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Baby names

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

Original poster

'Dated' names

189 replies

ConstanceL · 20/01/2022 14:11

I often see on threads that people say don't use such and such name as it won't date well. But does it really matter if names are of their time? My (real) name was popular in the 80s, but not any more. But when I was little it was a popular name for little girls, and now I am heading towards middle age it is a name that many late 30s women have.

We are thinking about names for our next DC and I really like the name Aurelia, but I searched threads and a few people said 'it won't date well'. So I guess my question is, does that really matter? I've never had a problem with my 'dated' name - has anyone else?

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ZoyaTheDestroyer · 23/01/2022 18:23

I feel much the same about Eric. It’s a brilliant name!

Original poster
ConstanceL · 23/01/2022 18:19

@SummaLuvin

I like Brian, it has a simple elegance to it. Much like Frank or Bridget. I think those sort of sharp, snappy, ‘hard’ sounding names will be the next trend - the antithesis to the current fussy, vowel heavy, twee, flowing names that at super popular now.
I feel the same about the name Colin, but when I suggested it for DS it was treated as a joke!
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PartyOnKale · 23/01/2022 11:51

I think Brian may come back. Though B names have not been popular for a while though Beatrice made a comeback with the Victoriana names.

SummaLuvin · 23/01/2022 11:14

I like Brian, it has a simple elegance to it. Much like Frank or Bridget. I think those sort of sharp, snappy, ‘hard’ sounding names will be the next trend - the antithesis to the current fussy, vowel heavy, twee, flowing names that at super popular now.

Original poster
ConstanceL · 22/01/2022 09:27

I guess dated names are in some ways better than names that are cute on a baby would won't be good on an adult, for example I know of someone who called their son Buddy Gene which I thought was quite cruel, but others may disagree. Names are such a subjective and sometimes emotive subject!

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Snowiscold · 21/01/2022 21:25

One of my DC had both a Brian and a Wayne in her primary school. They would be about 20 now.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 21/01/2022 21:24

I have a very classic name and I love it, though it is shortened for everyday use.

Kitkat151 · 21/01/2022 21:19

@thisgardenlife

Names I think have dated beyond repair (though they could come back any time):

Beryl
Stacey
Tracey
Sharon
Maureen
Wayne
Brian

Agree apart from Stacey...I know a Stacey who’s 31 and also one who is 27
Kitkat151 · 21/01/2022 21:17

@maddy68

Susan Tracey Adele Claire Sharon Gary Nigel
I’m 57.... I went to primary school with all of these😀
SerenTarot · 21/01/2022 20:30

There's no such thing as 'dated' names.

Names, like everything else, go in and out of fashion, and no-one can predict when they will come around again. What you think is dated this year, could become fashionable next year.

A name becomes popular simply because lots of people use it. If too many people use it and it becomes common then it falls out of fashion.

When I was at school we had about seven 'Susans' in our class. Now you rarely hear of a child being called Susan but we all know a Sue or a Suzy.

My older brother was a Michael but there were so many Michaels in his class he started being known by his middle name George and that has stuck. You rarely hear of a child being called Michael but we all know a Mike, a Mick, or a Micky.

Michael and Susan may be 'dated' but they are perfectly fine names.

Who cares if a name is dated or not. Just choose names that you like or that mean something to you and your child will grow in to them.

And by the way to @Dillydollydingdong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with Walter or Agnes.

Abraxan · 21/01/2022 20:21

@Dillydollydingdong

I was reading the other day about a woman who wants to name her twins Walter and Agnes when they're born. Wally and Aggie? Who would want to lumber innocent babies with names like that?
Both names are already being used and have been for a bit.

I teach a 5y Aggie and have taught a Walter, who'd be about 9y now,

PartyOnKale · 21/01/2022 19:32

I never thought Ivy would stage a comeback so I daren't take a guess on Beryl.

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 21/01/2022 19:28

I think beryl will be back soon...

Doubt it. If it was going to come back it would have done so by now. Same as with Cecil and Gladys. Some older names just don't have mass appeal.

WhoppingBigBackside · 21/01/2022 19:25

@thisgardenlife, those could come back. Beryl, Maureen and Brian first

RedWingBoots · 21/01/2022 19:23

[quote lhirault]@Comedycook As someone approaching 60 (and with a very dated 60s name) I can assure you that Maureen is more likely to be in her mid 70s than 60. It would have been considered very old fashioned when I was born (early 60s). [/quote]
Studied with a couple of Maureens who will be in their 40s.

NotAnotherHelen · 21/01/2022 19:23

@RedWingBoots Are you seriously telling me the opinion I should have of my own name?

My name is fine. Objectively I like it. In practice I don’t like having a name which is twenty years too old for me.

RedWingBoots · 21/01/2022 19:21

@Sindel I worked abd studied with Trevors. They are in their 40s.

One hates his name and thinks it is old fashioned.

RedWingBoots · 21/01/2022 19:20

[quote NotAnotherHelen]@miltonj It dropped like a stone in the early 80s. No other Helens ever at school, one contemporary at university, then I entered the workplace and found hundreds, all twenty years older than me.[/quote]
That's actually good that there aren't loads of Helens your age. As your name isn't so strange it stands out, but isn't so common everyone knows someone called it.

NotAnotherHelen · 21/01/2022 19:13

@miltonj It dropped like a stone in the early 80s. No other Helens ever at school, one contemporary at university, then I entered the workplace and found hundreds, all twenty years older than me.

'Dated' names
ritalinda · 21/01/2022 19:12

@NotAnotherHelen

Better to have a name which dates you correctly than one which dates you as twenty years older than you actually are - speaking from experience as an 80s Helen.

Aurelia is on its way up so if you’re going to use it now is the time. Don’t use a very popular name on its way back down. I wouldn’t name a 2022 baby Jack or Grace for this reason.

Helen is a classic and timeless name.

I think beryl will be back soon...

thisgardenlife · 21/01/2022 19:04

Names I think have dated beyond repair (though they could come back any time):

Beryl
Stacey
Tracey
Sharon
Maureen
Wayne
Brian

miltonj · 21/01/2022 19:04

@NotAnotherHelen

Better to have a name which dates you correctly than one which dates you as twenty years older than you actually are - speaking from experience as an 80s Helen.

Aurelia is on its way up so if you’re going to use it now is the time. Don’t use a very popular name on its way back down. I wouldn’t name a 2022 baby Jack or Grace for this reason.

Interesting.... I know and knew lots of helens born in the 80s and early 90s!
lhirault · 21/01/2022 18:55

@Comedycook As someone approaching 60 (and with a very dated 60s name) I can assure you that Maureen is more likely to be in her mid 70s than 60. It would have been considered very old fashioned when I was born (early 60s).

miltonj · 21/01/2022 18:53

Such a wide selection of names these days and names are picked from all previous generations. So no I don't think there will be an issue with names being dated. Go for it and don't worry. It's a great name.

Original poster
ConstanceL · 21/01/2022 18:49

@NotAnotherHelen

Better to have a name which dates you correctly than one which dates you as twenty years older than you actually are - speaking from experience as an 80s Helen.

Aurelia is on its way up so if you’re going to use it now is the time. Don’t use a very popular name on its way back down. I wouldn’t name a 2022 baby Jack or Grace for this reason.

That's a good point, I can see why someone called say Sheila in the 80/90s would feel more aggrieved about their name than if they were born in the 60s.
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