When you dislike 'classic' names....

[TreeofLifeM]

Is it short sighted to go with a modern/trendy name?

I am not keen on any classic names (Husband is more open to it) and i prefer what you may consider modern names. However my concern is will the name(s) we choose become dated?
If yes any suggestions on how I get round this ie won't date but not a classic?!

....Perhaps i'm over thinking it!

very trendy names ( ie namesof current singers actors etc ) tend to date like all the Scott's Charlene's after Neighbours etc they are nearly all in the same 5 year age span

Think of the name clusters that were popular when you were born would you still be happy if your parents had givne you one of the on trend names from then probably the answer is yes for a few of the names and no from some others

you are naming someone for life so an on trend name could easily work for 60-70-80 years on the other hand some will sound silly on a 10 year old
There is a difference between a name that is not currently popular but has been around for centuries and a name that has been made up by a rap artist I think Stormzy will be dated in 30 years

Loads of people in their forties and fifties are called Julie, or Jacqueline.

Edith, Mabel, Violet, Ivy were all old-lady names when I was young. Charlotte and Emily weren't even that - I named my doll in Edwardian clothes Emily specifically because she needed an old-fashioned name.

Similarly, no-one I knew was called James or Edward, but I can think of a whole swathe of Peters and Simons.

So yeah, anything you choose has the potential to be dated. No-one actually cares. Am I aware that everyone seeing my name will know I'm middle-aged? Yes. Does it bother me? No.

Stormzy is a stage name....

stormzy might be his stage name but if someone calls their child stormzy as a real name it will be dated in the future

It wouldn't be dates in the future it would be an absolute travesty in current time.

Lots of names will date to some extent, and some traditional classic names will too - look at Sarah and Christopher, both classic traditional names, but became very popular in the 80s and now are both outside the Top 100.

Katharine is another classic you don't hear that often now. Same with Mary, Anne and John.

James, William, Thomas, Elizabeth, Charlotte and Anna are the kind of names I think of as relatively stable names in the popularity stakes.

Things come back around - when I was growing up (late 80s baby) I remember my Dad saying that you don't hear many kids being called Edward, Arthur, Jack, Oliver, Olivia, Isabel and Eleanor very often and in recent years those names have increased in popularity again.

What sort of modern names do you like? As with classic names, some are lovely and some aren't so lovely.

Anything that is very trendy will date. I think traditional but underused names are the best bet of you want a name that won't date.
If you are willing to risk a bit you could also give a name that is now considered old fashioned because many of those names will come back into fashion.

Can you give examples of modern names you like? Names go in trends, so many granny-chic names that are on trend now, would have been considered old fashioned and dated a while back.

Can you choose a name that is modern and classic? Or apply the toddler/judge test. Ie. Find a name that would suit a baby, and a high court judge.

Do you want a top 50 name, or something more unusual?

I think that even classic names can ‘date’ as popularity comes and goes. I’d just choose a name you live and not worry about popularity/trendiness.

It’s all individual perspective anyway. What you deem as classic another will see as boring...what you see as trendy one might see as overused. For example ivy...gets described on this board as unusual, overused, classic, ugly, pretty, trendy, old fashioned....who’s right and who’s wrong?!

I went to school in the 90's and there were lots of Laura, emma, gemma, nicola,jenny, paul, mark, simon, Matthew, and Daniel's.

Do you know if a bit or girl @TreeofLifeM
Will make suggestions for names that fit both criteria - there are some I think

As others have said, it really depends on the “trendy” name. I’m an 80s baby and I think that the Emmas, Lauras and Andrews are probably more comfortable with their names than the Kayleighs, Waynes and Garys.

What about greek classics, like Theodora, Persephone, Atlas, Cassiopeia, Halia, Atticus, Antigone, Eros, Calista, Calliope, Elektra, Loki, Hester, Juno, Phoenix etc? They are unlikely to become the next Darren.

Hi ladies, Thanks so much for your comments :)

user3274826 oooh I love Atticus but not sure I would be brave.

So the names I like - realise some are not so modern and some are more main stream perhaps...
Freya - too popular?
Skye -modern?
Thalia/Talia
Sienna - Modern?
Anaya
Allegra
Imogen
Saskia
Elise - modern?
Liberty - this is old fashioned one not used often

My husband likes Sienna the most.

For boys names:
I really like Asher which is a very old name
Oscar - but too popular

I have a classic but very popular name which I love but it's a pain to know so many women with the same name!
x

Phew, your list looks reassuringly middle-of-the-road; they're actual names
When I look at threads like these, I have come to expect made-up names which will date and pigeon-hole the OP's child for life!
Imogen, Saskia and Liberty are all very traditional and gorgeous.

The Greek classics ones will date, because they are currently trendy. Some of them are a bit try hard.

'Boring' classic names don't date too badly. Cast your mind back about 20 years and names like Ryan and Shannon were popular, but I doubt that many babies are called those names now.

Clusters of similar names tend to be popular. They will date. Gary, Darren, Karen and Sharon give you an idea of their age just from their name.

Names like Sarah, Emily, Emma, David, Thomas and Peter are still quite popular.

I'd suggest you pick a name that is a recognised name but one that you don't hear much of it. For boys, currently names from the Old Testament , vowel-heavy names, and short names are popular (Leo, Theo. Arlo, Ezra, Hugo, Milo...).

Girl names are very samey - either vowel heavy and frilly, or short and with the same consonants. Think Olivia, Aurelia, Aurora, Arabella, Isabella, Ellie, Evie, Eva, Ava,Lily, Luna, Lyra, Lola, Isla, Mia, Maia, May, Mila.

A happy medium might be a name like Marcus, Douglas, Michael or Philip. Not too long, not overused, shorter forms are fine.

WomanIsTaken I'm probably not as edgy as I thought thank you and thank you for your feedback on the names you like. Really helpful.

I think Asher ticks the old testament for a boy

I like Asher, can see it suiting a child, teen and adult.

I also like Douglas which Mike suggested.

I don’t think you can really have it both ways. If you choose something new and fancy. The chances are it will date.
Some names which while yes are classic but also sound modern.
Sophie. Olivia. Holly. Hannah. Lucy. Emma.
Amelia. Charlotte.
Joe. Tom. Jack. William. James. Daniel.
You can’t tell the age of person by those names, and They won’t date.

I love Asher

On the girls list I would pick Elise it's a proper classic name that isn't that common. I know of one, my niece.

I'm really sorry to say this, but today's trendy name is not only dated tomorrow, but also a massive indicator of class in a very disparaging way. I should know, I was given such a name and I loathe it. It's doesn't suit me at all, but I feel all of the negative connotations are tied to me like millstones.

I love Asher

From your girls list I like

Thalia
Saskia
Liberty
Imogen

I've always loved Asher because not only does it sound and look nice, but it means Happy :) It always reminds me of the character in The Giver.

No offense, but your name list is incredibly pedestrian Given that I know kids named Rain, Stormie, Atlas, Wilkie, Lexie, Jayden/Brayden/Kayden, "Imogen" is what I would consider classic. Either try harder to be edgy or stop worrying!