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Original poster

Names that are never coming back

543 replies

Beancounter1 · 23/09/2021 18:13

Names that been in common use since about 1850 (so nothing from ancient history like Ethelberger or whatever), that are well and truly dead, as in no babies are likely to be called this now.

How about:
Mildred ?
Edna ?
Mortimer ?

Can you think of any others?

OP posts:
Skyla2005 · 25/09/2021 11:58

@MintJulia

My elderly aunts were called Violet, Mona and Gertrude.

I'm not sure any of their names will, be back in a hurry

Violet is quite popular now and gertie is back
MargaretThursday · 25/09/2021 11:59

I knew someone called Adolf at uni. He was German, and had the traditional fair hair, blue eyes look.
He also hated the name and was very quick to ask to be called Adi, and explain it was a family name that he would not be continuing.

He was also lovely.

SwedishEdith · 25/09/2021 12:12

Hasn't Johnson got a daughter called Lettice?

I can't see the issue with Christina - I think it's a lovely name. Plus, popular in eastern Europe so I'm sure variations will still be used.

I secretly don't dislike Keith either Blush. I know era-wise, it belongs with Derek and Nigel but I don't find it has horrible on the ear as either of those.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
SwedishEdith · 25/09/2021 12:20

@OuiOuiBonjour

Do you know what, Lettice comes up surprisingly regularly in the Telegraph birth announcements! I actually quite like Cuthbert and that's come up in the past couple of years in the Telegraph too. There's quite alot of wealthier Catholics who use the Telegraph Birth Announcements.

I have a relative's name on my list who I think would have liked me to name a child after her, if I'd had one.

Isn't Dominic Cummings son Ced (which I assume is Cedric?) Mary Wakefield is Catholic. And another of Johnson's Catholic Period kids is Wilfrid. They do like those old English names, those Catholic conservatives.
OuiOuiBonjour · 25/09/2021 13:11

I know a 3 year old Enid

Sheridan Smith named one of her dogs Enid Blacktongue Grin.

Babamamananarama · 25/09/2021 13:14

Neil
Keith
Martin
Dean

bizzey · 25/09/2021 13:53

Norris .
( Stuck in my head at the moment as I have been catching up on Coronation Street !)

Biscuitybiscuit · 25/09/2021 13:58

Tracy

FrenchBulldogsareFab · 25/09/2021 15:33

Marlene, Tania, Julie, Samantha, Bianca, Cheryl, Abigail, Donna....

LaBellina · 25/09/2021 15:58

I hope Marlene makes a comeback.
It’s a beautiful name and I would definitely consider it if I had to pick a name for a girl.

lastqueenofscotland · 25/09/2021 16:00

Karen
Gary
Nigel
Ethel

Snoopsnoggysnog · 25/09/2021 16:13

@FrenchBulldogsareFab

Marlene, Tania, Julie, Samantha, Bianca, Cheryl, Abigail, Donna....
There is a Bianca, Samantha and Abigail in my DD’s class - year 7
OuiOuiBonjour · 25/09/2021 16:18

@LaBellina

I hope Marlene makes a comeback. It’s a beautiful name and I would definitely consider it if I had to pick a name for a girl.
How do you say it -

Mar-leen, like the elderly woman off Neighbours?

Or Mar-lay-nuh, like Deitrich?

I really like the second but hate the first.

Plumtree391 · 25/09/2021 16:26

@FrenchBulldogsareFab

Marlene, Tania, Julie, Samantha, Bianca, Cheryl, Abigail, Donna....
Apart from Abigail, not very nice names at all. They conjour up an unflattering picture of the person before you've met them.

Julia is, in my view, better than Julie.

LaBellina · 25/09/2021 16:35

I would indeed pronounce it as in Dietrich @OuiOuiBonjour. I also dislike the first version you mentioned, not pretty at all.

OuiOuiBonjour · 25/09/2021 16:51

@LaBellina

I would indeed pronounce it as in Dietrich *@OuiOuiBonjour*. I also dislike the first version you mentioned, not pretty at all.
The second version is really beautiful. I think it would be more popular, like Isabella or Sophia if it weren't for the other pronunciation and running the risk of a child always having to correct people.
TheWonderCat · 25/09/2021 18:07

I know a little Bianca and a Samantha.

Plumtree391 · 25/09/2021 20:34

I've known two Biancas (one died last year at 45), and a couple of Samanthas. All adult.

MrsTesfaye · 25/09/2021 20:58

Gavin

Abhannmor · 25/09/2021 21:31

@TheMildManneredMilitant

I could see those old names coming back. Brian? Not so much.
Brian is the daddy of all old names. Brian Boru , High King of Ireland , died 1014 AD. All O Briens are descended from him. Unfortunately it has baggage now . 1970s football commentators etc.
UltimateBugKilla · 25/09/2021 21:33

Keith

Ticklemycarpets · 25/09/2021 21:48

Craig, Wayne, Gary, Steven, Melvin, Barry, Norman, Dennis, Kenneth, Jeremy, Larry, Ian, Martin

Ticklemycarpets · 25/09/2021 21:51

Claire, Sarah, Susan, Frances, Karen, Lesley, Beverley, Nancy, Mary

Abhannmor · 25/09/2021 21:58

I have two elderly cousins called Freda and Stella. Agnes is another old name in our family - or its Irish version , Una. Both mean 'lamb' afaik.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/09/2021 21:59

I’ve taught a lot of teen Stellas lately.