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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ordinary names I've never seen suggested on MN

159 replies

ZaZathecat · 04/01/2018 17:05

I don't think I've ever seen Nicola mentioned. There were lots in my generation. Maybe it will be back in 5-10 years when we start to become grannies.

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Daffydil · 05/01/2018 09:29

I don't know any baby Sharons or Traceys. I do wonder if those names will ever be popular again.

I was quite surprised to see Kenneth and Wendy on the taylor list of posh names recently Grin

reallyanotherone · 05/01/2018 09:18

I grew up in Liverpool and didn't meet a Nicholas or Simon until I was in my 30s. I thought of them as terribly posh names. They're not though, are they

That reads in a broad scouse accent, especially the last sentence :)

Back in the 80’s the “unique” name du jour seemed to be Donna Marie. These were always the “cool” girl, lots of make up, trendy clothes, some boy drama going on all the time.

tinytemper66 · 05/01/2018 08:31

I teach in a school with many EAL students. Nikola, Julia, Monika are popular as is Ana or Anna.

AJPTaylor · 05/01/2018 08:19

girls names of my generation
lisa, tina, clare, sarah, donna, dawn, deborah and susan.
boys names
gary, paul, mark, dave, neil, craig
no doubt they will be back, weve got to get through all the valeries eileens and dereks and brians first.

treaclesoda · 05/01/2018 08:14

I know quite a few young children with names that have been mentioned here - Sarah, Anna, Andrew etc.

I haven't met a Tanya or a Donna though. Those are probably due a revival in ten years or so, by which time they will mostly be names of the 'granny' generation. Smile

AdidasGirl · 05/01/2018 08:08

I know a toddler called Brian.

sycamore54321 · 05/01/2018 04:14

Have we mentioned Suzanne and Linda / Belinda? I thought these were impossibly glamorous when I was young and they were relatively frequent. I agree with previous mentions of Deborah, Karen, Rachel, which are all lovely I think in sound and writing. Similar names like Helen have somehow survived a bit better.

Boy names don't feature as much in my mind as subject to the same trends. They are a lot more static and less faddish. Maybe Niall/Neil, Clive?

DubaiismyBlackpool · 05/01/2018 03:59

I know a 5 year old Malcolm and did the ‘sorry, Malcolm?’ face too.

I also know a little Lee and Paul too.

Not so many Sheila’s around these days.

leccybill · 05/01/2018 00:07

Still loads of Steven/Steve/Ste in Liverpool (I imagine thanks to Steven Gerrard?)

I grew up in Liverpool and didn't meet a Nicholas or Simon until I was in my 30s. I thought of them as terribly posh names. They're not though, are they.

SuperBeagle · 04/01/2018 23:00

One of my DDs would've been Sarah if our surname wasn't Lee. Grin

I love Sarah.

mumgointhroughtorture · 04/01/2018 22:51

I know a baby Bethany , a young child called Sarah and my daughter has siblings called Steven and Christopher who are coming up to their teens now . They have 3 other siblings with names on this list aswell . I went to school with a Keith and I'm sure I heard someone call a baby Alan the other day .

Chocolatecake12 · 04/01/2018 22:43

Some names come back into fashion - Elsie, Mabel, Harry for example while others such as Gertrude, Mavis or Derek seem to never be mentioned anywhere!
From my generation growing up in the 80’s i wonder what names are due a revival and which ones will never come back.
I can’t imagine a baby Gary or baby Tanya now!
Only time will tell!

Ceebs85 · 04/01/2018 22:42

I met a baby Samantha last week

Gacapa · 04/01/2018 22:34

My son is Johnny. Smile

lollipop7 · 04/01/2018 22:33

Donna
Sonia
Natalie
Jane
Deborah
Cathryn
Sarah

Yika · 04/01/2018 22:32

Gavin
Graham
Gail
Fiona
Alison

I know a 4 yo Lynn, and a young Brian.

I love the name Claire

VioletCharlotte · 04/01/2018 21:48

When I was at school there were loads of Sarah's, Claire's and Joannes. And all the boys were called Mathew, Paul or James.

BikeRunSki · 04/01/2018 21:36

Geoffrey
Derek
Malcolm
Roger
Richard
Ian
Godfrey
Don’t seem to have hit the nostalgia vibe, nor

Melanie
Angela
Jennifer
Doris
Irene
Patricia
Pamela
Michelle

dingdongdigeridoo · 04/01/2018 20:36

There’s a 5 year old Alan in my son’s class. Which does make me think of Partridge. I’m guessing he was named after a relative.

I think all the 80s baby names will probably die off for a couple more decades. Around 2050 we may see a load of Nicoles and Tonis being born.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/01/2018 20:31

Oh I've seen a lot of Judith love on here.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 04/01/2018 20:29

Susan, Jennifer, Lucy, Alison, Stephanie, Judith
David, Robert, Philip, Tim, Stephen, Mark

Lots of these names are actually really nice and it's hard to understand how they've disappeared. I do know of teenage Melanies, Lauras and Claires.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 04/01/2018 20:03

Nobody suggest Trevor and Maureen etc because they're not in fashion.

Afreshnewyearplease · 04/01/2018 20:03

www.babycentre.co.uk/l25018979/baby-names-no-one-loves-photos

My youngest born 2016 has a name on this list!

Baubletrouble43 · 04/01/2018 20:03

I met 3 yr old twins not many years ago called Sandra and Denise. Why not!

Whatslovegottodo · 04/01/2018 20:00

I went to school with lots of Joanna, lisa, Becky, Sarah, Mark, Paul. Not heard babies of any of them in ages!

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