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Baby names

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Original poster

Too old fashioned?

107 replies

fluffysprout · 20/04/2025 17:20

Happy Easter everyone!

Me and DH are expecting a daughter in July, and today we were asked by SIL if we had a shortlist. Silly us, as we did tell her. We got told our names are “old fashioned” and setting our daughter up to be bullied. Me and DH are both genealogists by profession, so our names do come from our family trees, anywhere from 2-5 generations ago. I can’t see her point and I think she’s being a bit dramatic so any opinions would be appreciated, a fresh set of eyes would be useful.

Here is our shortlist.

Mary,
Josephine,
Christina,
Rosina,
Elizabeth,
Alexandra,
Alice.

Mary and Josephine are our top two but we’re still fond of the others.

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Snugglemonkey · 21/04/2025 14:28

Snail01 · 20/04/2025 18:17

There's old fashioned and then there's Gertrude, Agnes, Enid or Mabel. Your names are perfectly fine and your daughter will not get bullied for any of them. I don't like Alice tbh I think it's a bit of a wet blanket name but I equally wouldn't blink or think 'poor child' if I met a baby Alice.

I really like Agnes, Enid and Mabel.

namechangeGOT · 21/04/2025 14:13

They are old fashioned and that’s what makes them so lovely.

tsmainsqueeze · 21/04/2025 14:12

PowderRoom · 20/04/2025 17:31

They’re all perfectly nice, deeply ordinary names.

I don't think 'ordinary' is quite fair .
As someone else said they are refreshing also classic lovely names.
The only one i'm not so keen on is Alice, no ones business but yours ignore sil.

Emanwenym · 21/04/2025 13:55

@Comedycook , the teasing isn't necessarily because the name is unusual.

ohtowinthelottery · 21/04/2025 13:52

TheeNotoriousPIG · 20/04/2025 21:03

I like the vast majority of the names on your list! They are largely traditional and classic, rather than 'old-fashioned'. I would say that 'old-fashioned' covered things like Beryl and Mildred, as well as some of the names that I've heard bestowed on little ones in recent years... in any case, they are better than some of the, erm, modern names I came across while I was teaching.

You could go the whole hog and christen her Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, like the late queen! She would sound very respectable 😁

@TheeNotoriousPIG There was a competition recently in my area to name a pair of animals that had arrived at wildlife enclosure. The winning entry for the female was Beryl. What surprised me was that it was a Yr 2 primary school class who had submitted the winning entry. I knew old fashioned names had made a comeback but I'd not heard of any young Beryls!

WWomble · 21/04/2025 13:45

I would say your choices are traditional rather than old fashioned. My DD1’s name is on your list so of course I approve and agree with you!!

SadieWw · 21/04/2025 13:43

in order of preference:

  1. Josephine
  2. Alice
  3. Rosina
  4. alexandra … but really don’t like Alex as a nickname
  5. Elizabeth - a bit overused/heard too often. Like Elle, Ellie, Beth as nicknames but not keen on Liz
  6. Mary - really dull compared to some of your options.

I dislike Cristina, i think it’s a bit outdated and not as classic and timeless in my opinion

great options though :)

RosesAndHellebores · 21/04/2025 13:43

I have been looking at my family tree and am surprised to see among the Mary's, Elizabeths/Eliza's, Alice's, Ann's, etc, fairly regular use of Caroline, Eleanor, and Martha. I'd say Alice, Elizabeth and Ann are the most consistent throughout with Caroline v 19th Century and Martha heavy in the 15th and 16th. I was surprised to see hardly any Catherine's in any line.

coatandwellies · 21/04/2025 13:37

Mary and Elizabeth are great names. They go back a few generations in my family. I've been a teacher for 30 years and these names have only cropped up a handful of times and the children have never been bullied as far as I'm aware.

Mischance · 21/04/2025 13:36

Tell your sister to go forth and multiply - they are all lovely names, and even if they were not it is absolutely none of her darned business!

MeAndMyCatCharlotte · 21/04/2025 13:36

Lovely, especially Christina

WaltzingWaters · 21/04/2025 13:33

They’re all absolutely fine to use. Old fashioned but still in style names I’d say - dateless classics.
Personally not a fan of Mary, just always thought it sounds rather dull. But I love all the others, beautiful names.

HouseCaptain · 21/04/2025 13:30

Gorgeous names - all quite classic.

can I add Jane or Joan? Adeline or Emmeline?

Comedycook · 21/04/2025 13:27

Emanwenym · 21/04/2025 11:54

@Comedycook , what you think is not necessarily what actually happens.
Having said that, I don't think any of OPs names would cause teasing.

But nowadays there's such a variety...lots of diverse names from different cultures, some children with very unique one off names, some children with traditional names, some more old fashioned names....my dc go to school where the other kids have such a wide variety of names. They don't blink an eyelid at any of them, nor do their peers.

Cadenza12 · 21/04/2025 13:22

Of course some of them sound old fashioned but they have gone the full round and are now in vogue again. My friends daughter has the same name as my grandmother and Queen Victoria still had another decade on the throne when she was born. I think that you have a great list.

DefinitelyMaybe92 · 21/04/2025 13:17

I don’t think a name can ever be too old fashioned; they’re classic and wonderful. It makes a refreshing change from some of the modern American names you hear these days.

LuckyMoonstone · 21/04/2025 13:14

Your names are all lovely. And I am super jealous that you may get to use Josephine, my favourite name. Currently pregnant with my last baby who is a boy, so I’ve had to say goodbye to ever having a little Josephine

MeAndMyGhost · 21/04/2025 13:02

I adore the name Josephine!

uncomfortablydumb60 · 21/04/2025 12:56

Yes, it’s nice to repeat names from the family tree
My Grandmother was Sarah, which is my middle name.
My DS1 has his Dads name as a middle name.

Emanwenym · 21/04/2025 11:54

@Comedycook , what you think is not necessarily what actually happens.
Having said that, I don't think any of OPs names would cause teasing.

Comedycook · 21/04/2025 10:38

I think it's such a dated idea that children get bullied for their names...I really don't think it happens so much anymore

user1492757084 · 21/04/2025 10:36

All are lovely names.
And special that they are from your family trees.
Ignore SIL.

Your list reminds me of a couple of names in my family tree where the combination of first and second names were repeated.
Mary Agnes
Johanna Mary

Violinist64 · 21/04/2025 09:40

Beautiful, traditional names. Mary Josephine is a very nice combination, as is Josephine Mary. My favourites on your list are Elizabeth and Alice and Elizabeth Alice is lovely, as is Alexandra Alice. Take no notice of your SIL.

Derrymum123 · 21/04/2025 09:35

Absolutely gorgeous names. Love Mary the best, such a timeless and classic name. All the other ones on your list are lovely too. Your daughter = your choice.

Yellowtracktor · 21/04/2025 09:03

There's a little Christina at my daughter's nursery - it's nice and refreshing!

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