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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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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 😁

Pieceofpurplesky · 20/04/2025 20:51

Gorgeous list of names.
Rosina/Rosalie would have been my choice for a girl.

Christina Rossetti is a heroine of mine and I know a Christina who goes by the nn Christie which is lovely

MummaCub · 20/04/2025 20:51

I can't see why she would be bullied for any of those names, all very nice and classic rather than old fashioned, and not faddy.

I know a Rosina, will a sister Christina.

Listinggracefully · 20/04/2025 20:49

I don’t think I’ve met any little Christina’s or Rosina’s (plenty of Rosie’s), but the others are perfectly standard names. There are lots of Josie's around our area

Oneearringlost · 20/04/2025 20:49

DisplayPurposesOnly · 20/04/2025 17:24

All lovely names and as a strictly amateur family historian I would definitely be mining my family tree if I were naming children!

Only slight hesitation is Christina as that feels a bit 70s/80s to me. Not vintage enough 😄

Wish I was a genealogist by profession!

Christina Rosetti?

Ddakji · 20/04/2025 20:46

Half of DD’s classes sound like a roll call from a old people’s home to me so any of those names will fit in fine - though I wouldn’t say any are off the scale old fashioned.

Emanwenym · 20/04/2025 20:42

They're fine, @fluffysprout . Your SIL can can name her own DC.

Gundogday · 20/04/2025 20:39

Lovely names.

BootballJoy · 20/04/2025 20:38

I've met an Alice (x2), Josie and Elizabeth at local playgroups etc. Not that old fashioned.

I think Mary and Josephine are lovely.

The only one I'm not fond of is Rosina but absolutely none of them would be obvious bullying targets for their names.

17caterpillars1mouse · 20/04/2025 20:34

Mary - lovely and I reckon it will be making a comeback in another 10 years do maybe you'll just be a bit ahead of the trend. I really do like this one

Josephine - like though not as keen on Josie, although I do like Sephie

Christina - very pretty, i think nn Tina would be dated but Chrissie is cute

Rosina - not a huge fan, lots of Rose names anout atm, i know load of littke Rosie's. i do like Rosalin and Rosalind.

Elizabeth - classic sland nobody would bat an eyelid at this one.

Alexandra - same, id avoid Lexi though

Alice - it's very popular atm. I always think it makes a lovely middle name

coldcallerbaiter · 20/04/2025 20:30

I love old fashioned names, they have a history and are evocative.

They are a bit posh too, which is never a bad thing.

The only one I do not like is Rosina

FazeleysRoyale · 20/04/2025 20:29

Josephine is lovely - I like the shortened “Josie”
Alexandra is amazing - I like the shortened “ Alex”
( I might be biased as I have a DS Alexander known as Alex )

I could cope with Elizabeth but wouldn’t choose it. Not keen on the others.

You have to like the shortened versions of any name you choose. Think about that.

Marylou2 · 20/04/2025 20:28

Where are you thinking of schooling her that she'd be bullied with any name from this list? They're all lovely and can't imagine them causing a stir.

Mandarinaduck · 20/04/2025 20:21

Lovely names. I think Mary is making a comeback and I've met a few little Josephines too.

ZepherinDrouhin · 20/04/2025 20:15

Gorgeous names OP, anyone of them would be perfect. I've suggested some middle names to go with them:

Mary Adeline
Josephine Violet
Christina Alice
Rosina Adeline
Elizabeth Grace
Alexandra Iris
Alice Susannah

Neurotoxic · 20/04/2025 20:04

Mary is TIMELESS by its very nature.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 20/04/2025 19:48

I have to say they're much nicer than some of the ridiculous "modern" names. I won't mention any or I will be reported 😂

PeachPumpkin · 20/04/2025 19:46

Love them all. I know a Josephine bb Joey, which I think is sweet. You can’t go wrong with any of them. If you’re unsure about which one to choose, think about if you like the nicknames (although these can sometimes be avoided) and if the name goes well with your surname.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 20/04/2025 19:45

Lovely names, ignore SIL she probably is one of the people who wants to call a kid Raine or some other kind of nonsense name.

MissFenellaPrism · 20/04/2025 19:44

Pemba · 20/04/2025 19:00

All the names are lovely and classic but also well known, so of course there wouldn't be any bullying happening! Your SIL sounds strange.

What are her kids called, something like Jayden and Darcy-Mae? Now THEY really would be dated names in a few years.

Or Wren. Names like that will date.

onewayoryourmother · 20/04/2025 19:43

My DD has a close friend Josephine nn Posie and I’ve always thought that was gorgeous

MissFenellaPrism · 20/04/2025 19:43

What lovely names! Classic, but not over used. Easy to spell, not ditzy, very elegant.
Mary and Josephine are beautiful.

Roselilly36 · 20/04/2025 19:41

Love Christina & Alexandra from your list.

CarpetKnees · 20/04/2025 19:40

Your SiL couldn't be more wrong.

No names there will result in a child being bullied.

I particularly like Josephine and Elizabeth, but most of those are from the era which has been very popular recently.

mummyto9angels · 20/04/2025 19:33

All lovely names which definitely don't strike me as names to be picked on because of! My favourites are Rosina Alexandra Elisabeth and Alice which are all gorgeous names