So, which year's names are least appealing to parents naming in 2013

[JennyEnglish]

Is it names that are 50 years old? Or is it less than that? some people were listing names that they couldn't imagine coming back, like Linda and Janet. I don't really dislike those. Jane is nice. Linda is pretty I think.

I think names I'd be really surprised to hear would be Suzanne and Nicola, Martin, Stephen.

[LaVolcan]

Linda is pretty I think.

In Spanish that is exactly what it means - pretty, beautiful.

[PattieOfurniture]

My manager is Barry, he has a son Barry Junior (about 11 y/o), nn Bj

[Snowflakepie]

I'm sure I read somewhere that popularity seems to skip 2 generations when it comes to naming, in general. So to me, my parents names are desperately old fashioned, 40s and 50s names. My grandparents names are still a bit dated, 1910s and 20s. My great grandparents all have names that wouldn't look out of place on a baby now. In fact I have given my DD middle names to honour that generation.

Works less well with boys as I think there are fewer names and a lot more to me seem timeless, but that's my opinion!

[JennyEnglish]

I feel like there might be a baby Belinda very soon. I feel it in my bones

Barry Junior!? BJ. Oh dear.

[JennyEnglish]

I remember sitting in work when I was pregnant and somebody asked me if I'd be naming the baby after his father, I said "no I think that's a really stupid thing to do, so confusing, perhaps after a grandparent, if you liked them, but to have two barrys under the one roof - ridiculous!!" then I realised my boss's son was also called Steven. It's quite common still. I'd never do it. women don't think of it.

[bananaramma]

A lot of names on this thread are far more interesting than some of the overused cutesy names (Alfie, Archie, Poppy, Molly etc) which may well become less appealing to parents.

[boatclub]

I reckon Colin is due a revival.

[peeriebear]

Clive.
My dear late friend Fred was really a Clive; he just didn't like it.
I know of a teenaged Graham

[WorkingtoohardMama]

I know a 4 year old Barry - I don't really like it though.

[Futterby]

Archibald. Oh god.

[hellokitty123]

Archie, Alfie, Poppy, Molly, Evie and similar overused cutesy names will fall out of favour, I reckon.

[hellokitty123]

I too feel that Colin is due a revival soon!

[farmersdaughter]

I know a 16yr Gloria, it really suits here.

My friend has a 5 yr Brian, doesn't suit him at all.

[kerala]

Our generation will never go for pam and val

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I know a 6 year old Kenny (Kenneth) and there's a Sylvia in dd1's class.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

In my antenatal group with dd1 who is now 5, one of the babies was called Ray.

[itsonlysubterfuge]

I don't mind common names, even though I prefer more unique names. It's names like Fifi Trixibelle and Rainbow Alphabet, that I dislike. Unique names are good, children's names that sound like strippers or paint samples, not so much.

[TheBookofRuth]

My grandad was a Bernard, you don't meet many (or any) baby Bernards. The only other Bernard I know is a cat.

[Startail]

For me Steve passes the two generation test as it was my grandfather as well as many of the boys I went to school with.

Meanwhile, Janet, Nicola, Claire, Susan, Wendy, Julie and Joanne are somebody's Mum.

[LynetteScavo]

I wouldn't ever name my DC;

Nigel, Barry, Colin, Derek, Trevor

Deborah, Paula, Janet, Linda, Doreen.

I imagine those names were popular in the '50's.

I do, however love Kenny, Howard, Arnold, Nancy

[MadameJosephine]

I love Valerie, I also like Audrey which is probably of the same era.

Names of my parents generation are definitely making a comeback but names of my own generation not so much. I was born in the 70's and am one of the generic Tracy/Michelle/Joanne/Julie/Nicola's of the time. Seems funny that in 20/30 years there might be a new batch

[VerySmallSqueak]

How about Carol or Adrian?
Christine or Gary?

I think it's names between 40 and 60 years ago that mainly fall in the 'dated' category.

[FeelingHorse]

Neil could never make a comeback!

My DP is called Neil, and I've always wondered why someone would look at a tiny cute newborn and go "This baby looks like a Neil...."

[AcrylicPlexiglass]

I love Suzanne.

I know lots and lots of Kennys of all ages but they are all Nigerian twin Kehindes and not Kenneths!

[LazyMonkeyButler]

Judging mainly by MN baby name threads, I would guess that "granny names" like Nora, Maude, Mabel etc. are going to continue to rise in popularity and "overused cutesy" names will become, well, less overused - Poppy, Ellie etc.

In real life though, I know of NO actual babies being given old lady names and recent births include Ellie-May, Lilllie-Rose & Sienna-Mae - all of which would be frowned upon in a rather judgey way on MN.

My conclusion is that it's all rather regional.