Are popular names of the 70s/80s making a comeback or is it just mumsnet?

[Calyrical]

Gary
Lee
Wayne
Darren
Neil
Clint had a Clint in my class at primary school
Wesley

Leanne
Kerry
Kelly
Donna
Amanda
Samantha
Karen

Are they coming back? And does this mean I am really fucking old or what??

Well some of the original bearers of those names will be grandparents now, and might be having grandchildren named after them! Having said that I haven't noticed a huge number of children being called any of them, but I know of a Neil, a couple of Kellys and a couple of Samanthas who are under 20.

The "my generation" names I have noticed being surprisingly popular are Nicola, Michelle and John - not "one in every class" popular but it no longer really surprises me when I hear of another one.

I don't know anyone who has given their kids any of those names. So no, I don't think they are particularly coming back into fashion.

Brett, you've missed Brett! In answer to your question though, yes, it's just MN!

Not heard of any in real life or on here!

The only one of those I've heard mentioned on here recently is Samantha!

I don't know any children with those names.

God no. I certainly hope not, anyway!

I think some posters on MN are just desperate to be different.

The world is not ready for another round of Wayne and Leanne.

Let alone Darren. Eek.

Gary was my absolute favourite name at secondary school in the 80s. I was definitely going to call one of my children Gary.

I didn't.

I just can't imagine a baby called Gary 🤣

All I think about when I hear the name Gary is the scene from Lock Stock 'Gary love, come here' in a scouse accent ☺️

I have one of those names and I'm a teeny bit insulted now!

Although I was born in the 80's...

Why on earth are you insulted? I haven't said anything remotely derogatory

I don't know any children by any of those names.

I know a baby Laura and a baby Katherine

I'm not really insulted. I just happen to actually like my name. Although it has clearly fallen out of favour as I haven't met anyone else with it in a long time - especially people younger :)

Thinking about it, I don't think I've ever met an old person with my name either. It was obviously a fad!

I am sure your name is lovely but truthfully people do give their opinions on names in this part of the forum

Not sure about your boys list, but yes, 70's names are coming back, I know of little Peter, Richard and Christopher recently. To make up the rest of my primary school class we would need an Ian, David, Lee and Spencer!

My DS3 who's 3 totally looks like a Gary. It's not his name (I'm sure he'll be grateful for that small mercy) but my god - His face screams Gary! --poorsod

I don't know any with those names but if ds had been a girl I really wanted Stephanie as a name (vetoed by dh anyway!)

Ds2's middle name is Garry

I think I'm possibly one of the youngest Pamela's. I'm 31.

I think a few names from this era are making a bit of a comeback:
Clare, Ann, Jane, Joanna, Rebecca
Robert, Stephen, Christopher, Mark, Michael

Others - not so much:
Deborah, Helen, Carolyn, Gemma, Wendy
Darren, Wayne, Gavin, Paul, Adrian

Fortunately, I also haven't come across any person younger than 30 with those names!