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Baby names

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

Is Emily dated compared to Alice?

28 replies

Sophcas7 · 25/05/2025 16:12

would appreciate your opinions, I’m trying to decide on a name. I like classic names but struggling to choose between these two, I love Alice it’s the ultimate old timey chic vibe and that’s never been too popular at a specific time so I think it’s beautiful. My husband likes Emily which I don’t mind but it’s not my favourite because its popularity spike in the 90s/00s puts me off slightly and I think it makes it sound dated now. I imagine majority Emily’s are ages 18-30 these days, it’s technically a lovely old name but certainly not in the same classic and timeless way as Alice imo. Emily seems slightly time stamped to me now.

I may be overthinking this but I don’t want to give my child a name that was too popular at a certain time because I have a terribly dated 80s name and I’ve always disliked it😬

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MignonsMorceaux · 25/05/2025 16:28

Emily is a classic in my opinion, and actually in my kids' schools there are far more Alices (multiple per class) than Emily. I do love both though, I've always loved Alice.

BethDuttonYeHaw · 25/05/2025 16:27

They are both classics.

Shitlord · 25/05/2025 16:26

I would say Alice is just slightly more unusual and consistent and Emily whereas Emily has had peaks of popularity depending whether a bit of subtle frill and more variants such as all these nice soft 'e' names have been in.

I feel the same about Lucy. Great but a bit too gentle for me. I think all are truly great classics but Alice edges it on the elegance and simplicity front. It's just that bit cooler and smarter.

Look, if Roy Chubby Brown can't ruin a name, nothing can.