Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

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?
Wrapunzel · 13/06/2024 11:56

I love Joan and wish I'd gone for it with mine as NN Joanie is fab.

Auntpodder · 13/06/2024 11:56

Primula, Pauline, Margot, Verena, Rachel, Giles, Guy, Simon, Timothy,

MadameDePompityPomp · 13/06/2024 11:53

Or Edwina? I'm sure the last glut of Edwinas were 70s born.

MadameDePompityPomp · 13/06/2024 11:51

What about Geraldine? That’s a name that’s surely due a comeback at some point.

FleetingSeas · 13/06/2024 11:51

I love Jemima!
Also Giles!

Cattery · 13/06/2024 11:49

Elizabeth nn Lizzie

Ambleen · 13/06/2024 11:49

Arabella, Fiona, Georgina, Samantha
Nicholas, Christopher, Geoffrey, Rodney, Nigel

MadameDePompityPomp · 13/06/2024 11:47

Another Penelope I associate with the 1970s is the great Penelope Lively. That's when her career really took off.

Two ‘posh’ names I really like are Pandora and Sheba, although they’re probably non-starters due to tiresome inevitable ‘Pandora’s box’ gags, and references to cats in Sheba’s case.

NerdWhoEatsMedlar · 13/06/2024 11:46

Margo or Jerry.

istherehoney · 13/06/2024 11:45

Have a flick through some Jilly Cooper books, loads in there!

mizu · 13/06/2024 11:43

We have a Roberta in the family. Think she's affectionately known as Robs or Bertie 😄

JawJaw · 13/06/2024 11:42

Tanya
Christine or Christina
Gemma or Jemma

1970s yes, but not posh at all

shiningcuckoo · 13/06/2024 11:39

Francesca nn Chessie
Perdita nn Perdi
Muriel nn Mo
For a boy, I think Christopher nn Kit could be a good choice. Or Philip nn Pip

rosiechristmas · 13/06/2024 11:37

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain Cassian is interesting! Also like Georgina.

@Katiesaidthat yes it is a lovely name with lots of great nicknames. I work with a Susan, but think Susanna lends itself better to more nicknames including Annie hopefully? Susanna is top of both of our lists at the moment

@Soluckyinlove Charlotte is very pretty and very classic, we have a close family member with this name unfortunately

OP posts:
Tabletable · 13/06/2024 11:37

Lucia/ Louise nn Lulu

Tel12 · 13/06/2024 11:32

Marcus
Stephen
James

Lydia
Delia
Helen

rosiechristmas · 13/06/2024 11:31

FriedAir · 13/06/2024 11:12

Roberta
Francesca
Elizabeth
Louisa
Philippa
Katherine

Roberta is a fab suggestion, thank you. Reminds me of the Railway Children. Love the nickname Bobby too.

OP posts:
rosiechristmas · 13/06/2024 11:29

SilverSimca · 13/06/2024 11:09

I thought Caroline instantly, and then Camilla!

Julia
Belinda
Lucinda
Felicity

Felix
Oscar
Jasper
Jonathan

I think it is Francis for a boy isn't it, Frances for a girl? I might be wrong

Love Belinda but would never get it past DH Grin

Jonathan is a great classic

You are right about Frances and I knew that!! Silly me

OP posts:
rosiechristmas · 13/06/2024 11:27

CatonmyKeyboard · 13/06/2024 11:06

Philippa
Christina
Fiona

I love Philippa nn Pip but have a v close friend with this name!

OP posts:
rosiechristmas · 13/06/2024 11:27

whatsitcalledwhen · 13/06/2024 11:07

Jemima is a lovely match I think.

Beatrice nn Bea

Felicity nn Fliss

Tabitha nn Tabby

Annabelle nn Annie

Lilliana nn Lily

Rosalind nn Rosie

What nickname do you use for Penelope - Penny I assume? Gorgeous name!

Yes she is usually Penny. Sometimes Popsy, sometimes Pen. I love a nickname!

Annabelle is super pretty and fits the bill. Also love Rosalind but I am a Rosie!!

OP posts:
SuperSharpShooter · 13/06/2024 11:25

Claire - very mid 70's judging by how many (of us) in my class. It didn't seem in the least bit posh growing up, but it's very often a rich/posh person's character in films/tv. Makes me smile. Bit shit for cutsey nicknames though.

tobee · 13/06/2024 11:22

NoisyBrain · 13/06/2024 11:09

Felicity
ETA: someone beat me to it 😄

Edited

Going for the real The Good Life vibe! I do like Felicity as a name.

Kimberly listed earlier. Makes me hear the name said like in Victoria Wood sketch. Sorry to any Kimberlys.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/06/2024 11:20

Penelope and

Christopher, Richard, Vincent, Julian. Philip. Raymond. Marcus. Matthew,

Georgina. Christina. Sarah. Harriet. Catherine. Victoria. Amanda. Constance. Alexandra. Cynthia. Rachel. Deborah. Caroline. Antonia. Stephanie. Francesca. Natalia. Virginia. Elizabeth

JediKnightingale · 13/06/2024 11:20

Posh boys in my 1970s class were Crispin, Tristram, Timothy, Vincent, Darrell and Lancelot.

All the girls were mostly Tracy, Sarah or Claire 😂😂 but we also had an Audrey, Melanie, Sian, Christina and Dawn.

Soluckyinlove · 13/06/2024 11:19

My favourite has always been Charlotte nn Charlie. I really liked Charlotte Rampling in the 70s.

Swipe left for the next trending thread