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Baby names

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

Original poster

Surprised by choice of Deborah

64 replies

Emileee80 · 01/12/2017 13:39

One of the mums at the school has just had a baby girl and called her Deborah! Her nickname is Bee as that's apparently its meaning. Are 70s names due a revival??

Her son is called A m o s (separated so not googlable!), which seems more cool and on trend.
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shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 01/12/2017 20:27

Ahead of trend I would say

I predict in another 5-10 years there will be lots of baby Deborahs around

It sounds dated at the moment but I remember my Mum being horrified when Emily, Charlotte etc became fashionable because they were such dated names!

Smoliver · 01/12/2017 20:21

I don't mind it, but maybe it's because I like that song by Pulp a lot.

I don't think I'd use Deborah, but I have been told many times that my name preferences are "dated" and "are from the 70's/80's." It surprised me at first but now I just brush the comments off. I just think "Oh well, I like them still!" Smile

HeteronormativeHaybales · 01/12/2017 20:02

Seems quite an earworm-generating name - mine's Song for Whoever Grin

I like it, but only pronounced with three syllables, not elided to two. It's one of those names that has got a bit ruined by being overused in the past.

MegAndSprog · 01/12/2017 19:48

At a playgroup we go to there are two baby Erics, a Jane and a Sybil! Sybil is maybe old enough to be back in now, but Eric and Jane don’t seem there yet. I think it’s the new hipster thing, so uncool it’s cool type thing.

NapQueen · 01/12/2017 18:52

Babies born recently I know or know of in that ilk: Barbara, John, Alan, Hector.

ChampagneSocialist1 · 01/12/2017 18:50

I think biblical names: Rachel, Leah, Jessica, Sarah, Susannah, Simon, Andrew, Paul, David, John will be the first 70s type names to be revived

overnightangel · 01/12/2017 18:49

“I would get Year 2000 by Pulp stuck in my head every time I saw her. Its stuck in my head now.“

First thing I thought!

Wishfulmakeupping · 01/12/2017 18:49

Instantly think of the Pulp song and that's not a bad thing in my book so quite like it

SparkleMotion82 · 01/12/2017 18:48

Awful! Agree it’s very dated...

Agustarella · 01/12/2017 18:44

There aren't many female OT names, so perhaps they come round again faster than non Biblical names?

redfairy · 01/12/2017 18:43

I love Deborah and refer you to T-Rex's track 'Deborah, you look like a zebra...'

CharisMama · 01/12/2017 18:40

I see a biblical theme there. It's not awful. I really like currently fashionable Libby which is no prettier than the much maligned Debbie.
Same with Gary, Barry and Harry. All so similar really.

LunasSpectreSpecs · 01/12/2017 18:38

I like it. WAY better thany yet another Ava, Lily or Olivia.

emwithme · 01/12/2017 18:37

Her name was Deborah
It never suited her

nooka · 01/12/2017 18:31

Deborah known as Bee is a little odd to me. I can only imagine that sticking if she is never called Deborah, as otherwise I would have thought it was almost inevitable that she will at some point be called or call herself Debbie. There are three Bees/Beas in my family, and only the one that is short for Beatrice has stuck beyond immediate family into adulthood.

I don't think that 70s names are due to come back quite yet as 50s and 60s names will come first and I think they are only just starting to be used. It's more typical to use names from your grandparents generation than your parents.

catsarenice · 01/12/2017 18:23

@Flippetydip yes!!! There was a girl in my class called Deborah - she hated it after that episode of Men Behaving Badly aired!!!

Lules · 01/12/2017 18:04

I love Deborah. The only one I know is Jewish so I associate it more with that than a 60/70s name.

Blahblahblahzeeblah · 01/12/2017 18:01

Tbh I prefer Deborah to the hundreds of Amelias, Olivias etc

EmmaGrundyForPM · 01/12/2017 18:00

OuchBollocks

me too!

DramaAlpaca · 01/12/2017 17:59

It's really lovely, especially with the nn Bee.

Pemba · 01/12/2017 17:57

It's a nice name - has a nice sound. And from the Bible, like pps said. Yes it was very popular in the 60s, but so what? Some people are very narrow minded about names and perceived 'datedness'.

SnowyPolarBear · 01/12/2017 17:37

I would never use it. Very dated and not a particularly nice name.

BitOutOfPractice · 01/12/2017 16:19

I had a lovely, lively, funny, gorgeous friend called Deborah, sadly no longer with us, do it has all of those smashing connotations for me. She was always Deb but I think Bee is lovely 🐝

greendale17 · 01/12/2017 16:03

Don’t like it at all. Very dated.

ladybirdsaredotty · 01/12/2017 16:01

Aww I love it! My DD has a boy called Nick in her class, which I also love Smile