Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Classic names

29 replies

monkeymoomoo · 18/11/2010 10:40

I'm looking for classic names which will not date. Wondered what people think about these:

Kathryn
Harriet
Eva
Alice
Elisa
Anna

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
randomimposter · 18/11/2010 10:46

Agree they are all classic

Kathryn - irrationally have never liked this spelling - much prefer Catherine or Katharine
Harriet - bit dull and prissy for me
Eva - like it, but can't help but think of braun
Alice - went to school with a really annoying one, hence not personally keen
Elisa - LOVE Eliza, how are you pronouncing Elisa?
Anna - used to think it was a bit meh, is actually really growing on me.

monkeymoomoo · 18/11/2010 10:48

Elisa pronounced El-liss-a

OP posts:
monkeymoomoo · 18/11/2010 10:52

I meant to add Sophia to the list too.

OP posts:
tummytickler · 18/11/2010 10:58

I would not personally call ELisa classic, Eliza yes, Elisa no.

Kathryn is ok - agree I don't like this spelling. Kate is a nice nn, but i do not like Kitty or Katie.
Harriet - lovely, great nn's
Eva - dull
Alice - lovely. Really pretty, but grown up at the same time.
Elisa - horrid
Anna - alright, prefer Anne.

My favourite 'classics' - Margaret, Victoria, Iris, Jane, Louisa.

tummytickler · 18/11/2010 11:00

oooops - forgot Mary! Top of our list for dd!

ellesabe · 18/11/2010 11:00

I always think of these as classics:

Lucy
Charlotte
Emma
Emily
Kate
Sarah
Mary
Elizabeth

Edmundo · 18/11/2010 11:18

Elisa and Eva are not classic. Eve is more classic. Eva is very current as is Elisa.

I love Anna.

Ephiny · 18/11/2010 11:35

Elisa makes me think of the biochemical lab technique :) Eliza is more of a classic name, or what about Elizabeth?

MrsBuble · 18/11/2010 11:45

Kathryn- I much prefer the other spellings, but is a classic nice enough name.

Harriet- Lovely and LOVE Etta as a nickname.

Eva- Its okay but I much prefer Evie of Eve.

Alice- I know some beautiful girls called Alice so really like it.

Elisa- Not my cup of tea

Anna- Boring

Ineedsomesleep · 18/11/2010 12:00

Kathryn - not keen on this spelling but ok.
Harriet - love
Eva - will date very quickly. Lots of Evas Evies and Avas around here.
Alice - love
Elisa - ok
Anna - not keen.

monkeymoomoo · 18/11/2010 12:49

Ineedsomesleep - do you think just Eve will date though? I thought it was pretty timeless.

Looks like Harriet and Alice are the preferred ones then which is good as I love them both.

OP posts:
Ineedsomesleep · 18/11/2010 12:51

Know quite a few Eve's too I'm afraid. Think the whole Eve/Evie thing will date pretty quickly.

MelinaM · 18/11/2010 15:39

Katherine/Catherine -lovely
Alice -a personal favourite of mineSmile
Anna- lovely but a little plain perhaps?
Harriet -okay but not classic enough for me
Elisa/Eva- very common at the mo.
Sophia-lovely but again very common at the mo -espec the Sofia spelling of.

How about Elizabeth, can be shortened to Eliza which is quite like Elisa?!

Charlotte, Rachael, Victoria, Beatrice, Helena, Louisa ...

monkeymoomoo · 18/11/2010 16:15

I like Eva as we have Mediterranean roots. It works well with our surname so it's shame about the popularity thing. Maybe I could get over that though?!!

When I was at school most of the girls were called some form of Kathryn - Kate, Katie, Catherine/Katherine and now it's on my list!

OP posts:
Rockbird · 18/11/2010 16:16

Harriet is a great name and won't date :)

Rhubarbgarden · 18/11/2010 19:02

I like Harriet, Alice and Anna best. Also Katharine.

mathanxiety · 18/11/2010 20:04

Kathryn -- love this spelling and only this spelling for some irrational reason
Harriet -- A bit twee and clunky. Prefer the nn Harryo
Eva -- Love
Alice -- Love
Elisa -- not classic English, more Italian; dislike the Elissa pronunciation
Anna -- Love
Sophia -- Prefer spelled with an F (again irrational)

SE13Mummy · 19/11/2010 19:13

My favourites are Harriet, Alice and Anna. I have a Harriet(nn Hattie) and don't encounter others that often. Alice is one of my DD's closest friends and, with their classic bobs and old-fashioned shoes they make a fairly 'classic' looking pair!

MamaVoo · 19/11/2010 19:19

What about Victoria? It's my name and I was really surprised not to see it in the top 100 this year - as it's usually there - so it won't be common.

Mrsmackie · 19/11/2010 19:55

I have an Alice (2 yr old) and we do get lots of comments about what a lovely name it is - very classic and timeless.
I also realy like Harriet, Kathryn and Beatrice?

ThatllDoPig · 19/11/2010 20:24

I love all those names (except Elisa - sounds like a brand name for something medical), but the others are lovely. Happy deciding!

EsmeWatson · 20/11/2010 10:28

Kathryn - Dislike strongly but love Catherine

Harriet - Like
Eva - Like
Alice - Love
Elisa- Not keen at all but love Eliza
Anna - Like
Sophie - Like

Ephiny · 20/11/2010 21:32

Just had the thought that while I don't like Elisa, I think Lisa is a lovely name and doesn't seem to be too common these days.

boodleboot · 20/11/2010 21:49

my Alice Elizabeth is 10wks old and everyone we encounter coo's at the name saying how beautiful it/she is....

i also love Emma Harriet Rose and Cecily...

bessie26 · 22/11/2010 22:20

I think all the names are great.

I love Kathryn & it was on our shortlist briefly, but then we realised DDs initials would then be the same as a certain lubricant! (DH wouldn't even consider Catherine as he was afraid it would be shortened to Cat - which he HATES)

Swipe left for the next trending thread