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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names most associate with the 1970s and 1980s

116 replies

Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 04/04/2021 22:20

A friend of mine (early 20s) has given names to her girls that I think are strongly linked to the 70s/80s and I found I really liked hearing them! Not sure if it is because they remind me of school days or because they sound refreshing as so rare to be heard on children atm.

What are your favourite distinctly 70s/80s names?

I like Lisa, Leanne and Stephanie!

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VioletCharlotte · 05/04/2021 15:45

Here's some of the less common ones I remember from school -
Hannah
Tricia
Charlotte
Gemma
Marianne
Verity
Tamsin
Tiffany
Kirsten

Murray
Adam
Stuart
Guy
Rodney

Gladimnotcampinginthisweather · 05/04/2021 15:33

Sarah

Jumpalicious · 05/04/2021 15:30

I’m not saying these are names I like, but these were the most common names in my school, end 70s-90s, popular late 60s-80s

Rebecca, claire, louise, Emma, lisa, Katherine, rachel, amy
Richard, andrew, martin, Simon, paul, mark, Luke, david

  • some of these remain but have been poshified (Marcus, Louisa, Luca) etc.
ILoveShula · 05/04/2021 14:44

Kelly, Claire, Julia, Ema, Anything Louise.Anything Marie.

zigaziga · 05/04/2021 13:05

I’ve always loved the name Rebecca and Rachel.

CuddlyDudley71 · 05/04/2021 13:03

My name-Kerry.
Also, Tracey, Julie, Karen, Lisa, Leanne, Rachel, Adele, Donna...

SeanChailleach · 05/04/2021 10:42

Patricia
Bernadette
Geraldine
Maxine

Wayne
Kevin
Darren

Most of the boys were named Michael or Gerald. My brother literally had four friends all called Michael. Most of the girls were Mary or Catherine.

Thirtyrock39 · 05/04/2021 10:27

I love 70s American sounding girls names like-
Caroline
Judy
Stephanie

LilacTrees · 05/04/2021 10:25

Sarah

LilacTrees · 05/04/2021 10:25

Caroline, Catherine

LilacTrees · 05/04/2021 10:25

Clare

SaintReatham · 05/04/2021 10:24

When I think back to my old school classes, it feels as if mid 70s boys in particular were all named from a tiny handful of options:

Richard
Jonathan
James
David
Philip
Paul
Simon
Andrew
Christopher

The girls were more varied but with multiple Sarah/Claire/Amanda/Carolines.

Monkeytennis97 · 05/04/2021 10:13

Of course another late 80s one was Charlene.

Also (thinking of the names of some of the 90s teens I taught)

Stacey
Gemma
Leah
Kylie
Hannah
Rebecca
Sara/Sarah
Eloise
Carina

Monkeytennis97 · 05/04/2021 10:10

@CirqueDeMorgue

And Carly.
Yes mid/ late 80s name.. I taught dozens of teenage Carly/Carlie/Karlies in the late 90s.
Original poster
Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 05/04/2021 10:05

I’m going to start suggesting these names when people ask on here for more unusual ones!

I now have The Beautiful South and Pulp as a mash up in my head Grin

OP posts:
VioletCharlotte · 05/04/2021 09:33

Sarah
Claire
Victoria
Nicola
Jenny
Joanne/Joanna
Emma
Stephanie
Alison

Mathew
David
Mark
Paul
Simon
Jonathan
Steven
James

lavenderlou · 05/04/2021 09:14

I bet if you name you baby Lisa there won’t be another in the school!!

I have a Lisa in my current KS1 class. I've taught 3 Lisas in the last 10 years, although I've never taught a Karen, Nicola, Laura etc, but Lisa seems to have more longevity.

MissyB1 · 05/04/2021 08:32

Sarah
Geraldine
Veronica
Belinda
Julia
Sonia
Marie
Rachel

William
John
Ian
Michael
Richard
Phillip

groovergirl · 05/04/2021 02:41

Growing up in 70s/80s Sydney, my cohorts were Catherine, Amanda and Michelle (lots of these), Kimberley, Leanne, Sharon, Kelly, Jodie, Sarah, Danielle and Gabrielle. Boys were Jason, Darren, Michael, Ian, Patrick, Simon and Justin.

One name that copped a lot of jeers even back then was Kylie. But all the Kylies I know as adults are super smart and successful, so perhaps there is some magic in the name after all.

You're right, OP. These names do sound almost fresh again!

Rosehassometoes · 05/04/2021 02:35

Suzanne
Katy
Claire
Rebecca
Elizabeth
Natalie
Joanna
Amy
Fiona
Jessica
Victoria

Christopher
Andrew
Simon
James
Jamie
Jonathan
Ian
Lee
Shaun

RaeRaeMama · 05/04/2021 02:28

@Nanalisa60

Lisa is a very 1960,s 1970s name, I bet if you name you baby Lisa there won’t be another in the school!! I really like me name but it’s definitely of it’s time. Don’t think it’s going to make a come back anytime soon.

I think Karen is a big no no now!! Which is a shame as I have three lovely friends who are called Karen and they are all very nice.

I know a girl called Lisa, she's 22!
LooksLively · 05/04/2021 02:26

Jason
Damian
Kevin
Simon
Dominic
Jonathan
Gavin
Gareth
Adrian
Paul
Mark

Suzanne
Melanie
Leanne
Joanne
Deborah
Jackie
Donna
Dawn
Jenny
Julia
Julie
Paula

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 05/04/2021 02:13

I really have a fondness for the names Samantha, Maxine and Jennifer.

margotleadbeter · 05/04/2021 02:07

@Cissyandflora

Her name was Deborah. It never suited her.
Wink
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 05/04/2021 01:02

Keely, Kelly, Leanne, Nicola, Joanna and Gemma are the ones that were common in my school in the 80's but that you rarely hear on babies now.

There was also more than one Laura, Sarah, Amy, Victoria, Rachel, Hannah, Rebecca and Catherine but I consider those more "classic" names that happened to be well used in the 80's too.