To think its an old fashioned name!

[Mammyloveswine]

Talking with a colleague lately about common names from the 80s and 90s... the usual., Sarah, Laura, Becky, Lydia, Lindsay, Louise, Emma etc..

We then got talking about more unusual names we went to school with "Hester.. Paula..Hermione (way before Harry Potter 😂).."

I just cannot imagine a baby or small child being called Paula! I can't even imagine a person my age (30s) being called Paula!

Any other names you just cannot imagine as a baby/small child?

I don't think Myra will ever come back sadly, too many negative connotations.

Bet you're glad she's your ex MIL. She sounds awful

It depends

I knew an Enid and a Mavis and a few more with these types of names growing up. I can’t say one of them was a nice person. They were all extremely nasty who would say that they had a hard life as an excuse

As a child all I could see were men and women who because of the things they did only went to make their life harder.

Speaking as a primary school teacher, those "45 year old man/lady" names are actually quite common amongst the Eastern European and black African communities.
I've met a lot of David, Colin, Simon, Michael, Stephen, etc

I was at school with:

Ruth x2
Rachel x2
Laura x3
Margaret (Maggie)
Kathleen
Julia
Michelle
Lucy
Philippa
Hazel
Serafina (Sera)
Rebecca
Joanna
Hannah

I can’t see most of these making a huge comeback anytime soon.

My grandmother and aunt were both named Janet but one was known as Netta and one Jan. I can’t see Janet coming back anytime soon either.

My name I think was of it’s time (although very few girls seemed to have this name) but I don’t think I have met a single woman with this name who likes their name. At some point in the near future I will change it. Atm trying out different names as I hate this name so much

What point are you trying to make? Charlotte is a very common popular name.

Most of those names are back, though…

I think Paula is quite a nice name. There are some names from that era (60s /70s) that were just more popular back them, not too different to the countless Eva's and Avas around today, but wouldn't say Paula was an overly popular name, or one with any particularly bad associations.
Don't think i went to school with any, the only Paula I can think of is Paula Abdul and she was always pretty cool.
Don't get your issue with it tbh.

Rhodora with the exception of Margaret, Kathleen and Seraphina I know a few children and teens with those names

By “recently”, do you mean the last 30 years? All those names have been popular for decades. Mabel is very current and not unusual.

Following the 100 year rule, there's an article about 1920s names that may come back in the 2020s
www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/experts-say-vintage-1920s-baby-18192503

My nephew (well my husband's nephew) was named Steven but was known as Steve from the outset....he'd be about 20 now. I couldn't get my head round it. Steve is a grown up name!

I know a baby Iris. Never thought that would come back but I quite like it.

Was in a shop the other day and a Mum said to her just about walking son - come along Albert - and I thought no, just no.

Desmond is never coming back (hopefully)

I can't imagine a baby being called Paula! Weird isn't it.

Also, Frank.

But oftentimes these are family names and so obligatory in a way so the parents must not think about it.

My 11YO DD plays tennis with a Paula!
But she pronounces it like the bear (polar), so when I inadvertently pronounce it the traditional way, DD rolls her eyes and corrects me.

That just makes me think of Poula Fisch!

Have we had Herbert (as in little, spotty, the pervert) or Edna (the evil television) yet?

Desmond is never coming back (hopefully)

More likely than meeting a little baby called Pork Pie

I haven’t met any baby Lesleys, or Sandra, or Susan

Someone on the Baby Names board was trying to choose between Susan and Deborah recently. These names are already on the way back.

I know two Connie’s. Both will be around 13 now.

Oh I love Albert. I think it’s a classic, not old at all. Can have Albert, use Bertie or Albie when little, Al as cool teenager nickname, Albert whenever.

My grandmother is Wynifred. I love Winnie, Frieda, Wynn.

Piers isn’t used much now

I dont hear of many Rachel's now but I knew many a similar age to me. Richard was also a big name but I think less favourable nowadays. One of my relatives is Doreen in her 60s but hates it and says it was old fashioned when she was a child, I wonder if that one will ever come back?

I know one. She's 10 now but I don't think I'll ever get my head around it...

Raymond
Desmond
Terence
Norman
Gavin
Ronald
Bernard

Barbara
Hilary
Susan
Lynda
Diane
Winifred
Kathleen

so basically names that are now being worn by 60-80 year olds, not so very old-fashioned that it's time for them to come around again. 30 years ago we would probably have thought Jack, Harry, Ruby and Lily were beyond redemption.