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Baby names

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

Slightly 1970s, slightly upper crust suggestions

169 replies

rosiechristmas · 13/06/2024 11:03

Hello

I am due in October, we don't know what we're having. We have a 4 year old Penelope and what I like about Penelope is the sort of 1970s Penelope Keith, Penelope Pitstop, Thelwell's Penelope, Penelope Mortimer vibe. (not the Kardashian connection which I was completely oblivious to until the midwife let me know at delivery!!)

I'm looking for a fairly classic name that has just a hint of upper crust, but not a Fenella or Araminta that would sound incongruous in most settings.

I like grown up names with cute nicknames.

Below are my current lists - a couple of these I can't get past DH so they are on the list more to show the style we are after.

We are planning not to name the babe until they are here and see what fits so looking for some more suggestions to add to the field from you clever ladies please!!!

On my list for girls is:

Susanna nn Suzie, Annie
Caroline nn Carrie
Jemima nn Mima
Josephine nn Josie

Boys:

Robin nn Bobby
Frances nn Fran
Jesse nn Jess (a bit of a wildcard this one I guess)

Thanks so much!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
theduchessofspork · 25/08/2024 10:43

I like Caroline, but Callie is a nicer nn I think
Also like Jemima and Susannah, though I would stick to the full forms. Camilla will inevitably be Milly, Cami does bring knickers to mind.

If you are going to call him Bobby might as well call him Robert, which is what Robin and Bobby are traditionally short for. I like it.

Francis is spelt with an i for boys. Fran is a male nn in Scotland and Ireland but it’s usually Frank in England. Jess is very much a female diminutive although I like Jesse. Neither of these names are very 70s

Other ideas

Joanna (Jojo)
Natasha
Sasha
Alexandra (Alix, Sasha)
Francesca
Miranda
Melissa (Lissa)
Antonia
Georgina (Georgie)
Jennifer
Katrina (Kate)
Philippa (Pippa)
Annabel
Belinda

Patrick
Alistair
Michael
Alexander
Jonathan
Dominic (Nico)
Nicholas
Mark / Marcus
Adrian
Justin
Julian
Simon
Daniel
Zachary (Zach)
Adam
Damien

LightDrizzle · 25/08/2024 10:39

Belinda!

St.John

Firebird83 · 25/08/2024 10:37

I love Susanna with Susie as a nn!

Joanna
Caroline
Marianne
Esther
Helena
Louisa
Miriam
Rosamund

Timothy
Laurence
Peter
Alistair
Dominic
Malcolm
Gregory
Hugh
Jonathan
Nicholas
Julian

Nicebloomers · 24/08/2024 22:24

Forgot Corrine/ Corrina

Boys:
Jonathan
Richard
Giles
Hugh
Gregor/ Gregory
Matthew
Bruno
Benjamin
Tristan
Rufus
Ptolemy
James
Alastair
Darius
Crispin
Gideon
Duncan
Fergus
Sebastian
Lawrence

Nicebloomers · 24/08/2024 21:35

Daphne
Anouska
Portia
Dorothea
Angelica/ Angelina
Harriet
Lucinda
Juliet
Venetia
Cosima
Natasha
Pandora
Valentina

BettyBardMacDonald · 24/08/2024 21:12

Melissa became hot in the 70s

Felicity

Sandra / Sondra

Bridget

Valerie

KAM4 · 24/08/2024 21:09

I love this theme!

We have a Penelope and she was going to be Juliet. Felicity screams 70’s as everyone’s mentioned. Maybe Farrah, Nancy, Arabella?
Maybe too much but Petronella? Very 70’s Barbarella vibes

BasiliskStare · 20/06/2024 19:45

@JawJaw I think Jaqueline was a bit posher in the US - so Jackie Bouvier and her sister Lee.

10Pontipines · 16/06/2024 22:18

Just came to say my 13 week old baby is Jemima and we’ve had nothing but positive comments about her name. I appreciate it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve been surprised at how much people seem to like it. She is drowning in Puddleduck attire from well meaning family members though which I should have seen coming 🥴 Her sister is Matilda (Tilda).

JawJaw · 16/06/2024 21:59

Jacqueline? Why? It was a really ordinary name in the 70s. Every other girl was called Jacky. If you want examples of very class based names for that period go to the documentary series 7Up. Jacky in that programme was a lovely girl, but definitely not posh.

BestIsWest · 15/06/2024 23:06

Abigail (very 70s)
Joanna

Susannah is lovely btw.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 15/06/2024 23:03

Susanna was the name that instantly sprang to mind when I read your title. Secondly, Caroline, so it’s interesting both are on your list! Or Elizabeth (nn Beth or Liza). And Robert (nn Robin OR Bobby - Bobby as a nn for Robin is odd imo as they are both traditional nn’s) or David for boys. Maybe Nicholas.

Orders76 · 15/06/2024 22:54

Poppy
Michelle
Fiona
Collette

ZoomDoomZoom · 15/06/2024 22:45

Adenine
Adele
Lucinda
Natalya
Arabella
Andrea
Adrianna

Watchthedoormat · 15/06/2024 22:43

Barbara

ZoomDoomZoom · 15/06/2024 22:43

Marianne/a
Jemima
Veronica
Erica
Jacqueline
Diana
Camilla
Jocasta
Valerie
Stephanie/a

IamaRevenant · 15/06/2024 22:39

Jocelyn? Seriously? I am far from posh and the only other I've met was a sir! 😅

ashitghost · 15/06/2024 18:26

Corin
Daphne
June
Jocelyn
Margot

MisterMagnolia · 14/06/2024 20:02

How about Naomi? It sounds nice alongside Penelope. Not sure about nick names though.

ghislaine · 14/06/2024 11:33

Nigella
Petronella

user1492757084 · 14/06/2024 11:28

Catriona
Rosalind
Davina
Sally
Elizabeth
Suzanne
Alexandra
Belinda

Philip
Roderick
Bruce
David
Timothy
Barry
Simon
Hamish

captainsudoku · 14/06/2024 10:17

Spinet · 14/06/2024 08:41

Just read a Few Jilly cooper novels and take your pick. Agatha/Taggie or Flora for a girl, Cosmo or Rupert for a boy.

Ooh and Imogen!

Spinet · 14/06/2024 08:41

Just read a Few Jilly cooper novels and take your pick. Agatha/Taggie or Flora for a girl, Cosmo or Rupert for a boy.

Theredjellybean · 14/06/2024 08:36

The old English derivative or nn for Josephine is Posy...it would be super sweet with Penny.

Duckies · 14/06/2024 08:30

I beg you to reconsider Fenella!

My next favourites are Jemima and Susannah

For a boy, I don't know how 70s it is but I love Jonty short for Jonathan as a posh name.

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