Will it date?

[whitewithsugar]

In your opinion, will Charlie date in the same way that Alfie probably will?

I know that Charles won't, as it's a classic Royal name but if we went for just Charlie on the BC (DH hates Charles so defo can't go for this)...

Charlie is lovely. No, I don't think it will date.

Yes. Give your child the option of having a grown-up name as well as nn, and choose something else.

Yes, I think all the cutey type names (Archie, Alfie, Charlie, Lilly, Tilly, Milly etc) will soon date as people look for stronger sounding names - I agree, give your child a proper name and then call him/her whatever nickname version you want.

He has said a definite no to Charles! Can't say I'm massively fond of it either to be honest.

I like Daisy and Lily for a girl so I think I tend to go for the cutesy names :(

I agree with rachel - proper name and nickname

I agree that Charlie/Alfie/Archie type nicknames are (somewhat) cute for a toddler but I prefer to give my son the option of a more formal name for when he's an adult.

Obviously, once all the Charlies and Alfies and Archies are grown men they won't seem like cutesy little boy names any more - BUT they will definitely date. They are very much of the moment, and as rachel1970 says, the preferred sort of name will change in due course and everyone will remember these sorts of names as being from the noughties/teenies.

For example - girls' names ending in 'a', 'el', 'elle' and 'ella' are very popular right now, but it wasn't always thus. Names ending in en/an and other consonants used to be much more popular a generation ago - Karen, Joanne, Helen, etc.

All the 'a', 'elle' names, while they sound very pretty to our ears right now, will definitely date and trends will move on. Likewise with Charlie, etc. If it doesn't bother you - and there's no reason it should - then go for it. But if you don't want a name that can easily be pinpointed to an era, then maybe avoid. :)

Thanks 5DollarShake, you hit the nail on the head there. I don't want him to be pinpointed to an era.

Can you give me a list of boys names that you think won't date please?

Have a look at all the (thousands!) of names outside of the top 100 or even top 250 from last year for some less 'trendy' ideas.

How about

Marcus
Quentin
Peter
Dominic

Yes it will date.

So do you think that if it's unusual it won't date? What about Wayne though! That wasn't ever massively popular!

I doooo like Dominic, thanks!

If you don't like the "proper" version, then don't go for it, regardless of whether it's going to date or not.

My DN is Charlie.. Only a little baby and absolutely adorable.. But, yes, I think it will date. All those names are fine if you have an option to use the formal full name. if not, I think they will date ever so much.. And my family is full of them..

I don't understand the current trend of giving children these 'cutesy' nicknames - Archie, Alfie, Lilly, Billy, Charlie.... they sound so babyish/silly to my ears. I also think they won't travel well internationally.

I love Quentin - this however has been quite popular in France in recent years (was in the top 10 for a number of years), so it is worth also considering the international context.

So so many Charlie's.
Dominic and Marcus are great, howsabout Luke, Adam, Benjamin, Edward, Zachary, Aidan, William, Christopher, James....?

I'd avoid Charlie if you worry about a name dating. I like Marcus, Quentin and Adam from the suggestions so far.

I know several Adams born in the last few years too..

Ok, maybe just Marcus and Quentin then .

Yes, I fear Charlie/Alfie/Archie type names will date sooner rather than later.

Are people still using Charlie? It has been popular for quite a long time now so what will the "date" be- 1990s,2000s,2010s? That is quite a long period of popularity.

I agree with starter, Charlie has been a favourite for a good while now, so to certain extent it already sounds a bit dated.

It's not super-trendy though, and is unlikely to be thought of as "a real 10s name", since it's kind of a mainstay of the boys' names top 20.

I wouldn't use it if we didn't like Charles.

Just looked and Mark, Jason, Kevin, Wayne (It was popular at 30-something!), Gary etc were all popular over 40-50 years.

Off to play with babyplanners.com to find the perfect name!

Charles and Charlie have been around for a long time, so no they won't date. Charlie has ben a nn for as long as Charles tbh, so even if only called that it won't date - just doesn't live your child as many options in later life, although guess they could also shorten their name to Charles if they want to anyway.

Classic names will never date really, along with their nn.

But even if they do - so what? They will only sound dated to young people at that time. Just like out parent's names sound dated.

And then another generation on they will be come the chosen names once more.

Most names go in cycles.

My name is Claire. It pretty much dates me to the 70s. And??? Well, I am in my 30s, that's what it tells you most probably. Not sure I see the problem with this. Why would a name "dating" be a problem?

Choose a name you like right now. Don't worry about the rest of it.

TBH yes I think Charlie will date, although Charles won't. But does it really matter if a name is dated to a particular era?

It's the "classic" names that don't tend to date.

William
George
Samuel
James
Luke
Benjamin
Alexander
Thomas
David
Edward
Frederick
Oliver
Daniel