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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names you think will not come back into 'fashion'.

208 replies

BloodiedGhouloshes · 28/10/2013 13:59

I am fascinated by the older style names that have recently come back into fashion.... Alfie, Stanley, Maisy etc. All gorgeous names. Not to mention George (almost the name of DC2).

We are thinking (just a little bit) about ttc again and I am day dreaming about names.

A DCousin recently named her little boy Phillip John on the idea that 'he will be the only one in his class'.

What nice names do you know that are unlikely to be around again any time soon?

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PinkBerryGuy · 28/10/2013 16:08

Derek.

I don't know why but i just can't imagine looking in a crib at a new born and someone saying, "this is Derek"

MrsMarigold · 28/10/2013 16:07

I like Margaret, Robert, Mildred, Rachel, Gwendoline, Maud, George, Peregrine, Sylvia, Claire, Joan and even John.

Names I'm not sure are ripe for revival are Rodney (just a bit too l
like kidney), Sharon, Derek and Barbara, although I recently heard of a Maureen, June and a Barbara.

Of the current top 10 - I'm not keen on Mia or Imogen.

Bowlersarm · 28/10/2013 16:07

I'm quite surprised by some names people are suggesting. I think names like Louise, Sarah, Fiona, Nicola, Rachel, will all definitely come back into fashion as they are nice names. I know quite a few girls called Rachel so not sure it has gone out of fashion.

I agree that Maude has made a bit od a revival. I think Peggy is due a comeback too.

2cats2many · 28/10/2013 16:07

Claire, Donna, Darren, Kevin.

Wolfcub · 28/10/2013 16:04

edna

NotAnotherPackedLunch · 28/10/2013 16:03

My parents have done really well - all their children are listed here. Grin

stickysausages · 28/10/2013 16:02

Senga

Grennie · 28/10/2013 15:53

I don't see anything wrong with some of these names.

I don't ever see Dick and Fanny coming back into fashion though.

A lot of the names children have today, will be seen as hopelessly naff and old fashioned in a generation or two.

WandaDoff · 28/10/2013 15:42

All these will be the names our children pick for our grandchildren.

While we all sit there all Shock Confused Hmm saying "You CAN'T call a baby THAT!!"

ithaka · 28/10/2013 15:35

Karen
Nicola
Griselda
Grizel
Lettuce

sonlypuppyfat · 28/10/2013 15:33

Its a generation thing though isn't it. If someone told me Archie alfie and Sidney were in fashion I wouldn't have believed it. Mind you I still can't believe it now.

Howlsmovingcastle · 28/10/2013 15:32

x-post with eldritch!

Howlsmovingcastle · 28/10/2013 15:31

I think that Joseph is so firmly rooted in the religious firmament that the more recent unpleasant links can be overlooked, whereas most people only know the nmae Adolf/Adolph for one reason. It is interesting though.

Also Ian/Myra: there are lots of Ians and relatively few Myras, so it sticks in the head.

EldritchCleavage · 28/10/2013 15:31

Adolf was always unusual here (and even in Germanic countries was very regional in use, I think) so the association with Hitler was very strong. But Josef is such a commonplace name, it doesn't bring Stalin to mind when you hear it I suppose.

Like Dennis Neilsen or Jeffrey Dahmer-the name was too common for their crimes to create an association, but Myra was not, so when we hear it we do think of Hindley.

mignonnette · 28/10/2013 15:29

Dear

I had a darling Grandfather named Roy too. Flowers for both of them.

I love the name Rachel. There are plenty of little Rachel's around my way. I have a family member named Rachel who is 44.

Ethel is the name of Lilly Allen's daughter.

piemashandliquer · 28/10/2013 15:29

Godfrey
Colin
Roger
Nigel
Doreen
Maureen
Barbara
Patricia
Raymond
Kathleen
Pamela
Basically, anything circa baby 1940s

Mattissy · 28/10/2013 15:28

Tbh, the way fashion circulate I honestly think they'll all come back at some point. The more we say "ooo, so old fashioned" or "yuck, hate that" the more likely the next generations will pick it up and rebel. Every generation likes to make a change and eventually the cool names will once again by Sharon, Tracy, Simon and Nigel etc.

Some of the names listed hear have been around for hundreds or thousands (biblical) of years, they are not going to disappear because Debi from Chicester said she didn't like it in 2013, lol. Sorry if there really is a Debi from Chicester on here! Lol

FreckledLeopard · 28/10/2013 15:23

Sharon
Tracey
Donna
Linda
Anne
Hilda
Gwendoline

Bowlersarm · 28/10/2013 15:19

Gloria
Maureen
Doreen
Gladys

fidgetywidget · 28/10/2013 15:17

Peetle I know of a Queenie who is under 5! Grin

shrieklesoda · 28/10/2013 15:14

isn't it strange that people, quite rightly, associate the name Adolph with Hitler and find the thought of using it as a baby name unpleasant, yet the name Joseph continues to be popular and is not associated with Stalin.

Or the name Ian is not automatically associated with a horrific series of murders, whereas the name Myra is?

Wonder why some names stick in our minds in that way?

Howlsmovingcastle · 28/10/2013 15:08

Adolf. Understandable, really.

Also:
Ethelred
Cuthbert
Cadwallader
Yolworth
Augustus

shrieklesoda · 28/10/2013 15:04

I can't see Norman making a comeback.

But ten years ago I'd have howled with laughter if you'd told me that my own name would once again be popular for little girls, because I was ridiculed for it throughout my schooldays. But it is now, so you just never know.

Was surprised to see Rachel referred to earlier as a 70s name. I'm a 70s child and I don't know any Rachel's my age, but I know loads who are under 30, and of those most are under the age of ten. Where I live its very much more a current name than a dated one. I've noticed before that there seem to be huge variations around the UK.

Littlecherublegs · 28/10/2013 15:03

Barry, Keith, Kenneth, Derek, Dirk, Norris, Maurice

Deirdre, Geraldine, Gertrude, Meryl, Valerie, Mildred, Glynis

mrsminiverscharlady · 28/10/2013 14:46

Myra