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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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Keepcalmandpassthewine · 09/01/2013 15:49

My DS had a Barbara in his class

spudmurphy · 09/01/2013 15:48

Elsie
Colette

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 09/01/2013 15:47

I teach a Colin, Simon and Alan

Alma for some reason that made me roar! Who one earth calls a baby Alan? Dads including mine are called Alan!

PrunellaDeVille · 09/01/2013 15:47

I know a baby named Deidre, seriously. Also i have a 5 week old Claude i often get Hmm looks and the odd lightly disguised Confused

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 09/01/2013 15:45

OK, what's the youngest Gaynor you know?

NoGinorWine4Mu1berry · 09/01/2013 15:42

wow snap with the Bruce!

Revival for Bruce??

NoGinorWine4Mu1berry · 09/01/2013 15:42

Also children not babies calle d Bruce and Donald. I love these but seeing as how some people (upthread) are still describing Ruby as retro, Ican see why most people wouldn't.

Most of the names here are mainstream now.eg Stanley! fgs, who doesn't know a child called Stanley. My eldest is ten and most of the names on my list ten years ago have been mentioned on this thread.

ellangirl · 09/01/2013 15:40

I have a bridget, and know a baby Bruce. Know a little Ian too. All brilliant names in my very humble opinion.

memphis83 · 09/01/2013 15:37

My friend has just had an Arthur.
Also met a Jeremy and a girl called Sidney.

I love the names Ron and Ralph (obviously not together)

Selks · 09/01/2013 15:35

I know a toddler Ray, a four year old Sarah (both of which I like actually) and someone I know is considering calling her baby when it is born, if it's a girl, Janet, which I've never liked (sorry Janets out there).

5madthings · 09/01/2013 15:34

I know a little Agatha :) I think its lovely.

Tbh many of the names mentioned here don't seem retro/dated.

Oscar certainly isn't, ditto George, Eliza and Jemima etc fairly normal names nowadays.

almapudden · 09/01/2013 15:29

I teach a Colin, Simon and Alan.

Sailormercury · 09/01/2013 15:28

My ds is called Sid Smile

AnathemaDevice · 09/01/2013 15:27

I've got a 22 month old Kathleen. She's known as Kitty most of the time though. Met a newborn called Audrey just before Christmas.

NoGinorWine4Mu1berry · 09/01/2013 15:27

Geoffrey
Maude
Malcolm

thegreylady · 09/01/2013 15:26

Valerie
Marilyn
Pamela

Basil
Clive
Ernest

Wishfulmakeupping · 09/01/2013 15:24

norbert think drew Barrymore's baby is called Olive

thegreylady · 09/01/2013 15:24

My dgs is called Frank-he is 9.

FlouryWhiteBaps · 09/01/2013 15:22

Hmm, a lot of these names are 'old lady chic' which has been going on for quite some time, names such as Mabel, Elsie and Albert and Stanley for boys.

The ones mentioned I find more ConfusedGrin are the 'mum and dad' or 'auntie and uncle' generation names on babies and small children, such as Janet, Pauline (really? Baby Pauline??!), Gordon and Brian.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 09/01/2013 15:17

Know loads called Ruby so definitely not an old folks' name. Liked it myself but DH didn't. Funny how years later I still perk up when hear of one of the 'discarded' choices in RL.

Francagoestohollywood · 09/01/2013 15:10

I am loving 99% of these retro names!!

gillian88 · 09/01/2013 15:10

Yes Martha's quite cute, but Ethel? Lol could just picture a little old lady!! Although my two are called Alfie and Ruby, both old people names apparantly!!

Fabuloo · 09/01/2013 15:08

Oh and I know 2 Martha's, good name

Fabuloo · 09/01/2013 15:07

There has been a massive trend were I live over the last 7 or so years to give babies retro names, here are a few

Stanley
Lenny (Lennard)
Elsie (I know about 3 baby girls with this name)
Ivan
Bertie
George
Frankie
Hector
Harriet
Adriana

I guess the new wave will be these (although haven't met any yet!)

Peter
Phillip
Steve
Lyn
Carol
Sandra
Paul
Janet

bigsista00 · 09/01/2013 14:57

Friends children called Janet, and Lenny.