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Original poster

Most retro/dated name you've heard recently

463 replies

atthewelles · 09/01/2013 11:26

I heard a woman in the park calling her little girl Madge. I haven't heard that name in years and years. I also know of a little toddler called Sheila.

Just wondering if any of you know any children with names that you thought had died out completely.

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nannyof3 · 09/01/2013 19:57

Adam!!!!

eilonwy · 09/01/2013 19:58

I think it depends where you come from as Gaynor is a very common name in Wales, as is Ivan (spelled Ifan) and Hector is a very common Spanish name. Stanley is not unusual anymore - I find it incredible that people jump on bandwagon of "unusual names" making them all common. We named our collie puppies Reg and Ron after the Cray twins over 20 yrs ago...cool names

CremeEggThief · 09/01/2013 20:00

Married, I had two Lindas in my school year, growing up in Ireland and there was one the year below. My 31 year old sister has a friend called Lynda too.

1944girl · 09/01/2013 20:02

This reply has been deleted

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NellyBluth · 09/01/2013 20:03

Is Ray(mond) too old fashioned?

TheBOF · 09/01/2013 20:04

FlouryWhiteBaps is right though: there is a difference between the early 20th century names like Herbert and Maud, and the late 20th century names like Keith and Pamela. Although they are all retro. Everything comes round again though, once you've run out of made-up or hippy names like Jayden and Autumn.

TheBOF · 09/01/2013 20:09

I like Raymond, personally. But that's because I knew an adult one years ago who was sex on legs, like a young Sean Connery, mmmm

KikkiK · 09/01/2013 20:09

Since watching The Wizard of Oz on New Year's Day, I've been thinking about how cool it would be to have a wee baby Dorothy. It's probably just as well there's no chance of me having kids any time soon!

eilonwy · 09/01/2013 20:10

I really can't spell tonight - The Kray twins (not the Cray twins as previously posted, lol). A close friend of mine is called Pauline Irene - which she hates, and partner is Nigel. Lol, couldn't get more retro than that...Sorry to cause offence, but why would anyone call their baby Bridget, or Beryl, or Barbara, Brian or Barry (must have something against the B's)

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 09/01/2013 20:38

Gilbert
Paul- the only other ones I know are well into their 60s
Stanley
Ronnie
Maisie

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 09/01/2013 20:38

Oh and a Violet Smile

weegiemum · 09/01/2013 20:48

I know of a baby Desmond!

SavoirFaire · 09/01/2013 20:50

Loads of Hectors round here. Also several Dorothys/Dots. Eric at DS's nursery (by the sounds of this thread it is getting popular! Or perhaps we all live in the same postcode!!) and a friend has a Stanley. I was really keen on Violet for DD at one stage, but I hate the nn Vi so we dropped it off the list. And what on earth is wrong with Bridget - it is a gorgeous name?!

devonsmummy · 09/01/2013 20:52

There's a Ray in DS's year at school

mybootsaremuddy · 09/01/2013 20:55

A friend of ours had a baby Reginald.

Also know of:
Agatha (2yr)
Agnes (1yr)
Marvin (1yr)
Keith (5yrs)
Simon (

taketheribbon · 09/01/2013 21:01

I know a baby Eileen. She's gorgeous!

bealos · 09/01/2013 21:05

"Broadly, in recent years, girls? names have become more flowery and old-fashioned' >> Telegraph article from April 2012

I'm nearly due and wanted to call my little one Mabel or Shirley after her Grandma's, but think all the other little girls in her future class at school will be called things like that!

Do we need to be going for 70s/80s names now to avoid being the kid in the class with the same name as everyone? (e.g. Ruby)

CandyCrush · 09/01/2013 21:10

I can tell you exactly who calls their child Alan - my brother!

Little Alan is now 7. It wasn't "cool retro" either. Seriously would like to have been a fly on the wall when that one came up...

"How about Alan? Hmmm yes Alan is great. Lets do it"

MissBetseyTrotwood · 09/01/2013 21:12

Violet, Agnes, loads of Arthurs, Stanleys and Archies, Mabel, Constance. (Which I like.)

I love Ray and Ronnie. Those names do make me think of gangsters though. (Liotta/Kray)

DownyEmerald · 09/01/2013 21:14

I know a Beryl in her 60s she absolutely hates it with a passion.

Names at dd's school I think are retro:
Peter
Sid
Ivy
Archie (there's a few of them)

Names that were popular at my school (yonks ago) and I haven't heard for a baby recently:
Darren
Gary
Sharon
Samantha
Amanda

PimpMyHippo · 09/01/2013 21:14

I think Bernard is a lovely name - don't know if it's generally considered retro, but the only one I've met was in his 70's so it is to me.

I can't imagine a baby Vera... I quite like the name Ethel though!

Darksideofthe80s · 09/01/2013 21:20

My friends dc's are Wilf, Bertie and Violet, I always fancied Seth for a boy moustache optional but that seems to have become very popular

Umicar · 09/01/2013 21:21

I don't get why everyone hates Beryl so much, no different to Ruby in my eyes?

atacrossroads · 09/01/2013 21:23

I know a Dougie, Jean, Arthur, Iris and an Eric. Also know of a couple of Franks, a Stanley, and an Albert.

twinklestar2 · 09/01/2013 21:24

I know a baby Ian, Ray and Dorothy.

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