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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Is Helen too old fashioned?

83 replies

lavenderfields · 30/07/2012 23:18

Not heard any Helen's for about 20 years! Is it suitable for a baby or do you think everyone would think I was from the dark ages!

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Helmondo · 31/07/2012 16:53

Another Helen here...

I used to think it was really old fashioned too and I never knew another Helen my age till I went to college (I'm 22 now)

I quite like it now, it's grown on me and I think I'd be fed up if I had a name that everyone had, it's a lovely name!

hellymelly · 31/07/2012 16:46

ENormaSnob · 31/07/2012 16:24

I really like it.

And I know quite a few Helen's, all are really lovely.

EdithWeston · 31/07/2012 16:05

Blue Peter's Helen Skelton has probably put the name back on the radar, IYSWIM.

It's a good classic name.

WithACherryOnTop · 31/07/2012 16:01

This is a baby name thread.I am allowed to state my opinion,MrsBucket If I don't like a name I'll say so. As does just about everyone else on the Babyname forum.

Also I can't imagine caring if someone liked my name or not so long as I'm happy with it,and plenty of people don't like mine,but I don't have a hissy fit,or weep and wail when they say they think it's horrid. It's not a personal insult.They just don't like my name. It's a non issue imho.

And I am aware that the name is Helen,not Ellen.What I'm referrring to is that I don't particuarly like an 'el' sound in the beginning of a name e.g Ellie,Ella,Helena,Elliot etc.

hellymelly · 31/07/2012 14:57

"What were all the world's alarms
to mightly Paris, when he found
sleep upon a golden bed
that first dawn in Helen's arms"
Is that Yeats? Can't remember.

anklebitersmum · 31/07/2012 14:43

Well I like Helen..but then I would.
I think it's a 'classic' name, think Helen of Troy

MrsBucketxx · 31/07/2012 14:42

withacherry so my name is ugly f-ing cheek you have and its helen not ellen BTW there is a difference.

there was loads in my year at school, but i don't know of any babies called that

its ancient greek and means light/shining.

Olympicnmix · 31/07/2012 14:41

No, it's beautiful

hellymelly · 31/07/2012 14:40

I am a Helen, and I think its a classic name. I know of much older Helens than me, and in novels there are Helens from The Victorians on, so it isn't madly of an era in the way that a name like Julie is. Strangely I lived in London for decades and never met another one, but now I've moved back to Wales I know of 4 locally, all my age (40's) or older. I would have used it for DD if it hadn't been my own name.

tammytoby · 31/07/2012 14:35

It is lovely. There is no 'rule' that a name has to be trendy/fashionable.

On the contrary, the less trendy names are the less overused ones and are more interesting imo.

birdofthenorth · 31/07/2012 14:29

Helen is lovely. Love Nell or Lennie as nicknames, although most of my generation go by Hels or the full version.

Haberdashery · 31/07/2012 14:00

Helen is definitely ripe for a revival. I think it's lovely.

jeneliapeterson · 31/07/2012 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WithACherryOnTop · 31/07/2012 13:08

I can't imagine calling Helen a baby,but not because it's old fashioned,but because it's ugly. It's not a very pleasant name at all imho,but then I'm not fond of any of the 'El' names.

VolAuVent · 31/07/2012 12:57

Lovely name.

AlpinePony · 31/07/2012 07:51

Lovely!

HappyAsASandboy · 31/07/2012 07:43

I think it's a beautiful name :)

englishmummyinwales · 31/07/2012 07:26

I know a 6 yr old Helen. It's not much different from Ellen really, is it but there are lot more of those around. I think it's lovely.

trikken · 31/07/2012 04:12

Love it. Great name

emmyloo2 · 31/07/2012 03:14

I love it. Absolute classic.

roteelefant · 31/07/2012 00:14

I really like it

EllenParsons · 30/07/2012 23:51

I am a Helen and I'm in my mid 20s. I used to think it was too old fashioned as I didn't know many Helens my age and I am named after my great aunt but now I really like it - I would love to meet a baby Helen. I say go for it!

CharlotteWasBoth · 30/07/2012 23:49

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 30/07/2012 23:34

I am one. I would have preferred helena it's a little bit prettier.

It's not been a bad name though.

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