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Baby names

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

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?

OP posts:
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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/06/2018 09:47

Forgot Enid! Also Maureen, Cynthia, Joyce, Glenys and Gladys.

BasinHaircut · 15/06/2018 08:13

vintage I love Rodney! Got vetoed By DH though.

I love Enid but I can only hear it in Lois Griffin’s voice, and Gloria but it my friend’s mum’s name and she is a right old battleaxe and I don’t think I’d ever be able to disconnect the name from her.

CheeseTheDay · 15/06/2018 08:05

Elizabeth making a comeback?! It never went anywhere. It has never been outside the Top 100 since the lists were first produced in late 19th century! Only one other girls' name shares that feat of being top 100 every single year, and that's Sarah.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/06/2018 07:57

I'm always Grin when I see my name on these threads - I agree it's not wonderful, tbh, but every so often I see people suggesting it's going to make a comeback. Maybe when its toxic political associations have faded a bit more ...

Surprised to see Leon mentioned as a retro name. That's never been a common name in the UK, until maybe very recent times. It's a Spanish name, isn't it? And possibly a bit less unusual in the US. Leo was a very unusual name and rather posh until quite recently. Leonard is the one that was moderately popular a couple of generations ago and would therefore be retro now. There's also Leopold, which has royal associations, but has never been much used generally to my knowledge and long may that continue. Bit too much like Leopard to my mind.

Retro names from my parents' generation (i.e. born in the 1920s and 30s): Mavis, Doris, Doreen, Kathleen, Ronald, Edna, Edith, Jill, Geoffrey.

Elizabeth, Katherine, William, James, John and other classic names never, ever drop out of the top 100. They may bob up and down a bit but they have never fallen out of use and I don't think they ever will. Everybody knows those names, they are easy to spell, easy to pronounce, they have lots of popular short forms and associated nicknames and lots and lots of historical/family associations.

PavlovaPrincess · 15/06/2018 06:54

I know a baby Bruce.

Not a fan, tbh.

jeanne16 · 15/06/2018 06:39

Know a baby Frank as well.

hildabaker · 15/06/2018 06:39

Margaret is awful. My mother had load of friends with that name, and it got shortened to 'Peggy'.

Susannach · 15/06/2018 06:28

I know a toddler Wendy too!

SurelyNotJustStirItUna · 14/06/2018 23:24

Kenneth, Gerald, Ronald, Rodney, Frank, Fred, Geoff, Harold, Raymond, Sidney, Terrence, Victor

June, Audrey, Joan, Brenda, Alma, Patricia, Norma, Marjorie, Margaret, Vera, Rita, Barbara, Maud

BlueTrousers · 14/06/2018 23:11

There a 6 month old Gerry at our toddler group

KittiesInsane · 14/06/2018 23:10

I'm surprised at the idea of 'Elizabeth, Victoria, Laura, Lucy, Sophie' making a comeback. Add about six Amys, a Lauren and a couple of Sarahs and you've pretty much got DD's class list.

Mind you, this is a school that still has a John, Simon, Alan or Chris in every year.

dangerrabbit · 14/06/2018 23:04

John

RavenWings · 14/06/2018 22:59

I love the thought of older names coming back in. The cutesie names trending at the moment annoy me.

RedDwarves · 14/06/2018 22:56

The only ones in the top 100 where I live which I'd consider "retro" are:

Charles (Charlie ranks higher)
Arthur
John
Leon
Vincent

Ivy
Audrey
Hazel
Elsie
Florence
Bonnie
Olive
Eliza
Victoria

I don't think the truly granny/grandpa names are making a comeback yet here, and thank goodness because most of them are plain awful.

hildabaker · 14/06/2018 21:35

Brenda
Althea
Thelma
Hilda
Gladys

daisypond · 14/06/2018 21:19

But there's the oh so glamorous Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story. That probably sounded very modern and cool then. Tracy could come back. Isn't it a form of Theresa?

Petalflowers · 14/06/2018 21:11

Sharon - that’s a surprise as it was considered very ‘common’ at one point along with Tracy, Wayne and Kevin.

daisypond · 14/06/2018 21:04

Violet has been back for years, and will probably be on the way out again soon (I don't like it at all).

RiddleyW · 14/06/2018 21:00

I think Sharon will be popular in a few years. It’s a lovely name.

PellyBay · 14/06/2018 20:58

I know a baby Violet. And a Mavis (although presumably that's because of that Transylvannia movie...?)

daisypond · 14/06/2018 20:49

Estelle is back.

Flaskfan · 14/06/2018 20:46

You need Rita, Keith, Estelle, Diane, Paula, Sharon, Beverley to make a come back.

zeebeedee · 14/06/2018 20:39

For boys I know a baby Anthony and a Christopher - both nice names, but different to most their age - all the other small boys I know have cutsie names - Harry, Teddy, Freddie, Charlie, Alfie, Albie, Vinnie, Arthur and Max

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 14/06/2018 20:38

I bloody love Jean. In fact, it's a good job I had boys or I'd have name regret over not using it.

I was discussing this very issue with an Alan the other day. Hard to imagine a baby Alan but there are some about

SamanthaH92 · 14/06/2018 20:38

@Iggyace i have heard a few people calling their DDs Norma within the last year. So must be coming back x

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