Girls names that won't date?

[Disneydreams]

Just that really. Doesn't matter if popular. Ideas please. X

From your list, these will definitely date.

Ella
Freya
Eva
Lily
Isabelle
Florence
Maisie

Obviously Caitlin and Niamh are Irish names and are a slightly different case (presuming you are in the UK?).

That leaves Madeleine and Lois. Madeleine has been quite popular in recent decades, but it's not quite so "now" as the others on your list. Lois I don't think has ever been particularly trendy - the only Lois I've ever met would have been born in the 1940s or 50s.

They'll all date! I think the only thing to do is choose what you like best and what feels right.

OP "it's easier with boys. They tend to be strong names that stick around forever"

No, not really - see Clary's posts above. I agree with her. When I was a child, you never heard any of the Victorian boys' names like Edward, Henry, William, Thomas etc. They were old men's names, the names of my great-uncles. My contemporaries were all Michael, Stephen, Paul, Mark, David, Andrew etc. Names that are largely out of favour now.

Hmmm yes you're right. Guess it depends on individual perception. It all boils down to me wanting a name that all generations in the family will like. So I guess something popular after all that's not particularly unique. As most mnetters agree, names are popular because they're nice. And yes if you like something, use it.

It doesn't have to be currently popular, though. I would look for something that's never been a top 20 name. Start looking outside the current top 100 and see if anything clicks.

I will do Percy thankyou.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll find something that hits the spot.

Louisa
Amanda
Corrine
Alicia
Eleanor
Emma
Lydia
Zoe
Helena
Imogen

or Bob, Bob is always good! :)

Disneydreamas I love the name Joshua and to many it is a classic, but my SiL (the same one!) was almost ridiculed at the font by the vicar when she named her DS Joshua about 30+ yrs ago.

He said oh goodness, what a very unusual name, I haven't heard that in years etc. Amazing to think now when it's a totally regular name.

I would say to go with it for a DD you might think about other Biblical names like Rebecca or Esther; or other popular and lovely names like Alice, Eleanor, Amelia, Rosie etc. Or yes, the ones you list, all seem to go well with Josh. They will all date but who cares? My DC all have WW1 names which mean they are instantly identifiable as either 100 or 10!

Do u know what? Bob is looking most likely

Tinker I like Lydia!

Clary, I an starting to think all names date to be honest. What are your dc names? I do like Amelia

Bob :o Well, to be serious, it would be hard to guess the age of a Roberta ... one of those steady names, never wildly popular but there'll be a few of them every year.

disneydreams my DD's name and also the 2 girls' names we had for DS2 are all in sugarandspice's list of Sunday 20:18

Biblical girls' names may not date but in the 19th century they tended not to be found in the upper classes. A Hannah or a Rachel would be assumed to be a maid, in fact Abigail was a word for certain kind of maid. Posher folks of the time were more into latinate and Greek origin names, and those of royalty obviously. Don't know if has anything to do with the civil war, puritans going for plain, wholesome God-fearing names.

That's interesting. I'm struggling to be honest. I think I've found the one then I don't like the meaning. Ahhhh! Wish I just loved something like most people.

I love the name Lydia! Joshua and Lydia sound rather cute.

I am nearly 41 and was at school with an Emily. There was also an Emily at my riding stables (who went to a different school).

I now have a nine year old dd called Emily. There are 90 children in her yeargroup at school. She is the only Emily. She is also the only Emily I know of at her (large) athletics group, in her diving class and at her riding stables.

So popular, yes, but not overly so where we live. Timeless - in my opinion yes.

Yes I like Lydia. Will run and check meaning as soon as I've posted lol.

Emily is a lovely name too, and I only know of one. Same age as ds. Hmmm it's very pretty actually. Maybe we have a new contender

Emily came back into vogue in the 1970s, but earlier than that it had been out of favour for a long time and was seen as an "old lady" name. It isn't truly timeless - it's a cyclical name, like Lily. Every so often, as the wheel turns, these names come back up to the top.

Maybe you need names like Felicity which while well-recognised have never been super-popular? Julia?

Don't like the meanings of Lydia and Emily anyway. Think I'm going to throw the date thing out of the window and just try for something I like. Will keep looking.

Emily is a very nice name but seriously popular. Assuming you are in the UK -that is. It has moved only one place up or down from posititon 3 in the girls' chart in the last 10 years, according to the Office of Nat Stats.

There is only one in DD's school year of 60 and none at all in DS's year; but I know about 8 others at the school and properly there is an Emily (often two) in every class I teach at secondary.

They are always lovely tho! I don't say don't call yr child a popular name; just be aware that it is popular. Maybe if people don't know many small ones you are just beyond the curve IYSWIM - after all the ones I teach are aged 11-16.

Sorry x-post OP.

Just find a name you like and don't bother about what (older) family members think; my mum doesn't like any of my DCs' names as she thinks they are old-fashioned - which to her, they are!

OP, my children have friends (siblings) called Caitlin and Joshua. I think they go together perfectly. They go by Cait and Josh most of the time. Modern but not too trendy.

Oh really? I think Caitlin Is secretly my favourite too so they're mum must have great taste. Thankyou for that.