What do you think?

[Plum34]

Please help us narrow the list down, we seem to like classic/old fashioned names, can you put them in order of your favourite to least favourite?
Do you think any of these are faddy/ will quickly date? That's not what we want.
Thankyou

Alice

Eleanor
Anna
Isobel
Florence
Dorothy
Edith
Beatrice

Almost all names are ‘dated’ because people associate them with the time period when they were most popular. As someone said above you either have to go very unusual (although you still run the risk of a surge in popularity) or very classic with a similar number of that name in every age group. I think of your choices Anna and possibly Eleanor are the only ones because the rest are more popular in this generation than for previous ones. Personally I’d just choose what you like and don’t worry too much!

Alice

Beatrice & Isobel.

Anna and Isobel are the most timeless, there's Annas and Isobels of every age.

I have to say, I do not agree with this!

Anna, sure, but I have never met another Isobel my age (40s), and I have lived and worked in the Antipodes, the UK and NY.

For the first time ever, I have a colleague called Isobel, but she’d be early 20s, so one of the first people to be given the name in its most ‘recent’ surge of popularity, beginning in the 90s.

IMO, it is definitely not timeless, it is very cyclical. No-one, but no-one was being given the name in the 60s, 70s, even 80s. It was considered very old-fashioned, and not in a good/‘vintage’ way!

To be honest, I’d say it’s ‘done’ for this cycle, so if you’re after something more genuinely timeless, I’d avoid.

I only like Florence

Alice, Edith and Florence are my favourites. Anna and Beatrice are ok. Isabel is everywhere.

Alice

As pp have said on this post El names are all the rage atm and best to be avoided. Ella and Elsie are top 25. Eleanor is 52, Ellie 63. Elizabeth 55. Eliza 38. Ella 13.
There definitely was a big Ellie phase a few years ago and it looked as though it was settling down but with the resurgence of 'Eleanor' it makes me wonder if Ellie is about to take a last gasp of air in the form of a nickname before hibernating for the next 50 years. I hope this doesn't come across as mean I'm not an anti ellier and can think of a few cool Ellies (UP, holocaust survivor Elly Goss, etc)...just an opinion. Feel similarly about other twee names lily, Gracie, Isla, mia, evie etc

Florence or Anna. Lucy is a fab name too, underused and goes with your tastes.

Lucy Eleanor
Florence Anna
Alice Isobel
Alice Eleanor

Alice my fave from your list

Alice: classic, lovely
Eleanor: see above
Anna: see above
Isobel: girly, pretty
Florence: trendy, beautiful
Dorothy: trendy, little bit old lady
Edith: trendy, old lady
Beatrice: trendy, old lady, pretty. Like Bea as nn

Absolutely wonderful list. Alice and Eleanor are my favourites.

Wonderful names, OP!
My favourites, in no particular order, are:
Eleonor
Florence
Dorothy (Dottie)- There's a 7-year-old Dorothy/Dottie in my DCs school. I love her name.

I also love Frances and Pearl, my cousin's kids' names.
Vanessa and Samantha as well.

Sorry... EleAnor, with A, not O.