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Baby names

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

Original poster

Down to two names!

121 replies

ClaraBean · 25/06/2022 15:51

We both love both of the names but dh strongly favours one, and I strongly favour the other 😁
Which do you prefer, and why? (I won't say which is my favourite!)
Shirley or Susan
Middle name will be Jean

Other names that we seriously considered, but we're discarded are Barbara, Gwen, Maureen, Moira and Roberta.
Opinions please (so I can report back to dh 😁)

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Youcansaythatagainandagain · 26/06/2022 08:35

daisypond · 26/06/2022 08:31

Susan is great. I really like it. It fits well with Jean. It’s simple and cool these days. Your name styles are the sort that’s coming back in style and you are at the vanguard. I know children with these sorts of names -they are about up to age five now. I also like Barbara and Roberta. I’m not keen on Shirley or the others though. Gwen is OK.

Susan isn’t cool. It was never cool and never will be!

daisypond · 26/06/2022 08:31

Susan is great. I really like it. It fits well with Jean. It’s simple and cool these days. Your name styles are the sort that’s coming back in style and you are at the vanguard. I know children with these sorts of names -they are about up to age five now. I also like Barbara and Roberta. I’m not keen on Shirley or the others though. Gwen is OK.

FixItUpChappie · 26/06/2022 08:31

Susan with Suzie as a nickname

BenCoopersSupportWren · 26/06/2022 08:21

clanell · 26/06/2022 02:32

They're very normal names - for older women. So many old names have come back, but Shirley hasn't yet. Shirley's are 50-60. Might come back one day, but not yet .

Well it’ll never come back without people choosing to use it again, will it? And someone has to be first so why not OP?

I prefer Shirley over Susan, but prefer Susie to Shirl when it comes to shortenings.

ElinoristhenewEnid · 26/06/2022 08:14

I say bring back Doris!!👍😁

collieresponder88 · 26/06/2022 07:59

SpringIntoChaos · 26/06/2022 07:51

You don't NEED to know 'any babies' in order to work out what names are currently considered popular/mainstream/current (or even 'alternative' but still 'not that unusual')

Don't saddle your child with Shirley (unless you're living in a closed religious community where children have no knowledge of societal 'norms'). Susan is bad enough, but Shirley is simply awful!

This. Don't saddle your child with any of them names. Google the top 100 for Christ sake of this decade. Not 60 years ago

collieresponder88 · 26/06/2022 07:56

This is a joke right. If it's not don't be cruel to your child

SpringIntoChaos · 26/06/2022 07:51

You don't NEED to know 'any babies' in order to work out what names are currently considered popular/mainstream/current (or even 'alternative' but still 'not that unusual')

Don't saddle your child with Shirley (unless you're living in a closed religious community where children have no knowledge of societal 'norms'). Susan is bad enough, but Shirley is simply awful!

MouseTheDog · 26/06/2022 07:49

I have an Aunt Shirley who is late 80’s. She’s the only one I know. I reckon it’s time for a comeback!

OP Shirley was on my list as were Roberta and Gwen. I think Susan is a bit bland but Susie is a cute nickname.

BanjoVio · 26/06/2022 07:40

Is this post a joke or a social experiment? 🫢

Maireas · 26/06/2022 07:37

Ouchmytoe100 · 26/06/2022 07:15

None of them! Are you expecting a baby or a 60 year old?!

We would have said that 30 years ago about names like Agnes and Alfie.
I think she's ahead of the curve.

Ouchmytoe100 · 26/06/2022 07:15

Susannah is nice though

Ouchmytoe100 · 26/06/2022 07:15

None of them! Are you expecting a baby or a 60 year old?!

FindingMeno · 26/06/2022 06:12

Susan.

Maireas · 26/06/2022 05:59

Moira is a lovely name.
So is Maureen.

KosherDill · 26/06/2022 02:33

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 25/06/2022 16:14

I like Moira! What’s wrong with it?

Same here!

It's the best of the lot.

clanell · 26/06/2022 02:32

They're very normal names - for older women. So many old names have come back, but Shirley hasn't yet. Shirley's are 50-60. Might come back one day, but not yet .

Bubblesandsqueak1 · 26/06/2022 02:25

Susan if I had to pick but all are extremely outdated and I would never pick

rubydoobydoo · 26/06/2022 02:05

Can I offer up Elaine or Linda as further suggestions? About time those came back in!

RooniIWazlib · 26/06/2022 01:11

timoteigirl · 25/06/2022 19:43

Out of those two Shirley. Of all of them Gwen. David and Victoria Mitchell's daughter is Barbara Millicent.

Barbara Millicent Roberts is Barbie's full name.

toomuchlaundry · 26/06/2022 00:44

What decade are we in?

Youcansaythatagainandagain · 26/06/2022 00:38

Gwen if I HAD to choose but they are all dreadful names.

LadyCatStark · 26/06/2022 00:17

Susan I suppose but they’re all dreadful sorry.

millymae · 26/06/2022 00:11

Shirley is definitely my favourite and Moria comes a very close second.

ChagSameachDoreen · 25/06/2022 23:55

Get Barbara back on that shortlist!

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