Page 7 | Girls names that won’t come back…..

Rincoe · 2026-04-22T19:06:46+00:00

Barbara Gertrude Muriel Mildred Majorie Eileen Geraldine

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deeahgwitch · 26/04/2026 00:22

Winifred

Lalgarh · 26/04/2026 00:05

There's not been a resurgence in Edwina has there?

SwedishEdith · 25/04/2026 23:41

Missmousie · 25/04/2026 19:23

I was born in the late 50's
It was a toss up whether I would be named after my maternal aunt ( Myrtle Gwendoline) or my Godmother ( Brenda Lily Louisa ) - wiser heads prevailed - although I did get Louise.
I can't see any of these coming back soon.

Louise is the number one girls name in France. Plenty of girls still getting it as a middle name in honour of their mums and aunts having it as their middle name.

TransportNerd · 25/04/2026 23:12

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 22/04/2026 20:30

I know an Agnes, Muriel, Ethel, Peggy and Irene. All under 8.

Good Lord, really? Those are horrible old lady names.

UnlikelyIntimacies · 25/04/2026 19:37

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 24/04/2026 23:13

I really like Bridie, but was taken to task by another poster who said it was most dated Irish name she could think of.

I still like it though.

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Bridie is Gladys, Brenda, Doreen, Edna etc. Ditto Breda, for which it’s often a nickname.

Ribenaberry12 · 25/04/2026 19:36

I know a little Ethel, Elsie and a Gertie!
I don’t think I’ve ever known a Brenda or a Pamela who are under 60 now.

purpleygrey · 25/04/2026 19:33

Moll2020 · 22/04/2026 20:20

It’s a huge shame that the name Karen has been used for the ridiculous American slang term.

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I doubt it would have a comeback anyway
to be fair.

Kossak · 25/04/2026 19:31

They all come back in time. If you live long enough, you'll see.

Missmousie · 25/04/2026 19:23

I was born in the late 50's
It was a toss up whether I would be named after my maternal aunt ( Myrtle Gwendoline) or my Godmother ( Brenda Lily Louisa ) - wiser heads prevailed - although I did get Louise.
I can't see any of these coming back soon.

letsgojo · 25/04/2026 19:16

Gillian

UnctuousUnicorns · 25/04/2026 17:16

Lalgarh · 25/04/2026 15:51

True.

Lynn/ Lynne makes me think Alan Partridge .

Or Lynne Parsons

Who despite AP's mockery runs the whole show and no doubt looks down her nose at the buffoon! 😅

Lalgarh · 25/04/2026 15:51

True.

Lynn/ Lynne makes me think Alan Partridge .

Or Lynne Parsons

Worrywort23 · 25/04/2026 15:28

Lynne

Snippit · 25/04/2026 09:48

Rhonda
Sheree
Deborah
Tina
Jennifer
Joanne
Sandra
Vera
Mandy
Jackie

AInightingale · 25/04/2026 09:32

Tbh I think the name Jane went out of fashion because of the horrible phrase 'Plain Jane'.

Lalgarh · 25/04/2026 09:12

Sheila

howshouldibehave · 25/04/2026 09:03

Eeyorefan · 22/04/2026 20:22

Ethel

At my school, we have three Ethels just in one Y1 class alone!

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 25/04/2026 08:58

honeyrider · 24/04/2026 23:41

Bridie would be seen as an old woman name in Ireland alright. It would often be used as a reference to an old woman even if you don't know that old woman ie if you're stuck behind a slow driving old woman you could be thinking along the lines of "give it some welly Bridie".

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😂 ‘Give it some welly, Bridie’ has just entered the chat.

That’s excellent!

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 25/04/2026 08:56

Rincoe · 24/04/2026 23:18

How about Breda !

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I knew a pub landlady called Breda.

I haven’t thought about her in 30 years!

I had some good times in that boozer. I hope she’s doing ok, bless her.

Thistimearound · 25/04/2026 08:54

Rhaenys · 24/04/2026 05:16

I have to remind myself that not everyone is a name nerd, because how can anyone think that Mabel and Agnes are not popular? 😁

Lots of the names in this thread are way more popular than people seem to think.

Yes!

There have been some suggestions of classic, royal names like Anne and Jane which is mind boggling. Those sorts of names always come back (are we suggesting that thousands of years of use of the name just stops.. now?) and frankly I wouldn’t be suprised to meet a baby Anne or Jane now anyway.

Then there are the names which are very popular. Someone actually suggested Florence. I would imagine Florence isn’t as popular as it was 10 years ago but high schools are full of Florences.

Someone also suggested my DD’s name which is not a Top 100 name but is more popular now than it was in in the 3 + generations going off the ONS data.

All of this isn’t to say that I believe all names come back. They don’t. It’s the 60s-70s names for me that seem to have popped up out of nowhere and become popular for a decade or two - there’s no reason they will become long term classics. Just as Neveah (although I’ve never actually met one and consider it more an urban legend at this point!) and cutesy double barrelled names from the 2010s don’t need to necessarily be used again in 90 years.

LBFseBrom · 25/04/2026 03:51

UnctuousUnicorns · 25/04/2026 01:07

And my paternal grandmother was Margaret known as Peggy. Do I feel old now!
Has anyone mentioned Anne?

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I love the name, 'Anne', or 'Ann', and think it due a comeback. It's simple and classic, like Jane or Claire.

I generally prefer names that can be shortened, I think that is friendly (and I have a one syllable name so it wasn't possible), but the names mentioned above I love.

Never liked 'Joan', that always seemed cold and hard - and people often had auntie Joans or their mums were called Joan. Eileen was another one like that and always makes me think of somebody behind a shop counter.

UnctuousUnicorns · 25/04/2026 01:07

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 24/04/2026 23:15

I know a 10 year old Maggie, which I quite like.

I don’t know if she’s officially a Margaret.

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And my paternal grandmother was Margaret known as Peggy. Do I feel old now!
Has anyone mentioned Anne?

UnctuousUnicorns · 25/04/2026 01:05

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 24/04/2026 23:13

I really like Bridie, but was taken to task by another poster who said it was most dated Irish name she could think of.

I still like it though.

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I had a Great Aunty Bridie!

honeyrider · 24/04/2026 23:43

Rincoe · 24/04/2026 23:18

How about Breda !

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I've heard a young girl called Breda in recent months. My lovely 82 year old neighbour is Breda.

honeyrider · 24/04/2026 23:41

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 24/04/2026 23:13

I really like Bridie, but was taken to task by another poster who said it was most dated Irish name she could think of.

I still like it though.

Show quote history

Bridie would be seen as an old woman name in Ireland alright. It would often be used as a reference to an old woman even if you don't know that old woman ie if you're stuck behind a slow driving old woman you could be thinking along the lines of "give it some welly Bridie".