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Baby names

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

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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Roomba · 24/06/2018 10:23

I know a couple of young Leonards actually, so maybe that's one that may creep back in.

I also know a couple of young Catherines, but even though it is still in use I doubt we'll see a return to 1/4 of every class being named Catherine/Katherine/Katharine/Kathryn as was the case in my school (the rest were called Lindsey/Lindsay/Lynsey or Claire/Clare)!

NorthEndGal · 24/06/2018 10:21

Joan
Shelley
Erica
Cindy
Greg
Jason
Jamie
Connie
Ricky
Maxine
Christine
Paul
Shane
Terry

Original poster
Urbanbeetler · 24/06/2018 10:12

I’ve taught several Chinese heritage Kevins and a couple of French heritage Kevins.

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/06/2018 10:07

Kevin is a fab name.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/06/2018 10:07

Itd be hugely interesting to see a future thread about names say 30 years into the future. Names like Isla Ava and Sofia will probably be seen as dated and names like
Susan and Sharon will be on the rise.

Sevendown · 24/06/2018 10:05

I know under 10s who are Graham and Colin.

There are still a lot of men who insist that their firstborn sons have their exact names.

Aragog · 24/06/2018 10:04

Barbara - I've taught a 7y Kevin a couple of years back. Though it wasn't his 'real' name. He was from another country and he and his siblings took on British names in arriving here.

I also know a 4y Paul but his family are not British so maybe it's more common where they are from.

Aragog · 24/06/2018 10:01

Think it's too early for some of these names.
It's often your grandparents names that make the come back - so two generations ago. So can't imagine 50s/60s names making their come back til DD's generation are having children - she's currently 16 so hopefully a little while yet. Then 70s names when their children have children, and so on.

Some just never come back at all.

3DSpex · 24/06/2018 10:00

I’m a late 70s baby and we had 3 Rachel’s and 2 Joannas in my class Grin.

Joanna is a very pretty name, actually. Amanda, too.

LarkDescending · 24/06/2018 09:59

I’m amazed at the babies called Dorcas! Does anyone know a young Gertrude (it was my grandmother’s middle name - she hated it).

BarbaraOcumbungles · 24/06/2018 09:57

Kevin!

I can’t see it ever coming back round tbh

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/06/2018 09:56

I met a little Donna and while ago. Shed be about 18, now. Naturally, with it being such an usual name for her era I asked her mum how she chose it. It was after her auntie

I met a little Colin the other week.Named after his dad.

Joanne was very very popular in my school year. There were at least 3 in each class.
I was born 1975. It's almost obsolete, now.

Other popular names that have not yet made a come back.
Carol. Karen. Laura. Natalie. Michelle. Julie.
Hayley. Lisa. Andrea. Amanda. Stephanie.
Lindsey. Melanie. .Clare.

Also up until about 15 years ago Rachel was very savvy and popular. However as lovely as it is. it's quite dated now. I always thought that'd be a classic and timeless yet not at the same time not ridiculously over popular.

RaininSummer · 24/06/2018 09:54

Percy has missed the boat and I wonder if the popular sixties name, Tina, will return.

3DSpex · 24/06/2018 09:51

Makes = names!

3DSpex · 24/06/2018 09:50

The 60s, 70s and 80s makes haven’t started their comeback yet, really, have they?

There are still a fair few ‘old lady/gent’ makes that aren’t really used. Haven’t seen many little Maureen/Doreen/Irenes about 😆

letsallhaveanap · 24/06/2018 09:50

Myrtle
Beryl
Mavis
Christine
Dorris
Allison
Deborah
Joyce
Cheryl
Maureen
Phylis
Tanya
Lisa

I do know a couple of baby Ethels and a baby Dorcas! And Dorcas was on my list but was vetoed lol I also know 3 baby Wendys!!! Judy and Marjorie are also apparently trendy at the mo im told

Derek
Eugene
Kenneth
Martin
Jeff
Gary
Liam

Marioki · 24/06/2018 09:43

Tanya and its variants. I remember it being very popular when I first started teaching nearly 20 years ago but you don't hear it as often these days.
Angela , Kimberly and Rebecca were very popular among my age group but seem to have died off. I'm surprised Rebecca has fallen out of favour, it's a lovely classic sounding name. My own name, Andrea, is very of its time. I don't think it will make a come back in the UK for a while yet but is more popular elsewhere in Europe.

Original poster
Urbanbeetler · 24/06/2018 09:35

Isn’t there a famous person with a baby called Barara?

OP posts:
Glassofredandapackofcrisps · 24/06/2018 09:31

Yes water! I'm 39 and the youngest Paula I've ever known!
And I know quite a few!

schooltripwoes · 24/06/2018 09:31

Ethel
Hilda
Judy
Marjorie
Margaret
Barbara
Diane
Wendy
Helen
Sarah
Tracy
Sharon
Karen
Beverley
Maureen
Lisa
Alison
Nicola
Mary
Hilary
Catherine
Gary
Jeff
Simon
Martin
Tony / Anthony
Robert
Leonard / Len

Louise322 · 24/06/2018 09:22

water there's a very famous baby Paul at the moment

waterlego6064 · 24/06/2018 09:20

I cannot imagine meeting a baby Pauline, or Paula.

AttilaTheMusical · 24/06/2018 09:20

Brian, Bernard, Gladys, Sharon, Lorraine, Caroline, Rita, Dennis.

IggyAce · 24/06/2018 09:18

I went to school with many lindsey/Lyndseys and Victoria's and several Leanne's and Tracy's. I don't think Tracy will make a comeback and I'm surprised that there aren't more Victoria's and Rebecca's.

OhTheRoses · 24/06/2018 09:17

Joyce, Barbara, Eunice, Kim, Kelly, Ron, Kevin, Roy, Derek, Kenneth.

For me Jayden is the modern equivalent of Wayne/Darren/Warren.