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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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Notashamed13 · 22/04/2026 22:35

I also know a baby "Ursula" - just no..... lol

CautiousLurker2 · 22/04/2026 22:34

Rincoe · 22/04/2026 20:06

Barbara
Gertrude
Muriel
Mildred
Majorie
Eileen
Geraldine

I met a child called Gertrude about 10 years ago. She must be 12ish now. Her older brother was called Wilfred…. 🤯

kaffkooks · 22/04/2026 22:33

Anything that takes a man's name and sticks 'ina' on the end to make it a girl's name eg
Jamesina
Willamina
Thomasina

OhWise1 · 22/04/2026 22:33

Loads of Aggies (Agnes).
Why on earth do posters think these names won't come back into fashion?

YourMagentaCat · 22/04/2026 22:32

letmebetheone · 22/04/2026 20:17

Doris
Joan
Sheila
Agnes
Bernice

I have a 3 year old Joan.

RafaFan · 22/04/2026 22:32

I had a great (or maybe great great) aunt named Modesta. She went by Desta. Never seen or heard of it anywhere else.

pollyglot · 22/04/2026 22:32

Edna
Enid
Milicent
Mildred

Allseeingallknowing · 22/04/2026 22:32

LadyGAgain · 22/04/2026 22:22

Daughter is at school with an Ethel. 13 yrs old.

Show quote history

Isn’t one of Amanda Owen’s daughters called Ethel?

StephensLass1977 · 22/04/2026 22:32

My best friends at primary school included girls called Clare, Sally, Mandy, among others. Mid to late 80s.

They don't sound especially old fashioned, but if you think about it, you don't really see these names anymore on young people.

Rubyeagle · 22/04/2026 22:31

I like Lettice but people can’t pronounce it correctly.

Notashamed13 · 22/04/2026 22:31

SabrinaThwaite · 22/04/2026 22:28

Was she really a Queenie, or an Elizabeth or Victoria or Alexandra or even Mary with Queenie as a diminutive?

Show quote history

She was 100% Queenie......her Dad (my Great Grandad? Was a "Jessy" which I think is also unusual for a male name.

Mcdhotchoc · 22/04/2026 22:31

Brenda

YourLoftyCyanZebra · 22/04/2026 22:31

Millennial first names are going to be out of fashion for about 30 years.....Neil, Gemma, Samantha, Rebecca, Jasmine, Dominic

Firefly1987 · 22/04/2026 22:30

Vera
Hilda
Marie
Valerie

Kickinthenostalgia · 22/04/2026 22:29

Teresa
ethel

OneFineDay22 · 22/04/2026 22:29

SwatTheTwit · 22/04/2026 22:07

Mildred
Bonnie
Gislaine
Gertrude
Irma
Eunice

Actually I think you’re onto something with Ghislaine - it might be like Adolf or Ebenezer - both actually themselves common names at the time that never shook the association with the one person.

Cyclingmummy1 · 22/04/2026 22:28

CoffeeAndCakeBringMeJoy · 22/04/2026 21:06

Edna
Dulcie
Gertrude
Jean
Sheena

DS has a friend called Dulcie.

Agnes, Audrey, Margot are quite normal.

SabrinaThwaite · 22/04/2026 22:28

Notashamed13 · 22/04/2026 22:23

Oh, and god rest my Gran Gran.....Queenie.....yes.....Queenie!

Was she really a Queenie, or an Elizabeth or Victoria or Alexandra or even Mary with Queenie as a diminutive?

Firefly1987 · 22/04/2026 22:27

Notashamed13 · 22/04/2026 22:22

Definitely Gemma.

I love the name Gemma/Jemma!

RafaFan · 22/04/2026 22:24

HelenaWaiting · 22/04/2026 21:28

I reckon Elaine. There were five in my primary school class, but it lost popularity really quickly and has yet to make a comeback.

I know a dog named Elaine, she's really lovely.

Notashamed13 · 22/04/2026 22:23

Oh, and god rest my Gran Gran.....Queenie.....yes.....Queenie!

Cyclingmummy1 · 22/04/2026 22:23

NoisyMonster678 · 22/04/2026 20:28

Maud

Agree. Though it was my second choice.

LadyGAgain · 22/04/2026 22:23

Prudence is surely extinct?

Hello19834 · 22/04/2026 22:22

Sorry I didn't mean to post twice.
Also,
June
Ann
Cynthia
Yvonne
Deborah

LadyGAgain · 22/04/2026 22:22

StrongandNorthern · 22/04/2026 20:23

David Mitchell and Victoria Coren have a Barbara.
Can't see Ethel coming back.

Daughter is at school with an Ethel. 13 yrs old.