Too old fashioned?

[fluffysprout]

Happy Easter everyone!

Me and DH are expecting a daughter in July, and today we were asked by SIL if we had a shortlist. Silly us, as we did tell her. We got told our names are “old fashioned” and setting our daughter up to be bullied. Me and DH are both genealogists by profession, so our names do come from our family trees, anywhere from 2-5 generations ago. I can’t see her point and I think she’s being a bit dramatic so any opinions would be appreciated, a fresh set of eyes would be useful.

Here is our shortlist.

Mary,
Josephine,
Christina,
Rosina,
Elizabeth,
Alexandra,
Alice.

Mary and Josephine are our top two but we’re still fond of the others.

I don’t think your daughter will be bullied. I think your choices are refreshing and there’s some lovely names on there. I particularly like Alice and Alexandra but you need to choose a name you like.

I really like them all with the exception of Alice and I don't think they will date

I particularly like Elizabeth - it's my favourite girls name.

Ignore your SIL, it's none of her business.

All lovely names and as a strictly amateur family historian I would definitely be mining my family tree if I were naming children!

Only slight hesitation is Christina as that feels a bit 70s/80s to me. Not vintage enough 😄

Wish I was a genealogist by profession!

I have job envy!! All of your choices are lovely. Don't see why any would lead to bullying at all.

All perfectly nice names.
Just tell her you’re having a rethink but won’t tell her the new choices.
Then, just name your new baby whatever you like from your original list, she’d have to be an utter bitch to criticise the name of her new niece once the names been given!

A very classic list. Alexandra and Alice are much more commonly used than the others. Mary is so unusual nowadays, but such a universally known name. I prefer Rosa to Rosina. I know one young Josephine, but she's known as Effie, which I love. And, of course, Elizabeth has so many shortenings - my favourite is Betsy. I don't really like Christina.

Congratulations OP really lovely names, cannot fathom how any child could possibly be a target for bullying with any of the the names on your list.

Alice is quite popular and I know a few little Elizabeths and Mays. All lovely classic names if you ask me (although my daughter also has an old lady name and not one of the popular ones).

if you went for Mary I’d assume you’re Catholic which you may or may not be, and which may or may not be an issue for you!

They’re all perfectly nice, deeply ordinary names.

I’m not a fan of Mary or Josephine but the other names are lovely.

Your SIL is not the law regarding the naming of your child. Tell her to jog on.

Josephine is very popular in the black communities around our way at the moment- there are two in my child's class- so I don't think it's necessarily old fashioned. From your list Alice would be my favourite though.

Love Josephine and Mary and know a little Mary but probably not quite at the comeback point yet but think will be in 10/20 years!

elizabeth and Alice are current enough, wouldn’t say old fashioned and are lovely timeless names.

All lovely names, we have a Mary and an Alice in the family 😊

I do think your names are old fashioned, but are still lovely name. Your daughter won't be bullied, but they are definitely not modern names.

I love Rosina.

These are lovely, I think your relatives' names list would probably be not to your taste (or mine) if they don't like any of these.
Mary, Josephine (Josie) and Alice are gorgeous.

Unusually, I can't see one name on the list that I dislike. I'd say you have good taste.

I’d say these were traditional, not old fashioned! They are names everyone has heard of and they are heard in many cultures in some form as well, so travel well too.
Names come round generationally, so I’m not sure what “not modern” means exactly. There are millions of Ivys and Audreys now, 15 years ago these would have been considered “old fashioned” now they are everywhere.

Mary is fantastic. I also really like Rosina.

I LOVE Mary. Go for it.

Your SIL is being massively dramatic! They’re all lovely names , apart from Josephine which I’m not overly keen on. Mary is pretty though and probably due a comeback.
My favourites from your list are Elizabeth and Alice

Mary Josephine is lovely.

I love your taste. :)

I have two preschool age children so am around a lot of recently named humans and neither I nor my children would bat an eye at any of these. There’s a lot more variation now than there was even 20 years ago. Choose what you like.

also love Rosina .
such lovely names OP