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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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anewmotivatedme · 09/01/2013 16:23

Mabel, Elsie, Gwen, Ada, Maud
Ned (Ned on birth certificate rather than Edward), Eric and Frank (Francis)

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 09/01/2013 16:20

Edith
Gilbert
Victoria

LadyMargolotta · 09/01/2013 16:19

Labootin - the Horace I know is nicknamed Ace!

I know a baby Brian and toddler Eric. and an Ian.

CremeEggThief · 09/01/2013 16:19

A friend of a friend gave birth to Oswald in November!

Allalonenow · 09/01/2013 16:17

I know a little Solomon (Solly).

FoofFighter · 09/01/2013 16:16

And an Audrey

FoofFighter · 09/01/2013 16:15

Names heard or known of in the last 3 years:

twins called Ronnie and Reggie (born just before Xmas, maybe that midwife friend wasn't kidding, it can't be that common???

Bruce
David
Angus
Ian
Connie
Alfred
Frederick

I quite like Bruce and Connie

Original poster
atthewelles · 09/01/2013 16:15

Mildred??? Eugh!

OP posts:
KindleMum · 09/01/2013 16:13

I recently met a baby Mildred.

LeChatRouge · 09/01/2013 16:11

I know a Gladys who is 2. She's lovely.
I like Madge a lot.

KRITIQ · 09/01/2013 16:11

Recent ones that I thought - Oh, that's a bit (ahem) "last season,"

Shirley
Lois
Myrtle
Peggy
Trevor
Lincoln

Mind you, I think some of these can be subjective or even regional. I grew up in America and moved to the UK in the mid 80's. I was pretty surprised to meet women under 50 with names like Helen, Louise and Alice or men under 50 called things like George, Arthur or Charles. They were just names I associated with my parents or even grandparent's generations.

Original poster
atthewelles · 09/01/2013 16:07

My niece has a Vanessa in her class. She's five.

OP posts:
merlottits · 09/01/2013 16:05

My work colleagues young daughters (under 5s) are Nicola, Kelly and Vanessa!

Original poster
atthewelles · 09/01/2013 16:05

Susannah is lovely. A colleague called his daughter that about four years ago. Nellie is awful but I like Nell.

OP posts:
Bearface · 09/01/2013 16:02

I know a baby called Herbert and he's adorable.

I also know a Stanley, a Susannah and a Nellie who all suit their names very well.

I like retro names. The only ones I don't like are Deirdre for reasons already mentioned and Brenda as it makes me think of boobs. My friends at school always used the term 'brendas' for boobs.

EbbNFlow · 09/01/2013 15:59

Madge has given me a good giggle.

There is a Percy in DD's class. Also know of baby girls born recently called Valerie, Pru and Hilda.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 09/01/2013 15:58

Me, I don't know anyone under 75 called Stanley! Doesn't it depend on where you live?

orangepudding · 09/01/2013 15:58

I know a Kevin, David, Bruce and Sarah. None unusal for people over 30 but not very widely used for babies now.

Original poster
atthewelles · 09/01/2013 15:57

Whereas her in Ireland Deirdre would be the Irish equivalent of Melanie, Debbie or Jackie. Totally dates you back to the sixties or seventies.

OP posts:
FlouryWhiteBaps · 09/01/2013 15:55

But Deirdre Shock. If that's in Britain I bet every adult who meets the baby mentally adds 'Barlow' on to her name without even thinking about it Grin.

spudmurphy · 09/01/2013 15:53

Jesus wept- MADGE !!!!!

Original poster
atthewelles · 09/01/2013 15:52

I love the name Janet. But I suppose in Ireland it wouldn't have been a popular name fifty or sixty years ago so it doesn't have any mumsy connotations for me.

I agree some of the names mentioned aren't really that dated or retro anymore eg Oscar, Elsie, Eliza. I suppose, in my OP, I was thinking more of some of the other names mentioned like Marilyn, Frank, Valerie and Ralph.

OP posts:
almapudden · 09/01/2013 15:52

Ariel - it suits him!

FlouryWhiteBaps · 09/01/2013 15:51

Colette is rather nice!

spudmurphy · 09/01/2013 15:49

A name like Gladys do you mean- and no i haven't heard of any baby called Gladys lately

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