Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

What names DONT you really hear anymore?

268 replies

Soubriquet · 27/12/2019 09:58

We’ve done unusual, but what old names do you rarely hear now?

I’ll start with Gary.

I know an adult Gary but no little Gary’s.

Samantha. Again I know adults but not little ones.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Gorganzolabrie · 27/12/2019 11:01

Sally

roisinagusniamh · 27/12/2019 11:01

Matthew,Daniel, Joshua, Sam, Rebecca, Emily, are all in their late 20s now.
There were 5 Matthews in my son's Reception class in the late 90s.
All forms of Eve (Eva, Evie) and Ellen ( Ella, Elle, Ellie) are in their early 20s.
I think people think they are choosing an unusual name but don't realise how popular it is until the child goes to school and meets several kids with variations of their name.
Perhaps it's because, subconsciously they want to confirm and have their child not stand out, if that makes sense.

VeryMerryChristmas · 27/12/2019 11:02

Names of my 80s school days aren’t common any more. I’m sure they will make a comeback as ‘granny chic’ one day, though.

Michelle
Nicola
Natalie
Rachel
Kelly
David
Paul
Mark
Lee
Darren

roisinagusniamh · 27/12/2019 11:03

*confirm not confirm

Megan2018 · 27/12/2019 11:07

@Taddda
I have a 14week old Felicity!
It made 100 in the top 100 girls names recently Smile

BahBloodyHumbug · 27/12/2019 11:08

Sarah and Laura are timeless! I know a 3 y/o Sarah and a 6 y/o Laura.

Names like Ethel, Edna, Wilbert, Wilf, Alfred, Ronald, Doris and Edith are rarely if never heard these days. Thank goodness because they are all horrible!

Also all those 50's-70's "dated" names like Clive, Patricia, June, Lorna, Valarie, Janet, Carol etc. They are still used but fairly unusual.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/12/2019 11:09

Alan. Colin Keith. Steven. Paul Brian Kev in Gavin.
Melanie Faye Rachel Nicole Stephanie Kimberley Lindsay Michelle Clare Louise Lisa Deborah Catherine Pamela Elaine Linda Melissa. Stacey Tracey
Patricia. Sharon. Julie La ura Kelly Andrea Hayley Jodie.

stokenewsarah · 27/12/2019 11:10

@BahBloodyHumbug I know multiple babies and children with names in your first list, in fact some of them are in the current top 100!

11MrsLuther · 27/12/2019 11:11

I have an Anna. She has 3 in her year.

ThighThighOfthigh · 27/12/2019 11:13

I would have thought the following were timeless:

Jane
Sarah
Mary
Laura
Caroline
Catherine

I love Peter but haven't heard it on a baby for a while.

It seems to be 'ironic' atm - Keith, Brian etc

OublietteBravo · 27/12/2019 11:13

Stephen. There are loads of middle-aged ones, but you never meet a child called Stephen. Ditto Michelle.

Maggins · 27/12/2019 11:16

Audrey and Marsha

dubmumof2 · 27/12/2019 11:16

I know young children called Jean, Kyle, Sarah and Neil.....but it is true that many of the names listed above that were widely used when I was a kid are very rare now. I'm sure it will all turn full circle again as they are again perceived as rare or different to the usual....

Maggins · 27/12/2019 11:16

Another one is Gail

Danglingmod · 27/12/2019 11:18

Fairly classic names like Jane, Mary, Sarah, Laura, Anne/a, Jennifer and Joanne/Joanna are definitely still being used. Have had at least two of each in every (secondary) school I've worked in. Nancy, Jean and Martha are not only being used, they're really quite popular.

Ditto Paul, John, David, Andrew, Anthony, Martin, Peter... Definitely still in use.

I've never come across a small Pamela or Susan (yes though to Susanna).

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 27/12/2019 11:19

I really like the names Jane and Caroline and would seriously consider both if I had another DD.

I also like Sally which I regard as really 70s for some reason.

Twisique · 27/12/2019 11:23

Scott

RickOShay · 27/12/2019 11:27

Dawn which is actually lovely.

Scissor · 27/12/2019 11:29

Not sure if it's an age thing but if grandparents are in there 50' s, which is very common where I am, then Gary, Jennifer, Susan etc are really happening. No Brenda's though yet, that's too old. James more a middle name

Shockers · 27/12/2019 11:32

Linda and Patricia.

Barry and Robert.

MopsRUs · 27/12/2019 11:33

I know of a young Joanna. James is the most popular middle name for boys yet still underused as a first name.

Mark
Ian
Christopher
Philip
Simon
Timothy

Susan
Belinda
Lorraine
Clare
Helen
Louise

Megan2018 · 27/12/2019 11:35

My NCT class has Alfred & Wilf @BahBloodyHumbug (babies are under 6 months old).

I haven’t seen any baby Susan’s or Dawn’s but lots of the “old lady names” in my baby groups so we have Nora, Iris, Enid, Ethel etc

Danglingmod · 27/12/2019 11:39

Christopher is another one I know plenty of from smallies to twenty.

FishCanFly · 27/12/2019 11:39

Frank and Graham

And i guess we'll not see little Karens for quite a while Grin

highheelsandweathercocks · 27/12/2019 11:43

I know a Sarah, Rachel, Matthew, Jennifer, Emily and Paul, all under 10. I met a two year old Keith at a toddler group about 5 years ago. I met a baby Daphne recently too.

Surprised at the comments about James though. It's top 30 as far as I'm aware. I have one and whilst he's the only one in his year (double intake), there are others in the school.

I like Christopher. That was our choice if we'd had a third boy.