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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

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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?)