Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls names that won’t come back…..

807 replies

Rincoe · 22/04/2026 20:06

Barbara
Gertrude
Muriel
Mildred
Majorie
Eileen
Geraldine

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Suchardchoccy · 23/04/2026 22:17

UnctuousUnicorns · 23/04/2026 22:11

Who else is a bit pissed off that their name is included in this thread? 😤 Join me in huffy solidarity! 😅

Edited

My daughter's name is included! 😂

Lalgarh · 23/04/2026 22:17

I know a lady who is Enid but uses the name Valerie (surely that must have come back thanks to Zutons/ Any Winehouse) and she's 100.

Has this been posted yet? It doesn't seem to have been updated beyond 2016

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/articles/babynamessince1904howhasyoursperformed/2016-09-02

I knew a Rosemary at school In the 80s and that felt old then.

Baby names since 1904: how has yours performed? - Office for National Statistics

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/articles/babynamessince1904howhasyoursperformed/2016-09-02

Abso · 23/04/2026 22:11

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 23/04/2026 22:06

Bertha
Eunice
Caitlin
Kylie
Corah
Ciara
Clara
Denise
Fanny
Petunia
Nelly
Lily
Esmerelda
Victoria
Margot
Summer
Hyacinth

RIP
😻

I know several young (under 10) Clara, Cora/Corah, Lily and Margots!

UnctuousUnicorns · 23/04/2026 22:11

Who else is a bit pissed off that their name is included in this thread? 😤 Join me in huffy solidarity! 😅

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 23/04/2026 22:06

Bertha
Eunice
Caitlin
Kylie
Corah
Ciara
Clara
Denise
Fanny
Petunia
Nelly
Lily
Esmerelda
Victoria
Margot
Summer
Hyacinth

RIP
😻

LilySLE · 23/04/2026 22:05

Victoria Coren and David Mitchell’s daughter is called Barbara.

Mankini · 23/04/2026 22:04

Bigearringsbigsmile · 23/04/2026 22:01

Youre thinking of Dorma

Show quote history

Yep. Dorcas was a brand of sewing thread - we used to use it in Home Ec. It means gazelle - which was the brand logo.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 23/04/2026 22:01

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 23/04/2026 21:55

Thought this was the name of an old Bedding Company that used to make white sheets. My grandmother swore that they were best in the world

Show quote history

Youre thinking of Dorma

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 23/04/2026 21:55

YouCanDanceSaidVodka · 22/04/2026 20:21

Dorcas

Thought this was the name of an old Bedding Company that used to make white sheets. My grandmother swore that they were best in the world

GoldenGail · 23/04/2026 21:29

I grew up as Gladys (like my mother ) and fucking hated it. My life was made a misery at school in the 60’s and early 70’s. My friends would give me a nickname on nights out as boys would laugh. I changed it to Gail when I was 18 and it’s the best thing I ever did though my
mother never forgave me. Even now I cringe when I see or hear it

onedogatoddlerandababy · 23/04/2026 21:22

Heyhelga · 22/04/2026 20:18

Peggy

I can see Barbara making a comeback though.

I know 3 Peggy’s aged 12 and under

Trishyb10 · 23/04/2026 21:21

Irene, marjorie, and Fanny 🧡

Prioryfodder · 23/04/2026 21:16

Lots of Geraldine’s still out there - Geri Halliwell for a start. I know one aged 18

Abso · 23/04/2026 21:15

Fridgedooropen · 22/04/2026 20:20

Myra

Already coming back. I know 2, both toddlers

ColdWaterDipper · 23/04/2026 21:03

I know several little girls with your top four on the list! Plus a Gladys and a Geraldine, which several people have suggested. Personally I think it’ll be the blander 50s and 60s names like Jane, Pauline, Susan etc that will fade away.

aspirationalferret · 23/04/2026 21:01

I know a few kids and some young adults with some of these names! Peggy, Doris, Sybil, Deidre and Ethel

I think Agnes may have come back because of little Agnes in minions/despicable me! It’s so fluffy!!! IYKYK

Ladymeade · 23/04/2026 20:43

Sharon
Sandra
Cheryl
Deirdre
Rita
Mavis
Phyllis
Ethel
Maureen
Pauline

AlwaysHungry123 · 23/04/2026 20:41

Rincoe · 22/04/2026 20:06

Barbara
Gertrude
Muriel
Mildred
Majorie
Eileen
Geraldine

I actually met a toddler named Mildred in a soft play. I did think what a poor child 😳

I don’t think Alexa would come back

CyanMaker · 23/04/2026 19:57

Florence
Bertha
Tabitha
Geraldine
Lois.

Teresa
Wendy

KombuchaForever · 23/04/2026 19:44

Myra

Howmanymoredays · 23/04/2026 19:36

Carla786 · 22/04/2026 21:19

Love all those apart from Enid and Maud.

Show quote history

Enid, Maud, Mildred and Ethel are all characters in the Worst Witch books, which were repopularised by the revamped CBBC series a few years ago. Don't know if that will have any impact on baby names?!

ANiceCuppaTeaandBiscuit · 23/04/2026 19:32

Rincoe · 22/04/2026 20:06

Barbara
Gertrude
Muriel
Mildred
Majorie
Eileen
Geraldine

I was in a class with my toddler the other day, and there was Gertie there. I thought it sounded cute ☺️

Wildefish · 23/04/2026 19:27

Rincoe · 22/04/2026 20:06

Barbara
Gertrude
Muriel
Mildred
Majorie
Eileen
Geraldine

Janice

Dutchhouse14 · 23/04/2026 19:20

Many names i thought would never come back but did, my grandparents generation of names like ethel mabel iris albert ronald etc have all come back in.
I cant see Fanny making a coming back but thats the only one i can think if, there will be a new generation of joyce janet pauline barbara and pams along soon im sure and perhaps they will have daughters called sharon samantha nicola joanne and amanda?

pouletvous · 23/04/2026 19:17

I think some of those will

look how popular Margot is. Why not Marjorie?