Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Old lady names that haven't had a comeback

232 replies

GirlcalledJames · 12/05/2017 11:15

Wondering if any of these will trend:

Eileen, Doreen, Noreen, Maureen
Margery
Dorothy
Doris
Vera
Rita
Norah
Winifred
Mary
Joan
Margaret
Patricia
Ethel
Gladys, Dilys
Edith

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Mclaren37 · 13/05/2017 02:58

I love Agnes and Margaret on a little one! There are also a few baby Dorothy's and Edith's around.
Maureen, Sheila, Noreen, Coleen and Joyce haven't quite made it yet. Anything that is verging on a more 'modern' old lady name. 1950s and 60s names rather than 1930s and 40s. But I'm sure even these will be on their way back soon!

Buntysoven · 13/05/2017 02:20

I know a 3 year old Phyllis. Older sister Camille. Obviously love those double Ls!

Joeybee · 13/05/2017 00:51

I think some of these names are already starting to make a comeback: Margaret
Edith
Vera
Dorothy
Eileen

I think that there are several names on this list which I can totally see coming back into popularity:
Ethel
Norah
Rita
and possibly Winifred

Then the others, I just can't see them coming back yet (if at all)
Gladys, Dilys
Patricia
Joan
Mary
Doris
Margery
Doreen, Maureen and Noreen.

Also other names which I think are stuck in the past are:
Ursula
Greta
Beat
Gretchen
Della
Hyacinth
Hilda
Mavis

AdorableMisfit · 12/05/2017 23:51

My niece is a Doris. I was very sceptical when my sister told me what she was naming her child, but it's grown on me. It's kind of cute.

Wincher · 12/05/2017 23:47

Lots of these names are in use round here! I can think of three pairs of sisters - and I'll mix their names up rather than naming the pairs for the sake of identification -called Agatha, Edith, Betty, Mabel, Hilda and Nellie. All under 8.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 12/05/2017 23:41

I liked Vera, and Constance.

DD ended up as Verity, still in the old lady ball park

fannydaggerz · 12/05/2017 23:33

Connie

fannydaggerz · 12/05/2017 23:33

Myrtle

Lalalallama · 12/05/2017 23:32

Brenda
Maureen
Wilma
Joan
Garnet
Ursula
Judith
Glenda
Gaynor
Marion
Pauline
Lillian
Marigold

SuperBeagle · 12/05/2017 23:26

Bertha will certainly never come back. That's in Fanny territory.

squoosh · 12/05/2017 23:11

I can't imagine Beryl and Bertha becoming fashionable.

I would have confidently said there's no way Bertha and Beryl will make a comeback. But that was pre Baby Mavis.........and now nothing seems certain anymore. If Trump and Mavis can defy the odds, who knows!

squoosh · 12/05/2017 23:07

I met a little baby Mavis the other day.

😱

#PrayForBabyMavis

Winifred isn't looking so bad all of a sudden!

squoosh · 12/05/2017 23:04

Winifred is not a nice name for a baby.

Or a teen.
Or a 40 something
Or an old lady

emochild · 12/05/2017 22:56

Pauline

Patricia

Pamela

Gillian

Jeanette

Carol

Marilyn

Beverley

Beryl

Deborah

Sue

-my mum's friends Grin

AmyOnTheBorder · 12/05/2017 22:45

I nearly called DD1 Freda but it was just a little bit out there for me at the time. I bet it will grow in popularity as it has a bit of Scandi chic going on too.

Wandastartup · 12/05/2017 22:41

I'm wondering if I know Bibs2014 as my daughters name and age is on her list and there were very few born that year with her name!

Raahh · 12/05/2017 22:28

My mother is Doreen (so is my gran, I'm not thankfully but my own name still dates me and is pretty awful). I don't think she was offended I didn't name my dds after her. Grin

Millicent has been mentioned a couple of times- that's DD1's name. I love it , so does she. It stand out at school. She does shorten it to Millie, but she signs herself Millicent when she needs to .

AroseforEmily · 12/05/2017 22:19

Agnes
Connie
Josephine
Doris
Delphine

NiceCuppaTeaAndASitDown · 12/05/2017 22:17

I know a Nora. She's three and it's a nn for Eleanor. Really suits her

29Palms · 12/05/2017 22:16

That's not a baby's name!

It's a pity so many seem to think along those lines. A person is a baby only for the blink of an eye.

Mrsknackered · 12/05/2017 22:14

If Yvonne and Yvette make a comeback I'll be horrified.

Swearwolf · 12/05/2017 22:12

Oh no, my name is on here and I'm only 32! And my baby girl's name has been mentioned 4 times... Do I win the thread?

I do think names go in cycles and I fully expect that my grandchildren will have names from my parents' generation - Linda, Carol, Anne, Barry, Alan, Mike. We will all be horrified of course (they've called her Christine??? That's not a baby's name!) and they won't understand why we don't like it, much like how we can't understand our parents laughing at something as ubiquitous as isobel.

dotdotdotmustdash · 12/05/2017 22:12

I worked as a nurse in elderly care for many years and most of these names really do make me think of old ladies - lovely old ladies mainly - but definitely crinkly and creaky. I would try to look enthusiastic if someone introduce their Winifred or Gladys to me, but I'm afraid a flash of 'whaaaatttt were you thinking!' would pass across my face first.

thisiswhatdreamsaremadeof · 12/05/2017 22:09

I have an Edith and a Dorothy Grin NN Edie (pronounced eedee) and Dotty.

EtonMessi · 12/05/2017 22:03

I know little Noras and a Vera.

I think Edith arrived when Cate Blanchett named her daughter that (didn't she?)

Swipe left for the next trending thread