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Original poster

Too old fashioned?

107 replies

fluffysprout · 20/04/2025 17:20

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.

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BlondeMummyto1 · 20/04/2025 23:22

Very dated and ugly names imo.

mathanxiety · 20/04/2025 23:39

Names are a little different in Ireland but your SIL is still wrong. And she's wrong about the cause of bullying as well as the likelihood.

Christina is still the only one I'd drop from the list.

username462025 · 21/04/2025 00:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Pemba · 21/04/2025 01:05

I really like Christina actually, very pretty name, and just because it had a surge in popularity in the 1980s,doesn't stop it from being classic.

Queen Christina (of Sweden I think) was very famous and there was a classic film about her. Christina Rossetti the poet. Etc

ilovemyfriends · 21/04/2025 01:11

You cannot go wrong with Elizabeth and Mary …both names are timeless. Congratulations.

Mistyglade · 21/04/2025 01:21

They’re all beautiful, best list of girls name’s I’ve seen on here.

Marcipix · 21/04/2025 01:25

I’m not keen on Christina to be honest.
But your list is very classic and except for Rosina, unremarkable.
Rosina is very pretty.

Yellowtracktor · 21/04/2025 09:03

There's a little Christina at my daughter's nursery - it's nice and refreshing!

Derrymum123 · 21/04/2025 09:35

Absolutely gorgeous names. Love Mary the best, such a timeless and classic name. All the other ones on your list are lovely too. Your daughter = your choice.

Violinist64 · 21/04/2025 09:40

Beautiful, traditional names. Mary Josephine is a very nice combination, as is Josephine Mary. My favourites on your list are Elizabeth and Alice and Elizabeth Alice is lovely, as is Alexandra Alice. Take no notice of your SIL.

user1492757084 · 21/04/2025 10:36

All are lovely names.
And special that they are from your family trees.
Ignore SIL.

Your list reminds me of a couple of names in my family tree where the combination of first and second names were repeated.
Mary Agnes
Johanna Mary

Comedycook · 21/04/2025 10:38

I think it's such a dated idea that children get bullied for their names...I really don't think it happens so much anymore

Emanwenym · 21/04/2025 11:54

@Comedycook , what you think is not necessarily what actually happens.
Having said that, I don't think any of OPs names would cause teasing.

uncomfortablydumb60 · 21/04/2025 12:56

Yes, it’s nice to repeat names from the family tree
My Grandmother was Sarah, which is my middle name.
My DS1 has his Dads name as a middle name.

MeAndMyGhost · 21/04/2025 13:02

I adore the name Josephine!

LuckyMoonstone · 21/04/2025 13:14

Your names are all lovely. And I am super jealous that you may get to use Josephine, my favourite name. Currently pregnant with my last baby who is a boy, so I’ve had to say goodbye to ever having a little Josephine

DefinitelyMaybe92 · 21/04/2025 13:17

I don’t think a name can ever be too old fashioned; they’re classic and wonderful. It makes a refreshing change from some of the modern American names you hear these days.

Cadenza12 · 21/04/2025 13:22

Of course some of them sound old fashioned but they have gone the full round and are now in vogue again. My friends daughter has the same name as my grandmother and Queen Victoria still had another decade on the throne when she was born. I think that you have a great list.

Comedycook · 21/04/2025 13:27

Emanwenym · 21/04/2025 11:54

@Comedycook , what you think is not necessarily what actually happens.
Having said that, I don't think any of OPs names would cause teasing.

But nowadays there's such a variety...lots of diverse names from different cultures, some children with very unique one off names, some children with traditional names, some more old fashioned names....my dc go to school where the other kids have such a wide variety of names. They don't blink an eyelid at any of them, nor do their peers.

HouseCaptain · 21/04/2025 13:30

Gorgeous names - all quite classic.

can I add Jane or Joan? Adeline or Emmeline?

WaltzingWaters · 21/04/2025 13:33

They’re all absolutely fine to use. Old fashioned but still in style names I’d say - dateless classics.
Personally not a fan of Mary, just always thought it sounds rather dull. But I love all the others, beautiful names.

MeAndMyCatCharlotte · 21/04/2025 13:36

Lovely, especially Christina

Mischance · 21/04/2025 13:36

Tell your sister to go forth and multiply - they are all lovely names, and even if they were not it is absolutely none of her darned business!

coatandwellies · 21/04/2025 13:37

Mary and Elizabeth are great names. They go back a few generations in my family. I've been a teacher for 30 years and these names have only cropped up a handful of times and the children have never been bullied as far as I'm aware.

RosesAndHellebores · 21/04/2025 13:43

I have been looking at my family tree and am surprised to see among the Mary's, Elizabeths/Eliza's, Alice's, Ann's, etc, fairly regular use of Caroline, Eleanor, and Martha. I'd say Alice, Elizabeth and Ann are the most consistent throughout with Caroline v 19th Century and Martha heavy in the 15th and 16th. I was surprised to see hardly any Catherine's in any line.