'Old-fashioned' names that might NOT make a come-back?

[PrincessFiorimonde]

I was thinking about names that might have been popular about 100 years ago or more, and were then considered old-fashioned 30, 40 or even 50 years ago - but are now becoming more popular again. For example, Dorothy and Archie are names that are probably used more now than they were for babies born in the 60s or 70s.

So I wondered if there are names that have not made a come-back, and are not likely to?

For example, does anyone think these names are used much for babies born recently:
Eustace
Eunice
Jean (for a girl; not the French boys' name)
Joan (for a girl; not the Catalan boys' name)

I'm not trying to start a 'these are horrible names' thread. I'm just wondering which 'old-fashioned'-type names haven't really been revived. (Or perhaps I should say: haven't really been revived yet!)

Cora and Lettice are great names. Nearly had a Maud but went for another name.

thereisalight your DD has good taste, it is actually Lesley or you are referring to my father

have you seen what mylene class has called her baby girl? HERO!!!!!!
I quite like Iris and Martha,both underused.

Thank you, kreecher - it's one of those names that I never get right, gender-wise.

Iris and Martha are not underused where I live. And I quite like Hero...

Godfrey

I have heard of a baby Graham and a Dennis recently. Both named after their dad or Grandad. Stanley and Agnes are also around too. Other popular 'old gran names' at my kids school/nursey are Constance, Florrie, Archibald, Geoffery, Elsa, Elsie, Arthur, Doug.

Names I don't think will come back are Gladys, Vera, Edna, Ethel, Marjorie, Mavis,Reginald.

Names I think may get popular are Percy, Mabel, Betty, Betsy, Nora, Connie, Mary, Margeret, Amanda.

Funnily enough DH suggested Graham for DS2 and for DS1 (before we knew his gender) Yvonne.

Nice, don't you think?

thereisalight my DH is a big fan of the name Gerald.

I think he's joking.

@ Gerald. People say that our stranger choices are because of our pregnancy hormones. What excuse could our DH/DP's use (other than bad taste)?

I do think you are all correct about Edna tho.

My mum has 2 old pals called Arthur and Edna; Arthur is pleased his name is coming back in (and not just via David Cameron!); but Edna rather ruefully agrees hers will never be trendy again

I think Judith may come back in fashion as well and Jean.

I know 2 toddlers called Graham.

Emma - sorry has taken me so long to get back to you... Amy...well, it's just terribly pedestrian.

Add Emma to the list.

Here's another suggestion-Bathsheba? (im reading far from the madding crowd, well trying)
What do people think of Agatha? Is it truly awful & should I cross it off my list?! I really love how its shortened to aggie, but don't want my dc to hate their name forever!

Agatha is probably due for a resurgence - names seem to come round again after about 100 years. I think it's the sort of name which would seem a bit odd for a baby but she would grow into it.

What puzzles me is why Margaret hasn't re-appeared in the form Maggie as a full name - in the way that Katie and Archie etc have appeared as full names.

I meant to say 'old' for a baby, not odd. A lot of names seem old for a six week old baby but are fine once the child begins to grow up.

It's because Margaret and Maggie are not terribly attractive names. Agatha? No.... But Agathe?

I disagree. I think that the fact that it ended in an 'ut' sound made it sound very harsh for a long time,but now that we have had names like Scarlet, Violet and Juliet become fashionable, Margaret is going to sound less 'crusty'. jmo. I think Margaret will be the new Violet in about five years.

i think perhaps in 10 years time brian maybe in for a resurgence as all the ryans of the the last 10 years grow up and ryan becomes very dated like tracy , sharon etc . brian would have the same sound which maybe in it's favour .

margaret possibly spent longer in the wilderness because it was entwined with mrs thatcher and her personality and politics etc

We're just watching the gymnastics, there's a French chap called Cyril. Can't imagine that one coming back here!

Naturally I'm named after a fav auntie Ada so love it but the family also had a less popular auntie Hilda and wouldn't wish that name on any little ones. Did here someone in the park shouting 'Hilda' at their boxer and couldn't stop laughing seemed very apt.

Most older names return because of fav relatives and family traditions we have middle names running through the male lines but no one remembers where they come from. Then fashions take over. I had to keep a straight face in a shop once when a mum screamed at her toddler Kylie - I wonder if there are any Rodney's out there that pre date Only Fools and Horses because of Rod Stewart and I knew an Elvis at school.

/hear/

I doubt that there are any names that will "never" come back. Some of those suggested in this thread are lovely names - I suspect that for some people they are inextricably associated with some aged relative. Some IMO are hideous names, but they will also come back, there is always someone who likes them.

I recall my mother being amazed when names like Emma came into fashion, she said that, to her, it was an old lady's name. For me it's names like Alfred and Albert .... when I was a nipper Alf and Bert were the archetypal old men's names ....

and here I am getting on the soapbox and ranting about people giving their kids shortened versions of these grand names. Bertie is OK for a little boy, but when he's a man he will probably appreciate the full royal title, as it were. Give the child the full name and let them have a choice. You can use the nickname you prefer, but little Bertie might later choose to be called Al or Albie or Bert - or indeed Albert! And Alfie should not be deprived of the full name of one of our greatest Kings - and he can opt to be Fred or Freddy. And so on.

What keeps names endlessly circulating, I think, is people's desire to find 'something a bit different'. Much prefer to see old and classical names sought out, than ghastly made-up chavvy names.

Bertha
Beulah
Brunhilda
Hildegarde
Hattie
Agnes
Gertrude/Gertie
Blanche
Bernice

Englebert
Cleophis
Marvin
Melvin
Rupert
Hedley
Barney