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Original poster

Are any 1930s baby names due a comeback?

68 replies

Firebird83 · 11/08/2026 10:57

After the thread about Joan, I was wondering what people think of some of the other names that were popular in the 1930s. Names are supposed to come around in roughly 100-year cycles, and we’re nearly in the 2030s now! Do you think any of these 1930s names are ready for a comeback yet? And are there any others you’d suggest?

Jean
Margaret
Sheila
June
Mary
Irene
Sylvia
Marjorie
Rita
Joy
Valerie
Hilda
Daphne
Mavis
Gloria
Enid
Freda
Peggy

Peter
Hugh
Edwin
Philip
Lawrence
Timothy
Walter
Raymond
Douglas
Eric
Bernard
Leonard

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RedToothBrush · 12/08/2026 01:40

Margaret - I think variants. Maggie is popular already

Irene - Iris instead
Sylvia - Know one
Valerie - no because of the song
Enid - already happening

Hugh - already popular
Edwin - already popular
Raymond - think this will get more popular
Eric - Simon Cowell killed this one
Bernard - nope
Leonard - Leo is top ten currently

WinterAconite · 12/08/2026 01:40

Seashor · 11/08/2026 22:56

I have taught recently- Sylvia, Mary, Agnes, Enid, Ada, Dorothy, Gertrude, Nancy, Ann, Elsie, Ivy and Margaret.
Edwin, Edmund, John, Ian, Douglas, Stephen , Albert and Michael.

What region of the country do.you teach in?

WinterAconite · 12/08/2026 01:36

Most of the women's names from your list seem quite chic to me. I like the men's ones too.

user1492757084 · 12/08/2026 01:30

John
Desmond
Paul

TiredMummma · 12/08/2026 00:55

I know two Roland’s!

LizandDerekGoals · 11/08/2026 23:10

Aidezmo · 11/08/2026 22:33

John was a popular name in the 1930s (amongst other decades) and must surely be due a revival?

I went to school with loads of john’s in the 90’s. But that was a catholic school...

JudyTeeny · 11/08/2026 23:08

I like Jean and Hazel. For boys, Peter and Lawrence.
Thinking of my own family members born in the 30s-
Ruth
Marjorie
Leslie
Douglas
Basil (!)
Minnie
Brian
Carol
Annie.

LizandDerekGoals · 11/08/2026 23:08

I think lots of these named people are in their 70’s and 80’s rather than 100’s. Sheila much younger than 100!

CalliopeFosterBeauchamp · 11/08/2026 23:02

Firebird83 · 11/08/2026 22:50

There are all the -een sounding names too: Doreen, Eileen, Maureen, Kathleen, Pauline, Christine, Irene. It will probably be quite a while until they come back!

I know four Christines, ranging from 3 years old to 68

I don’t know why but the idea of a toddler called Rita has really tickled me!

Seashor · 11/08/2026 22:56

I have taught recently- Sylvia, Mary, Agnes, Enid, Ada, Dorothy, Gertrude, Nancy, Ann, Elsie, Ivy and Margaret.
Edwin, Edmund, John, Ian, Douglas, Stephen , Albert and Michael.

Rituelec · 11/08/2026 22:51

Named our cat Leonard but that was our boys name (but we have 4 now and last DC was girl!)

Original poster
Firebird83 · 11/08/2026 22:50

There are all the -een sounding names too: Doreen, Eileen, Maureen, Kathleen, Pauline, Christine, Irene. It will probably be quite a while until they come back!

OP posts:
BlueDillieDillie · 11/08/2026 22:46

Maud

49mumof6 · 11/08/2026 22:45

My mum was born 1938 she was Gillian, my dad was Robert he was born 1937

Aidezmo · 11/08/2026 22:33

John was a popular name in the 1930s (amongst other decades) and must surely be due a revival?

Lentilcakes · 11/08/2026 22:30

I had great-aunts called Edna and Gertie so they just conjure up old ladies for me. Also had older relatives called Myra, Enid, Marion and June (that is quite nice - Junie).

Giraffehaver · 11/08/2026 22:27

I think a lot of these are coming back already. I know a baby Sylvia, Edwin, Peter, Douglas and a friend has Marjorie as a favourite for her baby who's coming in November

mum2jakie · 11/08/2026 22:09

I have kids now late teens/early twenties and both went to school with kids called Peggy, Ethel and Edith.

Daffodilsinthespring · 11/08/2026 22:03

A lot of those have been back a while

RafaFan · 11/08/2026 21:56

Here in Canada I have come across a Marjorie and a Rita lately, both toddlers!

pamshortsbrokenbothherlegs · 11/08/2026 21:01

I have an Enid. I’d say Daphne, Margaret, June, Joan, Joy, Freda, and Gloria are either back or have the potential to be, ie I’ve seen them all mentioned numerous times on these boards as shortlisted options. I also think Marjorie will be back, helped by the Taylor Swift connection.

For boys, same story with Walter, Lawrence, Eric.

Ilovemyfam · 11/08/2026 18:55

I had a granny who must have been born around 1917. Her name was Daisy. She said that when she went to her first job the other workers told her that they couldn’t call her that silly name so she became “Sally”.

They are both perfectly lovely names.

suburburban · 11/08/2026 18:51

Blingismything · 11/08/2026 18:43

I knew an old lady from this era whose name was Senga. She was christened Agnes but hated it so reversed her name from an early age.

That’s interesting as I have met a Senga before (more like in her 70s)

Crunched · 11/08/2026 18:47

I'm hoping that Beryl may be revived. The name is made of two pleasant sounds and it's a beautiful stone.

Blingismything · 11/08/2026 18:43

I knew an old lady from this era whose name was Senga. She was christened Agnes but hated it so reversed her name from an early age.