Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Gary?

81 replies

garyjive · 04/01/2020 15:12

I'm interested to know - would any expectant parents on here be willing or planning on calling their child Gary?
It's a sturdy name, but apparently falling out of favour.
Save Gary!
Thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Corneliawildthing · 04/01/2020 20:15

I wouldn't choose it. I've just taught a 12 year old Gary......as if that wasn't bad enough, his middle name was Barry Grin

MikeUniformMike · 04/01/2020 20:12

Garry Glitter had two Rs.

Gary is fine.
Nigel is ok too.
I like middle aged names like Alan and Neil, they seem much nicer than the Alfies and Archies and so on.

BilboBercow · 04/01/2020 19:48

Sorry Gary, I'm sure you're lovely but I just don't really like the name. If it helps I feel the same about Derek? My name is also of that era and dying out.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 04/01/2020 19:14

Gary, in various spellings, has been around since the 17th century.

I stand corrected! Who was called Gary in the 17th Century?

Original poster
garyjive · 04/01/2020 19:13

How come Saville didn't deter anyone from calling their boy James or Jimmy?
Hmmmmm.
I bet if Peaky Blinders has a Gary in it next year, you'll all be hopping right back on the Gary Train!!!

OP posts:
Howgreenwasmyvalley · 04/01/2020 17:54

Gary Barlow!

Cookit · 04/01/2020 17:52

I agree with @FiddlesticksAkimbo - just because Gary is a middle aged man name doesn’t mean it’s a classic. It’s the 60s equivalent of Jax, Alfie, Archie etc (although I guess Alfie and Archie are at least derivatives of long standing names).

Gary is not John - John being a very traditional name that falls in and out of fashion, currently underused and likely common again with the next generation. Gary was (hopefully!) a one hit (generation) wonder.

DickDewy · 04/01/2020 17:51

I think it fell out of favour in about 1975.

You can't call a baby Gary!

SymphonyofShadows · 04/01/2020 17:50

I know a toddler Gary, don’t rule out a comeback.

HoratioNightboy · 04/01/2020 17:47

Gary (as a stand-alone name), Beyoncé, Jaxon and names like that are made-up, single-generation names

What do you mean? Gary, in various spellings, has been around since the 17th century. It's not remotely comparable to Beyoncé.

OP, I think it is making a tiny bit of a comeback, in Scotland at least. There were about a dozen born last year, and the same in 2018.

Original poster
garyjive · 04/01/2020 17:34

Gary Glitter can't have ruined it for everyone! Charlie is a constant fixture in the top ten - Charlie Manson was a bit of a wrong un, wasn't he???

OP posts:
YourOpinionIsNoted · 04/01/2020 16:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 04/01/2020 16:49

I thought the same of George. George really is an old man in tweed name.

But names like George and Ethel have been around forever and will come and go. Gary (as a stand-alone name), Beyoncé, Jaxon and names like that are made-up, single-generation names which will always sound a bit ridiculous outside that generation. I think @garyjive will be waiting a while Grin

ElusiveOrangeTwirl · 04/01/2020 16:47

Garrett is nice.

WanderingAimlessly · 04/01/2020 16:37

I met a baby Keith the other day. That seemed like a very grown up name for a little baby!

Maybe someone could name their twins, Gary & Keith?

fallfallfall · 04/01/2020 16:32

I thought the same of George. George really is an old man in tweed name.
I’m married to a Gary and our grandson has it as a middle name.

Original poster
garyjive · 04/01/2020 16:31

I'm a nice guy! Come on!
Save Gary

OP posts:
2020yQy · 04/01/2020 16:26

Gary Glitter. It can never come back.

ballsdeep · 04/01/2020 16:25

Og no it always reminds of the only fools episode.

Evilmorty · 04/01/2020 16:24

I’m always said this about names like Gary, Ian etc. I like the sound they make but I wouldn’t use them.

Rollonspringtime2020 · 04/01/2020 16:23

Not even close to being due a revival...

2020BetterBeBetter · 04/01/2020 16:22

I don’t know any nice people called Gary which massively puts me off the name.

Longdistance · 04/01/2020 16:21

Gary Glitter

SpoonSpoon · 04/01/2020 16:21

My dad is called Gary, hes a 69 year old bloke HAHA
But it's a nice name I think.

eddiemairswife · 04/01/2020 16:20

Oh no! Gary Windass Coronation Street says it all.

Swipe left for the next trending thread