WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE NAMES?

Stephen - I like it a lot, prefer this spelling, but have nothing against Steve for short (though probably not until they get into their teens - calling a small child Steve sounds a bit too much like trying to be cool). Would be very happy to see it come back.

Paul - like rather than dislike, but it feels rather neutral and unadventurous to me.

Phillip - sorry but I really like Philip with one L (which I think is the more traditional spelling) but it looks a bit wrong to me with 2. If you don't like Phil for short there's always Pip or Flip.

Popular names go in cycles often.

People will often use their grandparent and great grandparents names.

So, these names are more likely used on our own or parent's generation at moment - so give it a generation or two and they may well be back.

I think it's just a sign of when they were last popular - around the same time as Kelly, Michelle and Liane. They haven't disappeared though.

I'm slightly younger than the period I mentioned, but I've heard of a few Paul's my age and a bit younger (which surprised me as it's my DF's and frankly I think it's horrible :P ). Stephen's too, although fewer. It seems to be a relatively common mn though, so maybe it'll come back pretty soon (although the one I know has Stephen as his middle name after his uncle, so maybe not).

Philip, I have no explanation for. Except maybe 'Phil' is a bit dated.
Good name, minus the nn. Maybe it'll come back now that Pip seems to have become acceptable again.

Love Philip/ Pip. I might bring it back. Too many Stevens and Paul's of my own generation for me to love them again yet, but they are lovely names!

I think of Simon and Richard like this too.

And maybe Matthew and Mark?

I had to laugh at Squoosh we have a 'too tall Paul' in the office. I have known loads of Pauls and never met a horrible one.

I know I am in a minority here on MN but I quite like Steve. that may have something to do with Hawaii Five O

Philip is nice too.

England and Wales popularity trends since 1996:

Stephen
Philip
Paul

Stephen is still pretty popular in Ireland especially for boys born on or around the 26th December.

Both of my dc's 13 and 8, have friends called Stephen. I don't think it's unpopular at all. I don't know any Paul or Phillip of a similar age though.

If I were guessing based on name alone I would put Paul at probably late 20s-early 30s, Philip and Stephen at early 40s to late 50s. But I think Stephen may be the most diffuse of the bunch; early-30s Paul could still have a mate called Stephen (possibly "Ste" for short) .

We have hardly any Paul friends. A few Daves. Any multiple friends names seem to be Graham's, Ian's, Toms, Richards.

When i was about 9 to 15 my future son was destined to be called Paul. I loved the name. (Didn't consider it when I was pregnant at 30)

I think Paul is a lovely name, but really not keen on Stephen (though Steven is worse, and Steve is awful) or Philip (one L as a first name, two as a surname, imo). I think some names die out for a reason! (and I reckon hassles with spelling is one of them).

Squoosh that is so true! Along with Dave.

Every bloke has a pal called Paul, usually several........

Tall Paul
Small Paul
Football Paul
Mad Paul
Ten Shots Paul
Shagger Paul

and on, and on, and on.................

I hate all those names, Stephen being the least offensive.

They are still way too many Pauls in the world. There are still several billion who are only in their 20's, I'm in no rush to see that boring name come back.

Thanks mr. Tumbles:)

They are good names. But they suffer from having been very fashionable at one point (70s) and therefore sound dated.
Just like Jack, Archie and Charlie will in 20 years.

Shake it traditionally has 1 L ... I think the 2 L spelling is more modern and derived from the surname Phillips I bet it became popular in the UK via America in the 70s but Philip with 1 L has been around as a given name for hundreds and hundreds of years.

I know an 8 year old Stephen and a 7 month old Paul. I like both the names. But agree they are dad names and will be due a revival when they become grandad names.

They'll come around again in another 20-30 years. Actually we might have used Philip (which was my "future boy's name" when I was growing up) but already knew a Phil DHlastname so it would have been odd.

Does Phillip always have 2 LLs or sometimes just one L? Spelling is a massive issue for me. (have a surname you need to spell out) If your Dh is called Phillip please ask him if this is a constant issue? Thanks!

They are "dad" names - they'll come back in when they are "grandad" names.

Philip and Paul (pronounced Powl) are very popular for small boys in Germany atm - one of each in my DS1s class (6&7 year olds) and more in this football team, at least 2 Philips and one Paul and a Paul-Antonio at DS2's Kindergarten (3-6 year olds). But there are very few Pauls and Philips in their 30s and 40s here - all slight exaggeration men in their 30s and 40s are called Thomas or Andreas :o

See also:
Graeme / Richard / David.
Like ToAvoid said, I think it's just not their time yet.

I have a Stefan in my class...does that count?

Lots of Stephens/Stevens and Paul's in their twenties just now so will comeback round eventually!