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Baby names

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

Original poster

So when are Barbara and Sheila going to come back into fashion?

68 replies

mrsbabookaloo · 30/06/2008 16:00

All the old names from two (or three?) generations ago have come back in, so when are the names from our mums' (or grans', depending on your age) generation going to come back?

What other names come into this category; old enough to be out of fashion, but not old enough to have come back in?

Can you imagine a baby Barbara? I really can't, but it's just prejudice, some people will see the name totally differently no doubt..

Gosh, I really haven't got enough to do today, have I?

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Weeteeny · 03/07/2008 12:38

My niece is Christine (5) I think it's a lovely name and overdue for a comeback. Mary too. Babara makes me think of Babara Windsor

idontbelieveit · 03/07/2008 12:37

dd's middle name is Joan, after my Grandma

LuLuBai · 03/07/2008 12:37

Brilliant Alibobbles!

Alibobbles · 03/07/2008 12:27

Following on from Lulabai - My cats are called Janet & Dave. When I rang the pet insurance company the lady said "my mum and dad are called Janet & Dave" -More confusing was calling my son Arthur. Dave is white so everyone thinks he is Arthur.

I want Hector or Edith for my next names... All for being different :0

wigparty · 02/07/2008 23:21

I heard an interview with a bright (and most definitely cool) young thing on radio 1 recently, her name was Maud. She must have been 18, 19 max. After the , it seemed to suit her perfectly. Think there's scope for the return of the classics!

Flum · 02/07/2008 22:16

Gloria - thats got to be due for a ocmeback, I really like it.

bikerunski · 02/07/2008 21:37

All my great aunts and grandma's names have been mentioned!

LilRedWG · 02/07/2008 19:37

LOL - My mum is Patricia (I love her name) and I am also on the list. Not so keen on my name though - let's just say it's seasonal.

LilRedWG · 02/07/2008 19:34

My sister (40) is a Barbara - horrific name!

strawberriesandcream01 · 02/07/2008 19:33

I wanted to be Deborah or melissa!

Fimbo · 02/07/2008 19:32

I always wanted to be Debbie as a child

strawberriesandcream01 · 02/07/2008 19:28

My DD is called georgina but we call her Genie (jeanie). My nan is Jean and I guess in a way this has worked out nicely as she is kind of named after her! We didn't want to call her Georgie and this is what I came up with.

LadyThompson · 01/07/2008 10:32

I think Mary and Patricia are both nice names actually...

Original poster
mrsbabookaloo · 01/07/2008 10:27

Ooh, my thread took off in my absence! Sorry to boredwithworknow and anyone else i might have inadvertently offended.

Beverley and Carol, though, I think are totally acceptable..timeless almost. Although I can't imagine a TINY baby with those names...

OP posts:
LuLuBai · 01/07/2008 10:09

I love middle aged bloke names for cats. Alan is an inspired cat name!

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 22:03

It will here. Those names will not come back til about 2050. But they luuuuurrrrrrve Trevor in USA

MrsSylar · 30/06/2008 21:53

Beverley!! That is soo a middle aged ladies name.
I was just thinking about the equivalent in boys names. It will be a long time before
Trevor, Brian and Nigel make a come back

Shitemum · 30/06/2008 21:50

Apparantly names become popular again 2 generations later which is why people in their 30's and 40's are calling their girls Daisy and their boys Alfie. Many of the names my mother suggested that I didn't like at all will be the favourites when my DDs are having their DC's...unfortunately!

Flibbertyjibbet · 30/06/2008 21:50

Blimey greenelizabeth you've got my first and middle names in that list of yours - I am seriously dated by that!

Came on to post though, that the current thing for shortie names on birth certificates will mean that the names coming back will be:
Barbara Babsie
Patricia Patsie
Janet Jannie

etc etc

And all the people now who put Ellie on the birth certificates instead of Elenor because they say that Ellie is now a proper name in its own right, will be saying 'but you can't put Babs on the birth certificate!!!'

StressTeddy · 30/06/2008 21:43

I'm not sure it depends when they next get down to Top Shop!!!

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 21:42

You are a Brenda? No way? ARe you 68? Only joking, do people tell you all the time that you are 'young for a Brenda'.

I get that a bit with my name too.

boredwithworknow · 30/06/2008 20:41

Can you all go and post on the 'I've put my foot in my mouth' thread please - my mum was a Sheila, and I am a Brenda!!

biscuitsmustbedunkedintea · 30/06/2008 20:35

I'd like to add Lorraine, Patricia, Pauline, Christine, Glenda & Beverley.

I think Mary is actually making a comeback, albeit in a hyphen type way. Carol was also popular early 80's.

booge · 30/06/2008 20:22

Angela is another.

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 20:11

My Mum has three friends called Sheila. Sheila S, Sheila P and Sheila E, so at one point it must have been the Emily of its day.