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Baby names

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Original poster

Which is more timeless, Sarah or Emily?

107 replies

hcarter8 · 16/04/2025 10:43

I like nonsense names that are easy to spell and pronounce but I am struggling to find a truly timeless name.

my partner likes Emily, I know Emily was very popular 20 years ago so could have the possibility of sounding dated on a baby today even though it’s only number 28 on the ONS and even though Sarah was very popular in the 70s it feels more classic to me for some reason. On the ONS Sarah had never fallen out of the top 100 until 2021 but Emily did for about 60 years and then became popular in the 90s and 2000s.

thoughts?

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HundredPercentUnsure · 16/04/2025 10:57

NearlyThere91 · 16/04/2025 10:50

Adore Emily, think it's just gorgeous. Sarah makes me think of someone currently 30-50.

Agree. Emily is timeless.

toastofthetown · 16/04/2025 10:56

Sarah was in the top hundred longer that Emily in England and Wales (1904-2016) whereas Emily dropped out of the top hundred between 1934-1964 (not clear where between 1924-1934 and 1964-1974 it dropped out because we only have ten yearly data) so statistically Sarah would be most timeless. Emily is more popular at the moment so probably why it sounds fresher, though both are declining.

Elizabeth is the only name which has never dropped out of the top hundred for girls, so is probably the most timeless girls name.

Obvnotthegolden · 16/04/2025 10:53

Having walked round an old cemetery recently I would say Emily is literally the more timeless. So many Emily's a hundred years ago that it stood out!

I personally don't like Sarah as the pronunciation can change depending on the regional accent, Emily is always said the same.

ramonaquimby · 16/04/2025 10:50

Emily. I don't know any Emily's, big or small!

BoleynMemories13 · 16/04/2025 10:50

Both are timeless classics.

You can obviously have your own reasons for preferring one over the other, but I don't think trying to argue that one classic name is more classic than another classic is enough to win the argument here. Classic is classic!

If you can't decide between the two, maybe neither is the right timeless classic for you?

Have you considered Emma, Charlotte, Anna, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Catherine, Victoria, Alice?

NearlyThere91 · 16/04/2025 10:50

But it's also a lovely, straightforward name!

NearlyThere91 · 16/04/2025 10:50

Adore Emily, think it's just gorgeous. Sarah makes me think of someone currently 30-50.