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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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badtime · 27/05/2014 22:19

(I meant my 1940s name)

TheCraicDealer · 27/05/2014 22:11

I'm a 25 year old Deborah and I will be having Disco 2000 played as I exit the church after I get married. Means bumblebee, and Deborah in the bible seems pretty bad ass.

I get Debbie at home (which I hate), but Deborah everywhere else. It gets shortened to Debs or Debo. I wouldn't pick it myself, but every other woman my age seems to be called Laura or Rachel, so it works for me. Now, Decca is a great name!

ItMustBeALime · 27/05/2014 21:52

Love it, and have never met a Deborah who hasn't been formidable (in a good way)

squoosh · 27/05/2014 21:45

Well it was a popular name in the 70's badtime. Lots of 40 something Debbies around.

squoosh · 27/05/2014 21:44

I prefer Pamela or Samantha from that era.

badtime · 27/05/2014 21:28

I like it.

I think I know how a little Deborah born now would feel - I have a 1940s name, and growing up in the 70s and 80s I did sometimes wish I was called something cooler (like Nikki or Samantha!), but I like my name now (although, for some reason, somebody on this thread thinks it's a 1970s name Confused )

AMI88 · 27/05/2014 21:20

I think Pulp song!

I actually like it, not debs or Debbie though. If mom wants it she should go for it! X

sonlypuppyfat · 27/05/2014 21:17

It doesn't matter that she led an army it mattered that she was an important woman when there wasn't many.

sonlypuppyfat · 27/05/2014 21:15

It means bee!

Bluetubchairs · 27/05/2014 21:14

Anyway, I don't want to bash the name seeing that some very nice posters name Deborah are on by his thread. However, surely your friend can come up with a nicer name op Smile

Nunyabiz · 27/05/2014 21:12

It's quite dated... And I'm pretty sure it means 'bitter'...

Bluetubchairs · 27/05/2014 21:12

"Deborah in the bible led an army into battle."
Another reason why I don't like the name (sorry!).

voodoochimp · 27/05/2014 21:10

Your name is Deborah
It never suited ya

Debs75 · 27/05/2014 21:03

Well obviously I am a Deborah and I am shocked at how my name is so hatedShockSad

Actually I hated it most of my life. I have been Debbie, Debs and Debra. I prefer Debs but most people call me Debi, yes I shortened it to appear cool. I so wish my mum had named me Philippa like she wanted to.

If your friend likes it then she will use it. It doesn't matter what other people think.

chesterberry · 27/05/2014 21:02

I have a friend Deborah (28yo) but she is known as Dibs. At school she was Dib Dabs.

Deborah reminds me of the Pulp song Disco 2000 - yer name was Deborah, it never suited yer.

sonlypuppyfat · 27/05/2014 21:01

I'm a Deborah and as I get older the more I like it. And if anyone calls me Debbie I want to fucking kill them. Deborah in the bible led an army into battle.

sanssoleil · 27/05/2014 21:00

In my English school there were 7 Deborahs in my class of 25 pupils-so we are talking half of the girls.

I actually think it is a good biblical name and a strong name- my Jewish friends use Devorah which I prefer.

threedeer · 27/05/2014 20:54

Hate the name. Narrowly missed it- it was on my parents' shortlist. Not sure why it's so ugly but it is, not just because it's ranked with all those 70s names like Janine, Beverley, Jackie, Wendy, Barbara, but because it just doesn't have a musical, attractive sound to it.

There are some gorgeous biblical names that are underused. But Deborah isn't one of them.

Bluetubchairs · 27/05/2014 20:50

Sorry, I really don't like it. It sounds harsh and dated. I don't like Deborah or Debbie Confused.

PersonalClown · 27/05/2014 20:50

I am a mid 30's Deborah. I was named after Debbie Harry.
I don't feel like I fit any permutation. I hate my name.

itfcbabe · 27/05/2014 20:45

My sister is Deborah and called Debbie she was born in the late 60's but she was named after our Grandma and Great Grandma, my Grandma was Ruby,Deborah and my Great Grandma Susan Deborah.

I have thought about using it as a middle name as I use family names.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 27/05/2014 20:44

I like it. I went to school with a couple and worked with one. If Winifred is used nowadays I think anything can have a revival. It's nice to stand out from the crowd.

PS I thought the same about the name Tracy having watched Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story. Cool, elegant.

sandberry · 27/05/2014 20:18

Deborah is great, classic like Elizabeth. However I would expect a few raised eyebrows and negative remarks, people will see it through the lens of it being out of fashion, not realising how dated and frumpy and ugly names like Isabella and Sophia will seem in 15 years time to the parents of the day.

Also its biblical so goes with modern trends for biblical names (as is Sharon incidentally)

EyelinerQueen · 27/05/2014 20:04

It has absolutely zero appeal to me. A plain, frumpy and dated name.

Viatrix · 27/05/2014 20:03

I know a 24 year old Deborah who goes by Debs, which is marginally better than Debbie, I think.

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