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Baby names

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

Original poster

What generation of names to we think will come back in fashion next?

103 replies

Rose825 · 23/04/2022 22:35

I'm thinking names such as:
David, Peter, Christopher, Ian, Kenneth
Shirley, Barbara, Pamela, Janet, Susan

I guess they're names from the 1940s/50s

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PuppyMonkey · 24/04/2022 15:22

Judith
Nancy
Lisa
Maria
Patricia
Richard
Nicholas
Michael
Desmond

i love all of those (especially for a cat).

woodhill · 24/04/2022 15:18

Daffodilsdance · 24/04/2022 15:05

Ds is Christopher ( Chris) . He is 6 years old . I never thought of it being old fashioned, but I think he is the only in his year group .

I love the name and think it will always be around😀

KirstenBlest · 24/04/2022 15:17

I think it wil be 1930s names

Names like Jean, Joan, Brian, Raymond, Patricia, Terence

ShandaLear · 24/04/2022 15:16

I absolutely love the name Sylvia (70s?). There’s also Cynthia, Brenda, Carol, Abigail, Sandra, Leonie, Deborah…

Boys include, Robert, Peter, Paul, Kevin, Gary, Barry, Brian and Kenneth. I quite like Robert and Kenneth. They sound very Scottish and strong.

Azure82 · 24/04/2022 15:09

Daffodilsdance · 24/04/2022 15:05

Ds is Christopher ( Chris) . He is 6 years old . I never thought of it being old fashioned, but I think he is the only in his year group .

Not old fashioned, it's a lovely name but unusual now amongst the Alfies, Charles, Harry's etc..

Daffodilsdance · 24/04/2022 15:05

Ds is Christopher ( Chris) . He is 6 years old . I never thought of it being old fashioned, but I think he is the only in his year group .

Azure82 · 24/04/2022 14:58

Lisa, Sarah, Laura, Rachel, Rebecca, would be unusual on a baby now but are lovely names.

withacherryonthetop · 24/04/2022 14:46

I still think Elaine is actually quite a pretty name and one day will come back! Maybe not yet though.

i think maybe some popular 80s/90s names like Natasha, gemma, Nicola, Natalie, Amy might come back.

woodhill · 24/04/2022 14:32

Captaindaddydog · 24/04/2022 10:47

I notice Vivien mentioned on here a lot. That is very much a 40s name. Loads in my mums generation.

Film star nameSmile

Marilyn is also similar for those born then perhaps

Original poster
Rose825 · 24/04/2022 14:23

I think Marjorie is a really pretty name due a comeback!

OP posts:
PeaceLurking9to5 · 24/04/2022 11:03

I love the name Vivien as well.

I don't think names like Gary and Ian will be back for a while, I'm 52 and I know people my age called Gary and Ian.

They used to say that names came around every 90 years but I think with people living longer it's more like 100 now. It takes the death of those wilburs and Idas and Veras and Hubies to make the names seem fresh again.

I know Lindas who are ''only'' 50 but the oldest lindas are probably 65?

I like Linda will come back. It's a pretty sound, and it's a sound that has a good meaning, it manages to be pretty and not too 'weak' sounding or frilly so it may be the exception, it may come back again before the older lindas are all gone.

feelinglowandblue · 24/04/2022 10:52

I think it’s the generation who are currently grandparents as they tend to come back in cycle. So Maureen, Anthony, Richard, Lindsay, Ian, Jacqueline, Patricia, Pauline, Joan, Anita, Claire, Sarah, anthea, maybe even Gary will come back!

dangerrabbit · 24/04/2022 10:49

Brian
Keith

Linda

Sheila

Captaindaddydog · 24/04/2022 10:47

I notice Vivien mentioned on here a lot. That is very much a 40s name. Loads in my mums generation.

wingsofabird · 24/04/2022 10:07

Another yes for Peter

Luluuuuuuuuuu85 · 24/04/2022 08:56

I think names for holy texts never really go out of fashion! There are still little Elizabeths, Sarahs, Davids, Matthews around (for example). Do names become popular again when the generation they are associated with are the oldest, if that makes sense? I remember my mil talking about a great aunt of hers called Ruby and how funny they always thought that was...

Jellycatrabbit · 24/04/2022 08:39

Peter, Patrick and Nicholas are pretty popular among my ds peers. He is 3.

I'd love to see some of the 60s names like Jacqueline, Bernadette, Jill. I don't think we are there yet though maybe Jane and Mary will come around soon.

I've met a few baby Margarets lately, now there's a name I didn't think would return.

Echobelly · 24/04/2022 08:34

Yes, I guess my parent's generation's name when my kids gen start having kids:

Yvonne, Susan, Joanne, Caroline, Deborah, Louise

Peter, David, Richard

I don't think Barry, Wayne or Tracy will make a comeback though

FeedMeSantiago · 24/04/2022 08:31

I also have a list of cat names. Norma, Malcolm, Kenneth, Deirdre etc.

We rescued our cat and the rescue lady asked us to keep her name which suited her so we didn't change it. I'm sure DCat is delighted not to be called Mavis!

I can see Peter, Patrick, Lawrence, Christopher, Nicholas, David and Michael coming back for boys.

Girls harder to say as people seem to be more adventurous with girls names. Susannah and Suzanne perhaps? I can see names like Jane and Mary coming back, and Regency names like Marianne, Caroline and Louisa.

bozna · 24/04/2022 05:26

Ivy, Edith, mavis , Audrey, Molly, Jean, they've already come back from old lady names to adorable newborn names which no one could have predicted, so no name is gone there's a new phase coming

bozna · 24/04/2022 05:20

My grandad is Kenneth. But called Ken. He's nearly 90 and couldn't believe it when I said a young lad was 'Ken/Kenny' he never thought that was ever going to be used again

rubydoobydoo · 24/04/2022 05:10

SkankingWombat · 24/04/2022 00:26

It may well be a 'thing'! I keep a list of potential names for any new cat who happens to stumble into our home (wishful thinking! It's the only way DH would let us get another). I have Derek, Keith, Malcolm, and Nigel on my list. Have now added Kenneth. Obviously our next cat will have to be a boy! I quite like Doris for a girl, but it was my DGM's name so not sure if that would be disrespectful obviously not because cats are much higher beings than mere mortals

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I have a cat named after my grandma! GrinShe's called Ivy.

movingsoon13 · 24/04/2022 05:03

As someone in their mid 20's who is looking to have a child within the next 1-5 years and friends with children. Bohemian names are really in right now, I think generationally our favourite names are the ones that were 'cool' when we were little for me that is sarah, naomi, emily, rachel, gemma, julia, suzie, christopher, nicholas, adam, connor charlie

SkankingWombat · 24/04/2022 00:52

Pissyduck · 24/04/2022 00:31

@SkankingWombat I'm so glad I'm not the only one with a cat names list! My current favourites from my list are polly, Mary lou and Vincent.

Definitely not only you, although given the family rows we've recently had to name an inanimate new addition, blood may be spilt in the effort to get the chance to pick any new cat's name.

Sbqprules · 24/04/2022 00:48

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