Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Tracy or Tracey

28 replies

LineRunner · 01/07/2011 14:00

This is a classic old-fashioned name, made popular by Katherine Hepburn's character Tracy Lord in Philadephia Story. It was the name of Emma Rigg's character when she became Mrs James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Classic films, classically popular name.

There are lots of famous and classy/classic Traceys. Tracey Thorn eg.

It has a 'Celtic'/Greek origin (Mediterranean coast possibly) meaning warlike. It's the Thunderbirds family name!

What's not to like?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Tortington · 01/07/2011 14:06

the fact that it is tracy

the name sherlock has a good pedegree as does the name percy and the name gaylord

doesn't mean they are ok

Kaekae · 01/07/2011 14:13

Team it with the name Sharon and its perfect. Smile

SloganLogan · 01/07/2011 14:16

I quite like it!

Dislike Sharon though.

Ephiny · 01/07/2011 14:17

I think it's OK, the only thing that would put me off is that it was so massively popular in the 70s/80s that I think it's become a bit 'dated' to that particular era, so would feel a bit odd giving it to a little girl now. I expect that association will change in another generation or so though.

I think Shar(r)on is a beautiful name actually, no idea why people are so disparging about it.

pointydog · 01/07/2011 14:23

Tracy

Not keen.

SloganLogan · 01/07/2011 14:26

Prefer Tracey spelling.

MsChanandlerBong · 01/07/2011 15:45

Unfortunately I think most people of my generation (I'm in my 30s) will think of the Sharon&Tracy Essex girl thing from the 1980/90s - although I do appreciate it is a classic name, and I'm sure her peers will judge it on its merits.

If you are able to brush off the inevitable comments from people without it annoying you, then I think you'll be fine naming your child Tracy/Tracey. But I know I would get really pissed off if I had to keep trotting out a long rambling justification for my DCs name on a regular basis.

A shame - yes. But true none the less (IMO).

usualsuspect · 01/07/2011 16:09

Tracy Smile

GwendolineMaryLacey · 01/07/2011 16:11

Tracey looks more finished. It is a lovely sounding name if you can take it away from the associations.

PotatoWaffle · 01/07/2011 19:59

It was DIANA Rigg's name in the bond film. It's a nice name either way it's spelt if you get past the Birds of a feather link.

everlong · 01/07/2011 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dreamingofsun · 01/07/2011 21:57

the child would always have an old person's name. its cruel. its what my mother did and its awful - i'd love to just have a normal name of the era

Chynah · 01/07/2011 22:11

Why would anyone want to do that to a child??

usualsuspect · 01/07/2011 22:12

Do what?

usualsuspect · 01/07/2011 22:12

old person's name?

What like Ethel and Arthur

Oh wait ....

Chynah · 01/07/2011 22:29

usualsuspect Name a child tracy/Tracey durrrr after all thats what this thread is about Confused

usualsuspect · 01/07/2011 22:31

Don't durr me ...

Larold · 01/07/2011 22:52

I quite like the name tracy (tracey or tracie). I think I might prefer it to all the Matilda, Florence type names that are popular at the mo.

Although one of my best friends was called Tracy so the name always gives me happy thoughts!
:)

mathanxiety · 02/07/2011 04:37

I knew a Tracey whose sister was Shirley. They were the epitomy of wall to wall white shag carpet/Jag in the drive/very prosperous 1970s Dublin. Nice girls, but their names are so dated and yet so fresh in the minds of everyone in their late 30s and up.

fedupofnamechanging · 02/07/2011 14:15

I think I prefer the spelling Tracey, but either is fine.

I really love this name and think of a 1940's glamorous film star, probably because of Katherine Hepburn.

I think it is one of those names that you hear frequently on women in their 30's and 40's, like Sarah (my name) and so you stop hearing and appreciating how beautiful a name it actually is. The thing is, a child growing up today would not make the same connotations with the 80's sit com that older people do, so the name will sound lovely again to younger generations.

you don't get many girls called Tracey now, so at least she wouldn't be one of the thousands of Ellies/Megans in her class at school.

Bandwithering · 02/07/2011 15:13

IMO It's the same kind of sound as Daisy, Stacey, Maisie, Lucy, Gracie. It is just an older version of the same thing.

But saying that, it is a bit tarnished amongst our generation. I knew a Tracey with a sister Sharon! morto for them, even now.

If you posted this in ten years, when all the Traceys are too old to be mothers then I would say, yeah! as grandmothers ALWAYS hate the names their children choose! But I'm not ready for it yet. Age gap between the existing traceys and babies not quite wide enough yet.

2021?

supergreenuk · 02/07/2011 15:21

Omg. Did someone really say it's an old persons name.

smokeandglitter · 02/07/2011 17:19

I like Tracy :)

I think 'Tracey' looks mis-spelt because for most words ending in 'y' the 'e' is removed before adding the 'y'. I know that's stupid, but for some reason I always want to correct it when spelt with the 'e'. I have known some lovely trac(e)ys though, and one Tracie.

dreamingofsun · 02/07/2011 17:43

Tracy will be an old person's name for the child. its like us being called dorris or vera. as someone said its going to be unusual for that age-group - how i would love to have a common name for my agegroup instead of an old person's name

sparkle12mar08 · 02/07/2011 18:54

Awful. Desperately, toe curlingly awful.