Here's a vintage name that I haven't seen used yet.

[Peering2021]

Thelma.

What do you think? It's definitely original these days. Not sure it's shaken off the cobwebs yet though!

Love it

I've met a couple of Dorothys as well recently. I never ever thought that one would come back. Every Dorothy I've ever known has hated their name.

This is a nice article. www.capgemini.com/gb-en/2016/09/the-most-popular-uk-baby-names-analysing-100-years-of-data/ Analyses the most popular UK baby names from 1904 to 2004.

So what are the classic names that have appeared in the top 100 in every decade since 1904? Interestingly there are more of these for boys than for girls. These are the names that appear largest in our word clouds. For boys there are 12 names that have appeared in the top 100 in every decade since 1904:

WILLIAM
GEORGE
THOMAS
JAMES
CHARLES
EDWARD
JOSEPH
ROBERT
DAVID
ALEXANDER
MICHAEL
DANIEL
And for girls there are only two names:

ELIZABETH
SARAH

I love the name Dorothy, always have. Dorothea is great too.

I like Dorothy but not Dorothea.
Doris is growing on me.

I associate Mavis with the Hotel Transylvania films its quite a sweet name

Maud is an awful name, so drab and dreary.

It does seem sometimes that people go as 'old ' as they dare, without any thought for the poor child ! It's like a competition.

I think this too.

I grew up with a Mabel who must have been born around 1976. Her name stood out as being soooo grannyish when we were kids. I know it's getting fashionable now but I still think Mabel is an awful name.

@Keepitonthedownlow

Lily Allen's girls are called Marnie and Ethel, both have that 'old skool' vibe which is very sweet.

I'd be happy to be called Marnie but I would be RAGING if my parents called me Ethel. Especially if my sister had been given a nice pretty name.

Ethel is right down there in terms of names that make me shudder.

I quite like Blanche

Mabel always reminds me of the Blue Peter dog!

Avis hasn’t been mentioned yet.

I like Joan.

Avis - is that still the name of a car hire firm? I expect that's had an effect on its use as a baby name.

There was a Horace in my husband's family. There's a name I don't see making a return any time soon.

@Standrewsschool

Mabel always reminds me of the Blue Peter dog!

A good way to find out what age someone is is to ask them what the Blue Peter dog is called. For me the Blue Peter will always be called Goldie even though it's been decades since Goldie went to the dog park in the sky!

@CompleteBarstool

What about Gladys, that's not made a comeback yet has it?

Apparently six babies were named Gladys last year. And our dog in 2019.

It’s in the past for a reason.

Blue Peter dogs I have known or heard about: I can add Shep and Petra.

I know a Thelma, she's 66. She was originally going to be called Selma but her Dad got drunk (celebrating) on his way to register her and decided to change it to Thelma at the last second. His wife was not pleased

The Dad in question was my DGF, the daughter is my DM. I don't think my DGM ever truly forgave him!

Petra and Goldie here. I think we might be swerving the topic! Although Petra's quite a nice name isn't it?

Watch what you say! The next popular girl's name will be Shep.

Still makes me think of Scooby (and I know it's Velma).

Beryl is a precious stone so it's odd that it's not had the same revival as Pearl and Ruby.

Not keen on Thelma. Makes me think of the wife in The Likely Lads (that shows my age!)

Any number of precious stones that could be used as names, at a push.

Peridot
Agate
Topaz
Sapphire
Turquoise
Carnelian
Cinnabar
Garnet
Opal
Onyx
Nepheline
Citrine
Chalcedony
Olivine
Spinel
Zircon

Emerald, Jet and Coral are occasionally used. Jasper always makes me think of a Victorian melodrama villain twirling his moustaches.

I've always thought Ruby, Amber and Jade would be good names for a family of three girls - like traffic lights.

I quite like the names Ruby, Amber, and Jade even though MN sees them as being a bit trashy. But Beryl is just so...frumpy.

I rather like Topaz, but then I Capture the Castle is one of my favourite books and has a character with that name