'Dated' names

[ConstanceL]

I often see on threads that people say don't use such and such name as it won't date well. But does it really matter if names are of their time? My (real) name was popular in the 80s, but not any more. But when I was little it was a popular name for little girls, and now I am heading towards middle age it is a name that many late 30s women have.

We are thinking about names for our next DC and I really like the name Aurelia, but I searched threads and a few people said 'it won't date well'. So I guess my question is, does that really matter? I've never had a problem with my 'dated' name - has anyone else?

@Comedycook

This bothers some people but not others. Aurelia will date...it's popular now but won't be in twenty years times. Everyone will be able to guess what era she was born in.

But genuinely why would that matter? My name means that people would hazard a (correct) guess I was born in the 80s and I was so why would that be a problem?

It matters to some people but not others. It's a very personal choice.

Personally I like names where you have no idea what social class or age the person is .

For example..George could be 1 or 100. He could be the king or he could live on a council estate.

Whereas with some names you immediately can guess their age and background...you might not always be right but often you will be. For example, Maureen is not five, she's 60. Jayden isn't a 100 year old member of the aristocracy. Gemma was probably born in the 1990s.

I think the ops point is that for that baby’s generation it will become ‘oh that’s an old lady’s name now’ and her point is, so what? She will be an old lady. It’s the truth!

Often dated names date because as a general rule people think they’re not very nice and only trendy at the time. And yes I guess everyone will be able to guess their age.

I think Aurelia sounds quite nice tbh, impossible to tell sometimes if it will date. Only the very obvious classics won’t date but let’s face it op, they can be a bit boring.

Also there is such a wider range of names now they probably still won’t date as badly as previous generations.

@germsandcoffee

I think my name was boring when my parents named me and boring now almost 50 years later 🤣 Lisa

I would have loved to be a Lisa. Much cooler than my name.

Aurelia is a definite trend now, I know a few in their early teens and younger, but none older. So it will date a bit I reckon, but as PPs have said, all names date. Although I don't think that's quite true as some names are such classics (John/Mary/Edward) there are always people of every generation named that, albeit in greater or lesser numbers.

I know someone in her 60s with a name associated with women in their 80s. I haven't asker her how she feels about it, but I presume not great.

My name is a very common 80s name , I don't hate it because it's dated , I hate it because it was so common.

My name is a very dated name that according to MN is chavvy. So I guess people are judging me for it. I would imagine Aurelia would be a dated middle class name, which is probably easier to live with.

The modern version of the '80s 'Something Louise' is something -May or -Grace or -Rose. Hyphenated names are the new normal...

Well, I have a niece named for her grandmother who died far too young, before her parents were married. Her name is one I perceived as quite dated at the time - but within a couple of years both it and her nickname were rocketing up the charts. My sister also "caught" a rising popularity trend with the name and nickname of her second child. Their third child has a much more unusual name but even it is on a popularity rise that I would not have predicted.

My name is very dated. Was popular 30 years before I was born. So sometimes a friend's mum or the dinner lady would have the same name.

And yes I have found it embarrassing sometimes.

But I do think these things only matter to us. I would never think anything negative if I met another lady and her name was 'dated' or not in keeping with her age or whatever. For example if I met a 30 year old who happened to be called Winnifred.

I wouldn't think oh Winnefred's name doesn't fit, that's embarrassing.
I would just think 'oh she's nice' or whatever else and get on with my life.

These things don't matter to anyone else. And I need to remember that and embrace my name

My name would not date at all I believe, not sure what generation it would fit in at all. Not my daughters, but we are in the category of Classical Greek mythology names and the more unusual side of them for me in particular. Hers is a little more known than mine.

People often can't decide how old I will be, where I will be from, what I will look like etc or be like. I enjoy that :) and never met another person with my name.

Aurelia/Aurelie are gorgeous and a little bit unusual names - you should go for it

My name was 15 years ahead of it's time. As a teenager I was very bemused that lots of babies were given my at the time unusual name.

Maureen is not five, she's 60

More like 80, I'd say.

@Comedycook Gemma is one of the most iconic eighties names. I have a beginner’s piano book that I often teach from published in the late eighties. It has the ditty “What is your name/Gemma or Jane?” in it. I wil ask the children (knowing the answer) if they know any Gemmas or Janes. Naturally they don’t. I reply that there were lots of girls called Jane when I was at school and that their mums will have known plenty of Gemmas - most of the mums were born in the late seventies/eighties and they confirm this. I taught a girl called Jane a few years ago and realised she was the first young Jane l had come across in many years. It’s a nice name. My own children were born in the nineties and the most popular girls’ names were probably Bethany, Megan, Eleanor, Katie, Rebecca and Chloe.

I was reading the other day about a woman who wants to name her twins Walter and Agnes when they're born. Wally and Aggie? Who would want to lumber innocent babies with names like that?

It’s it a bit Areola? You know the dark bit around your nipples?

I really like Walter and Agnes, they are old enough now to be back in fashion.

@RenGreen

It’s it a bit Areola? You know the dark bit around your nipples?

Not really I don't think. Areola = ah ree ola Aurelia = or ray liah

I know an Eileen in her 30s.
That's definitely worse than having a name that's of its time.

My name is not popular for my age group.
Claire was very popular something to do with Gilbert O Sullivan and his song.

I quite like my name.
Martina.

@Dillydollydingdong

I was reading the other day about a woman who wants to name her twins Walter and Agnes when they're born. Wally and Aggie? Who would want to lumber innocent babies with names like that?

You’re behind the times. Those names are in fashion and have been for a while. I know two young Agneses and one Walter. Victorian channelling medieval/Tudor.

I know a 22 year old Walter. His sister is Mary.

I think Aurelia is fine but cannot imagine using it in day to day life...as in yelling up the stairs "Aurelia, your dinners ready". There's no way to shorten it and it just seems like such a mouthful to use in day to day conversation