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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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Comedycook · 08/08/2022 12:16

for boys...

Ezra
Archie
Alfie
Theo
Arlo

Mumofgirls2017 · 08/08/2022 12:13

Boys: mason, Logan, arlo, Milo, Alfie, Archie, Albie, Reggie, jayden, Noah, Jackson

girls: willow, sienna, Ava, Isla, Evie, Luna, aria, Lola, Savannah, summer, Isabella, ruby, Scarlett

AlaskaThunderfuckHiiiiiiiii · 08/08/2022 11:07

All of my children have old names which seem to go in and out of fashion, 2 of them are old family names, one which was used for a lot of the male members and the girls name was my DH 90 odd year old grandmothers name

pitterypattery00 · 08/08/2022 11:02

@Arbesque agree, for a name to become dated, it has to have achieved a significant level of popularity over a sustained period of time in the first place (or else it doesn't become associated with a particular era). Then that popularity has to significantly decline so that it is thought of as being dated.

Original poster
Arbesque · 08/08/2022 10:38

BlueWhaleBay · 08/08/2022 10:33

i disagree with the Lily/Ella opinion. These names have been highly popular for at least 25 years and are still going strong.

Hopefully the Jayden, Kayden phase will have passed but that’s been going a long time, too.

I think, though, that names that have been tremendously popular across a couple of decades are the ones that eventually date.

Names like Anne, Susan and Pamela were massively popular in the 40s and 50s but now we tend to think of Pams and Sues as older people.

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Original poster
Arbesque · 08/08/2022 10:34

I think Lauren will be the Christine or Lorraine of the 2050s.

OP posts:
BlueWhaleBay · 08/08/2022 10:33

i disagree with the Lily/Ella opinion. These names have been highly popular for at least 25 years and are still going strong.

Hopefully the Jayden, Kayden phase will have passed but that’s been going a long time, too.

pitterypattery00 · 08/08/2022 10:28

I think there will be a lot of 30/40 year old men with 'ie' ending names (Freddie, Charlie, Archie, Alfie etc etc).

And a lot of 30/40 year old women with 'vowely' and 'ie' and 'a' ending names (Isla, Ella, Ellie, Lily etc)

But whether or not these names will date someone will depend on if they stay popular. I think some will but I think 'stronger' sounding names will become more popular again.

And although names can become dated, that doesn't necessarily mean they are seen as bad names (I'm thinking names like Laura/Jennifer/Alison/Louise may be seen as dated today but still nice names whereas Tracey/Sharon/Brian/Keith are seen as both dated and have more negative connotations)?