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Baby names

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

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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Olifin · 05/04/2011 13:30

Elsie is a gorgeous name and, yes, becoming popular again.

Original poster
PrincessFiorimonde · 05/04/2011 13:28

I'm really never horrid about anyone's name choices, but: 'I met someone who named their child Eunice. Their, er, son.' Shock

HairyWoman: so many names have been mentioned; you can't be alone! Anyway, the idea was ' "old-fashioned"-type names that haven't really been revived yet' - so, no criticism implied. Smile

OP posts:
candleshoe · 05/04/2011 13:19

My friend has just had a DD and called her Elsie - she is from Chelsea area of London and a proper Yummy Mummy so I'm sure it will be trendy in the shires soon too!

BlackSwan · 05/04/2011 13:10

Yolanda
Stephen
Gregory
Jocelyn
Sally
Amy
Janice
Geoff

eerrgghh

doglover · 05/04/2011 13:05

I have a 10 year old Elsie and we (obviously) LOVE the name Angry.

thegingerone · 05/04/2011 12:56

Hairy

Yep my name is on here! And it had been completely misrepresented. Bloody Corrie!!!!!!!!!!! Wink

ElsieMc · 05/04/2011 12:55

Would anyone call their little girl Julie? Very sixties...also my parents liked Susan and Wendy (!)

Winifred Annie, Elsie Mary, Margaret ellen, Joan, Dorothy, Hilda, all great aunt names.

About 18 years ago I mocked my friend who wanted to call her daughter Florence saying it if was a boy she could call it Zebedee....

TerrysNo2 · 05/04/2011 11:55

Ethel
Gertrude

corygal · 05/04/2011 11:51

I met someone who named their child Eunice. Their, er, son.

mrscrocoduck · 05/04/2011 11:48

I know a baby stanley! And if I'd had a boy he would have been Earnest. I love that.

But I do have an Ada :-)

My absolute favs are Mabel, Margot, Agnes, Hera and Athene. If only I could have more kids......

Usedtobefun · 05/04/2011 11:47

Regina

I had a (horrible) headmistress with that name. All the parents called her Regina the vagina! Can't imagine coming across that name again.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 05/04/2011 11:41

When I was a child my favourite programme included a young lad called Stanley and I always said I would use it for my son. Everyone laughed at me, I couldn't possibly use such an old fashioned name....

(I don't have a son though!)

Grumpyoldhorsewoman · 05/04/2011 11:20

I have a friend called Nora (mid twenties), a neice whose middle name is Agnes and my v.cool uncle who is not much older than me who is Gordon.

Never write off a name - when I was a child there was nothing I found more amusing than the thought of naming a baby Eric, Stan or Alfie or the like. Now look......

HairyWoman · 05/04/2011 10:58

Ouch! Is anyone else's name on this thread (not telling what my name is ;P)

candleshoe · 05/04/2011 10:47

Gertrude and Herbert

hsmom · 05/04/2011 10:20

We named our dogs Nellie and Norah a couple of years back..... now regretting that as expecting a girl and would have liked to use one of them.... :-)
Rita is one I havent heard recently, and Edna.

ValiumSoltera · 05/04/2011 08:37

Mathanxiety, my son is at school with a dennis!

ValiumSoltera · 05/04/2011 08:36

Barbara is not 'in the past'. I know at least five Barbaras and they would all be older than I am but they are all still walking around unaided, in possession of their own teeth.

I personally hate the name btw! just pointing out that only names that are in the past can 'come back'. I reckon Barbara will come back in about 2035.

exoticfruits · 05/04/2011 08:09

Winifred is very popular on MN!

I am sure that if people are calling their DCs the horrible, early C20th names like Ruby, Pearl, Elsie, Edith, Ronnie, Reggie, Wilf etc then it is quite probable that all the 1940/50s names will be back in 20yrs time.

mathanxiety · 05/04/2011 02:41

Norma
Linda
Lorraine
Thelma
Mavis
Gladys
Beverley
Cheryl

Ernest
Walter
Clarence
Raymond
Carl
Kenneth
Chester
Maurice
Hubert
Dennis

cowboylover · 05/04/2011 01:29

Apparently names are likely to skip 3 generations so the names of our great grandparents but there are bound to be some that dont come around again!

My Nan was Winifred so dont think I will be seeing one soon

sleepywombat · 05/04/2011 00:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BibiBelle · 05/04/2011 00:03

can we please leave Barbara in the past where it belongs?? Grin

GwendolineMaryLacey · 05/04/2011 00:00

DD goes to preschool with a Gailord. It's definitey pronounced Gaylord, I've heard his mother calling him.

DancingThroughLife · 04/04/2011 23:16

I know two Elsas, a Connie and a Betty.

I love Peggy, Ada, Olive, Norah (somehow it looks nicer with the h), Nancy, Cora (although it doesn't scream old lady at me) and Freda. DH wouldn't even consider them for DD.

My brain doesn't seem to compute boys names though. I can't imagine a baby Brian though. Both my grandad's name are ver popular at the moment (both top 10).