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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

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Redheadedstepchild · 22/04/2026 23:59

Kay or Kaye is an odd one. I have an auntie called Kay and a few of my teachers/college lecturers were called Kaye.

Also Carol/Carolle.

That seemed to be a popular further education tutor name back in the day.

Emotionstorn · 22/04/2026 23:57

I think the ones least likely to come back are the 90’s/00’s names
samantha
kimberly
kerry
alicia
lorraine
donna

AInightingale · 22/04/2026 23:55

Shirley, Carol, Sandra have a way to go before they're fashionable again...

NoodleHorses · 22/04/2026 23:53

I know of a child called Mildred. I am friend with her parents. Her sister Florence is a cool kid too.

somburd · 22/04/2026 23:52

Bertha
Michelle
Ada
Alberta
Fanny
Doreen

Rubyeagle · 22/04/2026 23:52

LilyLemonade · 22/04/2026 22:47

How should it pronounced? I thought it was said the same as lettuce the salad veg.

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But I’ve only heard it on Tudor podcasts and it sounds softer. But I really have no idea. Tice than tucs. I hope that makes sense. But the hosts might be pronouncing it wrong.

Everlore · 22/04/2026 23:51

I don't think there are any names you can categorically say will never make a comeback since they tend to go in and out of fashion. Mabel and Elsie are two of the most common names at the baby groups we attend. I feel like if you had told people thirty or forty years ago that those names would be all the rage in 2026 they would have been surprised!
My mum used to remark that she had a great aunt called Phoebe who used to complain about how old-fashioned her name was and how nobody would give their baby a name like that any mor, yet, here we are today with Phoebe being one of the most popular girls' names around!
Finally, Victoria Coren Mitchell and David Mitchell have a little girl called Barbara.

bert3400 · 22/04/2026 23:46

Karen must definitely be on the list

goingtotown · 22/04/2026 23:46

Maud
Mavis
Gloria
Doreen
Christine
Hilda
Edna
Gertrude
Phylis
Margory
Myrtle

Uppitymuppity · 22/04/2026 23:43

Angela
Maud
Freda
Nora

AInightingale · 22/04/2026 23:43

babyproblems · 22/04/2026 23:37

Definitely Karen!!
Sharon is another one.
Patricia.
Gladys.

Didn't Christine Lampard call her daughter Patricia? I actually love it, and kudos to her for not choosing some bizarre or outlandish name like so many celebrities. Her son is called Frederick I think.

welshpolarbear · 22/04/2026 23:42

ToadRage · 22/04/2026 20:33

We had Tryphena in my family too, sisters were Aurora and Maud.

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My Dads auntie was Tryphena. Auntie Fenna! There are a couple more down the family tree, as well as Trefillis!

babyproblems · 22/04/2026 23:39

I know a Rita and two Geraldine’s (all under 6!) so I don’t think those are has beens tbh.
i also think Eileen is not so out of date.. I could see that coming back

Letchworthcoffeemum · 22/04/2026 23:39

David Mitchell and Victoria Coren’s daughter is Barbara

UnctuousUnicorns · 22/04/2026 23:38

These lightweights calling their dds just "Ethel". Pah, give me Ethelburga, Ethelgiva, Ethelfleda, Ethelred etc. Let's bring back some hardcore Anglo-Saxon names! 👍😅

Letchworthcoffeemum · 22/04/2026 23:37

I love Eileen and Geraldine

babyproblems · 22/04/2026 23:37

Definitely Karen!!
Sharon is another one.
Patricia.
Gladys.

KaleQueen · 22/04/2026 23:28

LilyLemonade · 22/04/2026 20:47

I like some of these names, including Muriel, Karen, Dawn, Sybil.

I think long-term out of fashion are Wendy, Beverly, Rita, Hilda, Glenda, Jeanette.

I wonder if Jacqueline will come back? It's not an ugly name but very much of its time.

Ive got a baby Rita in my circle.

Popiscle · 22/04/2026 23:28

Agapornis · 22/04/2026 23:16

Boudica (Boadicea if you must)
Æthelflæd
Sappho
Hatshepsut
Ælfthryth
Cartimandua

Funny how Cleopatra and Eleanor (of Aquitaine) did last.

Not the long names but there are plenty of little Cleos and Ellies around.

AInightingale · 22/04/2026 23:26

If there is a 100-year-rule we should be up to the 1920s by now. Most popular girls' names apparently were Margaret, Mary, Joan, Joyce, Dorothy, Kathleen, Doris, Eileen and Elizabeth. Gwendolene, Monica and Josephine, which I think are magnificent names, were also popular. Thelma also features but I've never met one under the age of about 80.

UnctuousUnicorns · 22/04/2026 23:25

AInightingale · 22/04/2026 23:10

The Brewster family who sailed on the Mayflower had daughters, I think, called things like 'Fear' and 'Humility'. Very strange people Puritans.

Prudence
Constance
Mercy
Hope
Charity
Faith
Peace
Patience
Courage

All used as names.

GreenMarigold · 22/04/2026 23:23

For boys: Gordon, Brian, Kevin
For girls: Edna, Thelma, Sue

From earlier suggestions I know a little Lettice and several primary aged girls called Agnes and Maggie.

QueenBambi · 22/04/2026 23:21

I think Geraldine could make a come back. Gerry.

D3vonmaid · 22/04/2026 23:21

ToadRage · 22/04/2026 20:33

We had Tryphena in my family too, sisters were Aurora and Maud.

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I feel bad for Maud in this family, it seems like she got the Ugly Sister name (unless she was French, where the accent makes Maud sound softer and more sophisticated).

forgotmyusername1 · 22/04/2026 23:21

Fanny

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