Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Does anyone else have a name that, when given, was way ahead of its time?

138 replies

RolyPolyBatFacedGirl · 28/12/2023 20:06

I'm in my early 50s and my parents called me Lily Grace Surname

Now I know there's loads of Lily's and Graces's going way back when , but people are genuinely surprised when I meet up with them for meetings in person after emails (work related of course!) and I'm not 19!

I was an absolute anomaly in the 70s with all my friends who were Sarah, Louise , Claire and Julie

Anyone else?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
PleaseBeADecentYear2024 · 29/12/2023 07:26

My name was popular about 30 years before I was born. I have never met a peer with my name, only older women. I only once met a younger person with my name ever. It's yet to make a comeback. I am not fond of it.

Mintygoodness · 29/12/2023 08:00

Our 23 year old is Raphaela, 20 years ago this was extremely rare in the UK (not so much in Germany, Mexico, Italy etc.)
Now just in the past 4 or so years I see Raphael and Raphaela mentioned on MN as possible names quite regularly.

UnimaginableWindBird · 29/12/2023 08:06

My name was unusual when I was born, and I didn't meet a single other person with my name for the whole of my childhood. Then, when I was 20, it was the top name for baby girls born that year. The same thing happened to my sister who is 5 years younger than me. My parents were clearly exactly 20 years ahead of their time.

tokesqueen · 29/12/2023 08:11

My friend, early 50's had the opposite problem too.
Whilst his friends at school were David, John, Andrew, Steven, he was called Malcolm.
I know a Vivienne in her mid 50's. This seems to be the name of the moment.

SallyWD · 29/12/2023 08:16

I won't say my name but I was given one of those vintage names in the 70s (along the lines of Edith, Ada etc). All the other girls at school had names like Joanna, Sarah, Claire. I stuck out like a sore thumb. I love my name though.

eatdrinkandbemerry · 29/12/2023 08:24

I'm a Lisa born early 70s.
No idea if it was popular but it was definitely trendier my brothers and sisters really old fashioned names 🤣

Bbq1 · 29/12/2023 08:30

Dh knew a Kerry (male). Must be 50 odd now.

KStockHERO · 29/12/2023 08:41

Not me. I was born in the 1980s and have a very 1980s name.

But I know a guy called Kayden who is..... 74 😁

cariadlet · 29/12/2023 08:52

My sister and I were born in the 60s. Our parents gave us what they thought were standard, classic names which would stand the test of time.

My sister's name has stayed in the same bracket but mine has turned into a 60s/70s name.

As children, we felt sorry for our cousin Megan who was saddled with such an old fashioned name but it became very popular in the 90s.

Riverlee · 29/12/2023 08:53

Apparently, the rise in Chloe is attributed to Richard and Judy who would talk about their daughter, Chloe, on This Morning. People often took four weeks maternity before the due date then, so would have sat and watched This Morning (pre internet days).

BananaSplitsss · 29/12/2023 08:58

I have an old name but I was born in the 70s. Loathe my name but it’s apparently more popular now. As a kid I knew no one. As an adult I have known one other person with my name. I hate it .

Tiredalwaystired · 29/12/2023 08:58

My daughter’s middle name is Ivy. I remember my sister wrinkling her nose at it at the time. Now very popular! Daughters first name is still very uncommon although not out there.

Tiredalwaystired · 29/12/2023 09:00

I went to school with an Edna in the 80s

Mywhoopdeedoo · 29/12/2023 09:50

There were lots of Lisa’s in the early 70’a due to Lisa Marie Presley (I’m one). I went to school in the 80’s with a Beryl

HunterBidensLaptop · 29/12/2023 09:51

Namechangesab · 29/12/2023 02:14

I'm a Jocelyn. Up until about three years ago I had met precisely four and one of those was an elderly upper class man. I've now met multiple baby or toddler Jocelyns and it seems to be regularly suggested on this board.

At least I now no longer have people singing that fucking song (Somebody else's guy) by Jocelyn Brown at me or making 'jokes' about Jocelyne Wildenstein

Same 😊. I've met one male Jocelyn, the same age as me. And an adult Josslyn. I've yet to encounter the hordes of little ones.

ChunkyMonkey2020 · 29/12/2023 09:54

I have a 10 year old Hayley. Yet to meet one the same age as her or even younger. They are mainly people born in the 80s/90s

grannycake · 29/12/2023 10:00

I know a 36 year old Daisy

Lisbeth50 · 29/12/2023 10:01

My middle name is one of the current really popular ones- think Rose/May/Grace. I was born in the 1970s.

MyLeftKnee · 29/12/2023 10:09

Puffalicious · 29/12/2023 01:46

I work in a secondary school & there's at least 4 under the age of 13. My own DNephew is 15 & a Craig. But I am in Scotland.

Interestingly, there's 2 Johns & 2 Brians all under 13 too.

Show quote history

I too work in a school (3-13) but mid England so perhaps that's where the difference is.
We have multiples of Grace, Evie, Eva, Poppy, Nell, Alfie, Hugo, Wilf, Albie in junior years, none in the older years.

Redlarge · 29/12/2023 10:12

Born in 1979. My name is India.

salsmum · 29/12/2023 10:20

I went to school in the 70s with a girl called Martine and another called Corina I thought they were lovely names... mine was never popular then or now and I hate it.

Mittens1717 · 29/12/2023 10:24

I'm Olivia born end of the 70s in Ireland, not sure how popular the name was back then in Ireland but I was the only one in my primary school and only one of two in secondary school

14Q · 29/12/2023 10:28

KStockHERO · 29/12/2023 08:41

Not me. I was born in the 1980s and have a very 1980s name.

But I know a guy called Kayden who is..... 74 😁

That's the most odd one so far!

chocolateanddietcoke · 29/12/2023 11:24

My great grandmother born in 1880s was Jessie

IrisVonEverec · 29/12/2023 11:28

I was given "an old ladies name" in the 80s. The whole of my childhood I never met or heard of anyone else with my name unless it was in the obituary section of the paper. Now it is among the cool and trendy granny names.