A True classic

[greencat23]

Have been thinking about classic names those that stand the test of time and never date a person . I think they are few my list as follows anyone think off any more.
Catherine
Elizabeth
Charlotte
Anne/Anna

William
James
Thomas

Hum, chart says Emma was 400 and something for popularity in the 70s, yet I was one of 4 Emmas in my school class...

I have a 14 year old Helen, and she loves her name and has always been the only one in her school year. There are a few Helena's though.

I did say earlier they look like American charts and it would be great to know of a UK equivalent - would be very interesting.

Millions of us Sarahs. Hated being one of many at school and there are 40 of us at my work! boring boring and very dated.

And that is why I gave my children more unusual names.

Ok, I'm going to base these on whether I know people of all living generations with the name (around 70-80yo's, 50-60yo's, 30-40yo's, teens and children/babies)

Catherine
Elizabeth
Charlotte
Lucy
Hannah
Alice

William
James
Thomas
John (I know a 12yo John, an 8yo John and a 4yoJohn)
Peter
Edward

There are surprisingly fewer than I thought there would be ...

I know lots of different aged Peters and Michaels - and Elizabeths. And quite a lot of different aged Emilys too.

I think Michael could join the ranks of classic names, although it was unusual before the 1950s. Emily was definitely an old ladies name when I was growing up, although there was one in the year below me at school.

Yes, I agree about Emily, definitely an old lady name in my schooldays. It was some way behind Emma which was just starting to become popular, and I can remember my mother being appalled.

Something that surprised me, having grown up surrounded by Stephens and Steves, was how rare that name was before the mid 20thc. Tracing our family tree, we expected to have problems with a Victorian Stephen (common surname) in (big city) but he was the only one ...

All names have peaks and dips in popularity. I think a classic name is one that you could choose at any time and nobody would think you had picked a weird and/or trendy name.

So Sarah qualifies, as does Catherine (varied spellings), Elizabeth, Victoria, Lucy, Alexander, Michael, Stephen, Peter, William etc. Too many to list.

You could have an 80 year old with those names and a 2 year old and it wouldn't be odd.

Edward-I know a baby Edward and one in his 90's and one in his 30's

James works too as does Helen or Eleanor and Sarah or Madeleine