Michelle, Deborah, Angela

If you call her Michelle please never let anyone call her Meesh and Shelly gets old when you're over 10. Close to the bone for me, I actually don't hate my name, it's of my generation, but wouldn't pass it on to a child

I say Deborah as Deb'ra. I have heard it said as Deb-ora, particularly among the elderly.
Angela is usually shortened to Ange.
Michelle is a mum's name.

I like Sandy, which is probably a granny name by now.

Of the following:
Joanna
Laura
Rebecca
Amy
Claire
Natalie
Caroline
Heather
Rachel
Vanessa
most are classic names that haven't dated.
Rebecca, Amy, Claire and Rachel were hugely popular in the 70s and 80s so seem little dated now, but they're nice.

Sound like my year at school: Sarah x3 Joanne Joanna Diana Alana Andrea Amanda Rebecca Tara Rachel Anita Fiona Tamsin Julia Tina Melanie Anna Deborah Claire Lisa Samantha Nancy Stephanie Tracy

Of those three - Angela

They are all quite dated. But I don't think any of them are particularly bad, objectively speaking. They're just not in fashion.

Deborah and Michelle both have quite a 70s/80s vibe to them and aren't old fashioned enough to have come back round again. If you like those, how about these?

Joanna
Laura
Rebecca
Amy
Claire
Natalie
Caroline
Heather
Rachel
Vanessa

They’re all late 60s early 70s aren’t they, I can’t like them again yet

My mum is a Deborah, Debbie to her friends and Debs to the family. I’ve also seen my grandmother’s name on this thread, my step sisters, and mine has come up twice, no one ever suggests my name .

Michelle is very pretty and due a revival imo.

Pemba .. yayyyy .. I'm an Alison !! I'm 52 .. I've been saying for ages that 1960s names need a revival ... can't wait for lots of toddler Julies and Carls running round !... We need Sarah back for sure

I actually really like Deborah, it has a nice soft sound. I know it was overused in the 60s/ late 50s, though, and a lot of people will think it's awful and dated just because of that, but if you can be brave.... Not so keen on Angela, Michelle is OK.

Looking back on name from other decades, I really like Sylvia (from earlier decades than Deborah) and Clare/Claire (I prefer the first spelling) still remains one of my favourite names. Alison is nice too, and Amanda, Sarah and Louise (actually prefer this to the currently fashionable Louisa).

Oh Shirley, oh Deborah, oh Julie, oh Jane
I wrote so many songs about you
I forget your name, I forget your name
Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel, too
I forget your name
Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel, too
I forget your name

Beautiful South's 'song for whoever'- surely one of these must suit?

I like Angie and Debbie is ok. Two of my cousin's wives! Angie gets shortened to Ange a lot.

I'm a 29yo Deborah too! I get Debbie by family and friends I've known from school and younger, (which I hate) but am Deborah to everyone else. My preferred nn is Deb or Debs. Dad saw the name on a barmaid's name tag and thought it was nice

I don't love it but I've grown to not mind it When we got married last year I had Pulp's Disco 2000 played by the string quartet as we walked back down the aisle.

It's an underused biblical name- she was a pretty cool judge, which I remind myself of when I'm passing comment on people's footwear or potential baby names on Mumsnet. I like a retro name myself but I'm sticking to Margot!

@manicinsomniac I am a Deborah and it is Deb-oh-rah. Wouldn't say I've ever had De-bore-ah though.
For Deb-rah it would more likely be the spelling Debra.

I have always been known as Debbie or Debs/Debz. Went through phases as a teen hating the name Debbie and used Debra a bit but happy enough with Debbie/Debs now.

Op I'm 29 and haven't really come across many other Deborah's but several Michelle and Angela's (though all the Angela's have been a lot older!) through the years so Deborah is the least commonly used I'd say.
Wouldn't be my choice of baby name but it's a personal preference really.

Michelle is fabulous and I bet she’ll be talented and gorgeous and clever. (Guess what my name is )

I know an Angel which I love. Pronounced Onjel

I don't mind Deborah or Angela. I also like previous suggestions of Sylvia, Valerie and Kimberley.

What about:

Andrea
Karen
Melanie
Gloria
Susannah
Julia
Joanne
Claire
Amanda
Caroline
Natasha
Hayley
Vanessa

I think I'd go for Angela/Angie! That could be cute.

Deborah is ok but Debbie is a bit aging to me. Don't love Michelle, not sure why - maybe because it was such a samey middle name for ages?

Angela is the least worse, how about Angelica instead?

I like them! Deborah would be my favourite. Angela is a bit close to all the Ana/Angelina/Angelika names, of which there are many ATM. Michelle is a lovely name, but the world may not be ready for it to return yet.

Laughing at people who say they're not due a comeback yet. It just depends how brave you are. 16 years ago I was pregnant and I was told the names I was suggesting weren't ready for a comeback yet. One of them was Greta!! Now I see that suggested often.

Hell no.

The diminutives are awful too. There’s no saving grace to them.

None of them sorry.

Surely these names aren’t due a comeback yet. They’re all my friends’ names! Mine is on one of the lists too and my sister’s. We are all in our 40s and 50s.

Michelle is best from your list but I prefer the more classic names that pps have suggested which have stood the test of time better eg Emma, Caroline.

Retro but not vintage.

Sylvia
Valerie
Judith
Karen
Alison
Suzanne
Julie
Marie
Patricia