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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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SadieWw · 21/04/2025 13:43

in order of preference:

  1. Josephine
  2. Alice
  3. Rosina
  4. alexandra … but really don’t like Alex as a nickname
  5. Elizabeth - a bit overused/heard too often. Like Elle, Ellie, Beth as nicknames but not keen on Liz
  6. Mary - really dull compared to some of your options.

I dislike Cristina, i think it’s a bit outdated and not as classic and timeless in my opinion

great options though :)

WWomble · 21/04/2025 13:45

I would say your choices are traditional rather than old fashioned. My DD1’s name is on your list so of course I approve and agree with you!!

ohtowinthelottery · 21/04/2025 13:52

TheeNotoriousPIG · 20/04/2025 21:03

I like the vast majority of the names on your list! They are largely traditional and classic, rather than 'old-fashioned'. I would say that 'old-fashioned' covered things like Beryl and Mildred, as well as some of the names that I've heard bestowed on little ones in recent years... in any case, they are better than some of the, erm, modern names I came across while I was teaching.

You could go the whole hog and christen her Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, like the late queen! She would sound very respectable 😁

@TheeNotoriousPIG There was a competition recently in my area to name a pair of animals that had arrived at wildlife enclosure. The winning entry for the female was Beryl. What surprised me was that it was a Yr 2 primary school class who had submitted the winning entry. I knew old fashioned names had made a comeback but I'd not heard of any young Beryls!

Emanwenym · 21/04/2025 13:55

@Comedycook , the teasing isn't necessarily because the name is unusual.

tsmainsqueeze · 21/04/2025 14:12

PowderRoom · 20/04/2025 17:31

They’re all perfectly nice, deeply ordinary names.

I don't think 'ordinary' is quite fair .
As someone else said they are refreshing also classic lovely names.
The only one i'm not so keen on is Alice, no ones business but yours ignore sil.

namechangeGOT · 21/04/2025 14:13

They are old fashioned and that’s what makes them so lovely.

Snugglemonkey · 21/04/2025 14:28

Snail01 · 20/04/2025 18:17

There's old fashioned and then there's Gertrude, Agnes, Enid or Mabel. Your names are perfectly fine and your daughter will not get bullied for any of them. I don't like Alice tbh I think it's a bit of a wet blanket name but I equally wouldn't blink or think 'poor child' if I met a baby Alice.

I really like Agnes, Enid and Mabel.

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