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Baby names

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

Right, who needs a baby name? I'm armed with a baby name book from the 70's and I'm not afraid to use it

56 replies

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:04

I have just found the baby name book that my parents used in the '70's, lent to myself when naming my children and thought it may help/amuse others.

First published in 1954, I have the 1974 reprint and by jove it has some corkers in it

The Preface

Naming Baby can be a very long, hazardous and trying business, for there are almost as many difficulties to overcome as, say, at a Four-Power Conference. For example, will Baby in later years thank or curse the appellation so painstakingly arrived at; will it please the grandparents - a point for the most careful diplomacy; is the sound of sympathy with the surname; is it pretentious and difficult to pronounce; has it a diminutive which is not at all comlpimentary; and so on and so on. Nevertheless all difficult tasks repay the care and devotion lavished upon them - least not NAMING BABY.

This little book, of course, does not attempt to solve these multitudious problems for they are essentially personal. However, it is the compiler's hope that it will serve to aid in this onerous task by showing what a great variety of names there are to choose from, and something of their origin and meaning.

I'm hoping my scruffy little book will help someone find an untapped name from the past.

So, any requests for girls/boys names of a particular letter?

OP posts:
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brimfull · 08/04/2009 17:32

seth is a gorgeous name

I picture sexy artistic slightly scruffy 30something

rubyslippers · 08/04/2009 17:28

i do love Seth - i fear it is another name DH will veto

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 17:19

Sacha
Sacheverell
Samson
Samuel
Sandy
Saul
Sean
Sebastian
Secundus
Selwyn
Septimus
Serle
Seth
Seamus
Sextus
Sholto
Sidney
Siegfried
Silas
Silvester
Simeon
Simon
Solomon
Stanisla s, Stanislaus
Stanley
Stephen, Steven
Stewart, Stuart
Swain
Sylvanus
Sylvester

OP posts:
sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 17:07

My middle name is Suzanne, born 1975 too

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suwoo · 08/04/2009 17:05

I'm Suzanne, born in 1975.

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 17:05

ItsMargotBeaurEGGarde Jennifer - A variant of Guinevere, q.v.Also found spelt Jennefer, Jenefer. Dim. Jenny, Jen.

Amanda - Latin; 'fit to be loved' Dim. Manda, mandy

Olivia, Ruby and Edith are in there, but not Amelia.

ShowOfHands Inigo is in there.

MissTFied goodluck with your search!

Stretch & rubyslippers thought I'd try some S names for boys and girls.

Girls

Sabina, Sabine
Sabrina Sadie
Sally
Salome
Sanchia
Sandra
Sapphira
Sarita
Scholastica
Selina
Selima
Seraphina
Ser ena
Sheila, Sheelagh
Sheena
Shirley
Sibyl
Sidonia, Sidonie, Sidony
Sonia
Sophia, Sophy
Sorcha
Stacey, Stacy
Stella
Stephana, Stephanie
Susan
Susanna
Suzanne
Sybil
Sylvia

Boys names to follow

OP posts:
MadreInglese · 08/04/2009 16:59

I'm a child of the 70s (just), there are not many with my name as a first name, but about 1,354,643,135,436,513,854,384 with it as a middle name

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 08/04/2009 16:57

I know a Suzannah who's called Sas as a nickname.

Stretch · 08/04/2009 16:36

I like Suzanne/Suzannah. I know it's not really a baby name, but hey, they're only babies for a short while!!

MissTFied · 08/04/2009 16:34

I think you'd best give up on me! I did say I was fussy!

Thanks for trying though.

ShowOfHands · 08/04/2009 16:32

Is Inigo in it?

Twims · 08/04/2009 16:31

Mavis and Maude are quite cool

ItsMargotBeaurEGGarde · 08/04/2009 16:30

ps, what does it say beside Jennifer and Amanda?

And does it have today's names like Olivia and Amelia??

Is Ruby in the book? Edith?

ShowOfHands · 08/04/2009 16:28

Maudlin? That's interesting, isn't it?

ItsMargotBeaurEGGarde · 08/04/2009 16:28

Stretch, what about Susie?

To be truly 70s though it has to be Suzy short for Suzanne, as Suzanne is more 70s and Susan is 60s.

But Susie would work now imo.

Hazel is lovely imo. A really nice name.

ItsMargotBeaurEGGarde · 08/04/2009 16:26

I like Martha, Margot, Marianne.

Marcella is vile. I knew a horrible Marcella too. She was so Marcella-ish.

Stretch · 08/04/2009 16:25

'S' please, for a girl

(Not Sarah though as that's me!!)

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:24

Maria
Marion, Marian
Mariana
Marianne
Marie
Mariette
Marigold
Marina
Marjorie, Marjery
Martha, Marta
Martina
Mary
Marylyn
Matilda
Maud, Maude
Maudlin, Maun
Maureen
Mavis
May

Anything there? there's more if needed!

OP posts:
Toffeepopple · 08/04/2009 16:21

Hazel babies are on the up, I know three!

rubyslippers · 08/04/2009 16:20

try a boy's name

you pick the letter

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:19

More M's needed then...

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sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:18

Ahhh see this is working, I know two Hazels both in their 30's but no Hazel babies.

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MissTFied · 08/04/2009 16:18

Sorry, no, but then I am v fussy. I believe this baby boy or girl, is refusing to come out until I have some idea. Overdue by 9 days now!

Stretch · 08/04/2009 16:16

Hazel is lovely!

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:16

That should have been Margaret

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