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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Would your own name work as a baby name now?

233 replies

Dustyblue · 31/01/2022 04:55

Mine wouldn't, I don't think.

It's Belinda, but I go by variations of it. Was very popular in Australia in the 70's. But I can't remember the last time I heard of a baby named Belinda.

Do you have a nice timeless name or a dated one like mine?

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IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 31/01/2022 07:24

@starrynight21

I think mine is pretty classic and works with all ages. It's Stella, I'm happy with it.
I love Stella. It’s my dnievce’s name. DM was very Hmm when DSis used it, but DNiece suits it perfectly.

My own name comes up about once a week. Alice. Seems well liked.

MK19590 · 31/01/2022 07:28

Mine didn't work when I was a baby (most people had never heard of it) and I see it suggested on here now and again but no one has ever admitted to using it for their baby

2orangey · 31/01/2022 07:28

Mine's another 'trendy in the 80s' name (although classic in its way). I'd be surprised to hear of a baby with my name now. Guessing it will be back in fashion in 20 years or so!

merrymouse · 31/01/2022 07:28

I think Belinda would work now in the U.K. - it has never been so popular that it is linked to a particular period.

stuntbubbles · 31/01/2022 07:28

Hit or miss: half the time here it gets called pretty and classic, the other half frumpy and dour. It’s neither plain nor out-there and would probably fit with all the tiny Mabels and Wilfs running around.

Bimblybomeyelash · 31/01/2022 07:29

I think Belinda totally works. There are several Belle’s in my kids school, and although they are Belles and Isabelle’s, Belinda is not too far removed.

Roselilly36 · 31/01/2022 07:34

My name is classic, and is still used for baby girls, it’s a popular name, but I like it.

YesThisIsMe · 31/01/2022 07:34

I think my name has been solidly lower-half-of-the-top-hundred for the last couple of centuries.

YesThisIsMe · 31/01/2022 07:36

Belinda is lovely - I don't really understand why it went out of style because it doesn't sound dated to my ears. Due for a comeback perhaps.
(Autocorrect wanted to make that Sue for a comeback...now that really is a dated name).

RussianSpy101 · 31/01/2022 07:39

Mine definitely would! It’s Amelia. My parents were ahead of the trend 😂

Blue4YOU · 31/01/2022 07:48

No. Mine I think was tarred with a certain brush by the hideous Katie Hopkins.
I’ve never seen heard of a baby post mid seventies with my name.

MrsMigginsCat · 31/01/2022 07:56

Mine's a classic name which hasn't dated, but I go by a diminutive, which is still pretty popular now. DD, mid 20s, has the diminutive as her middle name.

Luredbyapomegranate · 31/01/2022 08:03

Yes it was fashionable at the time (which annoyed me when I was little), but it and similar names are still in regular use.

I think because Belinda was never very popular, it doesn’t sound dated really, but I would guess the person had been born 60s - early 80s.

leavingthispoohole · 31/01/2022 08:05

Mine is Holly. So yes would still work. Name has never bothered me, happy with my lot!

KohlaParasaurus · 31/01/2022 08:06

Mine would be OK. It's an ordinary name that has never been common enough to become dated.

Synchrony · 31/01/2022 08:13

Interesting thread because I had Belinda, Jacqueline AND Catherine on my list so I love them and definitely think they'd work now despite pps saying they don't think they would! All beautiful names!

Mine isn't popular now but I think would still be fine. I expect it to come back in fashion in 40 years.

cptartapp · 31/01/2022 08:17

No. It never did in the 70's either. In fact I saw it on a list of 'extinct' names yesterday.Grin

KurtWilde · 31/01/2022 08:24

Unlikely.. it wasn't a 'real' name in the traditional sense in the first place, and I've never met anyone else with it.

kirkandpetal · 31/01/2022 08:24

Mine isn't Wiley popular and it's more of an adult name if that makes sense. Prob feels a bit weird giving it to a baby but perfectly acceptable for an adult.
I named dd1 a very classic baby name which is pretty but not twee for when she is an adult.
Dd2 has a very adult name and I could see people going a bit Shock in their heads when they heard her name but it doesn't seem as mature now and she suits it and she will totally rock it when she older. I can just tell.

Mine and my daughters names are prob classed as classic European but none of us are!!

BasiliskFace · 31/01/2022 08:24

Yes, it is often mentioned on baby names and more children have it now than had it when I was born in the 70s - in fact it has now come full circle and people say its over-used. My middle name is the middle name every girl had in the 70s if they didn't have Jane, I don't think it is used much now.

kirkandpetal · 31/01/2022 08:25

We'll, obviously we're European but they are names you might presume are French/Italian rather than Scottish/English.

babyjellyfish · 31/01/2022 08:39

Mine is a classic name but was very popular in the 80s so there were about 5 in my class at school.

I had a baby last year and one of the women in my bumpers group called her daughter my name. I actually think it sounds really fresh on a baby now.

Blossomandbee · 31/01/2022 08:44

Mine is quite dated, it's a 70's/80's name but not one of the really popular ones. I've seen it mentioned on here a few times as a baby name but I don't think it will ever be well used again.

zen1 · 31/01/2022 08:49

Yes. I was born in the 70s and never encountered anyone with the same name as me and had people commenting “that’s unusual / nice” when they found out my name. The first time I met someone with my name was a baby born in 2010.

HomeHomeInTheRange · 31/01/2022 08:52

No, it is of it’s time and I am not old enough for it to have come full circle yet.