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Baby names

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Original poster

“Imagine having a gorgeous new baby and calling her Winnie!”

154 replies

princessposy · 17/08/2026 21:51

I remember giggling about this with a school friend when we were about 12/13. We were talking about what our grandmothers were called. Mine was Winnie; hers was Elsie. Circa 1993, we found it hilarious someone would call their babies Winnie and Elsie.

Just had a day out with the same friend and guess what her DD is called Smile

(I doubt she remembers our conversation!)

I wonder if our DDs will find it hilarious someone once called their babies Jennifer, Laura and Michelle … probably.

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Livpool · 18/08/2026 10:47

booksnbaking · 18/08/2026 09:24

To bring the thread back to the beginning, it reminds me of Elsie!

And Neddy reminds me of seaside donkeys. Gee-up!

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I named my rocking horse Neddy!

BunnyLake · 18/08/2026 10:32

JudyTeeny · 18/08/2026 09:41

Showing my age here but I immediately thought of the notorious Tanner family of early Coronation Street!

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And showing my age, it makes me think of sixpence. 😂

BunnyLake · 18/08/2026 10:29

poundshopkardashians · 18/08/2026 05:19

I remember thinking the name Olive was literally the most disgusting and embarrassing name ever (it was my great aunt’s) -lAlso had a friend at school called George which we all thought (early 90s) was hilarious as it was so bad 🤣 now two completely standard names for kids / young adults.

I still think it’s a horrible name (Olive). I just can’t see anything appealing about it at all. I’m not a lover of what I think if as old lady plain names like Olive or Maude. They just make me think of hard faced, humourless Mrs Danvers types.

BusyRascal1 · 18/08/2026 10:08

princessposy · 18/08/2026 06:43

I’ve heard a couple of Winnie’s. Not loads, but have met a few baby Winnie’s.

It does rather make me think of the noise a horse makes though. But it’s true. I don’t think of white haired ladies when I hear Iris, Elsie and Ada any more.

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I just think of Winnie the witch...

Asunciondelaflata · 18/08/2026 10:06

RubyHiker · 18/08/2026 10:01

pretty sure its also Hebrew and a common men's name in the jewish community

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Yes, that's true. It's a lovely name.

Firebird83 · 18/08/2026 10:03

I know someone who called her DD Winnie but she spelled it Whinnie 🤦‍♀️

Delphiniumandlupins · 18/08/2026 10:02

Dollymylove · 18/08/2026 07:49

Some of the old fashioned names are lovely, but I hate Edna, Agatha, Winnie, Minnie etc. I was admiring a lovely chubby littl baby girl, asked Mum what she was called.....Winnie 😒

Now I like the sound of Agatha. Edna less so and I think Bertha and Gladys are a step too far

RubyHiker · 18/08/2026 10:01

putupwhatever · 18/08/2026 09:52

and before Ariel was a mermaid she is in Shakespeare's The Tempest. So definitely not made up

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pretty sure its also Hebrew and a common men's name in the jewish community

Neighbours87 · 18/08/2026 10:00

DooDallyHallie · 18/08/2026 05:12

Oh, I work wirh children and there here are certainly a few little Winnies, and i have recently come across an Eleanor whose mum calls her 'Nellie', and also a 'Nell'

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My little girl is Eleanor Winifred. The Winifred is a family name

Rainbow1235 · 18/08/2026 09:59

My grandson is named ifor and we have grown to love it now

Asunciondelaflata · 18/08/2026 09:58

putupwhatever · 18/08/2026 09:52

and before Ariel was a mermaid she is in Shakespeare's The Tempest. So definitely not made up

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She is a magical air spirit, but you make a good point.

putupwhatever · 18/08/2026 09:52

BakersKitchen · 18/08/2026 09:47

Atlas quite famously isn’t a made up name!

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and before Ariel was a mermaid she is in Shakespeare's The Tempest. So definitely not made up

Asunciondelaflata · 18/08/2026 09:51

SpangledCheese · 18/08/2026 09:48

George has always been a really normal well used name?

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It was out of fashion in the 70s.

SpangledCheese · 18/08/2026 09:48

poundshopkardashians · 18/08/2026 05:19

I remember thinking the name Olive was literally the most disgusting and embarrassing name ever (it was my great aunt’s) -lAlso had a friend at school called George which we all thought (early 90s) was hilarious as it was so bad 🤣 now two completely standard names for kids / young adults.

George has always been a really normal well used name?

BakersKitchen · 18/08/2026 09:47

wishingonastar101 · 18/08/2026 09:46

The old fashioned names are cute. It's the awful made up / Disney names I hate - Delaney, Versace, Atlas, Arial... all kids at our school

Atlas quite famously isn’t a made up name!

wishingonastar101 · 18/08/2026 09:46

The old fashioned names are cute. It's the awful made up / Disney names I hate - Delaney, Versace, Atlas, Arial... all kids at our school

Asunciondelaflata · 18/08/2026 09:44

lessglittermoremud · 18/08/2026 09:40

I always assumed Nellie’s were shortened from Penelope as a girl I went to school with preferred Nellie over Penny?

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Traditionally, it's short for Helen.
When I was growing up, it became associated with Nellie the Elephant, not on your Nellie, and Nellie with the fat belly... I appreciate that times have changed!

wishingonastar101 · 18/08/2026 09:42

3luckystars · 18/08/2026 04:19

My friend called her baby Neddy. I still think it was an unusual choice and it’s definitely not a baby name.

I know a Ned and a Len - I think they are cute!

JudyTeeny · 18/08/2026 09:41

Rgal · 17/08/2026 23:13

I heard the name Tanner for the first recently . Just contours up a picture of leather being treated. 😩

Showing my age here but I immediately thought of the notorious Tanner family of early Coronation Street!

Additup · 18/08/2026 09:41

Rgal · 17/08/2026 23:13

I heard the name Tanner for the first recently . Just contours up a picture of leather being treated. 😩

Or Elsie 😂
One fir the kids there!!

lessglittermoremud · 18/08/2026 09:40

Asunciondelaflata · 18/08/2026 09:38

Nellie is such an unpleasant name (imo). Winnie, short for Winifred is quite nice and seems to be gaining in popularity.
A met a baby Jean recently, which I thought was sweet.

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I always assumed Nellie’s were shortened from Penelope as a girl I went to school with preferred Nellie over Penny?

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 18/08/2026 09:39

DD was in a riding club a few years ago and the chair was called Winnie. Nominative determinism at its finest I thought!

Asunciondelaflata · 18/08/2026 09:39

BloomersAreIn · 18/08/2026 09:04

My granny was called Mary so she was fine but she and her best friend Betty were playing in the street when they were eight and a neighbour called them over and asked them to take her baby up to the church and get him christened. They asked what his name was and the mother said he didn’t have one yet so they could name him. They talked about it on the way, pushing the pram and agreed on Dennis.

That's such a cute story! Love it!

Asunciondelaflata · 18/08/2026 09:38

Iloveeverycat · 18/08/2026 09:19

My dad's auntie was called winnie maybe short for winifred. Her sister was called Nellie.

Nellie is such an unpleasant name (imo). Winnie, short for Winifred is quite nice and seems to be gaining in popularity.
A met a baby Jean recently, which I thought was sweet.

lessglittermoremud · 18/08/2026 09:38

Winnie would have been short for Winifred, we had a couple of Auntie Winnie’s when growing up.
Mavis always used to make ponder as we had one of those as well… who looked at a baby and thought she looked like a Mavis?!
Older names are coming back I’ve met lots of little ones called Florence, Edie, Lily, Wilfreds, Violets etc