Names not of their era

pitterypattery00 · 2022-04-25T20:59:30+00:00

Do you have a name that is unusual for its era (in that it's usually associated with people born at a different time)? Did you like having a 'different' name. If it subsequently became more popular, was that a positive thing? My own name firmly dates me to my era (late 70s/early 80s) so I don't have personal experience. But as a child I knew children my age called Dorothy, Edith, Frances, Roy, Ronald, and Norma. They generally disliked their names and other kids viewed them as very uncool names. There was also an Olivia - her name was seen as unusual and very posh! I ask because on baby name threads it's often seen as a negative if names are very popular/trendy/rising up the charts, and one of the reasons given is that it will become dated. But maybe children are happy having a name that is similar in style to their peers?

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Chakraleaf · 27/04/2022 16:30

My middle daughter has a very 80s name

Chakraleaf · 27/04/2022 16:28

My Nickname/shortened version is very common now, but was not heard of when I was at school. I was only one. My full name is popular now in middle/upper class areas, however I grew up in a council estate 😀

mathanxiety · 27/04/2022 16:24

I have an old fashioned name but have always been known by the Irish version, which was fashionable at the time. I remember in school having to register for exams using my proper BC name and feeling very embarrassed when the names on the exam roll were called out.

90sBritPop · 27/04/2022 16:13

Oh and I know a 4 year old Claire, and she’s a sweetheart and I love the name in her ❤️

90sBritPop · 27/04/2022 16:06

I know a Barbara who is in her 20s and a Fiona too. They both really suit their names. Helps that they’re a bit edgy and ‘alternative’ (I know that’s cringey but couldn’t think of a better way to explain it).

RhubarbFairy · 27/04/2022 16:01

pitterypattery00 · 27/04/2022 11:37

That's interesting as it highlights how the most popular names in the overall charts aren't necessarily popular in every area - you're only couple of years younger than me, but there weren't any Sarahs or Rachels in my year at my large secondary school. And I think Michelle was quite a common name around that time too but we never had any of those either. We did have a Sandra though! (I think her real name was actually Alexandra - also an uncommon name at the time). And a couple of Claires!

Now I think of it I think we had three Emma's and three Cheryl's (out of around 100 girls) and there were lots of names shared by two people (Jennifer, Alison, Fiona, Donna, Nicola etc), but no name that completely dominated.

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Funnily enough, I was almost a Jennifer. My mum wanted Felicity, my dad wanted Alison, so they picked Jennifer as they couldn't agree. Then my mum was waiting for an appointment in the hospital at 8 months pregnant and there was a little girl about two running around. Her dad was calling 'Rachel, come here' and my mum just fell in love with the name and told my dad when she got home.

Much as I think Felicity would have been a cool, slightly out there name, I'm so glad that I got Rachel out of the four. It's the most timeless I think. Though I think I'd have liked to have been a Fliss.

I went to school with multiple Jennifer's and a handful of Alison's. And one Felicity.

There was a definite trend of Louise and Jane for middle names too. Two of my closest friends were Sarah Jane and Claire Louise (born 82 and 80). I think they have names of their time. In the same way you see May/Mae attached to every other girls name for the last twentv years.

I was given my grandmother's middle name as my middle name. Another timeless Biblical one. My DS's both have names that would work 400 or 40 years ago, so hopefully they'll stay classic.

pinklavenders · 27/04/2022 15:50

Probably best to avoid super popular names altogether - that way the name never ends up falling out if fashion and sounding 'dated'.

Original poster

pitterypattery00 · 27/04/2022 11:37

RhubarbFairy · 27/04/2022 11:18

I'm a Rachel. Born in 1982. It's a classic name that everyone knows, but it's not so common that I was Rachel + initial at school. There were 3 in my year including me (2 Rachel, one Rachael) and we were all in different forms and only occasionally in the same subject class.

In contrast there were 2 Sarah's and 3 Claire's in my form alone.

If you look at the data, Rachel peaked around 1982, but less so than Sarah, Emma, Claire and Joanne.

I met a Sandra recently who was a couple of years younger than me. That surprised me because that's a name I'd associate with my parents generation.

Both DH and I were at the end of our name popularity. I'm hearing mine come back a bit more now (I know two, one aged 11 and one aged 4) but I'm yet to hear DHs. DH was also born in 82.

That's interesting as it highlights how the most popular names in the overall charts aren't necessarily popular in every area - you're only couple of years younger than me, but there weren't any Sarahs or Rachels in my year at my large secondary school. And I think Michelle was quite a common name around that time too but we never had any of those either. We did have a Sandra though! (I think her real name was actually Alexandra - also an uncommon name at the time). And a couple of Claires!

Now I think of it I think we had three Emma's and three Cheryl's (out of around 100 girls) and there were lots of names shared by two people (Jennifer, Alison, Fiona, Donna, Nicola etc), but no name that completely dominated.

OP posts:

Original poster

pitterypattery00 · 27/04/2022 11:22

Panda161 · 27/04/2022 11:07

My name is one of the old fashioned names in the original post, I went to school in the 90s and hated it then. Now I like it much more and it is becoming fashionable again - it's impossible to know the associations your childs name will have in 10, 20 or 30 years (think about names like Alexa!)

Thanks Panda. Do you think you like your name more now because its becoming more popular? Or maybe as we get older we worry less about fitting in with our peers? And I suppose as we get older we mix with others of all ages - and with all sorts of names!

Agree with it being impossible to predict how names will be perceived in future decades. I thought @MatildaJaynesummed it up nicely when she said:
That’s the trouble with names just out of fashion, they might become cool again, like Marnie or Fred, or they might not, like Mavis and Barry.

Maybe in years to come Mavis and Barry will be the trendy names!

OP posts:

RhubarbFairy · 27/04/2022 11:18

I'm a Rachel. Born in 1982. It's a classic name that everyone knows, but it's not so common that I was Rachel + initial at school. There were 3 in my year including me (2 Rachel, one Rachael) and we were all in different forms and only occasionally in the same subject class.

In contrast there were 2 Sarah's and 3 Claire's in my form alone.

If you look at the data, Rachel peaked around 1982, but less so than Sarah, Emma, Claire and Joanne.

I met a Sandra recently who was a couple of years younger than me. That surprised me because that's a name I'd associate with my parents generation.

Both DH and I were at the end of our name popularity. I'm hearing mine come back a bit more now (I know two, one aged 11 and one aged 4) but I'm yet to hear DHs. DH was also born in 82.

Panda161 · 27/04/2022 11:07

My name is one of the old fashioned names in the original post, I went to school in the 90s and hated it then. Now I like it much more and it is becoming fashionable again - it's impossible to know the associations your childs name will have in 10, 20 or 30 years (think about names like Alexa!)

woodhill · 27/04/2022 10:53

@SomersetONeil

So is Rex a diminutive of Reginald

Enko · 27/04/2022 09:10

My middlename is very old-fashioned and out of favour. I got teased I don't recall minding a great deal as I was named after an aunt who died .. also my first name is very unusual and I can remember responding to the teasing. At least I'm not yet another Helen/Claire/Kathryn

pinklavenders · 27/04/2022 08:29

I was born in the early 70s when lots people g girls were Joanna/Nicola/Claire/Sarah

My name is unusual (similar to Lucinda) and I've always been happy with it, never ever missed being known as Joanna A or B etc

Discodreams · 27/04/2022 08:10

I’ll share mine.
I'm Alison, born in the 80s. I think it was more common in the 60/70s. I’ve never liked it much but maybe it is due for a revival

TheWayoftheLeaf · 27/04/2022 07:45

My mum says my name was rare when she gave me it but by the time I went to primary it was top 10 and has been ever since 😂 Never bothered me as it's a beautiful name and it suits me.

TitilatedOcelot · 26/04/2022 22:48

I grew up in the 70s/80s but my name was more popular in the 50s/60s. I didn't meet anyone else with my name growing up and have always gone by a "baby" version which is also a name in its own right (eg Rosie instead of Rosemary). Not many people know that my day to day name is not my actual name. I use it for everything, including work, and my family have never called me by my birth certificate name.

My mum suggested once (when I was in my late teens/twenties) that I should start using my "grown up" name rather than the baby name, but I was having none of it!

I actually don't mind my real name now - as I get older I think my day to day name is a bit young/frivolous. I still can't quite bring myself to switch to my grown up name, though. Sorry Mum!

Sleepyquest · 26/04/2022 22:46

doggiescats · 26/04/2022 00:18

My daughter is late 20s …she grew up without knowing anyone with her name and she got so cross because you couldn’t buy anything with her name on!!
Her name is now very popular ..top 50 and her daughter now has another unusual name 🤔😂

You must be my mum!

SomersetONeil · 26/04/2022 22:33

MatildaJayne · 26/04/2022 22:06

My exBIL is called Reginald. He’s 60 now but was a 1970’s punk and he absolutely hated his name. My cousin was called Margaret, so grew up just around the Maggie Thatcher era. That’s the trouble with names just out of fashion, they might become cool again, like Marnie or Fred, or they might not, like Mavis and Barry.

My great uncle, who was born at the turn of last century (and who died well before I was born), was called Reginald.

But even then, he was known by everyone as Rex!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 26/04/2022 22:26

You might think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

MatildaJayne · 26/04/2022 22:07

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g like my cousin, maybe?

MatildaJayne · 26/04/2022 22:06

My exBIL is called Reginald. He’s 60 now but was a 1970’s punk and he absolutely hated his name. My cousin was called Margaret, so grew up just around the Maggie Thatcher era. That’s the trouble with names just out of fashion, they might become cool again, like Marnie or Fred, or they might not, like Mavis and Barry.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 26/04/2022 21:58

My name is not that common amongst women my age (I'm 60), especially after we left Scotland and moved to England. Then a certain political leadership change happened and dealt the kiss of death to my name. I'd be surprised if it becomes widely popular in the UK for at least one more generation, if ever, which is sad after hundreds of years when it was one of the most used names. I expect some of its many shorter versions are doing better. It's more popular in other English-speaking countries.

underneathleaf · 26/04/2022 21:42

I was born in 1985 and always found it funny when people my age were called things like Jackie, Lynda or Carol. It was as thought their parents chose a name from their own generation rather than a current sounding name.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 26/04/2022 21:35

My grandma and one of her brothers were named after cities in Italy and Spain. Really random and unusual for 1920s baby's. Their other brother and sister had very normal names.

I love my grandma's name and will use it if I ever have a daughter