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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names you dont hear these days but had there hey day

40 replies

Lollybrolly · 25/01/2013 02:31

Lots of older names being used but is it a generation thing or what?? There are certain names that dont seem to be coming back into fashion. Do you think classrooms will ever be full of children named......

Doreen
Maud
Mildred
Audrey
Joan
Marjorie
Mary
Brenda
Bertha
Jean
Doris
Maureen
Kathleen
Barbara - DH really wanted this for our DD.

Malcolm
Bernard
Larry
Barry
Roy
Ron
Walter
Dennis
Roger
Amos
Clifford
Raymond
Kenneth

What other similar names can you think of that were once quite popular but now quite rare??

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SPsFanjoIsAsComfyAsAOnesie · 25/01/2013 16:13

First I'm a Kelly and there's 2 other Kellys in my street. It was popular when I was born and I had few in the same year. I was born in '90

emsyj · 25/01/2013 16:12

I know a couple of baby/toddler Peters (love that name), a Mary who is about 3 now I think, and also two Rachels, a Brian and a Nathan - and I have a Ruth.

I love the name Michael (currently shortlisting names as 38+5 with DC2) but can't use it as that would be DH's cousin's exact name.... Gah! Will be keeping an eye on this thread for other ideas though! Quite liking Walter...

StephaniePowers · 25/01/2013 16:10

I know a baby Ian, and it just sounds wrong even though it's a perfectly all right name.

Ditto a Karen. Nice name, but v 70s/80s.

FirstTimeForEverything · 25/01/2013 16:05

This reply has been deleted

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phlebas · 25/01/2013 15:56

I know babies/children called Walter, Mary(s), Audrey, Amos, Peter, Alison, Simon and Timothy.

How about Helen, Elaine, Bridget, Heather, David, Graham, Steven, John (I like John)?

CruCru · 25/01/2013 15:16

I love Maud. I know a Peter, Elizabeth (think that's really popular) and Mary.

What about

Janice
Phyllis
Agnes (I love this too)
Jean
Steven
Michael
Nicholas
Mark
Matthew
Sandra
Hilary
Fiona
Nicola
Harriet
Carol

deleted203 · 25/01/2013 13:44

This is fun, actually. I'd forgotten about Alison, although there were lots when I was at school.

How about:-

Trevor
Nicholas
Brian
Geoffrey
Timothy
Anthony
Jeremy
Donald
Nathan
Dennis
Terry
Carl
Phillip

Never hear them nowadays. For girls there was:-

Lisa
Angela
Elizabeth
Christine
Amanda
Dawn
Rachel
Wendy
Sandra
Debbie
Donna
Theresa
Jaqueline
Caroline
Diane
Lynn
Anita
Ruth
Jeanette

Loads of girls called the above at my school - I've not heard of most of them for years.

forgetmenots · 25/01/2013 10:09

I think Peter is due a come back.

Got to say, there's some I haven't heard in ages:

Rita
Janice
Suzanne
Alison
Marjorie
Karen
Patricia
Kay

Keith
Kevin
Gary
Colin
Graham
Gordon

I think some of those will reappear and some not!

FunnyLittleFrog · 25/01/2013 06:38

Peter is still about, and Mary too. Though older kids, not babies.

I can see some of the 'mum' and 'dad' names coming back in time. People will names their DCs after their grandparents / great-grandparents.

Once my generation start dying babies will be called Tracy and Sharon, Darren and Craig again!

2dogslong · 25/01/2013 05:38

I know a baby Eric. His mum is a true blood fan Grin

anonymosity · 25/01/2013 05:19

Really? I find it hard to believe Doris, Doreen or Denise ever had a hay-day.

Original poster
Lollybrolly · 25/01/2013 03:15

Ah sowornout - those are all the names from my childhood too. Perhaps our grandchildrenwill name their offspring Kevin and Claire.

OP posts:
emblosion · 25/01/2013 03:14

Janet
Susan
Valerie
Jean
Christine
Margaret

I always think these are 'mum' names. I guess they'll come full circle though.

I know a baby Albert. Can't imagine babies called Colin, Gordon or Eric but I'm sure I'll be proved wrong!

deleted203 · 25/01/2013 03:11

I teach and I haven't taught any of these for years:-

Peter
Stephen
Kevin
Colin
Nigel
Sharon
Tracey
Joanne
Julie
Jennifer
Andrea
Karen
Denise

All names which were really common when I was at school.

yawningmonster · 25/01/2013 02:51

None to add except to say I know
Under 5
Maud
Mary and
Kathleen
Under 10
Malcolm
Amos
Under 20
Audrey
Walter

So they may not be as generational as you think...though we are in a different country to most posters.

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