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Baby names

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

Original poster

Most retro/dated name you've heard recently

463 replies

atthewelles · 09/01/2013 11:26

I heard a woman in the park calling her little girl Madge. I haven't heard that name in years and years. I also know of a little toddler called Sheila.

Just wondering if any of you know any children with names that you thought had died out completely.

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Babyroobs · 09/01/2013 22:06

There is a Wilf in my daughter's class and a colleague has a daughter called Ada.

Jellibotti · 09/01/2013 22:03

in the last couple of years, I've met the following babies-
Maggie
two Aggies (one Agatha, the other Agnes)
two Berties
Ian (american parents)
Margot
Sylvia
Dorothy

And so many Hectors, Elizas, Jemimas and Matildas they don't count as retro anymore!

lalalonglegs · 09/01/2013 21:58

At playgroup a couple of years back there was a sibling pair called Bert and Mabel. I have come across a Cyril and Winifred (not related) since then. In my father's village in Italy, there is an (Italian) child called Alan Confused.

RillaBlythe · 09/01/2013 21:55

This thread reveals to me how subjective naming is. I think of retro/dated names as being 50s/60s/70s names. I am now so used to the Florence, Elsie, Mabel, Arthur, Albert, Stanley revival that those seem commonplace. It's Cindy, Barbara, Nigel and Colin that would strike me as falling into the retro category.

Lots of names mentioned here are classics, to my mind - Adam, for example!

iheartmycat · 09/01/2013 21:52

Some friends have recently named their babies Sylvie,Eric and Karen which to me aren't quite old enough for retro-chic somehow!

Know a toddle Euphemia, which is real granny chic and an Agatha, which I've never liked (apologies to any Agatha-mummies out there)

bigbluebus · 09/01/2013 21:40

Was going to ask if anyone had come across any Susans. There were 5 in my class at school in the 70's.

Anyone come across a Doreen yet?

TheSecondComing · 09/01/2013 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Devora · 09/01/2013 21:36

Kay.

Caroline.

Agatha

Mauds and Marthas ten a penny round here.

Squeakygate · 09/01/2013 21:35

My friend got a Alison (

InkleWinkle · 09/01/2013 21:31

Paul
Gordon
Constance
Fiona

Clayhanger · 09/01/2013 21:30

Names popular at our school (70s!)

Jackie
Julie
Joanne
Hazel
Linda
Teresa
Lynne
Alison
Melanie
Debbie
Patricia
Hilary
Philippa
Carol/Carolyn/Caroline
Karen
Stacey
Rosemary
Sue

Warren
Martin
Steve
Ian
Adrian
Tim
Endless Daves, Roberts, Richards, Peters etc

I think it'll be a while before these get trendy again- though David, Robert etc are all timeless really.

Corygal · 09/01/2013 21:28

Edgar - aged 5

Gilbert - aged 7.

Nicknamegrief · 09/01/2013 21:26

Susan, she's 1.

Susannah, yes but Susan (sorry to any out there its just dated in my opinion).

twinklestar2 · 09/01/2013 21:24

I know a baby Ian, Ray and Dorothy.

atacrossroads · 09/01/2013 21:23

I know a Dougie, Jean, Arthur, Iris and an Eric. Also know of a couple of Franks, a Stanley, and an Albert.

Umicar · 09/01/2013 21:21

I don't get why everyone hates Beryl so much, no different to Ruby in my eyes?

Darksideofthe80s · 09/01/2013 21:20

My friends dc's are Wilf, Bertie and Violet, I always fancied Seth for a boy moustache optional but that seems to have become very popular

PimpMyHippo · 09/01/2013 21:14

I think Bernard is a lovely name - don't know if it's generally considered retro, but the only one I've met was in his 70's so it is to me.

I can't imagine a baby Vera... I quite like the name Ethel though!

DownyEmerald · 09/01/2013 21:14

I know a Beryl in her 60s she absolutely hates it with a passion.

Names at dd's school I think are retro:
Peter
Sid
Ivy
Archie (there's a few of them)

Names that were popular at my school (yonks ago) and I haven't heard for a baby recently:
Darren
Gary
Sharon
Samantha
Amanda

MissBetseyTrotwood · 09/01/2013 21:12

Violet, Agnes, loads of Arthurs, Stanleys and Archies, Mabel, Constance. (Which I like.)

I love Ray and Ronnie. Those names do make me think of gangsters though. (Liotta/Kray)

CandyCrush · 09/01/2013 21:10

I can tell you exactly who calls their child Alan - my brother!

Little Alan is now 7. It wasn't "cool retro" either. Seriously would like to have been a fly on the wall when that one came up...

"How about Alan? Hmmm yes Alan is great. Lets do it"

bealos · 09/01/2013 21:05

"Broadly, in recent years, girls? names have become more flowery and old-fashioned' >> Telegraph article from April 2012

I'm nearly due and wanted to call my little one Mabel or Shirley after her Grandma's, but think all the other little girls in her future class at school will be called things like that!

Do we need to be going for 70s/80s names now to avoid being the kid in the class with the same name as everyone? (e.g. Ruby)

taketheribbon · 09/01/2013 21:01

I know a baby Eileen. She's gorgeous!

mybootsaremuddy · 09/01/2013 20:55

A friend of ours had a baby Reginald.

Also know of:
Agatha (2yr)
Agnes (1yr)
Marvin (1yr)
Keith (5yrs)
Simon (

devonsmummy · 09/01/2013 20:52

There's a Ray in DS's year at school

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