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Original poster

Emily? Does it feel dated to the 00s now?

48 replies

hcarter8 · 20/12/2024 12:29

Me and dp are struggling to pick a name, he likes Emily which I like too but I'm a secondary school teacher and a few years ago there were so many Emily's so I always think of it as a name of baby girls born in the 90s/2000s. I know it's an old name from the 1800s with good historical namesakes (Brontë and Dickinson)

I looked on the ONS and it was number 2 from 1996-2002 and then managed to get to the number 1 spot in 2003-2004. It's now number 28, which probably means it had its peak and is now fading. This is my first baby so I'm not sure about the names that are popular in primary schools these days, is Emily still as common as it was 15 years ago or has it faded?
I know im probably overthinking because it's such a well known name but I just don't want to give my dc a name that could come across as dated these days.

Thoughts?

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BibbityBobbityToo · 20/12/2024 12:31

It's a lovely classic name, not being a top 10 is an added bonus.

Pinknotpurple · 20/12/2024 12:39

Classic name and absolutely lovely

TickTockPolly · 20/12/2024 12:40

I see Emily as a timeless classic. Lovely name. If you want something more trendy you could consider Emilia?

ginasevern · 20/12/2024 13:13

It's a beautiful name. The fact that it's popularity has declined is an absolute bonus. I've never understood people who choose names in the top then. Do they really want their kids to have the same name as thousands of others! Anyway, I don't think you can date Emily, it's classic and timeless.

Whatisityoucantface · 20/12/2024 13:19

I have been surprised to come across a number of babies named Emily in the past couple of years at baby groups. It’s a lovely name, and classic.

Moreteaandchocolate · 20/12/2024 13:37

Emily is a lovely classic - it’s past its peak but it’s settled to a nice “popular but not overused” status which is ideal. It’s not dated in a bad way - that tends to be names that shoot to the top 10 out of nowhere and then vanish just as quickly.

Viviennemary · 20/12/2024 13:41

I'm not keen on Emily. It's not awful but a bit twee. I don't think I've known one.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 20/12/2024 13:50

I know a baby Emily. It’s a lovely, classic name. You’re right it isn’t as popular now as it was 10 years ago but I don’t think that makes it feel dated. You can see it has been in the top 100 since the 70s and before that through the 1900s, 10s and 20s: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/articles/babynamessince1904howhasyoursperformed/2016-09-02

I’d say it is a timeless name, it’s certainly not one of those that dropped into the top 10 from nowhere, had a couple of years at the top and then dropped right out of the top 100. Those are the kinds of names that feel dated, not names which slowly climb up over decades and slowly climb back down.

shoopshoopdedoo · 20/12/2024 16:29

I don’t think it’s dated. Not as popular as it was a couple of decades ago but obviously not a flash in the pan name! It’s a great name IMO.

GreenMarigold · 20/12/2024 16:32

I know 2 under 10, lovely name!

BootballJoy · 20/12/2024 16:33

Really lovely name. I've met a baby Emily recently.

SnapdragonToadflax · 20/12/2024 16:34

I know a six year old and an eight year old Emily, so not that uncommon lately. It's definitely a classic.

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 20/12/2024 16:34

I love it. The fact it's been in the top 30 for over 30 years just shows me how timeless it is, to be honest. Not like these names that pop into the Top 100 for a few years and then you don't see them again.

Viavita · 20/12/2024 16:35

I love it, too. Beautiful.

Jellycatrabbit · 20/12/2024 16:36

I have an Emily, she's two. I still love it. There was a period where all three of the nursery workers in her room were also called Emily, plus there is an Emilia and an Amelia in the room too.

I believe it's a classic and I dont regret the choice, but you have to accept that there are a lot of similar names about.

We also have a Gary at nursery. Now that is dated.

saveforthat · 20/12/2024 16:38

I love Emily, it was my mother's name. She was born in 1919. It's timeless.

Stripeysofa · 20/12/2024 16:39

I’m an Emily (80s born). Love my name and would have called my dd Emily if I wasnt already using it.

IrrationalIvy · 20/12/2024 16:41

There are a couple of Emily’s in DD’s Reception year, plus an Emilie, so it’s still going strong here. I like it, it’s quite a gentle name. You don’t seem to meet many aggressive or angry Emiliy’s!

SabreIsMyFave · 20/12/2024 16:45

I like the name Emily very much. Smile Quite uncommon these days too...

Judellie · 20/12/2024 16:51

Emily's a lovely classic name. Emilia isn't.

SunshineAndFizz · 20/12/2024 16:52

I love it.

Sweetlikechoca · 20/12/2024 17:05

I have an Emily (she 3) and everybody who meets her tells her she has a beautiful name. I don't think they're just saying that either 😂 we love it very much.

MsNik · 20/12/2024 17:07

I have an Emily, it's still my favourite name, I think it's absolutely beautiful.

SabreIsMyFave · 20/12/2024 17:27

saveforthat · 20/12/2024 16:38

I love Emily, it was my mother's name. She was born in 1919. It's timeless.

I have a niece called Emily - born mid 1990s, and also worked with an Emily in the noughties who was born in 1979, actress Emily Watson was born in 1967, and my maternal grandmother had an aunt Emily who was born in 1891. Also, there was an aunt Emily in The Wizard of Oz (from 1939) who was meant to be in her 60s, so she's have been born around 1870. Emily Dickinson was born in 1830. Emily Bronte was born in 1818. Queen Emily of Ireland was born in 1731.

As you say, timeless name. Classy too. Smile

MajorCarolDanvers · 20/12/2024 17:29

It’s a timeless classic