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Baby names

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

Original poster

Are these a bit 90s?

39 replies

iwasgonnasay · 27/02/2026 22:26

Kinda love the names I grew up hearing, thoughts?

Kelly
Rosie
Chloe
Maddison
Kimberley

Really liked old fashioned names but now I know we’re pregnant I find myself drawn too E sounds the way I was with DC1. Turned out to be a boy and at the time I was sure he was going to be called Elsie but that’s gotten a lot more popular since we were first pregnant.

Boy names I really struggle with ..
We have an Oliver already, I like:

Axel
Alex
Teddy
Chester
Arthur
Archie
Alfie

Names are so hard!

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Original poster
iwasgonnasay · 12/03/2026 22:29

BatsInHibernation · 12/03/2026 19:03

I'm going to put in an argument in favour of Kelly.
I think it belongs in modern classics. It makes me think of the Hermes bag and of Grace Kelly.

I think it's cool.

It’s a beautiful name, I’m ruling nothing out fully because they’re not here yet! Kelly Kapowski is always what comes to mind for me

On that note, Tiffany, cute!

OP posts:
BatsInHibernation · 12/03/2026 19:03

I'm going to put in an argument in favour of Kelly.
I think it belongs in modern classics. It makes me think of the Hermes bag and of Grace Kelly.

I think it's cool.

Original poster
iwasgonnasay · 12/03/2026 15:03

Thanks for the positive vibes

I really like Kimberley but I remembered my cousin is Kimberley and not keen on using her name now :( Even though as you can probably guess, we're VERY distant and never ever speak.

I am pretty much decided on Chloe Rose and Louis Alexander

There's so long to go anyway i'm way ahead of myself

OP posts:
pouletvous · 12/03/2026 06:43

Kelly is a bit 70s/80s

dont bring it back .it was chav back then

chloe is ok. Rosie is ok

No, not Kimberly. Horrible name

mellongoose · 12/03/2026 06:34

I know 2 primary aged Chloes. Different parts of the country. Both awesome and rocking their names.

Sparkle88K · 12/03/2026 06:15

I’m a Kimberley and an 80’s baby. There were a few of us at school.
It would be cool if it made a come back :)
I love Matthew as a boys name at the moment & it’s also my brother’s name.

Bobbiemay · 12/03/2026 05:19

I really like Kimberley, and you wont find many that will be her age at all.

Monolithique · 01/03/2026 00:17

I like Kelly and Rosie , and also Kerry.
They're not 90s, more timeless.

Not sure about the boy names. What about Ed instead of Teddy.

RegalDiamondMonster · 28/02/2026 22:19

From the ones you've mentioned:

Kelly - I like it, but it is very 70s/80s. I'd go Callie instead.
Rosie - very popular and twee to me
Chloe - perfectly fine
Maddison - not my cup of tea.
Kimberley - nice sound but also dated
Elsie - good name
Courtney- dated, don't like the sound
Nancy?

Axel - like it
Alex - good name. Really like Sandy as shortening for Alexander too.
Teddy - fine
Chester - not a fan
Arthur - good name, but the most popular on your list
Archie - not a fan
Alfie - ok. I like Alfred.
Joseph - fine
Lucas - not bad.

I'd go Chloe Rose and Arthur or Alexander

Norastroud · 28/02/2026 18:33

Have you considered Kirsten? I feel like it’s a similar vibe to Courtney & Chloe.

From your list I really like Chloe and Kimberly (Kimmy is such a cute nn)

TheKateColumbo · 28/02/2026 13:55

Rose/Rosie is lovely and shouldn’t be relegated to middle name status so frequently IMO.
Kelly and Kimberly were really popular when I was in school and I’m in my 40’s.
Chloe is a bit bland to me.
Maddison is awful.

suburburban · 28/02/2026 13:42

Cocktailsandcheese · 28/02/2026 12:41

Chloe and Rosie are lovely for a girl!!
I like all your boy names except for Axel, it has a different vibe to the others.

Beverly Hills Cop to me

think Chloe is ok but a bit overdone

DarkEyedSailor · 28/02/2026 13:22

I know a 5 year old Chloe and I think it's lovely! I really like Kelly and Kimberley.

dinoapple · 28/02/2026 13:19

Chloe Rose is lovely. I'm an 80's baby and Chloe and Jade were the cool girl names at my school! I have a soft spot for Melissa from that era but don't like Mel which is inevitable.
We had a quite a few Kirsty's which is similar vibe to Kimberley and Kelly.
Alex is my favourite from your boy list. Arthur is also nice. Teddy and Axel I really don't like.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 28/02/2026 13:07

Chloë Rose works well.

Im throwing in Elizabeth, abbreviated to Libby (or indeed Beth, Bessie, Betsy, Liz, Liza, Lizzy, etc).

CoffeeBeansGalore · 28/02/2026 13:04

Chloe Rose is lovely.

RosesAndHellebores · 28/02/2026 12:51

My DC are 90s children. Their classmates, obviously not all but the most popular.

Girls
Imogen
Rosie
Olivia
Phoebe
Alice
(And every iteration of illy/olly: Milly, Molly, Tilly, Ellie, Poppy, Daisy)

Boys:
Sam(uel)
Ben(jamin)
Will(iam)
Tom(Thomas)
Matthew
James
Oliver
Sebastian (Sebby or Baz)

RavelTrio · 28/02/2026 12:43

I think Chloe is terribly 90s, if that bothers you.

Cocktailsandcheese · 28/02/2026 12:41

Chloe and Rosie are lovely for a girl!!
I like all your boy names except for Axel, it has a different vibe to the others.

Original poster
iwasgonnasay · 28/02/2026 12:04

Thank you! Very constructive feedback
I think my top are going to be Chloe and Rosie for a girl - will probably end up Chloe Rose
I love Phoebe but it’s already in the family and we have few that have used the same name and I’m not a fan
I don’t like the Kardashians at all to be honest but the names are definitely from my era!

Boy I think at the moment Arthur or Alex
Archie and Alfie I loved but they are a bit more popular - not enough for me to rule out completely

DH not really in on this yet as last time he picked the boy name and I picked the girl name and it was a boy!

OP posts:
Pettenell · 28/02/2026 08:14

Rosie is lovely and doesn't seem dated to me. And Rosie sounds good with brother Oliver. Second choice is Chloe.
The others feel too dated to me.

I like all your boy names except Chester. Do you like Casper?
My favourites from your boy list are Archie and Arthur.

plantseeds · 28/02/2026 08:12

Chloe was very popular in the late 90s and early 2000s; it was sort of the Olivia of its day. It’s a nice enough name though. You’ve just made me think I haven’t come across a Chloe for ages - there used to be a few in every class I taught!

I like Rosie and Alex best from your list.

MrsBenevolent · 28/02/2026 08:10

Just a comment re Kimberley - there was a sanitary towel manufacturer called Kimberley Clark in the 90s and I remember the vending machine at school.

That said it also came with belts to hold them in place, so doubt this is too relevant to 2026!

simpledeer · 28/02/2026 08:06

Rosie is nice. The rest are pretty dated I think.

Mumofgirls2017 · 28/02/2026 08:01

Maddison, Kelly and Kimberley definitely are a bit 90s imo. Rosie and Chloe are current enough still I think. For boys I like Arthur, Teddy and alex

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