2014 21:57

Hehe drspouse

I hope nobody is tempted to call their child Anchor now...

Drusilla - nobody would ever call their kid this now, would they?

applecatchers36 · 30/07/2014 21:53

Rolf...

BuggedByJake · 30/07/2014 21:42

Miriam.

drspouse · 30/07/2014 21:33

Oh hello Anchor!

TheFillyjonk · 30/07/2014 21:25

It's not me! (I also have the name of a brand of butter/margarine Grin)

drspouse · 30/07/2014 21:19

There is a MNer with a baby Clover...

HerbieRidesAgain · 30/07/2014 20:24

My cousins son is about 7yr olds and is called Kevin. I know of twins with one being called Maude

TheFillyjonk · 30/07/2014 19:10

Petronella.

I thought it was a kind if bacteria when I first heard it.

CheesyBadger · 30/07/2014 19:07

Definitely Fanny!
Nan

WhereAreMyGlasses · 30/07/2014 18:59

Gertrude has been mentioned, I know one though. It may never be top 10 but it's still around. I also know some of the others mentioned like Hillary, Victoria, Julie, Christine, Josephine and Kathleen

Spottybra · 30/07/2014 18:23

Marjorie? It's so much like margarine.

Clover- because of the brand.

I liked old man names. Considered Stanley and Lewis for ds. Levi is an old family name that's been dropped since the 1940's. James is still going.

hoobypickypicky · 30/07/2014 18:12

"I can't imagine Clement, Leonard, Clifford, Horace, Herbert, Maurice, Rodney, Willie, Willis, Wilfred or Ody making a comeback.

For the girls, Rene, Margot, Marilyn, Gertrude, Eileen & Irene."

Shock Bilblio! We have a teenaged Firstname Irene Surname in our family (named after her Great Grandma) and m friend's 5 year old is an Imogen Irene, named after her Grandmother.

Personally I love the name Irene.

brokenhearted55a · 30/07/2014 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MsAspreyDiamonds · 30/07/2014 18:04

Gilbert
cuthbert
Norbert
Roger

Salmotrutta · 30/07/2014 17:53

I knew my name would crop up.

Hmm

At least I know it has a rather lovely meaning though.

ACM88 · 30/07/2014 17:40

I think most names can and are, in some areas of the country, making a come back, I considered Jean for DC1, and I currently look after an Edith, Bette and Iris. The only name I am yet to hear is Maud. But that's just an ugly name, I'm hopefully it doesn't ever have a come back.,

drspouse · 30/07/2014 17:32

Ellen is quite high up in the current name list (well, in the top 100 anyway). I know a preschool aged Ellen too.

Stokey · 30/07/2014 15:55

I was just thinking about this as have been reading a book written in the 1950s.

Old lady names that haven't made a comeback that were popular in there included:
Hilda
Doris
Lesley
Hillary
Joan
Ellen

drspouse · 30/07/2014 14:12

Oh and there is a Nora in our family (it's a family name and I was thinking of it for DD but it was taken).
We have a fairly old-fashioned name for both DD and DS and we didn't consider other names for DS but for DD we considered:
Sarah
Virginia (but not very seriously)
Patricia (well, I like it)
Mary
Jocelyn (DH said "too posh")
Jemima
Rachel
All family names, mostly fairly serious contenders.

drspouse · 30/07/2014 14:06

I know a family of three boys (oldest secondary age I think) who are Stan, Wilf and Bert. Stan is I think Stanislaus rather than Stanley, and Bert may be Robert but I wouldn't swear to it.
Lots of Berts in the preschool set.

PresidentSpreadable · 30/07/2014 13:56

Derek, Reginald, Yvonne, Linda, Barry, Julie, Dennis.

Franglais80 · 30/07/2014 13:21

I reckon both my grandmothers' names: Gladys and Mildred. Can't see any of those making a come back!

charlotteanne21 · 30/07/2014 09:52

I love the name Victoria, i've not heard of any babies being called that recently

OpalQuartz · 28/02/2014 18:24

Mavis? Although people called Mavis are in about their 80s and 90s. So maybe when there are no longer any that people knew as old ladies it could come round again?