Is Sheila cute or too old fashioned?

[octonuddle]

Was my lovely mum's name and would love to use it but wonder if it is too marmite a name? Any thoughts?

[buttercup54321]

Leah?

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

My mam is a Sheila. I've recently started work with a lot of Irish people and was surprised to meet a few younger ones.

[Pleasemrstweedie]

It was going out of fashion already by the 50s when I was saddled with it. I'd say 'no'.

[WispyWindy]

I love it!!! It will be unusual and cool and ahead of the trend. I also have an unfashionable name up my sleeve for any further DD and have decided I don't care what people think, I'm going to use it! Life's too short not to.

[junebirthdaygirl]

Also Irish for Jude and Judith.

[junebirthdaygirl]

Sile is the Irish name for Julie, Julia and Judy if that is any help. Was your mum Irish as Sheila wad a popular lrish name years ago. Absolutely none now. But that's good as it is original.

[Sweets101]

I've never really thought about it before but reading it so many times on this thread I think it's lovely.
Why wouldn't you use it? I think it would be a far better choice than going for something popular. Popular names date terribly.

[namesstress2323]

Does she go out with her mate Stella? (jamie t song is all i think of)

[EsmesBees]

I think it's a great name. Everyone will have heard of it and know how to spell it but she'll be the only one in her class.

I was given a name in the 80s that was unpopular then but is very popular now. It's nice being the only one of my generation. Especially at work- I work in a huge organisation and we often have 'do you mean Claire in finance or Claire in Legal?' type conversations, while mine is so unusual I'm normally just referred to by my first name.

[Bigfam]

My nan's called sheila, I like it, but I've got a Patsy (which is apparently really 'old lady' but an unfashionable one! )

[FuzzyOwl]

Why not use your mum's middle name, which is also your first name, as the baby's middle name. That way your daughter will have a significant name from two generations and you know it is a name your mum would approve of as she gave it to her own daughter.

[ShelaghTurner]

Lovely name. I'm very fond of it.

[dailymaillazyjournos]

I think if you love the name (as well as it being a lovely way to honour your DM), I'd go for it. If you don't actually the name in and of itself, maybe as a middle name?

My late DM was Barbara. She hated the name, I didn't like it either and it didn't suit my Mum's personality or looks somehow, so I'd not have thought of calling my DD it. I think it also depends on your thoughts about the name itself as to whether you use Sheila as a first or a middle name.

[Garnethair]

It's your mum's name. What a lovely thing to pass it onto your daughter. Lovely.

[tryingtogetbacktome]

Mega cute!!! Love old fashioned names

[llangennith]

I'm 65 and we laughed at those names at school even in the 50s

[octonuddle]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! I'm not so keen on any of the Sheila variations suggested. I do like the Gloria, Jean and Valerie type names though.....maybe I should be naming a 60 year old woman instead
I'm still divided but feeling brave enough to float it by DH now to see what he thinks!

[TenMinutesLate]

Knowing it isn't a 'fashionable' name would make me want to use it more. I think it's a lovely name and hope you do use it.

And any 80's children out there who loved a bit of Saturday morning telly.....my Godmother is a Shelia. My DB had trouble with his speech and couldn't say it so called her She-Ra instead. So cool 😎

[Pipilangstrumpf]

That's a much better response than "I already know two other Evies/Ellies/other fashionable name"

[BigGreenOlives]

Will you mind if every time someone hears it for the first time says 'My aunt/grandmother/grandmother's best friend was called Sheila?'.

[Driffield]

I like it. I know a baby Valerie and a Gloria so things are moving in a shiela direction

[user1477282676]

Oh I think it's gorgeous. But I do like that era of names now...Jean is also lovely imo. Sheila is a beautiful name.

[SloanyAnne]

I like it. I know 2 Sheilas and they are lovely women. It's in the same vein as the Coren Mitchells calling their baby Barbara. I like it a lot more than Storm, Apple, Glasgow or the random sack of phonemes that knock around as names.

[HeadlessGummyBears]

Go for it. Sheila is a lovely name Besides, it doesn't matter if it's not fashionable, what matters is what the name means to you.