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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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ImpressionOf · 22/04/2026 21:54

NotTerfNorCis · 22/04/2026 21:52

Mabel.

A new baby in the family narrowly escaped that name.

My DC’s teenage friend is Mabel. Beautiful girl with long auburn hair.

UnlikelyIntimacies · 22/04/2026 21:54

Fgfgfg · 22/04/2026 20:26

GGM sister was called Tryphena

I kind of like Tryphena — because of Tryphena Sparks.

There are definitely young Barbaras, Agneses and Joans around.

They’ll all be back. Most of the ones mentioned just haven’t been gone long enough yet.

(And I wish English people would spell and pronounce Deirdre properly. Clue, it’s not ‘Dee-Dree.’)

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 22/04/2026 21:54

Who can say. 20 years ago I would have said Arthur will never come back now I'm tripping over them. I know you're asking about girl names but I'm just using it to make my point.

Lifeomars · 22/04/2026 21:55

tooloololoo · 22/04/2026 21:46

I know a 3 year old Peggy

I think Peggy is a lovely name.

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 22/04/2026 21:55

I love Doris, Beryl and Sybil!

Doris is just a great name.

I don't think we'll see a return of girls names that are obviously based on boys names. Like Nichola, Danielle, Paula, Philippa, Andrea, Roberta. But maybe tradwives will like them?!

I don't think Tracey, Stacey or Sandra will be making a comeback any time soon either. Nor Karen for obvious reasons but also it's just a horrid name.

From the 70/80s names I think more classic ones like Rebecca, Sarah, Katherine, Francesca, Hannah, Laura, Jennifer are more likely to come back.

I imagine Ghislaine won't be on many people's lists...

Charmatt · 22/04/2026 21:55

In this year's admissions ranking for us had several of the following:
Dorothy
Agnes
Ophelia
Marjorie
Margot
Jennifer
Cora
Peggy

We also saw a lot of older names are being used as middle names - presumably after the children's grandparents

dontmalbeconme · 22/04/2026 21:56

I actually love the name Marjorie.

TheeNotoriousPIG · 22/04/2026 21:56

I have to say that I have been astonished when meeting young children and teens called Yvonne, Derek and Alun... and I overheard my aged 90+ GM's name once. Mind you, I remember the look of horror that I got from an old lady for answering to Florence (DM's pet name for me, nobody knows why, as it's nothing like my actual name, but I suspect it came from The Magic Roundabout), so I'm pleased that one came around again!

Agnes might gain more popularity as it's used in more films/TV (e.g. The Testaments). While I think it's fairly safe to assume that Dick and Fanny won't be back soon, I can't imagine a little Charity, Prudence or Patience. I'm not sure about the names that end with hard consonants, like Enid or Sharon, either. Tracy, Lorraine and Maureen will probably have to skip a few generations before they become fashionable again! I quite like Mary, though 😊

Shessweetbutapsycho · 22/04/2026 21:57

letmebetheone · 22/04/2026 20:17

Doris
Joan
Sheila
Agnes
Bernice

I know a few little Agnes’s

Nugg · 22/04/2026 21:58

Tracey

Htcunya · 22/04/2026 21:58

Tel12 · 22/04/2026 21:53

Give it time, they'll all be back. We just won't be here to see it.

Exactly. Most of the names listed will come back in a generation or two.

There’s a five-year-old Mabel in my street.

LuckyBitches · 22/04/2026 21:58

Edna

FarmGirl78 · 22/04/2026 21:58

Fanny.

Loriclimbs · 22/04/2026 22:00

Fanny.

I had three! Great aunts called Fanny

NotAtMyAge · 22/04/2026 22:00

NotTerfNorCis · 22/04/2026 21:52

Mabel.

A new baby in the family narrowly escaped that name.

I know a teenage Mabel - granddaughter of a college friend. I would honestly say almost any name could come back at some point. Names go in and out of fashion over longish timescales, but are constantly rediscovered. When I was young, back in the 50s and 60s, the idea of name your baby boy Noah would have been laughed at. John was the most popular boy's name for a long time and I had lots of friends called John. Not many babies called John at the moment.

Elsvieta · 22/04/2026 22:00

All those puritan names after Christian virtues: Patience, Charity, Chastity, Constance, Prudence, Mercy, Temperance etc. Although Hope and Faith might cling on. And Grace.

Redmou · 22/04/2026 22:01

My little girl is a Jacqueline named after my own mother.
Who cares whether a name is “old” unless it’s old and ugly which quite a few old names are like Gertrude and Ingrid

Owninterpreter · 22/04/2026 22:01

I think Sharon, Tracey, Karen, Joan, Kimberly and Jade are not coming back in a big way but maybe variations when people want to honour grandparents.

Kizmet1 · 22/04/2026 22:01

I think some of the -elle names are done for:
Michelle
Chantelle
Giselle
Etc.

Charmatt · 22/04/2026 22:02

Elsvieta · 22/04/2026 22:00

All those puritan names after Christian virtues: Patience, Charity, Chastity, Constance, Prudence, Mercy, Temperance etc. Although Hope and Faith might cling on. And Grace.

Families of African origin often use such names. They are very popular in their culture.

Calliopespa · 22/04/2026 22:02

TeflonMom · 22/04/2026 20:22

Gayle
Dawn
Pauline
Maureen
Doreen
Shiela
Sharon

Maureen and Doreen I agree. The others just need a bit longer.

I think Hilda and Gladys and Mavis.

SuperGinger · 22/04/2026 22:02

I know an Enid, Agnes, Joan,Wendy, Louise, Carolyn

TaraRhu · 22/04/2026 22:03

Specialneedsnightmare · 22/04/2026 20:39

Boadicea

lol I literally heard someone call out Boudicea in the park a few weeks ago. I thought it was a dog ... it was a child!

Calliopespa · 22/04/2026 22:03

Charmatt · 22/04/2026 22:02

Families of African origin often use such names. They are very popular in their culture.

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There seem to be loads of Honors which i dislike.

I do like Constance and Clemency.

frecklejuice · 22/04/2026 22:03

NotTerfNorCis · 22/04/2026 21:52

Mabel.

A new baby in the family narrowly escaped that name.

I work in a nursery and we have two Mabel’s!