Do you think some dated names are more loved than other dated names?

105 replies

oldnorsesaga · 10/02/2024 18:28

Kind of weird theoretical question.
do you think, among general population, some people love some dated names more than others?
For example, Julia is dated, but people like it more than Sandra, because it is romantic and has some quality in sound which makes people like Julia over other dated names
or when people disliked Gladys more than Edith, so Gladys is still not revived, while some Victorian names are back, and some people like Enid as well.

what would be your dated names everyone loves, but you find dreadful? It can be revived name.

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oldnorsesaga · 10/02/2024 18:52

@TallandSkinny People want lovely, but underused names... so trends come and go because some names become overused, and it became overused because everyone think they are unique by choosing it, then realizing they were wrong after name becomes mass popular. And they choose names they already like or other people already like, but it sounds to them they are less popular.
Some trends are also influenced by movies and books. (Caspian for example)

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TallandSkinny · 10/02/2024 18:44

I don't really understand what it is about sounds that makes some "pretty" and some not, and also how it happens that the whole population changes the names they like in waves. People think they are choosing names they love but really they are subject to cultural influences that they seem quite unaware of.

For example the war and postwar years had a fashion for plain serviceable girls' names - Jean, Joan, Mavis, Jill. Yet every parent choosing those names would have loved the sound of those names. Then in my generation names like Karen, Sharon, Tracey, Pauline - "modern" names - abounded. But my generation called their girls things like Maya, Mia, Amelia, Ava, Eva, Evie. Again, thinking how lovely such names are, but in 30 years I think those names will sound very old fashioned again.

Then what is it about Alison that is old fashioned, but Alice less so? Louise firmly 1970s, but Eloise or Louisa more current? Helen a 60s name, but Eleanor perennial? Edna absolutely horrible, but Edina rather lovely?

Anyone understand how all this works?

PudgeControlsTheWeather · 10/02/2024 18:39

Yeah - I'm really interested in why so many granny names are back, but not Mary. I'm guessing it's the religious connotation - but then, why not Abigail, or Tabitha, or even Elizabeth?

That said: I'm not sorry that Mildred and Gertrude haven't had a comeback!

Hummusandstuff · 10/02/2024 18:33

To answer your question. I can’t stand Noah! Doesn’t get more dated than that.
I think Susan is well overdue for a revival.

Hummusandstuff · 10/02/2024 18:31

Anything ‘classic’ always stands a better chance of a comeback. Julia is Shakespearean. Sandra is gimmicky and of its time only.
That’s why Arthur is back and Barry isn’t.

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