'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?

I have a popular 80's Name and I'm not bothered by it. Haven't really met loads of them, although there's always one around somewhere. Now I work in an international company, so not everyone is English so names matter less as the tree are some very "dated" names the Chinese give themselves as their English name. Sometimes people have real trouble with my name if they aren't European, but I can't say I think about it much.

Do they? If you look at the list of top names since 1904 there are quite a few that might not come back any time soon

Looking at the top 10 names for boys and girls for 1904 all of them have come round.

Looking the next 90 names there are about a handful that I don't know anyone under 50 or even 80 with that name e.g. Ethel, Hilda.

Susan
Tracey
Adele
Claire
Sharon
Gary
Nigel

@FayCarew

All name s come back into fashion at some point and all become unfashionable at some point.

Do they? If you look at the list of top names since 1904 there are quite a few that might not come back any time soon

No, I don't think they all do. I'm sure there's research somewhere if anyone is bothered to look. We occasionally come across old fashioned names that seem to have disappeared don't we?

I have a dated name that ties me to the early 80s and I don't honestly care. However, I have chosen more classic timeless names for my children because that's my taste.

Depends what you like. If you don't care that everyone else thinks the same thing as you at the same time and can reconcile with the fact that inevitably your choice has been influenced by fashion trends and other people's opinions then that's fine, no big deal

I think Nigel could come back, I've met other geeky type named babies recently. Like Rupert, Ralph, Edmund, Benjamin.

Maybe not every name will come back into fashion but most do. Some die out and are back in 50 years, others take less time or more time. My point being that I always thought 'datedness' seemed like a strange reason to not choose a name.

I had my first child a few months ago and named him Trevor. I'm sure some will be rolling there eyes at me on here because it is still considered an 'old man name' and while it may be true that most Trevors alive right now are in their 60s I love it because it's not popular or too weird and it suits him. DP and I both love it.

I mean the name is bound to come back at some point so maybe I can be the trendsetter

You can never trust a Nigel. More shifty spiv than true geek.

Wow, that is leftfield, @Sindel, especially if you're in the UK. I know it's quite a popular name in the US so wouldn't stand out so much there. I have to say if I would be surprised to be introduced to baby Trevor. I don't think I consider it an 'old man' name though, more a 50 something's name.

@MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake
Seems to be a bit of a love/hate kind of name. The people in my life that like the name seem to really love it but there have been a few 'what were you thinking' comments. My MIL for example enjoyed bringing up how much she hates it all through my pregnancy

@Gwenhwyfar my name is old fashioned and definitely never coming back! Thanks Mum (not).

@toastofthetown thanks for that link- 4 babies in 2019 with my name - can confirm it hasn’t had a resurgence yet 😂😂

My name seems to be given to about 10-20 babies every year in the whole of England and Wales.

The downside as a child was that I was the only one, so if I got in trouble I couldn't say it was one of the other Fays

Better to have a name which dates you correctly than one which dates you as twenty years older than you actually are - speaking from experience as an 80s Helen.

Aurelia is on its way up so if you’re going to use it now is the time. Don’t use a very popular name on its way back down. I wouldn’t name a 2022 baby Jack or Grace for this reason.

@NotAnotherHelen

Better to have a name which dates you correctly than one which dates you as twenty years older than you actually are - speaking from experience as an 80s Helen.

Aurelia is on its way up so if you’re going to use it now is the time. Don’t use a very popular name on its way back down. I wouldn’t name a 2022 baby Jack or Grace for this reason.

That's a good point, I can see why someone called say Sheila in the 80/90s would feel more aggrieved about their name than if they were born in the 60s.

Such a wide selection of names these days and names are picked from all previous generations. So no I don't think there will be an issue with names being dated. Go for it and don't worry. It's a great name.

@Comedycook As someone approaching 60 (and with a very dated 60s name) I can assure you that Maureen is more likely to be in her mid 70s than 60. It would have been considered very old fashioned when I was born (early 60s).

@NotAnotherHelen

Better to have a name which dates you correctly than one which dates you as twenty years older than you actually are - speaking from experience as an 80s Helen.

Aurelia is on its way up so if you’re going to use it now is the time. Don’t use a very popular name on its way back down. I wouldn’t name a 2022 baby Jack or Grace for this reason.

Interesting.... I know and knew lots of helens born in the 80s and early 90s!

Names I think have dated beyond repair (though they could come back any time):

Beryl
Stacey
Tracey
Sharon
Maureen
Wayne
Brian

@NotAnotherHelen

Better to have a name which dates you correctly than one which dates you as twenty years older than you actually are - speaking from experience as an 80s Helen.

Aurelia is on its way up so if you’re going to use it now is the time. Don’t use a very popular name on its way back down. I wouldn’t name a 2022 baby Jack or Grace for this reason.

Helen is a classic and timeless name.

I think beryl will be back soon...

@miltonj It dropped like a stone in the early 80s. No other Helens ever at school, one contemporary at university, then I entered the workplace and found hundreds, all twenty years older than me.

[quote NotAnotherHelen]@miltonj It dropped like a stone in the early 80s. No other Helens ever at school, one contemporary at university, then I entered the workplace and found hundreds, all twenty years older than me.[/quote]
That's actually good that there aren't loads of Helens your age. As your name isn't so strange it stands out, but isn't so common everyone knows someone called it.

@Sindel I worked abd studied with Trevors. They are in their 40s.

One hates his name and thinks it is old fashioned.

@RedWingBoots Are you seriously telling me the opinion I should have of my own name?

My name is fine. Objectively I like it. In practice I don’t like having a name which is twenty years too old for me.

[quote lhirault]@Comedycook As someone approaching 60 (and with a very dated 60s name) I can assure you that Maureen is more likely to be in her mid 70s than 60. It would have been considered very old fashioned when I was born (early 60s). [/quote]
Studied with a couple of Maureens who will be in their 40s.