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??

Most of the boys' names being mentioned here are long-standing classic names, not particularly 70s or 80s. They were popular for generations, but have had a short period of being out of fashion.

Weirdly I know about half a dozen teenage Samanthas, I also know of a Neil (11/12ish).

Friend of a friend called theirs Alison recently...

My cousin just had a little John. Unusual nowadays!

I know a 3 year old Gary - he really suits it!

Oh god no not Darren

In recent years I've taught a few Garys and Ians (they're mid teens) so maybe it's the start of a wave.

Though I still find it weird calling a 13 year old Gary. In my head it's a man's name. (And yes, I know all older Garys were young once but it's still odd)

My DH is a Garry, he is also rather well- spoken, it confuses people.
i don't know any young Garys but I do know plenty of young Ians and Andrews, Douglases etc. but I live in a middle class enclave in Scotland so not very surprising.

My DH is a Garry, he is also rather well- spoken, it confuses people.
i don't know any young Garys but I do know plenty of young Ians and Andrews, Douglases etc. but I live in a middle class enclave in Scotland so not very surprising.

I know a Nicola who is 12 and a Samantha who must be about 5 or 6 by now.

I know a little Gary he is 6 or 7 he is named after his dad. I don't know 1 wayne then or now so no i don't think it will make a come back. The only person i have heard with my name (under 35) is a young actress think she is about 26ish i have not heard ofany young jays

Some of these names are come and go names i know a 40 something nicola a 30 something nicola down to an 8 year old nicola she is known as nikki but her name is Nicola, same with Ian

Oh I love the idea of a wee baby John, there's something so simple and cute about it.

I haven't met any baby Garys, Waynes, Darrens etc but when we were selling our flat a few months back a couple came to see it with their 2 year old son Roy. I found that very funny (once they had left, obviously).

""Clare, Ann, Jane, Joanna, Rebecca
Robert, Stephen, Christopher, Mark, Michael""

They haven't stopped being used here, in the North West. A few of those are Biblical, Robert is classic so will always be used.

There's a difference regionally. Some of the names suggested on here would be considered ridiculous in Liverpool and some are considered scummy, although I know that shouldn't be the case, scummy, that is.

What we really should be talking about is the Sharons and indeed Tracys we are not going to hear of little Sharon again we

Anything is possible MrsJayy Aww, wee Sharon.

I did a quiz on Buzzfeed the other day where you had to name as many of the top 100 girls' names in Britain as you could in 10 mins. There was also a boys' version. It gave you prompts like 'think about your colleagues' names' so there's me frantically typing in Lisa, Moira, Lynn, Linda, Clare, Mark, Kevin, Paul, John, Graham knowing full well I was on a hiding to nothing

Sharon will be popular again in time. It's a pretty name, Biblical and floral. It will be rediscovered.

We should start a bring back Sharon campaign . I personally know 9 Sharons thats a bit nuts must have been the Olivia of its day.

I've always loved the name Rachel. If I ever had another dd I'd love to use it. Very popular in the 70s/80s but still a classic and now under-used name in my opinion.