What's more classic and timeless, Emily or Sarah?

[hcarter8]

Me and my husband are struggling to decide on a name, even though some may say it’s a boring bland name I like the name Sarah, I just think it’s a good old no nonsense name that is relatively timeless.

My husband likes Emily but I’m not sure even though I do think its pretty and I don't know if people like it as much these days but i vividly remember it being so popular 20 years ago i remember so many people naming their daughters Emily in the 00s it was crazy to me how popular it became in such a short amount of time.

I looked at the statistics out if curiosity on the ons website and even though sarah was quite a popular name here in the UK in the 70s/80s I’ve never actually met one which is quite odd, I prefer Sarah because it has never left the top 100 names from 1904 to 2017 and it's only just left in the last few years which would make it a genuinely timeless name. Whereas Emily actually left the top 100 in 1914 and was unheard of for a good 50 odd years until 1973 when it re entered the top 100 and slowly rose, eventually hit the number 2 spot in in the 90s and was number 1 in 2003 and 2004, so I’d expect most Emily’s these days to be in the age range of 15-30 years old.

I was given a very popular 80s name that has dated badly because of its once mega popularity at a certain time so I’m making a point not to do the same to my daughter but me and my husband are struggling to compromise.

Thoughts? What seems more dated?

I think both are equally classic and timeless but Emily was very popular more recently.

I prefer Sarah for all the reasons you've given. Emilys are ten a penny - but I can't think of any Sarah's under the age of 25.

You’ve never met a Sarah?! I must have met dozens. I’d say similar in number to Emilys although the Sarahs trend slightly older (25-50 whereas Emilys would be 20-40). Either of them is timeless though possibly Sarah more so as it’s biblical.

I hate the name Sarah and its one of my middle names! Also not keen on Emily. Both a bit boring!

Both are equally good.

Emily is timeless. Sarah is long lasting but Emily is better.

Agree. The other bad thing about Emily is that it tends to be shortened to "Em", as does "Emma" which is also very common. Shout "Em!" in a crowded room and you'll get about six people looking up.

My daughter is Sarah, currently age 10. She is the only one in her (very large) primary school and I’ve only ever met one other Sarah her age. I know lots of other young girls called Emily. Obviously I prefer Sarah! I prefer Emma to Emily.

Emily

Sarah is boring as it’s so common. But I’m in my 40s and there were about 10 Sarah’s in my year at school. I also know at least 5 in my work place. I suppose it may not seem as common to anyone under 30.

Emily is much nicer

I think they are both great names, but even the most classic names can date a person. When my mother was a child (1950s), Sarah would have been considered dowdy and dull. When I was a child (late 70s and 80s) Emily would have been rarely chosen, but for the last 20 years there have been swarms, which inevitably means it will go out of fashion again.

I prefer Sarah and I don't think I know any little ones, but you can't go wrong with either name.

Sarah is a biblical name, surely that's pretty timeless!

Sarah is much nicer I think and feels more classic, where as Emily did peek more recently.

Both are classic names, although they've had waves of popularity at different times. I suppose that Sarah is the oldest name of the two if go back far enough as it's biblical.

Both lovely names, but I probably prefer Sarah overall, and these days it would be more unusual for a baby. You will just have to rise above people who can only manage to associate it with Sarahs they know who were born in the 1960s/70s. I was born in the 1960s and there was usually one in every class! It's still a beautiful name though (which is why it had such a wave of popularity I suppose).

I think Sarah is classic as it’s biblical. Not sure where Emily came from but to me it’s just a 90s name rather than a classic name. Sarah is also elegant and strong whereas Emily is a bit too girly for my tastes. I think Emma is more on par with Sarah in terms of classic sounding name vs Emily.

Sarah is a very popular name for my age group. Born late 60s, there were lots at school and only one Emily. Back then Emily seemed a very unusual old fashioned name.

Now the reverse is true.

Of course Emily is not 'just a 90s name'. I'd have thought there were more Emilys born in the 70s and 80s anyway, DD was born 90s and I don't remember any Emilys among her friends and classmates. Emma, yes. Also have you not heard of Victorian Emilys like Emily Bronte, Emily Dickinson?

I have a Sarah too, she’s 11. Only one in her school. It’s a beautiful name. I named her after my late gran.

Emily is nicer in my opinion. If you think it's a bit boring you could alter it e.g. Emilie, Emma, Amalie, etc.

I never said it was a 90s name, it's obviously an old name but it peaked in the 90s/00s all you have to do is look at the statistics. It's like the way olivia is obviously an old name but it's just having the most popularity right now

Emily is a kind of boden-wearing middle class name. Nice enough but a bit wet.

Sarah is nicer. Claire and Anna are same ballpark.

Emily is the more classic of two but has been very popular in recent years.

I don't see Sarah as being classic at all. I grew up with a lot of them and to me it's a very 80s name. It's not unpleasant but a bit meh. It's more of a middle name for me.

Emily

I personally prefer Emily.
The only Emily I know personally is my cousin and she was born in 1999.
I knew a few Sarah/Sara's growing up (I was born in 1989) but not many Emily's - LOTS of Emmas though!

Both lovely- or you could look at Sara or Zara too