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Baby names

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Original poster

Emily or Hannah? Which is more dated to 2000s now?

36 replies

Sophcas7 · 13/07/2025 17:42

I like classic names and we are choosing between these two as I think they are still lovely but not overly common these days.

The only thing I am slightly concerned about is that Emily was the top name for much of late 90s/00s so I’m not sure if it could possibly sound slightly dated now even though it’s classic. Hannah was popular at that time too but was never as ubiquitous as Emily according to the ONS.

thoughts on what sounds more dated?

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summertimeinLondon · 13/07/2025 21:17

BoleynMemories13 · 13/07/2025 18:33

Emily is still fairly popular now, whereas Hannah has dropped right down the list. So in that sense Hannah would appear the more dated of the two, in that it's the one you'd least expect to hear on a newborn these days. It's still an absolute classic though.

Just go for whatever one you like the best or suits her the most.

Emma is another classic which would combine the sounds in both. Anna has a very similar vibe too. Lucy, Charlotte and Sophie might all appeal too if you love Emily and Hannah.

^This. I know young and baby Emilys, but haven’t heard of a Hannah since having DD (and DD is now 12). I think Emma never seems to date either.

Nowheretobeseen · 13/07/2025 21:03

I prefer Hannah it’s lovely

Moreteaandchocolate · 13/07/2025 19:26

I would choose Hannah - it feels really fresh and unusual for a little one these days - it peaked longer ago than Emily and is also much lower down in the name charts (only 94th in 2023) so has a nice traditional but not overused feel.

BoleynMemories13 · 13/07/2025 18:33

Emily is still fairly popular now, whereas Hannah has dropped right down the list. So in that sense Hannah would appear the more dated of the two, in that it's the one you'd least expect to hear on a newborn these days. It's still an absolute classic though.

Just go for whatever one you like the best or suits her the most.

Emma is another classic which would combine the sounds in both. Anna has a very similar vibe too. Lucy, Charlotte and Sophie might all appeal too if you love Emily and Hannah.

Bitzee · 13/07/2025 18:14

There are 2 Emilys in DD’s year and she’s 8. I’m yet to meet a Hannah that would be under 30 today.

Limonades · 13/07/2025 18:11

Both very dated - there are SOO many Emilys and Hannahs in their 20s!

RuthW · 13/07/2025 17:59

Both very dated. Emily is far more popular though.

AutumnFog · 13/07/2025 17:49

Hannah is very dated, Emily is still quite popular

DramaAlpaca · 13/07/2025 17:47

They're both classic names so I really don't think it matters.

I suppose because Emily was more popular in the late 90s/00s you could argue that it might sound more dated, but I'd be more worried that it would blend in to all the other popular names beginning with E that are around at the moment.

For that reason I think Hannah sounds a little bit fresher, and it's a lovely name too.

Chasepaw5 · 13/07/2025 17:45

Hannah is lovely can never be dated as it’s biblical, about as old as name could get.

Emily is fine too but it was obscenely common in the 2000s so it’s definitely timestamped to me even though it is still a classic of course but I don’t think it’s timeless, when I was a kid in the 70s it was rare and thought of as very old fashioned so there wasn’t many around.

I knew one Hannah so maybe that’s why it feels more timeless to me.

Goldencats · 13/07/2025 17:43

Love Emily! I know more Hannahs than Emilies.