Girls Shortlist - Older Names

[twentyfivefrancs]

Please can you take a look at our girls shortlist and tell us what you think, this is what we've finally and definitely decided on. Just want an idea of how these will genuinely be received, and need to narrow it down.

Doris
Marjorie
Agnes
Nora
Gladys
Hilda
Jean
Ida
Gloria

Old-fashioned names are having a major renaissance it would seem so for babies born now many of these names probably won't seem that unusual as they're growing up.

However each person will have there own line-in-the-sand of what's ready for a comeback and for me Doris, Marjorie, Gladys (and this was my grandmother's name so I would have loved to have used it), Hilda, Jean and Gloria should all stay firmly behind the line!

Again, just my thoughts - I adore Nora and Agnes. I think Gladys and Doris would be hard to live with.

Agnes, Nora and Jean are okay

Doris, Marjorie, Gladys, Hilda, Ida and Gloria are not 'classic older' names, they are not nice at all, I feel they are too much for a little lady to bear ...sorry

How about Hilary instead of Hilda?

Doris - no.

Marjorie - no, but I love Margaret
Agnes - this is not my cup of tea but I think it's already quite fashionable, so less of an eyebrow raiser than others on your list
Nora - yeah quite like it. Prefer Leonora
Gladys - ok, it could very well grow on me
Hilda - I don't think so but I really like Helga
Jean - quite sweet. I like Jeannie anyway. I'd use Jeannie
Ida - no it sounds grouchy
Gloria - yeah! I like it. It's kind of gloriously different! I can't imagine it on a quiet child though. It'd suit a girl who was NO shrinking violet!

Meant to add that I think Agnes, Nora and Ida are lovely and, in case my post above seemed a bit harsh, I should maybe say that I work with the elderly so a lot of my opinions are probably coloured by personal experience of older ladies with these names.

Would you consider Dora/Doe/Dory instead of Doris? I campaigned quite hard for Dory for last DD but DH couldn't get past the cartoon fish association :)

Doris no an elderly farmers wife sorry

Marjorie like pretty for a little girl and fine for an adult . lovely nn potential may ,madge etc

Agnes ok prefer agatha like aggie as a nn

Nora nora batty springs to mind . not a particularly attractive name to my ear . but i grew up in ireland where they were 2 a penny which probably affects my judgement

Gladys love this but my other dcs and dh nearly killed themselves laughing when i suggested it . the teenagers among them suggested glad ass might be a potential teasing problem

Hilda no sounds harsh old school teacher type name but if matilda can make a come back then why not .

Jean no know to many in late middle age to make it attractive for a baby .

Ida not keen could cause embarrassment imo . if she marries think how many surnames would sound wrong , ida carr for instance

Gloria i quite like this and did consider it for dd but wasn't brave enough.

Ida is lovely.

I really think Gloria is due a come back, too, but not sure others will agree!
I prefer Agatha or Agathe or Ines to Agnes.

Not keen on the rest. Hilda is horrific.

Love Agnes, quite like Gloria but not keen on the others but then its not my child

I really really like Agnes (aggie) and i am quite taken with Ida, it was similar to Ada which was one of the names on my list with DD.

In all honesty i don't like any of them, sorry.
I can't even pick one that i would use myself.

How about Ada/Aida/Ayda?

Doris - cute.
Marjorie - my mad great aunt. I used to think she was called Margarine.
Agnes - there is one in DD's class.
Nora-Nitty Nora
Gladys -glasses
Hilda -Ogden
Jean - really?
Ida - I can imagine there being on in DD's class,
Gloria - has dinner partys and serves up chicken supreme.

or even parties.

I like Marjorie and Gloria. Jean and Gladys are OK, not keen on the others.

How about Margaret, Frances, June, Joan, Nina, Ivy?

I wonder if this is an age thing. I'm late 40s and these names were those of my grandparents friends. I can't take any of them seriously as names for a baby.

Doris and Gladys don't even sound nice, as well as my mental picture of Auntie Glad from church in her support tights and slippers.

Other kids won't bat an eyelid at any of them, but their grandparents will all be saying WTF.

Sorry not a nice bunch of names at all.

I like old fashioned names but these are harsh and not pretty for a baby, young girl or woman.

Doris - Like, but a bit old. Might work.
Marjorie - Really don't like. Not because it's old, just because it's not nice. Plus nn Marge is HORRIBLE.
Agnes - Love.
Nora - Like.
Gladys - Like but maybe still 'your gmother'.
Hilda - Like.
Jean - Okay. My g-aunt, so hard to comment.
Ida - Love.
Gloria - Like.

Agnes, Nora and Ida are the best, then in order: Gladys, Doris, Hilda, Gloria, Jean.
I think I've made my feelings on Marjorie clear.

There is a Doris in DD1's class (Y1) no noticeable effects.

Lots of my aunts' names.

I love Agnes and, Nora, Ida and Gloria.

I'm not a fan of twee old lady names. I dont mind Agnes or Jean from your list though.

Doris - dislike
Marjorie - dislike
Agnes - better
Nora - dislike
Gladys - dislike
Hilda - hate
Jean - better
Ida - hate
Gloria - dislike

As old lady names goes I prefer the more classic and/or strong sounding names such as Judith (nn Judy), Gwen, Mary, Miriam, Hannah, Violet, Esther, Frances, Ann, Frieda, Iris, Ellen, Celia.

I know a 3 year old Jean and a 4 year old Agatha, they're both gorgeous and their names really suit them.

My favourite old lady name is Violet.

I like Agnes and Nora but TBH I hate the others personally....I just don't think some of those are ready for a comeback IMO (sorry but you asked).

How about Ada or Mabel? Still old fashioned but maybe not 'as harsh'? Glad you are bringing back the old names though!

Agnes is ok and fashionable presumably becaus of Agnes Deyn (or however it's spelled)
Agree with whoever said Jeannie was nice.
Otherwise not keen on any.