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Baby names

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

Original poster

Barbara?

60 replies

Missmodular · 27/12/2008 22:12

It's got the exact ingredients I'm looking for, in that it's not remotely unusual and yet nobody is calling their daughters it any more. But I still can't take it seriously - must be the Barbara Windsor association!

But can anyone think of other girls names along this ilk?

OP posts:
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nappyaddict · 29/12/2008 01:37

Penelope
Rita
Mavis
Wendy
Irene
Eileen
Margaret
Sylvie/a
Jane
Belinda
Angela
Vivienne
Vi viana
Mariah
Doris
Rosemary
Francesca

nappyaddict · 29/12/2008 01:33

Annabelle/a
Aida
Eleanora
Esmaralda
Italia
Alexandra
Tallulah
Alexa
Rosanna
Clara
Cara
Be atrix
Emille
Amelia
Ava
Rosa
Claudia
Flora
Madeleine
Matilda
Esther
Lydia
Julia
Becca
A nna/Annie
Elena
Felicity
Philippa/Pippa
Henrietta
Daphne
Milly
Molly
May
April
Amber
Pegg y
Mabel
Norma
Nora
Thora
Elsa
Polly
Susanne/a
Theodora
Nell
Darcey
Dixie
Tabitha
Doroth y
Marianne
Marie-Claire
Lois
Lola
Nancy
Frances
Betty
Tamara
Xanthia
Emmeline
Emelina
Emiliana
Kat rina
Catalina
Christabella
Christina
Christiana
Christine
Chrissy
Kirsty
Kristy
Kirsten
Kr isten
Kiersten
Blair
Luca
Lorna
Lauren
Laura
Elspeth
Lucinda
Natalia
Melanie
Luisa
Stephanie
Bethany
Bethan
Lydia
Kitty
Lindsey
Fiona
Sian
Hannah
Helen
Helena
Sarah
Samantha
Gemma
Victoria
Joanne/a
Sa lly
Kerry
Kelly
Jodie
Jenna
Viola
Bernadette
Marcia
Claribel
Cressida
Hermia
Gertrude
Gr eta
Azure
Nerissa
Katherina
Kathy
Opal
Rosalind
Rosaline
Rosella
Verona
Dilys
Emerald
Am ethyst
Venetia
Octavia
Maude
Alethea
Mildred
Estella
Estrella
Seraphina
Drusilla
Priscilla
Dolores
Judith
Judy
Guinevere
Virginia
Valencia
Dinah
Diane
Posy
Mirabelle
Mirabella
Th eodora
Myra
Moira
Lene
Freda
Winifred
Alfreda
Ursula
Carlotta
Carolyn
Carol
Carola
Elewy n
Teresa
Xanthe
Xanthia
Gwendoline
Darla
Karen

EightiesChick · 28/12/2008 23:53

I also thought Elsie was rising in popularity.

I'm in my mid-30s and just thinking about the names of girls in my classes at school, most of them are simply not being used these days. Quite a few have been mentioned here already - Claire, Joanne, Debbie, Sarah, Kelly, Wendy, Julie, Lisa, Lyndsey etc - there were at least two of these at my school always.

More unusual options from that time:
Gaynor
Marianne (no-one uses Marie anymore either), Paula
Gloria
Andrea

Anyway, what I'm saying is, if you're about the same age I would look back at your old school photos for inspiration...

Ronaldinhio · 28/12/2008 12:56

transexual in league of gentlemen for me

Original poster
Missmodular · 28/12/2008 12:42

Oh no, can't have that then A good friend's just named her baby Elsa, so it was probably off list anyway.

It's funny how the -nda names have dropped out of favour - like Belinda, Linda, Glenda, Brenda, etc.

Most of my relatives have names on this thread!

OP posts:
mrswoolf · 28/12/2008 12:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LiffeyanFiaRua · 28/12/2008 09:25

Oh sorry, you weren't seriously considering it!

Not a fan of Pauline, Polly for short and I could think mmm, ok. Paula is nicer.

I also like Lois, Susan, Nancy, Miriam...

LiffeyanFiaRua · 28/12/2008 09:22

ugly and horrible. I like margaret and Belinda and Vivien though, which are also middle-aged chic

Bessie123 · 28/12/2008 00:10

gertrude
yvette
eleanor
velma

moonincancer · 28/12/2008 00:09

veronica

Wispabarsareback · 27/12/2008 23:31

Am LOVING Marilyn. Yes, yes, do it!

merrykittymas · 27/12/2008 23:30

Margaret
Elsie
Joan
Frances
Monica
Elaine
Sharon
Vera
Patricia
Angela
Lisa
Maureen
Morag
Betty
Norma
Nora
Elspeth
Tracy
Deirdre
Maralyn
Fiona
Shirley
Lesley
Claire
Anne
Belind a
Joanne
Lorna
Laura
Amanda
Alison
Louise
Lorraine
Donna
Christine
Esther
Kirsty
Katrina
Debra
Doreen
Julie
Karen

Wispabarsareback · 27/12/2008 23:30

Quite right too. And if you call her Pauline or Elsie I think you can be quite confident that she'll be the only one in the class. It's just so unaspirational, dah-ling.

Original poster
Missmodular · 27/12/2008 23:25

The point is that because noone is naming their children these names any more these 'frumpy' associations will soon become obselete - so why not consider them in their own right?

I'm not looking to inflict anything on my dd except a name that she won't have to share with six other girls in her class.

OP posts:
Wispabarsareback · 27/12/2008 23:15

The problem is that most of these names sound FRUMPY (except Claudia, which doesn't seem to belong on this list) - and why would you want to inflict frumpiness on your little DD? Honestly, most of these sound like the names of middle-aged personal assistants.

(But if you like this kind of thing, don't overlook Jennifer, Rosemary and Maureen. GAH!!)

Bessie123 · 27/12/2008 23:05

Lesley

Am sniggering a little at the thought of a baby called Lesley, though it seems to suit some adults

FriendNeedsHelp · 27/12/2008 23:03

I love Sally - and it's never used now.

Original poster
Missmodular · 27/12/2008 23:00

Ooh, I love Claudia too - but it's been vetoed by DP

OP posts:
Bessie123 · 27/12/2008 23:00

Doris
Dorcas
Deirdre
Mariah
Rita (too unusual?)

Original poster
Missmodular · 27/12/2008 22:59

Wow - thanks for the swift responses - am impressed!

I suppose I just want to explore names that are currently considered unfashionable - to see if there are any nice ones lurking that might have been forgotten about.

Of the suggestions so far, I like Linda, Angela and Elsie - but please keep 'em coming!

Thanks again

OP posts:
llareggub · 27/12/2008 22:53

Penelope
Elaine

Bessie123 · 27/12/2008 22:51

Oh yes, Brenda is a good one

Bessie123 · 27/12/2008 22:50

Mary
Patricia
Laura
Nancy
Helen
Deborah
Carol
Amanda
Irene
Claudia

fishie · 27/12/2008 22:48

brenda v good.

it is the female version of derek we are seeking here.

piscesmoon · 27/12/2008 22:46

I think Jane is a classic.
I would have thought it was more names like:
Brenda
Patricia
Linda
Belinda
Vivienne
Angela