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Baby names

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

Original poster

So, which year's names are least appealing to parents naming in 2013

81 replies

JennyEnglish · 15/05/2013 15:26

Is it names that are 50 years old? Or is it less than that? some people were listing names that they couldn't imagine coming back, like Linda and Janet. I don't really dislike those. Jane is nice. Linda is pretty I think.

I think names I'd be really surprised to hear would be Suzanne and Nicola, Martin, Stephen.

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Pfaffer · 05/06/2013 06:44

I know a newish baby called Reggie.

Someone in my baby group had an Ian. I thought that was before its time tbh.

Anyone got a Doris? It's due.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 05/06/2013 06:08

Jenny

I have the same name as my mum, grandmother and great grandmother. Very uncommon in women.

I know a baby called Ray.

Turniptwirl · 04/06/2013 23:14

I know a few young Jodie's and to my shock some mid 20s Trevor's!

But yes I think the middle aged people names like Beryl, Sue, Carol, Linda etc would be the most strange on a baby. But who knows they may be the Evie's and Arthur's of our children's children's generation!

halestone · 04/06/2013 22:39

My DP aged 30 is called Martin i hate it.

I can't see names like Pauline, Maureen, Doreen and Barbara coming back into popularity.

StealthPolarBear · 04/06/2013 22:34

I love the two generations theory (barring biblical names) and am dying to try it out. Means my dcs children will be called robert, ken, charles, jack, jean (always thougbt that was due a comeback), audrey, elsie, margery

StealthPolarBear · 04/06/2013 22:32

Ha my dad is a neil and my mum has made exactly the same comment about looking at a cute baby and thinking. "I know...Neil! "

LazyMonkeyButler · 04/06/2013 22:31

Judging mainly by MN baby name threads, I would guess that "granny names" like Nora, Maude, Mabel etc. are going to continue to rise in popularity and "overused cutesy" names will become, well, less overused - Poppy, Ellie etc.

In real life though, I know of NO actual babies being given old lady names and recent births include Ellie-May, Lilllie-Rose & Sienna-Mae - all of which would be frowned upon in a rather judgey way on MN.

My conclusion is that it's all rather regional.

AcrylicPlexiglass · 04/06/2013 22:30

I love Suzanne.

I know lots and lots of Kennys of all ages but they are all Nigerian twin Kehindes and not Kenneths!

FeelingHorse · 04/06/2013 22:24

Neil could never make a comeback!

My DP is called Neil, and I've always wondered why someone would look at a tiny cute newborn and go "This baby looks like a Neil...."

VerySmallSqueak · 04/06/2013 22:19

How about Carol or Adrian?
Christine or Gary?

I think it's names between 40 and 60 years ago that mainly fall in the 'dated' category.

MadameJosephine · 04/06/2013 22:11

I love Valerie, I also like Audrey which is probably of the same era.

Names of my parents generation are definitely making a comeback but names of my own generation not so much. I was born in the 70's and am one of the generic Tracy/Michelle/Joanne/Julie/Nicola's of the time. Seems funny that in 20/30 years there might be a new batch

LynetteScavo · 04/06/2013 21:33

I wouldn't ever name my DC;

Nigel, Barry, Colin, Derek, Trevor

Deborah, Paula, Janet, Linda, Doreen.

I imagine those names were popular in the '50's.

I do, however love Kenny, Howard, Arnold, Nancy

Startail · 04/06/2013 21:24

For me Steve passes the two generation test as it was my grandfather as well as many of the boys I went to school with.

Meanwhile, Janet, Nicola, Claire, Susan, Wendy, Julie and Joanne are somebody's Mum.

TheBookofRuth · 04/06/2013 21:17

My grandad was a Bernard, you don't meet many (or any) baby Bernards. The only other Bernard I know is a cat.

itsonlysubterfuge · 04/06/2013 21:02

I don't mind common names, even though I prefer more unique names. It's names like Fifi Trixibelle and Rainbow Alphabet, that I dislike. Unique names are good, children's names that sound like strippers or paint samples, not so much.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 04/06/2013 18:49

In my antenatal group with dd1 who is now 5, one of the babies was called Ray.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 04/06/2013 18:49

I know a 6 year old Kenny (Kenneth) and there's a Sylvia in dd1's class.

kerala · 04/06/2013 18:45

Our generation will never go for pam and val

farmersdaughter · 04/06/2013 18:43

I know a 16yr Gloria, it really suits here.

My friend has a 5 yr Brian, doesn't suit him at all.

hellokitty123 · 04/06/2013 18:32

I too feel that Colin is due a revival soon!

hellokitty123 · 04/06/2013 18:31

Archie, Alfie, Poppy, Molly, Evie and similar overused cutesy names will fall out of favour, I reckon.

Futterby · 04/06/2013 18:11

Archibald. Oh god.

WorkingtoohardMama · 16/05/2013 13:02

I know a 4 year old Barry - I don't really like it though.

peeriebear · 16/05/2013 13:02

Clive.
My dear late friend Fred was really a Clive; he just didn't like it.
I know of a teenaged Graham Confused

boatclub · 16/05/2013 12:48

I reckon Colin is due a revival.