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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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BishyBarnyBee · 22/04/2026 21:04

Surely they all have the potential to come back over time? It's an absolutely classic fashion cycle.

People look for something different to everyone else, other people like it, it becomes more widespread, it becomes common, it becomes totally naff and dated, then when it's been out of use for long enough, it becomes charmingly retro and starts to be "something different". And so it begins again.

Nobody born in 60s or 70s would have predicted names like Agnes and Florence ever having a come back. Those who are appalled at the idea of baby Pauline and baby Sheila will just feel very old when their grandchildren start naming the great-grandkids with the names that were so old-fashioned in their own youth.

Piglet89 · 22/04/2026 21:04

Sue.

Covidwoes · 22/04/2026 21:02

Brenda

Curtainsnitcher · 22/04/2026 21:01

Some.of these names are lovely and I wouldn't mind my DD having them.

Prudence and Fanny though, not so much.

Allseeingallknowing · 22/04/2026 21:01

Maud
Myrtle
Gladys
Vera

NotAFabergeEgg · 22/04/2026 21:00

Fgfgfg · 22/04/2026 20:26

GGM sister was called Tryphena

Yes I have a great great grandaunt with the same name, Wonder if it's the same person? There can't have been many! She had a brother named Elemington too and a sister, Fanny, which is another name not coming back anytime soon!

MotherOfCatBoy · 22/04/2026 20:59

Agnes sounds so much better in French, and is more common there than here I think. (Maybe Hamnet will popularise it again?)

Dora33 · 22/04/2026 20:58

I'm shocked there are some children with the name Agnes.
It's the name of an older relative of mine. She has always disliked her name & also the nickname Aggie. She was named after an Aunt. The rest of us felt sorry for her and were also relieved, we didnt have that name.

MotherOfCatBoy · 22/04/2026 20:58

Is anyone ever called Jane or Mary anymore? Both classic, plain names that were common for hundreds of years and seem to have vanished.

My mother’s friends were Eunice, Beryl and Maureen… can’t see those coming back.

Flaskfan · 22/04/2026 20:57

I think we're at the tail end of the old old lady names now (elsie/ Alfie/ stanley/mabel).

Next gen are my parents, so I'd expect to see a raft of these in the next 10 years:
Pat/pam/sue/Beryl/linda/ lyn
Colin/peter/alan/clive/Gwyn/Rob/ Steve

Then my generation, so not for another 40 years or more:
Sarah/ Laura/clare/ donna/helen/louise/rebecca/Debbie
Gareth/lee/ paul/ David

newrubylane · 22/04/2026 20:53

Never say never. Fashion makes us all shortsighted. Karen is a beautiful name, and I know a few little Joans. I considered Gladys, Rita and Eileen for my own DD7.

TotallyBogusYeah · 22/04/2026 20:52

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.

I LOVE Rita!! Also Nina/Gina. All vetoed by my DH when I was pregnant with DD, sadly.

TotallyBogusYeah · 22/04/2026 20:50

There’s loads of little Peggy’s running around - it’s really popular at the moment. Quite a few Ethel’s too.
I’d quite like to see Julie/Julia revived, also Joanne/Joanna, (yes, child of the 70’s here).

TheIceBear · 22/04/2026 20:49

StarCourt · 22/04/2026 20:34

Winifred

This name is still very popular in the Travelling community for some reason

SerendipityCat · 22/04/2026 20:48

Gertrude
Marjorie
Mildred
Doreen
Althea
Tanya

LemonTreeGrove · 22/04/2026 20:47

Eunice
Joyce
Maureen

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.

Applecup · 22/04/2026 20:47

letmebetheone · 22/04/2026 20:17

Doris
Joan
Sheila
Agnes
Bernice

I know a few little Joans

youalright · 22/04/2026 20:46

StarCourt · 22/04/2026 20:34

Winifred

I know a baby winifred winnie for short

powersthatbe · 22/04/2026 20:44

Dizzydrizzy · 22/04/2026 20:15

deidre

i came here to type deirdre!

Quokka99 · 22/04/2026 20:43

Alexa

MerlinsBeard87 · 22/04/2026 20:42

Bertha
i used to know an old lady called Gay. She was the sweetest. Don’t think there will be any more.

some names on this thread I like! Geraldine, Agnes, Hilda, Winnifred and Beryl. Very vintage and could be used again

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 22/04/2026 20:42

Myra

MycactusandI · 22/04/2026 20:42

Joanne
Lesley
Yvonne

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/04/2026 20:41

Euphemia was a name used in my Dad's family a few generations ago. Short forms were Effie or Phemie. Those have been used since, but I can't see the long name coming back.

Has Moaning Myrtle killed that name off?