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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Emma old fashioned?

57 replies

PepperSteaks · 28/07/2018 17:28

I really like Emma for a second baby (Not even conceived yet but day dreaming) I also like the NNs Em and Emmie. However is it a 90s? When I was growing up every class has 2 Emma’s but I haven’t heard it for new babies in ages!

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Crunchymum · 28/07/2018 21:57

The Emma is our family was born very late 80's.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 28/07/2018 21:45

Emma is a great name. Will never date. I really don't like Emmie though, seems very wet to me.

Is Emilee a younique version of Emily? Confused

Icklepup · 28/07/2018 20:32

It's lovely.

FoxyBoxter · 28/07/2018 20:04

My DD 13 is an Emma. We chose it as a classic name (that went well with her brother's) and she is the only Emma in her year group. It gets shortened to Em, Ems and we call her Emmie sometimes. She's not overly keen on her name (but then don't most teens go through that, 'Why did you call me that?' phase...??) I see/hear it as a strong no-nonsense name & I once taught an Emma who was strong minded & spirited and that kind of swayed my choice too. Wink

TroubledLichen · 28/07/2018 19:01

As a PP has mentioned, it’s really popular in the US. I volunteer with under 5s and hear it a lot.

Wishfulmakeupping · 28/07/2018 18:55

Agree that it’s classic and timeless

ScreamingValenta · 28/07/2018 18:55

I really like it. Very popular amongst my generation, but has more rarity value now.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 28/07/2018 18:52

A classic and beautiful name. Sadly underrated in favour of (e.g.) Yewneeka-Mai these days...

likeacrow · 28/07/2018 18:44

Classic rather than old fashioned. Too popular for me personally but nice.

Justgivemesomepeace · 28/07/2018 18:42

Don't think so. My child minder has a baby Emma. Timeless.

Hecksonaplane · 28/07/2018 18:40

My dd13 is Emma, I still love it and there is only one other in her year - 5 classes per year so not particularly common.

mummadave · 28/07/2018 18:40

I've just called my daughter Emma!
To me it ticked lots of boxes, it's timeless, it's a 'proper' name - not a nickname or something fashionable, my family is from Iceland and it fits in English and Icelandic which was important, as someone said higher up - you can't pigeonhole an Emma.

Thedutchwife · 28/07/2018 18:37

Classic name

Lovely

SwedishEdith · 28/07/2018 18:36

My young teenage daughter has 5 friends called Emma. I was surprised it was still that popular.

TheDowagerCuntess · 28/07/2018 18:30

Agree with Nancy - to me, it was very popular in the 70s. I'm surprised people are dating it to the 80s and 90s, but assume you're all in your 20s and 30s, and just aren't aware that its popularity began earlier than that.

It's a nice name though - more classic than many of the other names of my peers (Karen, Nicola, Joanne, Angela, etc).

AnneLovesGilbert · 28/07/2018 18:04

Lovely name!

manicinsomniac · 28/07/2018 18:03

No, not old fashioned. Just not currently peaking.

I know dozens in their 20s-40s but it's one that will always have one or two in every generation.

I'd put it with Sarah, Laura and Rebecca - top 10 names of the 80s/90s but still classics.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/07/2018 17:59

Emma was the most popular girls name in the USA in 2016
uk.businessinsider.com/most-popular-baby-names-state-map-2017-5?r=US&IR=T

There's a cool animated map which shows the most popular girls names in the USA over decades - stops at 2012, Emma becoming popular during the end of the period shown.

jezebel.com/map-sixty-years-of-the-most-popular-names-for-girls-s-1443501909

Trends in the U.K. may be a bit different but no, Emma is timeless, fairly classless and popular at the moment.

Sophronia · 28/07/2018 17:54

It isn’t as popular as it was in the 80s and 90s, but I wouldn’t say it was dated.

Mammmoo · 28/07/2018 17:53

DDs bestie who is 5 is called Emma. It's a lovely name

Yogagirl123 · 28/07/2018 17:51

Classic name, lovely

yikesanotherbooboo · 28/07/2018 17:48

I think it is a lovely name and as pp says, timeless

Caaarrrl · 28/07/2018 17:41

I do not regret calling DD2 (15) Emma. It's a lovely, classic name IMO.

AtticaRose · 28/07/2018 17:40

Loads born in the 80s and 90s - I've always known a few my age at school/uni/work.

That said, it's a nice name and there's a great Jane Austen book too!

BillywigSting · 28/07/2018 17:36

Oh no I think Emma is timeless in the best sort of way.

I can just as easily imagine it on a Victorian raconteur as I can on a cute squishy new born, bold toddler or accomplished young woman

I think it's very pretty too