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

Retro names that seem to be making a comeback

104 replies

user1485342611 · 14/06/2018 11:46

I know we've had lots of Elsies and Rubys and Lillys in recent years - but I'm wondering if they're going to go out of fashion soon and what will be the next phase of names.

I know a 2 year old called Judy and someone at work with has also just called their little daughter this. I also know of two babies called Marjorie.

What other retro names have you heard of recently?

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/06/2018 07:57

I'm always Grin when I see my name on these threads - I agree it's not wonderful, tbh, but every so often I see people suggesting it's going to make a comeback. Maybe when its toxic political associations have faded a bit more ...

Surprised to see Leon mentioned as a retro name. That's never been a common name in the UK, until maybe very recent times. It's a Spanish name, isn't it? And possibly a bit less unusual in the US. Leo was a very unusual name and rather posh until quite recently. Leonard is the one that was moderately popular a couple of generations ago and would therefore be retro now. There's also Leopold, which has royal associations, but has never been much used generally to my knowledge and long may that continue. Bit too much like Leopard to my mind.

Retro names from my parents' generation (i.e. born in the 1920s and 30s): Mavis, Doris, Doreen, Kathleen, Ronald, Edna, Edith, Jill, Geoffrey.

Elizabeth, Katherine, William, James, John and other classic names never, ever drop out of the top 100. They may bob up and down a bit but they have never fallen out of use and I don't think they ever will. Everybody knows those names, they are easy to spell, easy to pronounce, they have lots of popular short forms and associated nicknames and lots and lots of historical/family associations.

CheeseTheDay · 15/06/2018 08:05

Elizabeth making a comeback?! It never went anywhere. It has never been outside the Top 100 since the lists were first produced in late 19th century! Only one other girls' name shares that feat of being top 100 every single year, and that's Sarah.

BasinHaircut · 15/06/2018 08:13

vintage I love Rodney! Got vetoed By DH though.

I love Enid but I can only hear it in Lois Griffin’s voice, and Gloria but it my friend’s mum’s name and she is a right old battleaxe and I don’t think I’d ever be able to disconnect the name from her.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/06/2018 09:47

Forgot Enid! Also Maureen, Cynthia, Joyce, Glenys and Gladys.

TheLastNigel · 15/06/2018 11:34

I'm campaigning for Nigel to make a triumphant return!
Love Daphne as well-now exh wasn't having it.Sad

TheLastNigel · 15/06/2018 11:35

I also have a Jean.

piggie88 · 15/06/2018 12:11

Edith is one of the names on our list for our girl due in September and Frank is one of the only boys names I like.
I also heard of a Gerry when I was out recently.

letsallhaveanap · 15/06/2018 12:47

I love Enid but my DH wont let us use it because of Enid Blyton who he does not think is a good person to be named after.
Also adore Edith but I know several all under 5 including one daughter of a close friend, so sadly cant use that either.

deptfordgirl · 15/06/2018 12:52

Also met a baby Agatha (Aggy) the other day.

thegreylady · 15/06/2018 17:51

Valerie?

WrideD · 15/06/2018 18:06

I think June is really coming back into fashion as a given name and not just a middle name. It has strong a Handmaid's Tale reference which I love and I know a baby Maggie too.

dingdongdigeridoo · 15/06/2018 18:09

I don’t think Nigel is coming back into style. It could have had that retro charm, but Nigel Farage has killed that off for at least another decade.

I have Edith on my baby name list too. I think that counts as an old, old name rather than middle aged. I like Edie as a nickname.

SpectacularAardvark · 15/06/2018 18:29

I know a Wilfred, a couple of Walters and a Vinnny, none of which I'm keen on. Also an Elsie, Stanley, Ernie, Ronnie, Reggie, Jeffery, loads of Alberts, Violet, Maggie, Betty, Archie, and Bernard.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2018 06:48

Ethel, Ena, Elspeth, Eileen, Lionel, Barry, Gary, Graham, Neil, Norman, Derek, Keith, Gillian, Harold, Terence, Brian.

Empoweredwomenempowerwomem · 16/06/2018 06:57

@gasp0de
waves at someone I assume to be a fellow Margaret

I know a baby Elaine and I teach a four year old frank, 11 year olds Albert and Stan, and met a Nora in Tesco last week

ginandbearit · 16/06/2018 07:05

I thought Esme had all but disappeared but seems to be popping up here and there

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2018 07:44

Hello, Empowered! Yes, a fellow sufferer here. Almost every woman in my family on both sides for generations back seems to have been called either Ann (usually Annie in daily use), Elizabeth (Lizzie) or Margaret (fortunately not abbreviated except for my grandma who was Margie to her sisters), often with one of the others as a middle name. Both my grandmothers, one aunt and one of my mum's first cousins were Margarets and my other aunt had it as a middle name (first name Sylvia, lovely name). Still, we were lucky, as one of my grandma's sisters was a Euphemia (Effie). Shock

Boys' names a touch more varied: John, Andrew, William, Donald, Finlay, Alexander, Alan, Colin, Nicol, Grant, Iain.

I wonder if you can guess which part of the UK my family is from. Grin

TeachesOfPeaches · 16/06/2018 07:50

I know a baby Bruce, baby Nina and toddler Wallace.

beltanelove · 16/06/2018 08:00

I’ve a baby hazel Smile

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2018 08:01

Wallace! My goodness. I wonder how often that child will hear 'Where's Gromit?' or similar.

wheezing · 16/06/2018 08:02

Judy is a lovely name. Also Betty! That’s very 1930s

Beryl though? It just doesn’t sound nice to me.

It would be strange if in the future people do start thinking of Ian and Alan and so forth as nice names again.

I truly hope Kevin, Keith and Gary never make a comeback but these are more 60s so we’d be talking 2030+.

ButterflyOfFreedom · 16/06/2018 08:06

I know of a couple of Arthurs, a Stanley, Fred, Ted, Albert, Leonard, Kenneth, Edith, Elsie, Nina, Sylvia and Etta.

SpectacularAardvark · 16/06/2018 09:43

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g, I know a little Wallis too, they were obviously going for more of a Wallis Simpson vibe but all I can think is Cracking cheese Grommit! Grin

letsallhaveanap · 16/06/2018 09:44

oh I love Agatha! and Agnes

itssquidstella · 16/06/2018 09:53

Ursula and Leslie