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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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merlottits · 09/01/2013 16:05

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

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

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

OP posts:
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.

LeChatRouge · 09/01/2013 16:11

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

KindleMum · 09/01/2013 16:13

I recently met a baby Mildred.

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

Mildred??? Eugh!

OP posts:
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

FoofFighter · 09/01/2013 16:16

And an Audrey

Allalonenow · 09/01/2013 16:17

I know a little Solomon (Solly).

CremeEggThief · 09/01/2013 16:19

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

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.

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 09/01/2013 16:20

Edith
Gilbert
Victoria

anewmotivatedme · 09/01/2013 16:23

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

Labootin · 09/01/2013 16:24

Summer : oooo thats marginally better although still slightly toe curling I may start give the kid a break and start calling him it .. It may catch on with daft parents

anewmotivatedme · 09/01/2013 16:24

I woudn't describe David or Ian as retro, as these are my brothers names. They are both in their early 20s.

Labootin · 09/01/2013 16:24

Sorry I meant LadyM

dontaskforthe99 · 09/01/2013 16:25

Janet

anewmotivatedme · 09/01/2013 16:25

I forgot, friends have a daughter called Polly.

Vagaceratops · 09/01/2013 16:26

Dennis.

anewmotivatedme · 09/01/2013 16:26

I forget, we know a toddler called Audrey.

Bearface · 09/01/2013 16:37

I like Edith. Very cute.

HoratiaWinwood · 09/01/2013 16:47

Philip
Eric
Colin

I was fairly surprised by John and Richard (twins) too, although pleasantly unlike the above!

noddyholder · 09/01/2013 16:48

I went to a house viewing and there was a baby about 8 months called barbara she was so cute it really suited her.

Bearface · 09/01/2013 16:51

I've also known an Elspeth, a Regan, a Martha, a Jemima, plus loads of others like that through working as a teacher.

Badgersnatch · 09/01/2013 16:53

Both of my boys' names are on here (proper old codger names). In fairness DH did ask me if I'd travelled back to the 1950s during pregnancy Grin