Deborah

[Vintagejazz]

Someone I know is thinking of calling her baby this but is wondering if people will think it's dated. While I think Debbie is very dated and '70s I was kind of struck by how classy and dignified Deborah sounds. I really like it, but said I'd 'ask around' for opinions on it for her.

Beautiful name - but Debbie sounds a bit naff.although a girl I went to school with was always known as Deborah and never Debbie-so it is possible. She was very elegant. I really like it

Awful name

I don't like the name Debbie as it is very 60s - 70s and on a par with Tracey, Lynn, Jackie, Michelle etc.

Deborah, however, is much more classical - Deborah Kerr and Deborah Mitford spring to mind.

Hmm. Sorry, no. It's not so much that the name is dated - very 1970s which can be quite nice in a retro way- more that it's just not a very nice name. It doesn't strike me as being classy or dignified.

What about Joanna or Louise if she wants the 70s vibe?

She's actually trying to avoid a 70s vibe. Which is why she'd opt for Deborah and not Debbie.

Well, I would associate Deborah with the 70s tbh

IMO it's dated.

I think of 'everyone loves Raymond'

I think it's horrible. But it's her child so up to her I suppose!

I don't think it's horrible but surely everyone would end up shortening it to Debbie once at school anyway.

It's not in fashion now - it was most fashionable for baby girls in the 60s. Your friend will get a lot of negative opinions - most people have little imagination and will just think of all the now middle-aged women they know called Debbie/Deborah. But it is a nice name with a lovely soft sound. It's in the Bible too I think, so not a 20th century invention like maybe Sharon. But if your friend wants it she will just have to be strong minded about it. At least her DD will probably be the only one in the class!

As Nadia says, Deborah is in the Bible, and Biblical Deborah was pretty impressive: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah

Deborah can be really dignified. Do not like Debbie, however. But I've never been called by a short version of my name, so that's not inevitable. If your friend (and the little girl) insist on the full name, others will follow.

The epitome of 60s/70s along with Jackie, Melanie and Michelle. As such desperately unfashionable now, probably back in in 20 years or so.

In itself a good name though I think. I think of it going with Esther as a biblical name and of Deborah Kerr.

My big sister is a Deborah she's 42, they were a few in her year at school other than that only other one I know is a irish girl called Debra who is my age 34

I know a 24 year old Deborah who goes by Debs, which is marginally better than Debbie, I think.

It has absolutely zero appeal to me. A plain, frumpy and dated name.

Deborah is great, classic like Elizabeth. However I would expect a few raised eyebrows and negative remarks, people will see it through the lens of it being out of fashion, not realising how dated and frumpy and ugly names like Isabella and Sophia will seem in 15 years time to the parents of the day.

Also its biblical so goes with modern trends for biblical names (as is Sharon incidentally)

I like it. I went to school with a couple and worked with one. If Winifred is used nowadays I think anything can have a revival. It's nice to stand out from the crowd.

PS I thought the same about the name Tracy having watched Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story. Cool, elegant.

My sister is Deborah and called Debbie she was born in the late 60's but she was named after our Grandma and Great Grandma, my Grandma was Ruby,Deborah and my Great Grandma Susan Deborah.

I have thought about using it as a middle name as I use family names.

I am a mid 30's Deborah. I was named after Debbie Harry.
I don't feel like I fit any permutation. I hate my name.

Sorry, I really don't like it. It sounds harsh and dated. I don't like Deborah or Debbie .

Hate the name. Narrowly missed it- it was on my parents' shortlist. Not sure why it's so ugly but it is, not just because it's ranked with all those 70s names like Janine, Beverley, Jackie, Wendy, Barbara, but because it just doesn't have a musical, attractive sound to it.

There are some gorgeous biblical names that are underused. But Deborah isn't one of them.

In my English school there were 7 Deborahs in my class of 25 pupils-so we are talking half of the girls.

I actually think it is a good biblical name and a strong name- my Jewish friends use Devorah which I prefer.

I'm a Deborah and as I get older the more I like it. And if anyone calls me Debbie I want to fucking kill them. Deborah in the bible led an army into battle.

I have a friend Deborah (28yo) but she is known as Dibs. At school she was Dib Dabs.

Deborah reminds me of the Pulp song Disco 2000 - yer name was Deborah, it never suited yer.

Well obviously I am a Deborah and I am shocked at how my name is so hated

Actually I hated it most of my life. I have been Debbie, Debs and Debra. I prefer Debs but most people call me Debi, yes I shortened it to appear cool. I so wish my mum had named me Philippa like she wanted to.

If your friend likes it then she will use it. It doesn't matter what other people think.