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Baby names

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

Original poster

Retro names that seem to be making a comeback

104 replies

user1485342611 · 14/06/2018 11:46

I know we've had lots of Elsies and Rubys and Lillys in recent years - but I'm wondering if they're going to go out of fashion soon and what will be the next phase of names.

I know a 2 year old called Judy and someone at work with has also just called their little daughter this. I also know of two babies called Marjorie.

What other retro names have you heard of recently?

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NapQueen · 16/06/2018 10:34

I know a baby Alan.

LoveInTokyo · 16/06/2018 10:32

Sorry @TheLastNigel! Grin

I live in France where Pauline is a lovely name, but in the UK I can’t imagine it ever not being frumpy and dated.

TheLastNigel · 16/06/2018 10:29

Ugh. Another thing To loathe farage for ding dong

LoveInTokyo · 16/06/2018 10:24

I love Margaret and think it’s ready for a comeback. Diminutives like Maggie, Meg and Peggy are already cool, I think.

Naming a newborn baby Nigel would be pretty awful though. Everyone would think you were a frothing Ukipper.

itssquidstella · 16/06/2018 09:53

Ursula and Leslie

letsallhaveanap · 16/06/2018 09:44

oh I love Agatha! and Agnes

SpectacularAardvark · 16/06/2018 09:43

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g, I know a little Wallis too, they were obviously going for more of a Wallis Simpson vibe but all I can think is Cracking cheese Grommit! Grin

ButterflyOfFreedom · 16/06/2018 08:06

I know of a couple of Arthurs, a Stanley, Fred, Ted, Albert, Leonard, Kenneth, Edith, Elsie, Nina, Sylvia and Etta.

wheezing · 16/06/2018 08:02

Judy is a lovely name. Also Betty! That’s very 1930s

Beryl though? It just doesn’t sound nice to me.

It would be strange if in the future people do start thinking of Ian and Alan and so forth as nice names again.

I truly hope Kevin, Keith and Gary never make a comeback but these are more 60s so we’d be talking 2030+.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2018 08:01

Wallace! My goodness. I wonder how often that child will hear 'Where's Gromit?' or similar.

beltanelove · 16/06/2018 08:00

I’ve a baby hazel Smile

TeachesOfPeaches · 16/06/2018 07:50

I know a baby Bruce, baby Nina and toddler Wallace.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2018 07:44

Hello, Empowered! Yes, a fellow sufferer here. Almost every woman in my family on both sides for generations back seems to have been called either Ann (usually Annie in daily use), Elizabeth (Lizzie) or Margaret (fortunately not abbreviated except for my grandma who was Margie to her sisters), often with one of the others as a middle name. Both my grandmothers, one aunt and one of my mum's first cousins were Margarets and my other aunt had it as a middle name (first name Sylvia, lovely name). Still, we were lucky, as one of my grandma's sisters was a Euphemia (Effie). Shock

Boys' names a touch more varied: John, Andrew, William, Donald, Finlay, Alexander, Alan, Colin, Nicol, Grant, Iain.

I wonder if you can guess which part of the UK my family is from. Grin

ginandbearit · 16/06/2018 07:05

I thought Esme had all but disappeared but seems to be popping up here and there

Empoweredwomenempowerwomem · 16/06/2018 06:57

@gasp0de
waves at someone I assume to be a fellow Margaret

I know a baby Elaine and I teach a four year old frank, 11 year olds Albert and Stan, and met a Nora in Tesco last week

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2018 06:48

Ethel, Ena, Elspeth, Eileen, Lionel, Barry, Gary, Graham, Neil, Norman, Derek, Keith, Gillian, Harold, Terence, Brian.

SpectacularAardvark · 15/06/2018 18:29

I know a Wilfred, a couple of Walters and a Vinnny, none of which I'm keen on. Also an Elsie, Stanley, Ernie, Ronnie, Reggie, Jeffery, loads of Alberts, Violet, Maggie, Betty, Archie, and Bernard.

dingdongdigeridoo · 15/06/2018 18:09

I don’t think Nigel is coming back into style. It could have had that retro charm, but Nigel Farage has killed that off for at least another decade.

I have Edith on my baby name list too. I think that counts as an old, old name rather than middle aged. I like Edie as a nickname.

WrideD · 15/06/2018 18:06

I think June is really coming back into fashion as a given name and not just a middle name. It has strong a Handmaid's Tale reference which I love and I know a baby Maggie too.

thegreylady · 15/06/2018 17:51

Valerie?

deptfordgirl · 15/06/2018 12:52

Also met a baby Agatha (Aggy) the other day.

letsallhaveanap · 15/06/2018 12:47

I love Enid but my DH wont let us use it because of Enid Blyton who he does not think is a good person to be named after.
Also adore Edith but I know several all under 5 including one daughter of a close friend, so sadly cant use that either.

piggie88 · 15/06/2018 12:11

Edith is one of the names on our list for our girl due in September and Frank is one of the only boys names I like.
I also heard of a Gerry when I was out recently.

TheLastNigel · 15/06/2018 11:35

I also have a Jean.

TheLastNigel · 15/06/2018 11:34

I'm campaigning for Nigel to make a triumphant return!
Love Daphne as well-now exh wasn't having it.Sad