Is Emma dated?

[AlanaMay]

Talking baby names with colleagues today as one is expecting a DD later this spring. I suggested the name Emma and colleague burst out laughing saying it was as incongruous as calling a baby Kevin or Steve. This surprised me, as I see it as a fairly timeless name - I've always loved it. Or is she right? Options please!

I remember watching the episode of Friends when Rachel names her baby, and I thought ‘what a strange, throw-back name’, but it has since staged a revival. I know lots of Emmas my own age (30-something) but also a good handful of younger Emmas.

I wouldn’t say it was a timeless classic. I don’t know that there is such a label for a name! But it’s not old fashioned or faddy... 🤷‍♀️

"I reckon you can't really go wrong with names which were either royals or used by Austen and the Brontës."

Agree

My cousins eight year old is called Emma.

I think it’s a lovely name.

Dated in the U.S. There are at least 6 in my nieces class. Pretty name though. But it's up there with Ava, Sophia and Jackson.

Sessy, A timeless classic name is one that gets used regularly, typically for 100s of years. Emma Hamilton was born 1765, Edward the Confessor's mother was called Emma, Jane Austen ... Emma Peel, Emma Thompson, Watson, Emma Roberts etc. It's the sort of name that doesn't label the person as being of a certain social status.

I like Emma because it's a favourite novel, it's easy to say and spell, it's not too long. It's a name that's not likely to cause any problems unless you dislike people calling you Em.

It's the sort of name that doesn't label the person as being of a certain social status.

Yes...you can be a Lady Emma or a Grundy.

Dated in the U.S. There are at least 6 in my nieces class. Pretty name though. But it's up there with Ava, Sophia and Jackson.

That's not what dated means. It's the single most popular name in the US.

Emma is an amazing name. It even represented a turning point in the French literature as it was the first woman at the centre of a masterpiece and not just a satellite around a main male character.

Emma was the name of Madame Bovary and from there, a new class of women in literature were born, so go for it !

I think it's a bit dated tbh. It's a bit boring to me.

From the Cambridge Dictionary:

showing the facts or style of the past rather than of the present:

I personally think it is dated opposed to relevant or fresh because it is the single most popular name in the U.S. I did not call it outdated which means it is no longer used. Emma is dated because it is an enjoyable, a albeit old fashioned name (Think Jane Austen) although, according to your research still quite popular. Ergo, Emma, is both dated and popular.

I know a lot of people will think of it as a classic. But I just find it dull and wet. I'd hate to be called Emma.

Your colleague probably found it weird because nurseries today are full of: Evies, Amelias, Lilys etc. And Emma is not used much anymore.

It's a bit dull to me, but there is nothing actually wrong with it. I don't know why your colleague would find it strange--an Emma could be of any age.

It's safe rather than dull.
Give an example of a name that isn't dull.

Emma is a lovely name, not dated IMO

I love it! We have picked Emma for our little girl who is due this month.

I think it's one of those nice, classic names that will never go out of fashion. X

It’s a timeless name. I know a 4 year old Emma.

It’s classic and while it was very popular oin the 80s/90s, it’s not dated, and could be the name of a girl or woman of any age, not tied to a particular decade.

I know a couple of young Emma’s, it’s a nice solid name in a sea of Evie/Ellie/Lily/daisy etc

It's fine. But I don't really like it. I much prefer Anna, which really does have a classic, timeless vibe to it to me. I can't explain it - they're such similar names, and Emma has history behind it, too (though not as much as Anna).

It's not entirely to my taste (and not just because of certain Emmas I've known...) but I certainly wouldn't call it "dated" when it's still in the Top 100 for 2017, and likely will be for a few years yet.

And even if it is? DS has a "dated" name that DP and I fell in love with - real, just not currently in vogue. Not even top 1000, around 30 children were given his name the year he was born. I've not had a negative comment yet. Don't give your daughter a different name because of other people's opinions - you'll resent and regret it.

It's a classic name that's nice enough but personally I find it a bit boring. Probably because I was born in the 80s and have therefore known so many of them. I rarely meet an Emma younger than mid twenties or older than mid forties so even if it is a classic name I think it is 'dated' in the context of these few generations, not sure how to word that better.
Another thing that would put me off is it feels odd giving the baby the name of a good friend or cousin without specifically intending to name the baby after them.

Your colleague is very wrong. Emma is a classic name and in no way comparable to Kevin or Steve.