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Baby names

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

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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AndStand · 09/08/2022 14:41

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

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.

Louise0701 · 09/08/2022 14:29

Agree with all the ones @Mumofgirls2017 said except Ruby. Really old timeless name; my great grandmother who would now be 108 was called Ruby.

Maireas · 09/08/2022 14:26

Isabella will have a daughter called Linda and a son called Kevin 😉

KateRusby · 09/08/2022 14:24

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.

Sophie's been popular for the past 20 years and pretty popular for a good few years before that so don't think it'll be closely associated with a specific age.

DancingUnderTheLights · 09/08/2022 14:22

I wonder with the increase in diversity of names if it will be as obvious in the future. I guess Olivia is decreasing in popularity and so if it dies away then it will be associated with a time period though maybe it will continue on in the top 50 for quite some time, making it less associated with an age group. I think these things are hard to call.

DancingUnderTheLights · 09/08/2022 14:15

AllPlayedOut · 08/08/2022 12:19

If I hear of someone called Jackie or Michelle I assume they're probably in their 50s or 60s

Michelle was very popular in the '80s. That's the era I associate it with. Perhaps because I was born then.

I was just going to say the same thing about Michelle. In my school, there were 3 Michelles in my year and I was born mid-eighties. It was the most popular girls' name. To me, I would guess a Michelle will likely have been born in the 70s/80s. It might depend on where you live though. I know in France it's a much more dated name. Though the point does still stand that it's a name that is attached to a time period and hasn't been popular for a few decades.

Original poster
Arbesque · 09/08/2022 11:09

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/08/2022 10:22

people have always named their children after celebrities. it's not a new thing.

I meant celebs calling their children daft names and creating a new fashion for names like Jet, Dexter, Neveah etc

OP posts:
RagingWoke · 09/08/2022 10:44

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/08/2022 10:24

I think the misspelled names will date, or hope they will. Naveah will likely date (it's not even heaven spelled backwards correctly!).

To be fair that's because you've misspelt it, which I suppose is a hazard of a name like that. I've only ever seen it as Nevaeh.

It maybe my source but I've definitely seen it Naveah IRL too.

What names will totally date someone in 2050
StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/08/2022 10:24

I think the misspelled names will date, or hope they will. Naveah will likely date (it's not even heaven spelled backwards correctly!).

To be fair that's because you've misspelt it, which I suppose is a hazard of a name like that. I've only ever seen it as Nevaeh.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/08/2022 10:22

people have always named their children after celebrities. it's not a new thing.

Original poster
Arbesque · 09/08/2022 09:59

Yes I hope this celebrity led trend for silly names will end.

I would love to see names like Susan, Jane, Jill, Peter, David and Richard come back into fashion.

Maybe once the Ivys, Archies and Lillys start hitting early parenthood that will be the next trend.

OP posts:
RagingWoke · 09/08/2022 09:39

There are names that remain top 10/20 for decades that just carry on almost under the radar like Jessica and and James that could be a newborn born or 80 year old and I don't think that will change.

I think the misspelled names will date, or hope they will. Naveah will likely date (it's not even heaven spelled backwards correctly!). Same with the pop culture inspired names like khaleesi. Or maybe a lot of people saddled with the yoonique names today will change them and we'll have a generation of adults choosing their own names?

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 09/08/2022 09:24

A woman from our gym had her second boy last week and named him Steven, her other child is named David and he will be 3 in December. On telling another friend the good news she said "Steven? That's stuffy for today's market". I asked her what would be unstuffy and she said Cameron or Harry. I told her that both these names have been around as long as David and Steven.

Biscuitsneeded · 09/08/2022 09:18

I'm 50 with grey hair, and most people with my name are teenage girls or in their 20s. I don't mind, I like confusing matters! Similarly, my son has a traditional name most popular among people who are 70+. I have hard of a few babies with this name recently but we were clearly 20 years ahead of the vogue when we named him! I think in 2050 the people in their 30s and 40s will all be called Lily, Harry, Maisie, Arlo, Milo, Rowan, Daisy, Amelia etc. I pray the Gradens Jaydens Bradens Kadens etc names won't be used on babies but I think it's far more likely taht by then babies will be called Debbie Michelle Lisa Claire Nick mark Andrew Stuart etc! In the 2030s babies will be called Linda Valerie Jackie Marion Anthony Kenneth Graham Brian etc!

Original poster
Arbesque · 09/08/2022 08:35

peaceinourtime · 09/08/2022 01:20

All names come back in fashion in cycles. I remember when I was younger thinking names like Ethel and Ivy were really old names but fast forward 20-30 years they are in vogue again.

I was reading an old Enid Blyton book recently and thinking how some of the names came back into fashion (Isabel, Alison, Lucy) and others have never seen the light of day since - Doris, Gladys, Kathleen.

OP posts:
Happenchance · 09/08/2022 01:41

Nevaeh

peaceinourtime · 09/08/2022 01:20

All names come back in fashion in cycles. I remember when I was younger thinking names like Ethel and Ivy were really old names but fast forward 20-30 years they are in vogue again.

AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 08/08/2022 21:47

@salharg yes that’s one of mine has been used for generations of men in the family, uncles, brothers, grandads, sons and so on. Of course back then it would have been Archibald, mine is not that

Original poster
Arbesque · 08/08/2022 20:45

Charlotte is a name that doesn't really date. I know a 70+ Charlotte , a late fifties Charlotte a 35 year old Charlotte and a new baby Charlotte.

I got a letter today signed by a Patricia and I just assumed she is approaching retirement age.

OP posts:
pinklavenders · 08/08/2022 17:39

I think Sophia and Evie/Eva and Ellie/Ella will date as there are lots of them in DS primary school. In DS class alone there's Eva B and Eva D and Sophia A and Sophia R.

Yes, and for boys Harry, Jack, Finn, Archie etc I know sooo many!

pinklavenders · 08/08/2022 17:28

I think the current Steves and Andys and Kevins will be replaced by Jack, Harry and Archie!

pinklavenders · 08/08/2022 17:27

My grandmothers were Lily and Ella! So those names must have been popular since the 1910s/20s

No, they fell out fashion and became very dated. About 80 years later they sounded 'fresh' again so became fashionable again... They WILL fall out of fashion and sound dated soon!

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 08/08/2022 16:45

I think it depends very much on where you are in the country, some of the very "popular" names on here would be considered weird or unusual where I am.

I think the name Alexander/Alex/Xander will date where I'm from. DS went to a swimming lesson with 4 other boys who were all some form of the name Alexander. In the next few classes there were more.

I think Sophia and Evie/Eva and Ellie/Ella will date as there are lots of them in DS primary school. In DS class alone there's Eva B and Eva D and Sophia A and Sophia R.

salharg · 08/08/2022 16:43

My great grandfather who is 95 is called Archie so not sure I agree with that one but most of the others yes.