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Baby names

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

How will this name date?

131 replies

newcastlecoal · 05/05/2012 22:36

Hi, I've read a few times that some people think Lily is faddy and will date quickly. Do you think this is true considering that it's been around for years in a way that other names that pinpoint the owner to a specific decade, for example Tracy or Sharon, have not?

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squoosh · 11/05/2012 11:39

You're right, not an Alfie, but of the moment.

mopsyflopsy · 11/05/2012 11:12

Agree that Oscar has become quite trendy over the past five years.

PercyFilth · 11/05/2012 10:56

Oscar may have a lot going for it, but it is very 'of the moment' and i think it will date.

squoosh · 11/05/2012 10:31

Oscar has good literary credentials plus its origins go way back into Irish mythology. Definitely not an Alfie equivalent!

mathanxiety · 11/05/2012 04:38

Oscar is a great international name and has much more cachet to it than the likes of Alfie.

CheerfulYank · 11/05/2012 03:44

I love Pete, Sodoff! It's one of my favorites but here Peter is a euphemism for penis. :(

emmyloo2 · 11/05/2012 03:06

YummyMummy - Oscar is very nice, although yes very popular. I don't think it is going to be very dated.

I must say - I am loving the idea of a baby Roger! Joan is a fabulous name and I would definitely use that.

YummyMummybee · 10/05/2012 23:03

Thanks sod-Oscar is the boys name we have chosen not very original but simply because we can't agree on anything.I love Raphael, Milo & Jasper but hubby is vetoing all... I like Oscar but I don't adore it. We have agreed on a lovely classic girls name but even though Oscar is lovely its not a real classic but nowt I can do about it now.Still its not the worst & surely will stand the test of time better than Jayden, Alfie, Archie et al.....

SodoffBaldrick · 10/05/2012 22:35

It has a certain something. Grin

I do actually know a two-year old Pete. It sounded weird initially, but he totally rocks it.

CheerfulYank · 10/05/2012 22:28

I kind of like Roger :)

SodoffBaldrick · 10/05/2012 21:47

That's (part of) what's so spot on about Mad Men, actally - the names are right for the era.

Roger
Joan
Peggy
Betty
Don
Pete
Trudy/Gertrude

These names are all really fuddy duddy, frumpy and dull to us (some to a greater or lesser extent; I know Betty is quite popular) because they're our parents' names, but the characters pull them off with aplomb. Hard to imagine many of these names coming back into fashion, but I bet our children will be debating the merits of Joan, and leaning into the cot to give baby Roger a kiss.

Get in now if you want to be ahead of the curve. Wink

SodoffBaldrick · 10/05/2012 21:41

Yes, I think Oscar will have certain 'dated' connotations, but not in such a strong way as the Lily/Millie/Evie names.

My personal opinion is that Oscar will be this generation's Simon, Mark, Andrew, David, etc. Not bad in any way at all, but probably not chosen by many people next generation, as it will simply be too familiar to them what with lots of their peers having been called it. They will be looking for something new.

CheerfulYank · 10/05/2012 18:46

I know an Allison in her early 20's. Always thought it was pretty! :)

mopsyflopsy · 10/05/2012 18:08

I feel that Lily/Milly/Evie/Ellie/Archie/Alfie/Albie already sound a little dated - but only because we've been hearing these names SO often during the past 3-4 years.

YummyMummybee · 10/05/2012 17:58

I adore all the cutesy names Milly, Maisy, Molly, Lily, Daisy,Poppy etc so adorable but they are just out of control at the moment:( I had Molly on my list since I was very young but changed it literally this week-delighted with my new choice:)
I definitly think cute, girly names are becoming a thing of the past Florence type names are taking over. I think with the popularity of Dowtown Abbey strong solid names like the main characters Mary, Edith,Sybil type name will become in vogue in the coming years... I'm not sure how Lily will date but I think in 30 years time it will be a mums name on a par with Claire, Karen, Janet etc..
Do you think Oscar fits in the same catagory as the cutesy names & a possible Jason of the 2030 era?

mathanxiety · 10/05/2012 15:32

I know two teenage Alisons.

emmyloo2 · 10/05/2012 13:50

I love the name Alison. I have it on my list for any future daughter I have. After a much loved aunt.

Vulgar · 10/05/2012 13:28

Percy Smile

or Gillian, Linda and Keith

squoosh · 10/05/2012 13:08

Only 15 Alison's born in 2010. Didn't realise it was that far out of fashion!

PercyFilth · 10/05/2012 13:07

More like Jackie (Jacqueline), John and Julie. :o

Vulgar · 10/05/2012 12:58

yes, I watched White Heat recently and the main characters were called Charlie (Charlotte), Jack and Lily.

Great story but names SO wrong for young adults in the 60's.

PercyFilth · 10/05/2012 12:35

Yes - to take a couple of samples, 34 registered in 2010 and 39 in 2003. So not very many. It does jar when an author gets character names consistently wrong for their period, though.

shoobidoo · 10/05/2012 12:16

Oh, I see. I wonder if there are ANY little Karens out there currently?

PercyFilth · 10/05/2012 12:12

They mean it's not really representational of true life. So it doesn't quite ring true.

Re Alison - yes, this is a very old name, it's certainly found in Chaucer. Will certainly be rediscovered.

shoobidoo · 10/05/2012 12:08

In fact the more I see/hear a name like Karen or Alison I'm starting to like them - they do make a refreshing change!

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