How dated is Colin?

[insidejobb]

We are trying to choose a name for our first baby which will be a boy. We are almost set on Colin and have made the mistake of telling other people. Most of them have asked whether we are having a baby or an 80 year old man and making comments about how dated it is. One of my friends even said "who looks at a baby and think it looks like a Colin?"

I like to think it's a very traditional and timeless name and I know comments could be worse but they still get to me.

What are your thoughts on it?

Love Colin, lovely sweet name

@OneEpisode

They still sell those shoes at the back of the paper. My dad has just bought some and is loving the Velcro. Possible ageism on this thread? I’d advise the op to ignore it and choose what she likes. But I choose what I thought were lovely names for my dc but it turned out I was just as influenced by trends as everyone else and both my dcs had to use their surname too as they were one of many with their first name in the class..

Yes you're right, sorry. But as the PP said, it's not a name that is timeless and classic.

Colon. This is the nickname of one who isn't well liked (TBF due to his job). Not to his face.

The Merlin actor, Colin Morgan, is 35. The take the knee icon Colin Kaepernick is 33.

It’s not ageist to say a name is naff and dated.

With so many of the boys in this country named Alex, James, Harry, Henry, Ben, Thomas, etc, Colin would be a refreshing change. Hearing the same names over and over is ridiculous. I'd rather be a Colin than a James B or a Harry C or an Alex G because there are so many with the same name!

Colin is a great name, and you should use it if you love it.

It definitely isn’t ageist to say a name is dated. Unfortunately all of us are ageing and velcro shoes may be in all our futures. (We may be able to choose our own colours). Some disabled people also value the freedom from laces.
I also like an anorak. Others may find them naff, I know, but they have pockets and keep me dry.

I don't mind those names. I like Martin, Dave and Peter and Angela for a girl.

We nicknamed our bump Bruce as a joke. By the end of my pregnancy I had a soft spot for it.

We didn't go for any of those 60/70s names in the end, but they're fine if you like them. I think some are due a comeback.

Ps what about Connor?

I thought my friends and family had been rude but some of you are much worse. No, my child will not be greasy, antisocial and slow and absolutely not a perv just because we might name him Colin. I think I've heard enough.

For the rest of you that still disliked it but did so with kindness, thank you.

I quite like it and it is not in the same league as Nigel, Ian and Malcolm all of which are awful

I really like it!

It makes me think of attractive Colins in their 30s (like Morgan) rather than middle aged men who wear anoraks and socks with sandals. I’m sure your little Colin’s friends won’t have those associations either, as they’ll be too young for that.

I like colin , went to school with a few in the 90s. They were kind and quite guys. Dont let other peoples opinions sway you from a name you love.

I don’t mind it. A bit dated in the UK, but pretty normal in the US. I know quite a few youngish Colins.

If you like it, go for it.

@OneEpisode

It definitely isn’t ageist to say a name is dated. Unfortunately all of us are ageing and velcro shoes may be in all our futures. (We may be able to choose our own colours). Some disabled people also value the freedom from laces. I also like an anorak. Others may find them naff, I know, but they have pockets and keep me dry.

Ffs, clearly I have caused great offence and have already apologised. I was not being ageist though I just had an image in my head that I clearly didn't communicate well. Here's Roy Cropper who has probably been dressing like that since he was 30. Lovely man I'm sure but could quite imagine him being called Colin.

I quite like it and it is not in the same league as Nigel, Ian and Malcolm all of which are awful

Colin seems to me to be very much in the same category as Nigel and Malcolm.

@insidejobb

I thought my friends and family had been rude but some of you are much worse. No, my child will not be greasy, antisocial and slow and absolutely not a perv just because we might name him Colin. I think I've heard enough.

For the rest of you that still disliked it but did so with kindness, thank you.

I’m sorry, I was way too harsh but I honestly think this is what a lot of others will be thinking. People you love will not want to offend, but if you focus group this with strangers it’s not going to land well. I can guarantee if I sent this to a ladies WhatsApp group you would hear WAY worse. Please don’t do it

Oh I love Colin. I also love Lionel mentioned above, and would have used it if it didn’t clash with surname.

I think it's grim personally and definitely dated more than classic. I can't see it making a comeback.

Marginally better than Nigel

Isn't it interesting that Scottish names that are used for all ages (and often particularly in the Highlands) like Donald , Ian, Colin, Malcolm and Kenneth are only associated with old men in England, there must have been a brief spell of Scottish names being fashionable all over the UK in the mid 20th century. I know wee Ians and Malcolms.
My lovely brother is a Colin in his 40s, he feels that being a Colin in England actually affected his dating success but didn't seem to put women off when he moved back to Scotland.
I think we all need to loosen up about names really, it's totally subjective.

It's dated now but at some point will come back and he will be a super cool trend setter

Awful name... screams skinny vegan who gets caught sniffing bicycle seats

@GappyValley

Yes Colin Farrell and Colin Firth are good looking but they are 45 and 60 respectively

If those are the youngest Colins anyone can reference, I think that proves how dated the name is!

Shitting hell, how in the world is Colin Firth 60?!

I have a lovely cousin named Colin, so nice associations for me. My preference for a similar sounding name would be Callan as it's a bit more modern and also Scottish.

My db is a Colin & he's a really decent & interesting man & real high achiever! Ignore anybody who hasn't got anything nice to say & call your ds whatever you like.
All names date!! The most edgy & right on name will sound so very 2021 a few years down the line & possibly ridiculous too. Even if you get a few raised eyebrows everyone will soon get used to it & associate it with your ds.