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Baby names

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

Original poster

"Old Lady" names which should never see the light of day ever again

385 replies

MrsSchadenfreude · 11/03/2010 21:21

In my opinion. I give you:

Ethel
Enid
Edna
Doris
Maud(e)
Hilda
Ena
Elsie
Gladys

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zozzle · 18/08/2010 23:38

triplets - whats wrong with the name Zoe and why do people think its a modern name? I love it - it`s a saints name (two saints actually I think) and has been used for thousands of years, and is even used in the New Testament (in original Greek) in the context of eternal life - so ten times more classic than the old lady names IMO!!

Or have I misunderstood you?

montmartre · 18/08/2010 23:14

I know a very young Geraldine- I was most surprised!
I know a little Gertie too, but I love that as it reminds me of ET.
I know a wee Maureen and a Diane too.

I don't know anyone under the age of 60 named Eunice...

MillyR · 18/08/2010 23:04

Cordelia is nice. A bit too posh to go with my last name, but it would be lovely for a baby.

EvilTwins · 18/08/2010 23:04

Gertrude. It was my Granny's name and she hated it - thought it was old fashioned even then (she would be 103 if she was still with us) When my sister was born, in 1973, my parents toyed with Trudy as a name and Granny wouldn't have it - too much like her name and therefore hideous.

Can't see that one making a comeback.

Her sister was Beatrice, which I love. Poor Granny got a rough deal...

MillyR · 18/08/2010 23:03

I know a baby Edith and a baby Mabel. I quite like Hilda and Alfwin as names, but fortunately I have had my children so won't be imposing such unpopular names on any babies!

CheerfulYank · 18/08/2010 23:02

That's funny, because I love Dulcie, Matilda, Esme, and Cordelia, tanleigh. Virginia's ok, but not Tabitha.

jujubean · 18/08/2010 22:55

Maureen....can you imagine looking down at cute newborn, "hello ickle Maureen".

Tanleigh · 18/08/2010 22:54

Dulcie
Matilda
Esme
Cordelia
Virginia
Tabitha

kalo12 · 18/08/2010 22:43

Edwina

kalo12 · 18/08/2010 22:41

Nora
Dorothy
Madge
Pat

Bink · 18/08/2010 22:37

Archetypal old lady name where I grew up was Esmé (that, plus particularly awful Scottish versions of feminised male names, eg Andrewina, not making it up)

But Esmé is absolutely the last word in trendery round here

Divatheshopaholic · 18/08/2010 22:02

Doris and Shirley
I read bedtime story about two elephant today :)

CornishNanny · 18/08/2010 21:56

R.E: Margaret, i said poor little lass as she was picked on at her primary school for having an old name compaired to all her school friends, so in that respect, it was affecting her by having an older and unusual name in school aged children!

triplets · 18/08/2010 21:54

Surely though these "old ladies"names weren`t old when they were children? I help out at out local primary school and have just spent a year with the reception class where we had Vera and Beatrice, gorgeous little girls, tbh I prefer some of the older names to the like of Zoe! My mum is 82 and her name is Muriel, she has hated it all her life and says she used to dread the register being called out at school!

MrsPurple · 18/08/2010 21:49

sorry should read classical.

Also know a jacob and a Jerry, Jake.

MrsPurple · 18/08/2010 21:48

I think some names are clssical rather than old lady, like Annie and Josie.

I also know a nancy, margaret, vivienne, ava and mary - ann.

Everything does come full cycle.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 18/08/2010 21:47

I know a small Audrey; in fact I think that one's on the rise. And I would use Margaret in a heartbeat if it weren't for The Thatch (I think the name still has connotations -- if not in general then for one of DH's friends who is an ultra-Thatcherite and I know would never shut up about it until I gutted him with a fish knife).

Someone was considering Irene on here the other day.

needafootmassage · 18/08/2010 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

woahthere · 18/08/2010 21:36

sorry to all dianes, jackies, sharons and tracys, i have a bad name too that i doubt will ever be brought back so i sympathise

woahthere · 18/08/2010 21:35

diane...thats bad, i prefer old lady names to ones that were popular in the 60's, 70's

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 18/08/2010 21:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

MammyT · 18/08/2010 21:32

woahthere - definitely not, I haven't heard of any Karens or Julies recently either. (All of which I quite like).

Surprised that this list hasn't featured:
Kathleen
Theresa/Therese
Blanche

The name that you all seem to dislike is ENID and I love that.

Ariesgirl · 18/08/2010 21:30

Mildred, Doris, Enid, Ethel and Edna. All horrible. Personally I wouldn't inflict any old lady chic name on a baby.

Mildred reminds me of Mildew.

woahthere · 18/08/2010 21:29

not old lady names but does anyone ever call their children sharon or tracy anymore, or jackie

Lotkinsgonecurly · 18/08/2010 21:27

My Grandmother is Phyllis and I love the name. dd has it as a middle name.

Jane1002 - I would've loved a Joy. It just didn't go with ds's name, too similar. One of my favourite names of all time...