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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

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LauraPalmersBodybag · 12/05/2017 22:00

I know 2 Ediths, a Nora, Freda, Ivy, Agnes and Ida.

The girls from Despicable Me all had 'old lady' names (Agnes, Margot and Edith) which I took as a given that those names were very trendy again.

ginflumpsandzebraprint · 12/05/2017 21:58

Restingbitch I agree ruth doesn't need a comeback !

I have a dd with the English spelling Milly but everyone uses the American spelling now, she hates her name being spelt wrong constantly.

SuperBeagle · 12/05/2017 21:41

I like Winifred too.

I like Nora as well. Nina also, but I think Nina is a bit more modern sounding.

AdaColeman · 12/05/2017 21:37

Eunice, Angela and Denise don't seem to be back in fashion yet.

LyntonCottageMoments · 12/05/2017 21:34

Absolutely love Winnifred! Winnie is the cutest and it's very much on my list! OH love it too.

I like Norah but I called the cat Flora, and rhyming with the cat just doesn't seem right for me, but I do like it for someone else.

Bibs2014 · 12/05/2017 20:47

I know a Dorothy who is 7.
A 10 yr old Norah
A 3 year old Winnie
A 9 yr old Margaret
And two 2-yr-old Ediths!

LarrytheCucumber · 12/05/2017 20:45

Edna
Muriel
Gladys
Hilda
Sibyl
Marjorie
Bertha
All friends and contemporaries of my 91 year old mother, and all names she herself regards as ghastly.

BelleTheSheepdog · 12/05/2017 20:44

Now that I have read the thread, clearly Edith has arrived!

KavvLar · 12/05/2017 20:44

I met a little baby Mavis the other day.

BelleTheSheepdog · 12/05/2017 20:42

Edith is sounding better each episode of Saxon goings on in the Last Kingdom. (A)Ethel is not coming back though I don't think. Thora I like!

Mary, Margaret and Joan I have come round to. Jean / Jeannie I have liked for a while now.

I don't think Eileen, Doreen, Gladys or Madge are coming back.

Acornantics · 12/05/2017 20:39

I know a toddler Marilyn in the USA, and she's gorgeous, suits it so well, though it's definitely considered a dated name over here. Something to do with the US accent makes it sound really pretty.

Heratnumber7 · 12/05/2017 20:39

Patricia isn't an old lady name thank you very much!!
AngryBlushHmm

bibbitybobbityyhat · 12/05/2017 20:39

Dorothy has definitely made a comeback.

I also know some Ivys, Elsies, Marys, 1 Agnes, 1 Ada and 1 Edith.

I was considering Barbara for my 2nd child but he was a he.

Not heard of any recent Beryls though Smile

daisypond · 12/05/2017 20:36

I think Sheila could come back, in fact. It's a nice-sounding name and is apparently an anglicized form of Síle, an Irish form of Cecilia.

CreamCheez · 12/05/2017 20:30

I quite like April, May & June!

Lots of non-English names, that were once popular, sound much nicer in their native countries...

Jacqueline
Majella
Jacinta
Caroline

Would they have been the equivalent of Amelie or Sylvie nowadays? Pretty names. In France!

Lots of old names coming back in vogue... But, Sheila is the one that I just can't see happening!

CaulkheadNorth · 12/05/2017 20:25

Oh, Susan. I went to school with one, she'd be 30. But apart from her, none.

CaulkheadNorth · 12/05/2017 20:25

Chastity, Prudence and Dorcas.

PossibiliTea · 12/05/2017 20:22

Pauline
June
Barbara

Str4ngedaysindeed · 12/05/2017 20:18

Florence is lovely. We nearly had that for dd

Japonicathehorseygirl · 12/05/2017 20:16

Florence!

Str4ngedaysindeed · 12/05/2017 20:11

My mother is called Meryl (totally outed!) Highly unusual and not one I think is going to come back!

crunched · 12/05/2017 20:09

Just had an addition to the family called Ada. I am coming round to it and apparently it is very popular in Holland.
I can't imagine Beryl and Bertha becoming fashionable. Mind you, I would have said the same of Olive 10 years ago and think it's cute now.

firawla · 12/05/2017 20:08

I know so many babies called Edith! Norah is getting popular as well.
When I was a teenager and did French exchange there were loads of French / Belgian Mauds! They were pronouncing it more like mode but it seemed really popular

29Palms · 12/05/2017 20:00

Monica is a very school-story name to me! I don't think I've ever met a Monica in real life, but when I was a child there always seemed to be a Monica in books (some of which had been passed down from older relatives).

There have been some famous Monicas (Seles, Bellucci) so there are probably a few young Monicas somewhere.

SoftSheen · 12/05/2017 19:57

I also know a 6 year old Ida and have come across a little Maude too!

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