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Baby names

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

Original poster

Maureen

59 replies

balletnotlacrosse · 24/04/2015 23:28

Heard a woman in the park calling her dd (aged 4-5) by this name yesterday. Not keen myself, but is it due a revival?

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IvoryMadonna · 25/04/2015 16:28

Maureen O'Hara.

It's not a favourite of mine, but I don't think it's horrible.

It seems to be the -een sound ending that's out of favour, although a few names like Evangeline are getting through.

PuppyMonkey · 25/04/2015 16:05

It's a no from me.

KoalaDownUnder · 25/04/2015 16:01

Maureen and Joan are both hideous.

Roomba · 25/04/2015 13:35

I know an Audrey (age 8/9), an Elsie (10/11) a few Ediths, an Agnes (11), a Mabel (6/7), a Pearl (10) and a Joanie (1) - so a fair few names around which were definitely old lady names when I was a child.

hidingfromthem · 25/04/2015 10:48

awful name.
poor child.

MellieGrant · 25/04/2015 10:46

Dreadful!

Not very keen on Joan or Jean.

Audrey is more chic because of Audrey Hepburn, and I suspect Dorothy gets the Wizard of Oz/ Judy Garland popularity. But Maureen...

Totality22 · 25/04/2015 10:44

Maureen - no
Joan - unsure
Jean - I love

reuset · 25/04/2015 10:31

I don't think it's quite ready for a revival yet. You still come across the occasional child named Maureen (and names of that ilk) but it's still very little used for new babies.

I do know of two Audreys and one Dorothy off hand though. They seem more ready to become to be revived and become quite popular in a few years

Bakeoffcake · 25/04/2015 09:26

I love Audrey and Dot. I don't like Maureen though. It's just sounds nothingy. More Een - boring.

Rhubarbgarden · 25/04/2015 09:20

I have a four year old Audrey. She has two Dots in her reception class.

leccybill · 25/04/2015 09:19

Similar to Maureen is Margaret- wonder if that will come back into favour?
or Brenda?

sweetpeame · 25/04/2015 09:07

It's not a name I think is due a revival... But as a pp said, there is a whole thread of people on here talking about how much they like Joan and Jean. IMO Maureen is in exactly the same category so no doubt there will be people who vastly prefer it to anything top 100!

villainousbroodmare · 25/04/2015 08:33

I like Máirín, Éidín, Nóirín but not the anglicised versions.

Lunastarfish · 25/04/2015 08:29

interestingly over the past week 'Jean' and 'Joan' seem to have passed the MN test of acceptability. Jean/Joan/Maureen are not really my idea of a suitable name for a child but that's mostly because I have pensioner aunts with those names.

burgatroyd · 25/04/2015 08:17

And are you happy for her nn to be Mo? Just saying'...

wigglesrock · 25/04/2015 07:26

Oh God, I really hope not, its my middle name - why Mother why?

Lagoonablue · 25/04/2015 06:59

In terms of ' old lady names' I think we have probably run out now'

I know of a Dolly, Ruby, Nancy, Iris, Ivy, Daisy, Ida, Ava, Peggy and a Betty!

Lagoonablue · 25/04/2015 06:57

My generation is all susan, Linda, Alison, Carolyn, Gillian, joanne, helen, Tracy and Michelle.

Boys were Graham, Peter, Phillip, Colin, Christopher, Ian, Andrew, Gary, Steven, Neil, Keith.

All of which sound really boring to me. Some of them could make a comeback I suppose but not many!

Highabove · 25/04/2015 06:54

I know a toddler Joanie.

mathanxiety · 25/04/2015 06:51

I like it if spelled Máirín (in Irish in other words) even though there is little or no difference in pronunciation. I like Audrey too.

Really dislike Noreen, Aideen, Doreen, etc, though.

HearTheThunderRoar · 25/04/2015 04:55

DD's principal's DD is called Audrey and she is about 13/14 yo

Both Maureen and Audrey are pretty bad, some names need to stay in the past.

burgatroyd · 25/04/2015 04:49

Maureen isn't a goer for me.

Audrey sounds dreary.

I do like Aubrey for a girl. Yes, I know its a boys name but it sounds feminine!

squoosh · 24/04/2015 23:53

Audrey is cool though.

squoosh · 24/04/2015 23:53

Maureen is pretty bad but I suppose it's that generation's version of Mabel or Ethel.

Bluestocking · 24/04/2015 23:52

I know a three year old Audrey! Only one though, not a wave of them.