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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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SamSmalaidh · 11/01/2013 12:28

Martha and Nancy are pretty on-trend, not dated.

I think of names like Sandra, Deborah, Margaret as unusual now.

bealos · 11/01/2013 12:26

rexie don't you think Martha and Nancy are quite popular names now?

rexie · 11/01/2013 12:15

I have a two little girls Martha and Nancy. Why should you follow the flock?

Snazzynewyear · 11/01/2013 12:11

Slightly OT but just looked at the NM link and their page about popular names in 2013 - admittedly this comes from Nameberry. They reckon The Hobbit will inspire names, maybe not Bilbo but Thorin? Shock I can't see it myself. I'd rather have Debbie, Mike or Carol any day.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 11/01/2013 12:09

Rebecca and Rachel not unusual in Scotland...

wewereherefirst that's throwing down the gauntlet Wink.

Snazzynewyear · 11/01/2013 12:08

CremeEgg It's interesting how it varies across Britain and Ireland regionally! I know slightly older Rebeccas and Rachels (in their teens) but they're not being used for under 5s round here. I actually think both are pretty classic but went through a period of intense popularity followed by a backlash.

CremeEggThief · 11/01/2013 12:01

My DS in Year 5 has a Rebecca and a Rachel in his class, Snazzy.

We also know three Lees, aged between 6 and 9, in Ireland.

sydenhamhiller · 11/01/2013 11:25

Oh love the homage to Jilly Cooper with Taggie: Agatha.
I named new dc3 Nancy, which seems to be a marmite name like my first DC has- common 'diplomatic' responses like 'oh the old names are coming back' and 'oh interesting' ;-)

I had forgotten, as dc2's name usually gets a "ooooh lovely"

wewereherefirst · 11/01/2013 11:21

I have a Stanley, my eldest sons name hasn't been mentioned I don't think but it's not very common.

Other choices for the baby were:

Frederick/Freddie
Solomon
Herbert
Theodore
Sebastian.

As much as I love Stanley, I wish we would have called him Freddie, but DH and I couldn't agree on names at all.

Vagaceratops · 11/01/2013 11:20

Like the blanket?

worsestershiresauce · 11/01/2013 11:17

My friend called her daughter Agatha, nickname Taggie. I was lost for words...

bealos · 11/01/2013 11:08

Top 100 baby names for 2012 on Netmums

Snazzynewyear · 11/01/2013 10:54

There's a definite split between 60ish names, which for me would be Mike, Dave, Richard, Steve, Sandra, Linda, Carol, Diane, and 70s/80s names I remember from school: Lee (lots of these), Darren, Scott, Neil, Paul, Julie, Debbie, Louise, Sarah, Joanne, Claire, Karen, Natalie, Rebecca, Rachel.

I genuinely don't know any little ones or babies with any of these names.

Have just checked the 2011 baby names table and Alan is at no.199, with 263 baby boys given that name! So not so unheard of as we might think Smile

bealos · 11/01/2013 10:48

We have a baby Marlene in the January due date group on here...

BreastmilkNewYearLatte · 11/01/2013 10:48

I've met a few real 70s names at toddler groups recently

Janet
Rachel
Robert
Laura
Caroline
Greg

Original poster
atthewelles · 11/01/2013 10:40

Oh, and my brother's boss has called his new baby Marlene.

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Original poster
atthewelles · 11/01/2013 10:39

Clawdy I know someone who called their new baby June, last Summer. I love the name Jane and would definitely consider it for a baby girl.

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DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 11/01/2013 10:01

Oh dear not Myra; saying that, Rose is still very popular.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 11/01/2013 09:13

Myra has unfortunate connotations.

Someone mentioned Unity a while back saying she liked it and posters howled "Noooooo! She was a fascist!" etc. I wonder how Oswald can be making a comeback then? Confused

AntoinetteCosway · 11/01/2013 09:10

I know a baby Ernest.

ehmumbo · 11/01/2013 08:59

Sadie is short for Sarah.
No no no NOT Myra please!

ehmumbo · 11/01/2013 08:57

Horace Whore is an interesting one! Have I missed something?

MrsMushroom · 11/01/2013 07:36

I think Dorothy s an absolutely lovely name misspolly I know a 7 year old Stephanie which is bizarre.

Solo · 11/01/2013 00:34

Elsie and Nelly. Don't like either of them.

Ham69 · 11/01/2013 00:32

I love a lot of these names. I know a 6 year old Sonia and I'm still not used to it!

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