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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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PosieParker · 18/08/2010 15:48

Oooh I don't know about flumps! I loved Pootle!

We're not having anymore anyway, I have four and all were sections, plus I don't have enough time as it is!

Cortina · 18/08/2010 15:43

Phyllis is quite cool I think.

mixedmamameansbusiness · 18/08/2010 15:42

Ethel
Mildred
Joyce
Phyllis

StealthPolarBear · 18/08/2010 15:22

Gabby, did you ever explain why you started that really odd thread in breast & bottle feeding?

StealthPolarBear · 18/08/2010 15:21

shakespeare i think

GabbyLoggon · 18/08/2010 15:20

A rose by any other name smells just as sweet.

But I cant remember who said it

weirdbird · 18/08/2010 15:20

If I was having another girl which I?m not meant to be then I would love a lot of these names

We had Grace down for a 3rd DD

Also love

Blanche
Olive
Beatrice
Elsie
Ivy
Felicity
Nancy
Evadne

reptile · 18/08/2010 15:20

While not being an old lady name (yet) I'd be interested to see when/if Susan ever makes a come back. For some reason there were a enourmous number of us born in the late 50s, but I don't know any baby Susans

Cortina · 18/08/2010 15:18

Are they not the Flumps Posie Parker? :) Having said that I love Mabel.

I have a theory that the current crop of old ladies/men with the name have to be largely no longer with us for the name to be favoured (with a few exceptions).

Violet is an example of this. In my mother's generation many had an old 'Aunty Vi' or similar. I knew old people with the name so it began to sound romantic and whimsical to me. Violet is an ugly name to my mother's ear but not to mine.

Barbaras, Glorias, Gladys and Vera are still with us, getting a bit long in the tooth in some cases but still here, thus not popular names. Joan too, but they are thinning out hence I think Joan will become popular ahead of Barbara.

tummytickler · 18/08/2010 15:17

wiltsmum - I love Judith! Posie - Posy and Humphry are fabulous too!

wiltsmum · 18/08/2010 15:14

My name; Judith.
It really dates me!

PosieParker · 18/08/2010 15:13

I have a Mabel and if I had another dd it would be Posy and ds Humphrey!

smallone · 18/08/2010 15:09

Edna and Vera

Quite like some of the others, esp elsie
and I actually know a maude and a mabel

skippingturtle · 18/08/2010 15:08

PawMum, a friend of mine had a rabbit called Andrew.

I had a great aunt Beulah, would have loved it for DD, but chickened out!

vegasmum · 18/08/2010 15:08

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imahappycamper · 18/08/2010 15:07

Depends on what you define as an old lady.
Old lady for me means in their 80s and my list would be Edna, Muriel, Elsie, May, Gladys, Hilda, Bertha, Maisie, Joan, Olive, Mavis.

PawMum · 18/08/2010 15:06

one of my friends had a dog called Eddie (and another called amy:o)

I have noticed small girls have started to be called my name again and mine was popular in the 60s/70s....

vegasmum · 18/08/2010 15:06

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Message withdrawn

5inthebed · 18/08/2010 15:03

Of course, whats wrong with that?

PosieParker · 18/08/2010 15:00

You want your sister to call her baby 5inthebed?WinkGrin

5inthebed · 18/08/2010 14:57

I dislike the name Elsie, but only because it reminds me of my old and haggered MIL.

I'm just waiting for the 70s name revival where my name will be tres popular. Trying to convince my sister to call her new baby my name, but no luck :(

Pawmum, we used to have a dog called Eddie Grin

Chunkamatic · 18/08/2010 14:49

I love, love, love the name Angela, nn Angie tethersend. I have done since I was quite young and even though DP has a particularly mental auntie Angie it hasn't put me off! I think its just really... cool!!!

onehackedoffmuma · 18/08/2010 14:47

I do like Elsie, Ruby, Ada, Dotty and Maisie.

I think for me it's got to be:

Irene
Enid
Hazel
Hilda
Joan

Eek I quite like Kitty but don't think I could call my little one that!

fruitstick · 18/08/2010 14:47

I wanted DSs to be called Elsie if they were girls. and I know a baby Elsie too. I think it's a lovely name and not really different to Eslpeth, Elsa, Elise etc.

I did have a friend who nearly called her daughter Gladys which I think I would draw the line at, as well as Vera.

and I agree about the 'een names (Doreen etc)

thecatatemygymsuit · 18/08/2010 14:44

I know a little Shirley, it actually works somehow!

Predict Daphne, Jean, Betty/Bette and Anne to make a comeback.... thinking 30's/40's chic.

Love most 'old-lady' names - indeed dd has one!
Oddly every female from the last 3 generations of my family has had her name mentioned on this thread(except me).