Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE NAMES?

30 replies

wattlegirl · 14/10/2014 03:55

I hardly ever hear these boys names being chosen or even offered for discussion on here. They are:

Stephen
Paul
Phillip

I personally think they are still great names but it seems they have become somewhat obsolete.

Am I mistaken on this? What are your opinions?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
shakemysilliesout · 14/10/2014 06:37

All 3 were on my list! Due 8 days ago...so not too late! I need a 2 syllabul name so Paul is out. Stephen I love but worry about the ph or v convo- Phillip I'm still pushing for!

moxon · 14/10/2014 07:01

They probably fall in the same category as Melissa and Stephanie and Lauren and Jessica an Sarah. I think MN leans towards girls' names 'reviving' in popularity on forums before boys', so it will probably be sooner than you think you'll see them around on here again. Fwiw they are all still high in the RL stats.

BikeRunSki · 14/10/2014 07:08

I know a 5 yo Stephen and 5yo Paul, but agree they are unusual.

But then 35 years ago I was the only Alice I knew. Names are vaguely cyclical. Stephen, Paul and Philip will be back when all those 1960s/70s men become grandpas.

WittyUsername102 · 14/10/2014 07:09

DD1 has a Stephen and Paul in her class. I really like Stephen!

BonaDea · 14/10/2014 07:11

I like Philip, nn Pip.

ToAvoidConversation · 14/10/2014 07:14

Lots of Stephens/Stevens and Paul's in their twenties just now so will comeback round eventually!

telsa · 14/10/2014 07:43

I have a Stefan in my class...does that count?

mrssmith79 · 14/10/2014 07:46

See also:
Graeme / Richard / David.
Like ToAvoid said, I think it's just not their time yet.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 14/10/2014 07:50

They are "dad" names - they'll come back in when they are "grandad" names.

Philip and Paul (pronounced Powl) are very popular for small boys in Germany atm - one of each in my DS1s class (6&7 year olds) and more in this football team, at least 2 Philips and one Paul and a Paul-Antonio at DS2's Kindergarten (3-6 year olds). But there are very few Pauls and Philips in their 30s and 40s here - all slight exaggeration men in their 30s and 40s are called Thomas or Andreas :o

shakemysilliesout · 14/10/2014 08:08

Does Phillip always have 2 LLs or sometimes just one L? Spelling is a massive issue for me. (have a surname you need to spell out) If your Dh is called Phillip please ask him if this is a constant issue? Thanks!

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 14/10/2014 08:15

They'll come around again in another 20-30 years. Actually we might have used Philip (which was my "future boy's name" when I was growing up) but already knew a Phil DHlastname so it would have been odd.

youmakemydreams · 14/10/2014 08:16

I know an 8 year old Stephen and a 7 month old Paul. I like both the names. But agree they are dad names and will be due a revival when they become grandad names.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 14/10/2014 09:10

Shake it traditionally has 1 L ... I think the 2 L spelling is more modern and derived from the surname Phillips I bet it became popular in the UK via America in the 70s but Philip with 1 L has been around as a given name for hundreds and hundreds of years.

grufallosfriend · 14/10/2014 09:13

They are good names. But they suffer from having been very fashionable at one point (70s) and therefore sound dated.
Just like Jack, Archie and Charlie will in 20 years.

shakemysilliesout · 14/10/2014 09:47

Thanks mr. Tumbles:)

squoosh · 14/10/2014 10:29

I hate all those names, Stephen being the least offensive.

They are still way too many Pauls in the world. There are still several billion who are only in their 20's, I'm in no rush to see that boring name come back.

squoosh · 14/10/2014 10:30

Every bloke has a pal called Paul, usually several........

Tall Paul
Small Paul
Football Paul
Mad Paul
Ten Shots Paul
Shagger Paul

and on, and on, and on.................

MrsCurrent · 14/10/2014 10:34

Squoosh that is so true! Along with Dave.

RiverTam · 14/10/2014 10:36

I think Paul is a lovely name, but really not keen on Stephen (though Steven is worse, and Steve is awful) or Philip (one L as a first name, two as a surname, imo). I think some names die out for a reason! (and I reckon hassles with spelling is one of them).

Bowlersarm · 14/10/2014 10:42

We have hardly any Paul friends. A few Daves. Any multiple friends names seem to be Graham's, Ian's, Toms, Richards.

When i was about 9 to 15 my future son was destined to be called Paul. I loved the name. (Didn't consider it when I was pregnant at 30)

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 14/10/2014 10:46

If I were guessing based on name alone I would put Paul at probably late 20s-early 30s, Philip and Stephen at early 40s to late 50s. But I think Stephen may be the most diffuse of the bunch; early-30s Paul could still have a mate called Stephen (possibly "Ste" for short) Grin.

Ludways · 14/10/2014 10:49

Both of my dc's 13 and 8, have friends called Stephen. I don't think it's unpopular at all. I don't know any Paul or Phillip of a similar age though.

squoosh · 14/10/2014 10:50

Stephen is still pretty popular in Ireland especially for boys born on or around the 26th December.

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 14/10/2014 11:10

England and Wales popularity trends since 1996:

Stephen
Philip
Paul

Legionofboom · 14/10/2014 11:25

I had to laugh at Squoosh we have a 'too tall Paul' in the office. I have known loads of Pauls and never met a horrible one.

I know I am in a minority here on MN but I quite like Steve. that may have something to do with Hawaii Five O

Philip is nice too.

Swipe left for the next trending thread