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Baby names

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

Are there any names that you just can't imagine on a baby?

212 replies

TheNameNerd · 22/08/2022 12:13

Each to their own but I just can't picture a baby Frank. It seems such a harsh sounding adult name for a baby especially a newborn yet there have obviously been a lot of baby Franks but somehow I have a mental block when picturing it.

Does anyone else feel this way about a name?

OP posts:
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orangeisthenewpuce · 22/08/2022 21:01

Mungo

WorriedMillie · 22/08/2022 21:02

Joan has never come back into fashion
ditto Jane and Jean

we have a few (older) Johns in our family, I don’t know any under the age of 40

(not all names begin with J 🤣)

JennyForeigner · 22/08/2022 21:08

Fabio

My friend (Spanish heritage, UK based) swears her cousin called their olive skinned baby Fabio as an old family name.

She also says the baby was diagnosed with jaundice and grew hair - taking after his milk-skinned red-haired Scottish dad.

I've been looking out for that Fabio ever since.

JennyForeigner · 22/08/2022 21:10

Star05 · 22/08/2022 14:09

Colin. But I'd bloody love it if I met a baby Colin.

Excellent name for a dog.

AuntMasha · 22/08/2022 21:18

Humphrey

Ralph

Melania

Bumpsadaisie · 22/08/2022 21:23

Keith! I just cannot imagine a tiny baby boy keith.

puddlesofmothers · 22/08/2022 21:42

Adolf

puddlesofmothers · 22/08/2022 21:43

poptupper · 22/08/2022 12:36

Martin but I don't think it suits an adult either, one of those name that's should cease to exist in my opinion

My cat Martin would beg to differ!

Mumofgirls2017 · 22/08/2022 22:28

Gary

CaptainCreepsBourgeMobile · 22/08/2022 22:30

Bertha
Perspicacious

LadyEloise1 · 22/08/2022 23:26

I agree re Humphrey @AuntMasha

EnglishTeacherMum · 23/08/2022 01:31

Donna
Angie
Loraine
Why? I get it's a good name, like for an old woman, but not for a baby girl! At least in my opinion.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 23/08/2022 01:46

Agree about Bernard type names on kids! Bernie is different - fits in with the cutesy retro trend, like Archie vs Archibald. Similarly we could see Gertie/Trudy's in future but doubtful any Gertrude's.

John, Robert, Richard etc are fine on babies imo - their strong royal history makes them sound traditional (if much more uncommon than they used to be) rather than really dated - same with Margaret, Anne etc for girls to me. Plus the babies will probably get called Johnny, Bobby, Ricky, Maggie, Annie day to day.

I think the "middle aged" names with unfashionable sounds (and no cute nn's) might not come back for kids- Clive, Brian, Kevin, Nigel, Gary, Wayne, Tracey, Sharon, Pauline, Brenda, Janet, Doreen etc

But then I could be wrong - I never thought Dorothy and Barbara would be gradually getting more popular again!

BillBenWeed · 23/08/2022 02:01

Arlo, Maddox, Jayden, Harley, Paisley.

Max will never not be a dog’s name to me. Arnold, Roger, Lesley/Lindsay (especially for boys)

Petunia, Rosemary, Blossom, anything too OTT and flowery for a girl (or boy!) Geraldine, Getrude, Bertha

Inarightpickleandpreserve · 23/08/2022 03:48

Clive

mistopheles · 23/08/2022 03:55

I can totally imagine a baby Frank, really like it actually! But the PP who put Joyce - this made me laugh out loud.

Lovalou · 23/08/2022 06:59

Colin

Dinoteeth · 23/08/2022 07:23

Actually the more I think about it most names other than they cute Alfie, Amy, type names seem to heavy and clunky for a newbaby but then babies sort of grow into their names.

Marcipex · 23/08/2022 07:46

Bernard
Aristotle
Marilyn

pinklavenders · 23/08/2022 07:56

What names CAN you imagine on a baby? Probably just cutesy names like Teddie, Alfie, Poppy, Elsie etc

But they don't stay babies very long!

LadyEloise1 · 23/08/2022 09:12

Godfrey
I mean you can't really shorten it. Smile

Dinoteeth · 23/08/2022 09:54

Elvis!! Can you imagine a baby Elvis? 👶

Derrymum123 · 23/08/2022 10:11

Irene
Brenda
Harold
Malcolm
Patricia
Ernest
Fred
Hilda
Edna

gardenmumma · 23/08/2022 10:22

Christopher, Katherine, Meredith and Ewan. Fine for adults but I just can't picture them on babies.

fannyfan · 23/08/2022 10:25

Maureen