Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Are any 1930s baby names due a comeback?

61 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

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
rubywho12 · 11/08/2026 14:26

I think Peggy is going to make the comeback

Pemba · 11/08/2026 14:25

Sylvia is a beautiful, literary name. Mary and Margaret are classic, not just from the 1930s. And I've seen June, Jean, Hilda and Peggy all considered in this baby name board. So never say never!

Actually Marjorie has a very pretty sound, if you can get over the 'old person' associations. It was also popular in the middle ages I think.

Pamela and Patricia too (although you haven't mentioned them). Pretty names actually.

MrsKateColumbo · 11/08/2026 14:24

Sylvia is back in Sylvie form.

dd was going to be daphne before DH vetoed!

I love Blythe and also kind of Blanche

Mydahliasareshit · 11/08/2026 14:17

I can't see Doris making a comeback, or Hilda.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/08/2026 13:53

Sheila and June are names for women in their 60s or 70s for me so not 1930s names. Not yet due for a come back.

Mumofgirls2017 · 11/08/2026 13:45

Also met: Dorothy, Ernest, Sidney, Hazel, Stella, Maggie, Esther, Audrey, Lawrence, Jeanie, Sylvie, Pearl.

Mumofgirls2017 · 11/08/2026 13:43

I think Daphne, Enid, Eric and Leonard. I have already come across a few.

6ate9 · 11/08/2026 13:08

Doris and Cecil.

Oliwiaa · 11/08/2026 13:05

I've recently met Richard, Peter, Bernard, Rita, Sylvia and Margot at toddler groups.

Scrubwren · 11/08/2026 13:03

Enid has been comparatively popular for donkey’ years. The rest — it’s too soon. The people naming their babies need to have no living memory of grandparents, elderly neighbours called Bernard and Marjorie.

Nursemumma92 · 11/08/2026 12:39

I know a Daphne, a Freda, a Douglas and 2 Raymonds, all children under 5.

Really love the name Joy too