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Baby names

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

Original poster

Would your own name work as a baby name now?

233 replies

Dustyblue · 31/01/2022 04:55

Mine wouldn't, I don't think.

It's Belinda, but I go by variations of it. Was very popular in Australia in the 70's. But I can't remember the last time I heard of a baby named Belinda.

Do you have a nice timeless name or a dated one like mine?

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Dumbledoressister · 31/01/2022 11:28

Yes, it's a perennial

APurpleSquirrel · 31/01/2022 11:27

@CraftMaker

Given that I was named after a Pokemon, probably not.
Ohh is it Evie?
APurpleSquirrel · 31/01/2022 11:27

Mine would - it was unusual (or at least not common) when I was born (80s) but seems to be getting more popular.
New neighbours have just moved in this weekend & their DD has my name & she must be about 3.
Plus my name is one I sometimes see suggested on the baby names threads.

OnceUponAThread · 31/01/2022 11:19

@CraftMaker

Given that I was named after a Pokemon, probably not.
@CraftMaker desperate to know which Pokémon now.
TinyTear · 31/01/2022 11:16

@kindcactus

My name is Xanthe. It gets suggested on this board all the time so I guess so!
I know THREE six and seven year old Xanthes!!!
leavingthispoohole · 31/01/2022 11:15

@Sausagedogsarethebest

My name became officially 'extinct' in the UK in 2020 because no babies were given the name.
Oh please share!!!!
piglet81 · 31/01/2022 11:14

My given name is from Shakespeare and is fairly rare. The short form I use outside work was somewhat unusual when I was a child (never on keyrings!) but is a top 10 given name now.

Glitterygreen · 31/01/2022 10:59

Yes, my name is top 10 now for the first time in my lifetime :)

Luckily it wasn't when I was little, I was one of only 2 in my whole school and haven't really come across many others in my working life either.

Ylfa · 31/01/2022 10:57

No, and I can’t imagine doing that to a baby. Luckily it’s made of two names that work okay independently, but it’s more common as a last name. It’s also a place name in Sicily and Brazil. In fact there are more houses and restaurants with my first name than people.

Would your own name work as a baby name now?
Would your own name work as a baby name now?
Would your own name work as a baby name now?
prettypinksloth · 31/01/2022 10:49

My name is Jennifer, it's a typical 80s/90s name I think, there was a few of us in my year at school. I've never been keen on it and Ive never met anyone younger than me with the same name. Couldn't picture a baby with it.

Jisforjuggling · 31/01/2022 10:47

It doesn’t. No one gets called my name these days….no babies given my name at all in 2019 . And I only ever meet old ladies in their 80s with my name. I hate it.

Lemonweightloss · 31/01/2022 10:40

@kindcactus, such a beautiful name ! @Hadenoughofbloodycovid, Fiona is lovely imo. I went to school with a few, as well as Claires and Lauras. It's classic.
Ffion is quite popular nowadays.

StylishDuck · 31/01/2022 10:39

Mine was the most popular girls name the year I was born (early 80s). There were 5 of us in my year at school. Never hear of any babies with my name now.

Interestingly my DH was born the same year and he has the most popular boy's name of that year. His is still a classic name and you quite often hear of babies being given that name.

This supports my theory that girls names tend to be more faddy, whereas boys names are more likely to be "classic".

Pleaseuniverseplease · 31/01/2022 10:39

My name was very popular in the 80s but it's a biblical classic so although not hugely popular today there are a few little people with my name and I actually think it's becoming more popular of late.
If it wasn't my name I think I'd seriously consider it for a daughter.

unhappy46 · 31/01/2022 10:35

Same for my sisters name (early 70s born). Hers went through a very popular period but is failing in popularity again now. I preferred hers to mine.

unhappy46 · 31/01/2022 10:33

Mine works better now than it did in the mid 70s when I was born.

SleepingStandingUp · 31/01/2022 10:32

It's rarely out of the top 20,abd although it's popularity is waning, I think it'll never go out of favour really.

SleepingStandingUp · 31/01/2022 10:28

@CraftMaker

Given that I was named after a Pokemon, probably not.
I think Pikachu still works, Pokemon is still v popular
Sausagedogsarethebest · 31/01/2022 10:26

My name became officially 'extinct' in the UK in 2020 because no babies were given the name.

TheDogsMother · 31/01/2022 10:26

Mine is from the 60s and there were always multiples in my class. It's often considered a bit old fashioned on here and unlikely to make a comeback but I think it would be quite cute on a current day baby.

kindcactus · 31/01/2022 10:17

My name is Xanthe. It gets suggested on this board all the time so I guess so!

StrawberryFever · 31/01/2022 10:17

@KurtWilde @newtb where are you getting your statistics? I could only find various country-specific websites when I googled...

Hadenoughofbloodycovid · 31/01/2022 10:09

No I don’t think mine would work for a baby, I’ve had it for 65 years and never liked it…… it’s fiona

MysticCT · 31/01/2022 10:05

No definitely not.It didn't work as a baby name when I was born in the seventies. It has never been very popular and it dates from the 1920's.
Occasionally it gets mentioned on here and is considered a strong name.

DonEmmanuelsDingleberries · 31/01/2022 10:01

My name was very popular in 70s & 80s, and was still fairly common in the early 90s. I think would be unusual and perhaps a bit dated/retro on a baby now, but not terrible. It's a solid name that's been around for a long time and has lots of nicknames, which I think helps.

Definitely more associated with mums than babies at the moment though!

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