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Baby names

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Original poster

What names which were popular in the past haven’t yet made a comeback?

109 replies

Urbanbeetler · 24/06/2018 07:53

Susan was a name which you often heard in the 60s. And I went to school with a number of girls called Donna, Jacqueline, Nicola and Marie. And boys called Graham, Colin and Barry.

Will these names ever come back in fashion again, or are there a subset of historical names which miss revivals and will forever be consigned to a particular patch or 30 or so years other than the odd naming here and there?

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Ilovewhippets · 08/07/2018 22:51

I met a baby Stanley recently - I hadn't heard that name for many years.

OlennasWimple · 08/07/2018 21:40

Nigel
Gary
Kevin
Neil
Desmond

Not come across any of these younger than 25, and mostly 60+

PinguDance · 08/07/2018 21:31

Alison - haven’t met an Alison under 30.

PinguDance · 08/07/2018 21:29

I like the name Irene and it’s variations, my fave is Eirene as in eye -ree-knee. Don’t know if you’d want a life of explaining that though.

Any baby Cliff/Clifford’s around? I’ve not met a young Gill/Jill either.

WilliowGreen · 08/07/2018 21:17

I think of girls names Margaret, Mary and Susan will come back. I know a little Joan and a Winnie (not short for Winifred). She is tiny so gets called mini Winnie. I don't know many little Elizabeths but that is a classic name with lots of nicknames.
I don't think we will get many little ones called Gladys or Ireen.

I don't think that Cyrl, Cecil or Desmond will come back. More classic boys names have come back than girls. A lot of parents are going for nicknames e.g. Archie rather than Archibald.

trueblueari · 08/07/2018 20:47

I already have a name picked if I ever have another girl and I think it's in this category (I personally love it and have sentimental reasons) - Lynne.

Karen, Brenda and Susan were the ones that came to mind, and Gary, Derek and Nigel for boys.

IndieRar · 08/07/2018 17:00

Can't see Pamela or Hepzibah making a come back any time soon.

Frankwindsor · 08/07/2018 16:24

Has anyone said Percival yet?

Trinnidad · 08/07/2018 08:44

My middle name is Hilda and I love it (I’m early 30s). It goes very well will my first name and is from a family connection so a nice memory. I admit I think it’s hard to carry off as a first name - esp. if you live in an area where people drop their h’s or if your surname starts with a vowel “‘Ildar Ogden” anyone? It’s a great middle name.

81Byerley · 07/07/2018 23:43

I have Grandchildren called Tobias Wilfred Arthur Frank & Sylvia. I like these old fashioned names.

AndromedaPerseus · 07/07/2018 23:40

I know a 15 year old Jean, a 13 yr old Timothy, a 12 yr old Deborah,

StableGenius · 07/07/2018 23:36

An Italian friend said she thought the name Sheila was beautiful, which made me re-evaluate it.

4GreenApples · 07/07/2018 23:34

I reckon a lot of these names will start coming back into fashion once their bearers grandchildren or great grandchildren are having their own babies.

By then they’ll start sounding refreshingly unusual rather than hopelessly old fashioned.

Although not all names will return. One of my elderly relatives has a good friend called Gay. I can’t see that name coming back into fashion.

I met a toddler called Craig at soft play a few weeks ago. Unusual name for a toddler these days.

MakeLemonade · 07/07/2018 23:26

I know a young Mary but so surprised it’s not more popular.

waterlego6064 · 07/07/2018 23:17

RoseMartha, I know a couple of little Connies. And a Penelope.

jmh740 · 07/07/2018 23:07

Im joanne and oh is a kevin both very 60s 70 names. I work in a school there's a Darren in reception

lifechangesforever · 07/07/2018 22:22

Tracey and Linda - which happen to DM and MIL names, so there was no way they'd be getting in on DD's names.

My nanna is gets annoyed though because 'Tracey' was really unusual at the time apparently and then it just boomed about 5 years after my mum was born.

RoseMartha · 07/07/2018 22:16

I thought today about the name Connie or Constance

OhTheRoses · 26/06/2018 15:25

I agree I think Susan's lovely.

Julian - there were loads of teenage Julian's in the 70s

user1485342611 · 26/06/2018 13:43

I don't agree that Susan is unlikely to make a comeback. It's a name that's been around for a long time but is temporarily out of fashion, but it's not a name particularly associated with one decade like Tracey or Sharon or Tina or Melanie.

It's also a very pretty name and I can see a future generation returning to it.

moofolk · 26/06/2018 09:52

Mandy

Leanne

Vera

Steve

Gary

Roomba · 26/06/2018 09:36

Glad Agnes is making a comeback. One of my relatives is in her 50s and was named Agnes. She hated it so much (said it was old fashioned) that she insisted on going by her middle name right from being small. She changed it by deed poll at 17. Funnily enough, her middle name was/is a name which now sounds far more old fashioned to me.

ABitOTT · 26/06/2018 09:34

Melanie
Nicola
Samantha
Tracy
Karen
Sharon
Stephanie
Tanya
Shelley
Michelle
Sarah
Sally
Marcia

Paul
Mark
Stephen/Steven
Douglas
Carl
Richard
David
Stuart

All names of classmates from my secondary school in the 1980s. None of these names seem to be making a comeback yet, but let's give it another generation & they'll be plenty.

Roomba · 26/06/2018 09:33

One of the young Leonards I know usually goes by Leon, but says he loves his name as its unusual now.

I know a couple of babies/toddlers named Nicholas too. Also a little Julia, which I think is a lovely name you don't come across often in the under 40s/50s now.

KettleOn919 · 26/06/2018 09:21

I wish Jean would come back in. It's simple, elegant, and goes harmoniously with almost any surname.

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