Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Kimberley, Michelle or Deborah

143 replies

herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 09/03/2024 23:04

Which of these do you prefer for a baby girl?

Other options are Wendy or Amanda.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
LittleRobins · 17/03/2024 06:18

What’s funny time we live in when these lovely normal names are seen as a weird choice?

I adore the classic names and think any of your choices are beautiful. My favourite is probably Kimberly from your options.

MaidOfSteel · 17/03/2024 01:48

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 13/03/2024 08:29

Surely these aren't names for a baby. Do you need middle aged women names for a book you're writing?

Well, to many 50 somethings like me, the current fad names like Ada, Ivy etc are great-grandmother names.

I think Amanda is a lovely name, OP, very feminine.

Mugcake · 16/03/2024 21:19

Kimberley is my fave of those.

Although Debbie is cute too.

Fiona is starting to make a come back I've seen it a few times on "quirky" name lists.

I really like Claire as well and lucy is classic but I can't remember the last time I met/heard of a lucy.

Original poster
herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 16/03/2024 09:41

Homebird8 · 13/03/2024 20:00

Same era

Donna
Kelly
Tina
Helen
Nicola
Fiona

See I really like Fiona Nicola and Helen!

OP posts:
PurpleChrayn · 14/03/2024 18:58

I have Deborah earmarked for another DD if we have one. Will probably go for the Hebrew Devorah, as DH is Israeli.

Homebird8 · 13/03/2024 20:00

Same era

Donna
Kelly
Tina
Helen
Nicola
Fiona

norfolkbeaches · 13/03/2024 09:45

When I was born in February 1966, the midwife tried to persuade my Mum to call me Michelle, due to the recently released Beatles song Michelle. She went with another name mentioned on this list, but I do like the song and the name.

GentleGentileschi · 13/03/2024 08:58

None of these names, some are very 80’s like Michelle and Kimberly and Deborah sounds like a 60 year old.

user1492757084 · 13/03/2024 08:44

Deborah and Michelle

Chelle, Shelley, Deb are all nice

Do you like Barbara?

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 13/03/2024 08:29

Surely these aren't names for a baby. Do you need middle aged women names for a book you're writing?

Daisybuttercup12345 · 12/03/2024 23:21

Michele

HoHoHoliday · 10/03/2024 19:19

Kimberley is lovely! Really sweet and graceful. Lovely as a full name but Kim is also nice for short. I really like your style of names, I hope all of this era comes back in favour - I love the name Sharon! Of all of the names you've mentioned on the thread I like them in this order,

Kimberley
Laura
Sharon
Deborah
Joanna
Michelle
Amanda
Wendy

mum2jakie · 10/03/2024 18:09

According to ONS data, Deborah peaked in sixties, Michelle seventies and Kimberley early eighties. Think they were mostly known as Kim which may be why the full name seems even more dated and old fashioned to my ears.

Kimberley, Michelle or Deborah
Zola1 · 10/03/2024 18:03

Did I accidentally wake up in 1985

ChanelNo19EDT · 10/03/2024 17:59

They are terrible choices for babies
I like dated names when they're ready to come back.

ginasevern · 10/03/2024 17:35

Deborah. Timeless, classical and biblical. It is poetic and makes me think of "The song of Deborah". It won't date.

Kimberley, Wendy and Amanda are not classical names and are very dated. In fact Kimberley is a bit Chardonnay - sort of a WAG name imo.

Debinaround · 10/03/2024 17:00

ChanelNo19EDT · 10/03/2024 16:34

I like Kim.

The others are all so terrible. Whyyyyyyy

They are not "so terrible" they are just not to your particular taste. Loads of names I don't like but I'm not insulting about them.

I'm not fussed on Ellie, Isla, Caitlin, Isabel, Isabella, Lorna, Ella, Lola, Ava, Jack, Isaac, William, Thomas, Jesse, Harry, Alfie, Hamish, Oliver, but people love them. There is nothing wrong with them, I just don't like them and would never call my children any of them.

I wouldn't say they were terrible and say "Whyyyyyy". Mind you, I'm not 15 so I would spell it why. Hmm

RoseMartha · 10/03/2024 16:39

Amanda or Deborah

ChanelNo19EDT · 10/03/2024 16:34

I like Kim.

The others are all so terrible. Whyyyyyyy

TheBirdintheCave · 10/03/2024 16:28

@hollyandivyknickers What a ridiculous comment. Deborah is just a regular, if not currently unpopular, name. I wouldn't choose it myself but there's nothing actually wrong with it.

Why not just not comment on the thread if you have nothing constructive to add?

Original poster
herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 10/03/2024 16:10

Lifeinlists · 10/03/2024 15:58

@RosesAndHellebores

Wendy was made up by JM Barrie. He knew a little girl who used to call him "my Fwendy-Wendy" and so he called his heroine in Peter Pan, Wendy. It wasn't a name before 1904!

Fascinating! Didn't know this.

Also I love Victoria Wood but I don't think kids nowadays will relate Kimberley to her sketches.

OP posts:
Original poster
herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 10/03/2024 16:09

Zwicky · 10/03/2024 13:05

Have you considered Sharon. I know “Sharon and Tracy” turned it into a joke name in the ‘80s but the joke is over. It’s got the same 60s yet biblical classic vibe that Deborah has.

I actually agree with you. Sharon is a strong name (Tracey less so).

I also like Joanna. A lot of these names are really growing on me. I think they're a bit more accessible than Ruth or Mary but I do know a little Mary.

OP posts:
Original poster
herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 10/03/2024 16:08

Phillippeflop · 10/03/2024 12:01

Im not a fan of any of them to be honest. Laura is probably your best bet

could also consider
Lauren, Jenna, Rebecca, Natasha, Sarah, Sally, Amy, Alison, Rachel, Joanna, Claire

Rebecca is a classic, I love it.

OP posts:
Maireas · 10/03/2024 16:02

blackoverbillsmothers · 10/03/2024 11:21

When I hear Kimberley I think of the way Victoria Wood used to say it in her sketch.

Kimberleh! 'av you seen 'er?
I miss VW.

Lifeinlists · 10/03/2024 15:58

@RosesAndHellebores

Wendy was made up by JM Barrie. He knew a little girl who used to call him "my Fwendy-Wendy" and so he called his heroine in Peter Pan, Wendy. It wasn't a name before 1904!