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Baby names

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Original poster

What names will totally date someone in 2050

83 replies

Arbesque · 08/08/2022 08:59

If I hear of someone called Jackie or Michelle I assume they're probably in their 50s or 60s as those names were massively popular for about 20 years in the 60s/70s and then sort of disappeared.
Likewise a Wendy signifies an elderly woman, a Gemma is usually in their 30s or early 40s.

On the other hand an Alice, Lucy, Elizabeth or Catherine could be any age.

In 2050 I suspect the names Sophie, Ella and Ava will immediately conjure up a middle aged woman, while Jessica, Amy and Becky will be elderly grandmothers.

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pinklavenders · 15/08/2022 08:41

I don't think Olivia is timeless either. I don't know any adult Olivias personally but know about ten young Olivias! It's become super fashionable and overused - it will inevitably fall out of fashion again. It will then sound 'dated' just like Susan sounds now.

Btw there are still 20-30 little girls called Susan each year currently

Original poster
Arbesque · 15/08/2022 08:02

AliBaliBears · 15/08/2022 00:42

@Arbesque I don't think Olivia is timeless. There was one - out of about 500 girls - in my school in the 1990s. It was seen as being a very posh, unusual name. Sure it's been popular for a while now, but it's popularity may well drop off. Back in the 1970s people probably thought Laura wouldn't date.

By timeless I meant it never actually disappears. It's popularity ebbs and flows but most people will usually know of one or two.

Whereas Sandras would have been pretty rare pre 1950s and have practically disappeared from playgrounds and creches now. It appears to be a name that 'had It's day' and now dates someone.

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Pyewhacket · 15/08/2022 01:15

Jayzee

lovelychops · 15/08/2022 01:02

AndStand · 09/08/2022 14:41

My MIL is a Jackie, and she's nearly 90!

I know a baby Jackie! But appreciate this is very unusual

makingmiracles · 15/08/2022 00:54

Gary is a name that was popular when I was at school 80/90s but apparently is at risk of dying out. Cant say I know a single Gary now.

AliBaliBears · 15/08/2022 00:42

@Arbesque I don't think Olivia is timeless. There was one - out of about 500 girls - in my school in the 1990s. It was seen as being a very posh, unusual name. Sure it's been popular for a while now, but it's popularity may well drop off. Back in the 1970s people probably thought Laura wouldn't date.

Original poster
Arbesque · 14/08/2022 20:18

I don't think any name that's popular now will date someone. Names like Olivia and Anna, although popular, are also quite time timeless and have beenused acrossthe generations.

Whereas names like Lilly, Ruby and Ava disappeared for years then had a sudden explosion of popularity. I think those names, along with the names that appeared from nowhere then disappeared as quickly as they arrived eg Jackie, Sandra, Lorraine are the names that really date.

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pinklavenders · 10/08/2022 14:05

Honestly, ANY name that's popular now is likely to be a "dated" name in the future.

That's why many parents prefer names outside the top 100 or even top 500. Names that haven't ever become super fashionable.

There are soo many lovely names out there..! Names that sound interesting, are memorable and won't fall out of fashion and sound dated.

mogwa · 10/08/2022 12:17

Honestly, ANY name that's popular now is likely to be a "dated" name in the future. Except for a handful of truly "timeless" names like James and Elizabeth (unless they too go out of fashion in the near future).

Original poster
Arbesque · 09/08/2022 21:58

I think in 2050 names like Peter, Susan, Janet and Jill will sound vintage and different.

Names like Lorraine, Yvonne, Jackie and Steve will be elderly 'nursing home' type names.

Chloe, Lauren, Josh and Adam will be mumsy and 'dad' type names and,

Ava, Lilly, Alfie and Noah will be young parents names quickly drifting out of fashion.

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 09/08/2022 18:01

I knew very few Graces growing up, and the ones I did know of were at least as old as my Mum, so born in the 1930s or earlier. I was surprised when a colleague mentioned nearly 20 years ago now that his wife was called Grace (she's probably be in her early 50s now). I wonder what age people assume she is just from her name!

Maireas · 09/08/2022 17:53

But when I was at school in the 70s, we would have thought Ella and Lily were old lady names.
Fashions change.

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 09/08/2022 17:52

Think it's time we brought back ...
Lorraine, Tracey Karen ( possibly not yet owing to the awful slurs against it) Sharon Jane.

Also...
Nigel, Neil Keith David Paul Steven Michael Peter

Good solid and reliable names.

Wouldloveanother · 09/08/2022 17:50

I’m an early 90s baby and every single girl was Hannah, Katie (Katherine), Emma, Emily, Sophie or Izzy. Boys were usually Tom, Ryan, Dan, Chris.

To me either a name sounds nice or it doesn’t - Ella, Lily, Mia etc might all be popular now but I don’t think they’ll ever sound ugly even when they go out of fashion. However I think Margot, Agnes, Ethel will. Generally girls names ending in -ee or -a sounds always sound light and pretty, the consonant heavy names are clunky.

Maireas · 09/08/2022 17:48

I agree with you, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g - I'm 62 and those names were very common when I was at school. There was a Liz in every class! Also at least 2 Catherines.

Maireas · 09/08/2022 17:46

Mia, Grace, Lydia, Olivia
Charlie, Oscar, Albie, Oliver

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 09/08/2022 17:45

Also , any names ending in '...den' or '...don'

Wouldloveanother · 09/08/2022 17:44

Yawn yes we get it, the only acceptable names are Charlotte and Catherine

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 09/08/2022 17:43

Joshua , Jayden, Theo, Alfie, Harrison , Ollie

Millie, Amy, Charlotte , Kayleigh, Maisie , Lilly

Maireas · 09/08/2022 17:40

OppsUpsSide · 09/08/2022 17:37

I think Olivia, Amelia, Evie and Emily will date.
Also, Jack, Oliver, Oscar, Teddy, Freddie, Archie

Definitely, and the whole Isabella, Isabelle and Isobel fashion as well.

OppsUpsSide · 09/08/2022 17:37

I think Olivia, Amelia, Evie and Emily will date.
Also, Jack, Oliver, Oscar, Teddy, Freddie, Archie

Maireas · 09/08/2022 17:31

Arbesque · 09/08/2022 17:27

I didn't know any Rubys growing up. It was a name most people associated with the not very bright maid in Upstairs Downstairs, set in the 1930s.
It didn't start to make a comeback until the mid to late 90s.

You're absolutely right - my friend named her daughter Ruby in 1998, and people were horrified! Old lady name, like Elsie or Mabel (which have also come back!)

Original poster
Arbesque · 09/08/2022 17:27

I didn't know any Rubys growing up. It was a name most people associated with the not very bright maid in Upstairs Downstairs, set in the 1930s.
It didn't start to make a comeback until the mid to late 90s.

OP posts:
Maireas · 09/08/2022 17:15

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/08/2022 14:31

Ruby isn't timeless. People called Ruby are generally either under 15 or over 90. But for many decades it was a name in complete hibernation.

I agree. For a long time it was very old fashioned and not commonly used.

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 09/08/2022 14:43

One of my best friends is Lily Ann, and she's 41. Another is Mary and she's 37.