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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Sheila cute or too old fashioned?

80 replies

octonuddle · 28/01/2017 14:50

Was my lovely mum's name and would love to use it but wonder if it is too marmite a name? Any thoughts?

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buttercup54321 · 04/02/2017 23:05

Leah?

KenDoddsDadsDog · 04/02/2017 22:56

My mam is a Sheila. I've recently started work with a lot of Irish people and was surprised to meet a few younger ones.

Pleasemrstweedie · 31/01/2017 21:37

It was going out of fashion already by the 50s when I was saddled with it. I'd say 'no'.

WispyWindy · 31/01/2017 21:14

I love it!!! It will be unusual and cool and ahead of the trend. I also have an unfashionable name up my sleeve for any further DD and have decided I don't care what people think, I'm going to use it! Life's too short not to.

junebirthdaygirl · 31/01/2017 21:07

Also Irish for Jude and Judith.

junebirthdaygirl · 31/01/2017 21:05

Sile is the Irish name for Julie, Julia and Judy if that is any help. Was your mum Irish as Sheila wad a popular lrish name years ago. Absolutely none now. But that's good as it is original.

Sweets101 · 31/01/2017 20:47

I've never really thought about it before but reading it so many times on this thread I think it's lovely.
Why wouldn't you use it? I think it would be a far better choice than going for something popular. Popular names date terribly.

namesstress2323 · 31/01/2017 20:46

Does she go out with her mate Stella? (jamie t song is all i think of)

EsmesBees · 31/01/2017 20:46

I think it's a great name. Everyone will have heard of it and know how to spell it but she'll be the only one in her class.

I was given a name in the 80s that was unpopular then but is very popular now. It's nice being the only one of my generation. Especially at work- I work in a huge organisation and we often have 'do you mean Claire in finance or Claire in Legal?' type conversations, while mine is so unusual I'm normally just referred to by my first name.

Bigfam · 31/01/2017 20:43

My nan's called sheila, I like it, but I've got a Patsy (which is apparently really 'old lady' but an unfashionable one! Wink)

FuzzyOwl · 31/01/2017 20:42

Why not use your mum's middle name, which is also your first name, as the baby's middle name. That way your daughter will have a significant name from two generations and you know it is a name your mum would approve of as she gave it to her own daughter.

ShelaghTurner · 31/01/2017 20:34

Lovely name. I'm very fond of it.

dailymaillazyjournos · 31/01/2017 20:18

I think if you love the name (as well as it being a lovely way to honour your DM), I'd go for it. If you don't actually the name in and of itself, maybe as a middle name?

My late DM was Barbara. She hated the name, I didn't like it either and it didn't suit my Mum's personality or looks somehow, so I'd not have thought of calling my DD it. I think it also depends on your thoughts about the name itself as to whether you use Sheila as a first or a middle name.

Garnethair · 31/01/2017 19:32

It's your mum's name. What a lovely thing to pass it onto your daughter. Lovely.

tryingtogetbacktome · 31/01/2017 19:26

Mega cute!!! Love old fashioned names

llangennith · 31/01/2017 19:26

I'm 65 and we laughed at those names at school even in the 50sGrin

Original poster
octonuddle · 31/01/2017 19:22

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! I'm not so keen on any of the Sheila variations suggested. I do like the Gloria, Jean and Valerie type names though.....maybe I should be naming a 60 year old woman instead Blush
I'm still divided but feeling brave enough to float it by DH now to see what he thinks!

OP posts:
TenMinutesLate · 30/01/2017 15:26

Knowing it isn't a 'fashionable' name would make me want to use it more. I think it's a lovely name and hope you do use it.

And any 80's children out there who loved a bit of Saturday morning telly.....my Godmother is a Shelia. My DB had trouble with his speech and couldn't say it so called her She-Ra instead. So cool 😎

Pipilangstrumpf · 30/01/2017 15:11

That's a much better response than "I already know two other Evies/Ellies/other fashionable name"

BigGreenOlives · 30/01/2017 13:45

Will you mind if every time someone hears it for the first time says 'My aunt/grandmother/grandmother's best friend was called Sheila?'.

CoolJazz · 30/01/2017 13:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Driffield · 30/01/2017 06:41

I like it. I know a baby Valerie and a Gloria so things are moving in a shiela direction

user1477282676 · 30/01/2017 06:28

Oh I think it's gorgeous. But I do like that era of names now...Jean is also lovely imo. Sheila is a beautiful name.

SloanyAnne · 30/01/2017 06:26

I like it. I know 2 Sheilas and they are lovely women. It's in the same vein as the Coren Mitchells calling their baby Barbara. I like it a lot more than Storm, Apple, Glasgow or the random sack of phonemes that knock around as names.

HeadlessGummyBears · 30/01/2017 06:15

Go for it. Sheila is a lovely name Smile Besides, it doesn't matter if it's not fashionable, what matters is what the name means to you.