When will these names start to come back?

[AutumnAlmanack]

Was thinking yesterday that all babies seem to have somewhat 'exotic' and 'out there' names these days. When do you think classic names such as Michael, Steven, Nicholas, Christopher, David, Peter, Philip and Paul (for boys) and Susan, Jane, Penelope, Jackie, Rosemary, Ruth, Jennifer and Sally (for girls) might start to make a comeback?

Penelope is already back, there’s one at my children’s school and I’ve heard of a few more.

Posh parents have never stopped using classic names. They don’t follow trends.

You must live in a very strange place if all the children have “exotic” or “out there” names. There are plenty of DC called Michael or David.

My DC are at school with a Philip, a Paul and a Penelope.

Probably quite soon as people start naming their kids after post-war grandparents.

I don't see Geoff, Derek or Barry making a comeback though!

@MrsRobbieHart

You must live in a very strange place if all the children have “exotic” or “out there” names. There are plenty of DC called Michael or David.

Yes, I probably only hear about the unusual ones!!

I teach several Davids, a few Philips, a couple of Ruths and some Jennifers.

Oh and a lot of Michaels!

I think they'll come round again. Nobody was expecting Stanley or Violet to come back, yet here we are.

I wouldn't include Penelope in that list (more likely something like Pauline or Patricia) but I'd say next generation.
I'm of the generation where everyone had that genre of name, and our parents were all Brian/Derek/Joyce/Jean etc. Our grandparents were Elsie/Lily/Daisy/Jack/George. They are all back. So our grandchildren will be seen as exotic flowers called Susan and Jane.

Loads of those names are back. I know a young Michael and Stephen, David, Nicholas and Christopher. Penelope is positively common. The girls’ names aren’t quite back, but nearly. Jane is back, though not common. I tend to think some areas are ahead of other areas, which is why I get surprised that people are still wanting to call their DC names on here which seem over 20 years out of date to me.

How about Joanne, Lisa, Claire, Dawn, Sarah.

Louise, Gail, Gaynor, Andrea, Helen, Kelly, Kerry, Lindsay.

The bajillions of UK Pauls are now dads of kids/teens themselves or just becoming dads, so their particular name won't be trendy again until the bajillion Pauls are in their 80s.

I know way too many men called Paul.

I know 2-3 year olds, my generation, and my parents generation with all of those boys names except Steven. They are Biblical and fairly timeless.

Your girls name list seems more 50s/60s trendy (except Ruth) and more likely to go in phases. Probably due a comeback in 10/15 years except Penelope which has been popular over the last 10+ years.

Jane is coming back here,
Amanda
Susan
Sarah
Steven
Deborah

'Plain' names like Peter and Susan will be the next trend. Normcore hipsters will seek out the most dated and least showy names,

Teacher here- the only ones I haven’t seen are Jackie and Susan. I have all the others throughout my 8 different classes.

Christopher, Michael and David were on our list.

I know a Michael, a Peter, a David and a Chris. All primary school age. I don't know any children with the girls' names in your OP though.

I know a 12yo Lindsay from one of the other lists though.

@ivykaty44

Jane is coming back here, Amanda Susan Sarah Steven Deborah

Where’s ‘here’ ?

I have a daughters with two of the names on the OP’s list. Aged 3 and 1.

Around 2035.

I have a six year old Christopher - I love his name . Doing my bit for a comeback !

I've got a Steven, Nicholas and Andrew in my class. There's also a Micheal and a Christopher in the school. I taught a Philip and few years back and I've also taught a Peter and a John in the decade since I've been qualified. The area I teach in is certainly not posh. They're all pretty classic names, which although less fashionable than when I was being named in the 80s, are still around.

My primary dc have friends that are John and Graham.