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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:
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CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/03/2024 11:28

I'm a child of the 70s so couldn't make myself like any of them. They aren't due a revival yet, too soon.

BrutusMcDogface · 10/03/2024 11:28

Very very 80s, op. Saying that, though, there are a few little Catherines popping up where I live, and one girl whose full given name is Kathy!

Paidanddone · 10/03/2024 11:28

Cripes they're all awful, definitely of a certain vintage but not in a good way 🙄

Notellinganyone · 10/03/2024 11:28

Terrible!

SageRosemary · 10/03/2024 11:26

There is a Michelle in teenage DD's class. Lovely girl, lovely name. Lots of options to shorten to Micki, Misha, Shell, Shelley,

Kimberley has always sounded very American to me. We are in Ireland and there are biscuits called Kimberley (always part of the trio of Kimberly, Mikado and Coconut Creams), these days they only come chocolate covered and are delicious. Kim is a nice diminutive though.

Not so keen on Deborah though Debbi is quite sweet.

Wendy alway seemed so exotic to me as a child, knew one, she was beautiful.

Amanda is grand, Mandi, Mandy - how does it work with your surname?

These names are definitely due a comeback.

DcatAnnie · 10/03/2024 11:22

I’ll add to the list of 70’s girls names. Rachel, Helen, Kerry, Carla, Trudy.

blackoverbillsmothers · 10/03/2024 11:21

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

SnapdragonToadflax · 10/03/2024 11:17

PaperwhiteTheGhost · 10/03/2024 08:05

Are you giving birth to a 42 year old woman!?

Nah we're all called Claire, Louise, Sarah, Victoria, Katie/Katherine/Catherine or Laura.

OP's names are a bit older - would be late 40s/early 50s now.

Underhisi · 10/03/2024 11:17

They are names of my age group 50s so I think will be beginning to be used as middle honour names.

SnapdragonToadflax · 10/03/2024 11:14

These surely aren't great-grandmother names yet? Only just, possibly, grandmother, I would have thought?

Lifeinlists · 10/03/2024 11:11

Laura
Deborah
Louise

Much better than Ada Ivy Violet etc etc which dated quickly first time round and will again.

Yunna · 10/03/2024 11:06

Deborah stands out as being more classic than the others. I've always thought it sounds sophisticated. No more babies for me, but it would make my shortlist.

DontGiveADuck · 10/03/2024 09:13

Use Laura then! There’s a Laura at my DC’s primary school. Makes a change from all the Evies, Amelia’s and Olivia’s.

Ive always thought Kimberley was ugly and clunky.

Deborah is the best out of those three.

Oganesson118 · 10/03/2024 08:48

I think Amanda is the least dated of the options but I personally have a soft spot for Kimberley.

mum2jakie · 10/03/2024 08:29

PaperwhiteTheGhost · 10/03/2024 08:05

Are you giving birth to a 42 year old woman!?

Not many 42 year old women with those names. Think they would mostly be a good ten years older or more. 80s babies were more Laura, Lucy, Sarah, Kelly etc.

Wisenotboring · 10/03/2024 08:20

Hmm, that's quite an interesting list. I wonder if you should explore other names from the 70s before shortlisting?

OMGitsnotgood · 10/03/2024 08:19

theduchessofspork · 10/03/2024 00:11

Are you living in 1965?

Deborah if you must

I was a child in 1965 and names like Jack, William, Harry, Sam, Tom, Daisy, Edie, Molly etc were considered old fashioned names and rarely used, yet were hugely popular by the time I had kids. Someone has to go first to bring names back

BrambleJamandCustard · 10/03/2024 08:16

I don’t enjoy my name which is on your list because no one spells it correctly like EVER and I hate having a name that sticks out / is uncommon. Oddly, I also don’t like it being shortened- think it reminds me of another girl I knew and don’t want to be reminded of her. I had to borrow a work badge in a temp job and got such joy from being called Wendy! Michelle would be my second choice.

JoanThursday · 10/03/2024 08:14

My first thought? Kimberrrrrleh.

Dewdilly · 10/03/2024 08:10

Deborah is lovely.
Amandine is nice, even if you’re not French.

pambeesleyhalpert · 10/03/2024 08:09

@specialk9 for me it would be a middle name rather than a first name if I wanted to honour someone

Bluepetergarden · 10/03/2024 08:07

You forgot Joanne, Claire, Diane, Sharon, Tracey and Nicola

Bluepetergarden · 10/03/2024 08:06

All are fine if it’s 1975

PaperwhiteTheGhost · 10/03/2024 08:05

Are you giving birth to a 42 year old woman!?

lunar1 · 10/03/2024 08:02

Are they all back? They were the names of the girls just finishing sixth form as I was starting seniors. No opinion on the names, but I'm that old now things are coming back!