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Baby names

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

Original poster

Deborah

63 replies

Vintagejazz · 27/05/2014 16:20

Someone I know is thinking of calling her baby this but is wondering if people will think it's dated. While I think Debbie is very dated and '70s I was kind of struck by how classy and dignified Deborah sounds. I really like it, but said I'd 'ask around' for opinions on it for her.

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JohnFarleysRuskin · 30/05/2014 20:55

Love it - and Jacqueline and Amanda.

Unfortunately the nicknames aren't so great.

NadiaWadia · 30/05/2014 18:29

But Deborah is much classier than Sky. Why did you hate being called Debbie/Deborah? Presumably it was a popular name when you were growing up?

Pebbles0934 · 30/05/2014 18:17

It's my name and I have always hated it. I vowed to change my name to Sky when I was old enough but never did!

Obviously I'm used to it now and get Debbie, Deb, Debs but never Deborah.

I told my parents all the time that I hated it and I still tell them now!

Seems a strange choice to give a child nowadays... But if she likes it then that's fine but it's not my style! Lots of lovely names for girls... She must be able to find something else!

Gemerama · 29/05/2014 11:43

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Kitsmummy · 28/05/2014 16:58

Sorry puppy fat, I think it's horrible for a baby, ok for an adult I guess

everlong · 28/05/2014 14:10

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HarderToKidnap · 28/05/2014 12:24

The Hebrew version is Devorah, which I like.

squoosh · 28/05/2014 12:23

I know! We'll have to smile and say 'oh lovely' as baby Roger or baby Doreen is put in our arms.

I'll be one of those old bats who'll say 'you cannot possibly call her Doreen!'.

Daisymasie · 28/05/2014 12:19

I think most people are turned off the names they grew up with or their parents' generation had. Our mums wouldn't have dreamt of calling a child Ruby, Alfie, Edith or George, but they're all hugely popular now.
I bet our children will love names like Barbara, Joyce and Colin and their children will think names like Lisa, Debs, Gary and Steve have a lovely vintagy vibe to them Grin

sonlypuppyfat · 28/05/2014 12:15

Sorry kits bloody phone.

sonlypuppyfat · 28/05/2014 12:14

Don't hold back kids say what you think.

Kitsmummy · 28/05/2014 11:38

Oh i think it's dreadful, really hideous, 70s and not in a cool way

Daisymasie · 28/05/2014 11:30

I like it but I think it was ruined a bit by the explosion of Debbies in the 60s and 70s. I think it might need another ten years or so to distance itself from that and go back to being a nice, old fashioned dignified name. In the same way that the next generation won't want to touch names like Sophie, Lily, Olivia and Ellie. Not because they're not nice names, but because they will just sound very dated and naff.

squoosh · 27/05/2014 23:11

I don't think it's different though is it? It's like saying Sandra or Karen are different. There are loads of them, they're just over 40.

TheCraicDealer · 27/05/2014 23:08

Badtime, i think I can categorically say I was not on that sports team, regardless of whatever sport was being played Grin

Actually I'm not that fussed about having a Deborah revival, It's good being different.

Princessdeb · 27/05/2014 22:51

I'm a Deborah who really likes their name. I'm Debbie at home (which I'm fine with) and a Deborah at work and with most friends (although I'm not too worried if they call me Debbie). I like the fact it offers me flexibility to be formal or informal, soft or formidable!

badtime · 27/05/2014 22:51

TheCraic, I found that absolutely hilarious when I was about 11. I had no idea what it stood for for years, just that I saw it on the sports noticeboard (when there was some sort of game against them/yous) and giggled.

fingersonbuzzers · 27/05/2014 22:47

I'm not mad keen on it.

What about Naomi? I think of that as being of a similar ilk to Deborah but much prettier.

TheCraicDealer · 27/05/2014 22:44

I never got that personally, but then our school was called BRA [outs self]

DeWee · 27/05/2014 22:40

Oh and the boys will delight in telling her that "did you know that you can pronounce your name as Deb-BRA?" giggle giggle giggle... My friend said that every single set of boys from infant right the way up to office level pointed this out in an "I'm being terribly original aren't I?" way. Hmm

DeWee · 27/05/2014 22:37

Not keen on the name. But bear in mind that if she's called Deborah she will almost certainly end up as Debbie/Debi/Debby or Debs.

She did put a tent peg through someone's head in the Bible Grin

BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 27/05/2014 22:34

Like it - reminds me of Deborah Mitford.

Dora would be a good shortening.

mswibble · 27/05/2014 22:30

personalclown im another one named after Debbie Harry!
Ive never really minded it, and as someone else has said, it means bumblebee which I love! Not so keen on Debra, think Deborah is a nicer spelling personally.
My mums Irish uncle insisted on pronouncing it Deb-BOR-ah. No-one else did though!

Notso · 27/05/2014 22:26

I quite like it. I know a lovely one who has Dora as a nn.

Squirm · 27/05/2014 22:24

I'm a Deborah and I love my name. It means bee not bitter!!
Very off-beat and impressive to use it now. It will be big again in 20 years!