Thoughts on our shortlist: classic choices or a bit dated?

[delshell]

Struggling to find a name DH and I both like. We have a shortlist of names and would love thoughts or suggestions of similar names.

Some aren't so popular these days but I can't decide if they're still classic or just dated 😅

Flora
Gwendolen nn Gwen
Sarah
Jemima
Mary
Katherine nn Katie

Flora - like it
Gwendolen nn Gwen - pronunciation is Gwen-DOLL-enn in Welsh not GWEN-duh-lin, and spelling issues (Gwendoline/Gwendolyn). I prefer Gwen as a full name.
Sarah - classic but I know so many
Jemima- love it but not Mima or Mimi
Mary - like it
Katherine nn Katie - prefer Catherine and Kate but then you have the C/K initial, and there's the different spellings

Not a fan of Sarah,the rest are quite nice

What an odd thing to say. Lots of adults are called Katie. They also have the option of Kat or Kate as adults if they wanted.

Everyone saying Sarah is dated surprises me, I know lots of little Sarah's. It's very popular amongst the Arabic speaking community here as it's the same in both languages. (See also: Adam)

I would be surprised (but pleased) to meet a Mary.

I don't like Kat but agree that Katie not being fine for an adult is an odd thing to say.

All lovely.

I was only thinking yesterday that Jemima is rarely heard these days.

Flora - ok
Gwendolen/Gwen - truly awful and harsh sounding
Jemima - the name of a puddle duck
Sarah/Mary/Katherine/Katie - dull as ditchwater

All these names are beautiful. (Except imo Gwendolen, although that spelling is better than Gwendoline. That name always made me think of Windolene cleaning spray and the rather sad character in Enid Blyton's Malory Towers.)

I love the name Sarah. I think it will come back into fashion.

Jemima is a fabulous name. Mary is underused in UK but Maria is everywhere in Latin speaking world.

Katherine nn Katie is fine. If Katie feels too twee in adulthood, she could be Kate which is elegant. I know Katherines who also get nn Kitty or Kit.

you have nice taste

Sarah is dated. I know lots of Sarahs in their 40s but none younger

Katherine and Mary otoh are timeless

Flora and Mary for me. Have always loved Mary, my mum thought it was dated but I think it’s one that’s come back round again, like Nancy and stuff.
i also like Betty for Elizabeth

huh? I know about 5 adults called Katie, it’s a completely normal name

I like Flora and Jemima

I like them all apart from Gwen and Flora. I love Mary!

I like them all and also like the name Annie too. It can’t really be shortened to a nickname but is a lovely how it is. I love the name because of ‘Father of the Bride’ movie and the daughter’s name is Annie and it just suited so well. I’ve liked it ever since.

I know there is the musical ‘Annie’ too but I don’t link it to that.

I like them all. Classic and timeless.

Love them all. Especially love Flora and Jemima - very pretty names. 😊

I love Mary! It’s so underused nowadays. That would be my top pick but I like any of them other than Sarah which I think probably is a bit too much in the dated part of the name cycle.

All are fine names.

Classic and widespread - Sarah, Katherine, Mary
Classic but in and out of fashion - Flora, Gwendolen, Jemima

My faves, inspired by hour list
.. Gwen as a full name, Catherine and Mary.

Flora and Sarah are both beautiful and classic. Sarah is one of my favourite girls names. I know Sarahs of all ages!
I do also like Katherine, and Katie, but would chose Flora or Sarah over it.
Gwendolen, Jemima, Mary, not my preference though they are decent classic names.

Some other suggestions you might like, that are traditional and classic,
Harriet, Imogen, Charlotte, Eleanor, Victoria, Matilda, Susannah, Lydia, Edith, Margaret, Felicity, Laura, Emma.

Nothing wrong with any of them though Sarah had a popularity bashing when I was growing up that I am not sure it has yet recovered from (ie; everyone was called it and so many women in their 40's are). To me it is the one that is dated and not yet ripe for recycling.

Mary is very ready. Katherine has never been quite fashionable enough to be dated to an era, and I'd say the same about Jemima.

Flora is the most whimsical and pretty but does make me think of floral toilet or floor cleaner branding a bit.

Gwendolyn seems to be making a comeback... but is it pretty? I'm not sure.

Love Sarah and the similar Sara. I find them both refreshing, though i went to school with only one Sara, no Sarah's so maybe thats why. I love it as a full name but Sadie coukd be a cute shortening that maybe has a more current feel

Also love Katie (and Kate and Kitty) short for Katherine. It alwsys shocks me that Katie isnt more popular still. Other ie names are stikl very in and Katie is adorable

I like Katherine best. I wouldn't decide on a short form in advance. It might not suit her, and she might choose something different for herself when she's old enough, or even prefer to be known as Katherine.

I disagree. Best to choose the diminutive first or you'll have relatives and friends calling her Katie, Kitty, Kathy, Kath, Kat etc.

She can choose for herself when she's older.

🤣 there are at least 5 Katie's/Katy's/Katey's in my village, all aged between 35&50. Which pretty much reflects every stage of my life since school tbh. Sarah, Emily, Rebecca and Katie were the girls names of the 90's where I grew up. A few of them are Katherine's but they don't ever use the full name, just as many are simply Katy on the bc.

It works just fine for an adult!

I love Katherine best. I think it’s a classic name. Also, a bit biased, as all the Catherines/Katheryns/Katherine/various other spellings, I have known, have been fantastic people.
Do be prepared, that while you may have a preferred nickname for your daughter, that you can’t necessarily control that. Particularly, with a name like Katherine, that so many diminutives, eg Kat, Kate, Kath, Kathy, Kit, Kitty, et al.