Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I know I'm old now....a friend of a friend is calling her baby Joanne!

495 replies

FortunesFave · 29/08/2021 11:43

And it's not after a relative, she just likes it. Is this it for us over 40s? Are there going to be loads of little Lynns and Sharons running round soon?

What other names are we about to see!?

OP posts:
Sadik · 30/08/2021 18:47

@Yesitsbess

I always wanted to name one of the children 'Ernest'. I didn't but I will still name something Ernest before I die.

There are also some names that I just can't imagine being said to a new baby. Like Roger. All Rogers should just materialise in their mid-40s with a brown beard.

Nooooo - as a child who was obsessed with Swallows & Amazons, Roger will always be 7 years old and learning to swim in my mind

I think Tracy / Tracey deserves a comeback, I've never met one who wasn't lovely (though admittedly, that might be because they're all within a few years of me in age and from a similar background!)

bananafruitcake · 30/08/2021 18:48

Dawn
Tracy
Gillian
Julie
Samantha
Kathryn
Ann
Sarah
Alison
Diane
Lisa

All girls I was at school with Smile

amispeakingenglish · 30/08/2021 18:49

Graham, Gordan , Greg, Gilbert, Geoff Joanne, Derek was old in the 70s

|I met a tiny Enid recently. That could be a charwoman name. From 30 s
Vi, short for Violet, Rene short for Irene, Reg, short for Reginald.

Sadik · 30/08/2021 18:49

I'm always tickled by the lettuce varieties Brian and Maureen - who breeds a lettuce, and then christens it Brian Confused ?

amispeakingenglish · 30/08/2021 18:50

Yes Roger!! Much better in Swedish though

EmmalineC · 30/08/2021 18:51

@Bellee11

I've always wondered if the name Graham will make a come back. I just can't imagine a baby Graham!
Graham was the name of my first love when I was 14. He'd be 50ish now, I wonder if he's still jaw-droppingly handsome? Wink

My son was just saying that all the women of a certain age (i.e. my age) where he works are called Dawn, Linda, Pamela or Pat.

amispeakingenglish · 30/08/2021 18:51

Jayne, Alan and Susan, Suzanne I'm really getting into this

Cameleongirl · 30/08/2021 18:52

Loads of Claire’s in my year at school, I’m 46.

Chickpea22 · 30/08/2021 18:56

Cheryl and lyndsay. Not heard of any of those in this age group.

KeeefBurtain · 30/08/2021 18:56

I also went to school with an Elspeth and a Veronica , but I cant see those coming back

Those are My 2 year olds first and middle names!

ballroompink · 30/08/2021 19:01

I forgot to say, one of my DCs (9yo) has an Alan in his year at school!

FourPillars · 30/08/2021 19:02

I don’t think Margaret is on the come-back list any time soon.

Pieceofpurplesky · 30/08/2021 19:03

I teach a Joanna, several Amys, a couple of Rebecca's and a Laura!

Also several names on here are often used - David, Michael, Ian, Paul, Sean, Nicola, Sarah, Kirsty, Kerry ...

mamabear715 · 30/08/2021 19:07

PP mentioned baby Forests, I know quite a few. :-)
I've always liked my own name, think it's quite timeless, but I HATE people calling their damn dogs the same name.. (no, it's not Fido!)

Timeforatincture · 30/08/2021 19:19

@Laska2Meryls were we at school together? Your list looks like my class register!

(I'm in my late 50s btw)

UmamiMammy · 30/08/2021 19:19

Has anyone mentioned the name Beverley yet?
I've not heard of one younger than 50!
I'm 54 and there were 5 Pauls and 5 Clares in my class.

Greystray · 30/08/2021 19:24

There was bound to come a tipping point when no-one else could bear to use Ruby or Olive or Edie.

But sod Joanne and Helen, are we just totally bypassing Doris and Mavis? Sad

ballroompink · 30/08/2021 19:29

@UmamiMammy

Has anyone mentioned the name Beverley yet? I've not heard of one younger than 50! I'm 54 and there were 5 Pauls and 5 Clares in my class.
I was out for a walk yesterday and encountered a toddler Beverley! Or Bev, as her grandparents were calling her Smile I was taken aback tbh!
CherryHug · 30/08/2021 19:29

I went to school with a girl called Joanne and I was born in 1989

PearlyRising · 30/08/2021 19:32

@PieceOfString

Michelle, urgh I hate that name, so many 70's parents chose that name and raised a horror child.
I think there was a Beatles song called meeeeeeechelle in 1969 so it was v pop for a few years.
WTAFhappened123 · 30/08/2021 19:33

What a bunch of judgy nasty women you are! Jeeez worse than school kids

thepeopleversuswork · 30/08/2021 19:36

This is a bit odd... I don't think of Joanne, Michelle or Amy as being particularly dated names.

Tracey, Sharon, Wayne, yes. Joanne and Amy are pretty timeless aren't they?

merrymouse · 30/08/2021 19:36

Sarah and Louise.

HollaHolla · 30/08/2021 19:38

Yeah. Lots of Alisons, Fionas, Jennifers, Sharons, Claires, Lyndseys, and Fionas in my year at school. One of those is my name! I remember the first time I met a Sophie, and thought it was so exotic - now they’re everywhere!
For boys it was Iains, Alans, Andrews, Marks, and Stewarts.
I’m mid-40s.
I was having a discussion with a friend the other day about surely no-one would be calling their baby Derek. Grin

COPPER3 · 30/08/2021 19:39

Can I join in? I am fascinated by names...
I'm 59...my class names for girls..
Sharon (Shaz)
Claire
Sally
Joanne and Joanna

Rachel
Alison
Maureen
Debbie (loads of them)
Patsy
Karen
Caroline
Liz
Patricia (Pat)
Margaret (Maggie)

Boys..
Derek
Roger
Brian
Reg
Rupert
Fred
Ian
Dave
Philip
Tony

I could go on...but don't want to be a bore..