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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

So when are Barbara and Sheila going to come back into fashion?

68 replies

mrsbabookaloo · 30/06/2008 16:00

All the old names from two (or three?) generations ago have come back in, so when are the names from our mums' (or grans', depending on your age) generation going to come back?

What other names come into this category; old enough to be out of fashion, but not old enough to have come back in?

Can you imagine a baby Barbara? I really can't, but it's just prejudice, some people will see the name totally differently no doubt..

Gosh, I really haven't got enough to do today, have I?

OP posts:
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Tortington · 30/06/2008 16:03

2018

MrsSylar · 30/06/2008 16:03

Joan
Janet
Gloria
Pamela
Brenda

Can't think of any more

EffiePerine · 30/06/2008 16:05

Sharon and Tracy are probaby a ways off

MrsSylar · 30/06/2008 16:06

Just thought of some more
Maureen
Doreen
Eileen (hmm, noticing a theme here)

EffiePerine · 30/06/2008 16:06

Janet is I think due a comeback. Not sure about Joan.

mrsbabookaloo · 30/06/2008 16:08

Yes: Janet and Brenda!! Exactly! and Eileen!

OP posts:
mrsbabookaloo · 30/06/2008 16:15

I want to have another dd just so I can say to people, "I'm going to call her Doreen" and watch their reactions!

...Now that would be a silly reason to get pg!

OP posts:
Ledodgy · 30/06/2008 16:16

My mum's name was Barbara, her sisters are Eileen and Margret and they have cousins named Sheila and Doreen. When my mum was dying she actually said I won't ask you to name your first child Barbara after me I couldn't do that to you. Instead I gave dd my mum's middle name as her middle name which is Mary and somewhat more bareable.

Ledodgy · 30/06/2008 16:16

Ha my mum's best friend's name is Brenda as well!

mrsbabookaloo · 30/06/2008 16:45

Aah that's nice, ledodgy.

My grandma is called Bertha! Is this the worst name ever?

OP posts:
LadyThompson · 30/06/2008 16:48

There was a girl at school called Barbara, and she was actually fantastically sexy and all the boys fancied her. Can't make any such claims for Sheila though.

findtheriver · 30/06/2008 19:23

Cynthia

findtheriver · 30/06/2008 19:24

Carol

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 20:01

Barbara
Joan
Just working on the list here, for the new category of names.

Jean
Janet
Gloria
Pamela
Brenda
Eileen
Sheelagh
Beryl
Cynthia
Carol
Maureen
Doreen
M ary

Hmm. Tbh, I don't think those names will come back 'til 2040, so I don't think my grandchildren will be Brenda or Barbara. Oh God Yuck.

Jean/Jeanie and Cynthia and Beryl I could learn to love though.

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 20:02

PS, My Mum was born in 1945, so in theory,her name shouldn't come 'back' until 2055. But I don't think it will ever be a big 'hit'.

Marina · 30/06/2008 20:03

I love the name Barbara Have known two wonderful women by that name

belgo · 30/06/2008 20:04

Prefer Sheelagh - I think that's the irish spelling.

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 20:10

Still bad. Sile, Sheila, Sheelagh. NOPE, whatever way you look at it....

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 20:11

My Mum has three friends called Sheila. Sheila S, Sheila P and Sheila E, so at one point it must have been the Emily of its day.

booge · 30/06/2008 20:22

Angela is another.

biscuitsmustbedunkedintea · 30/06/2008 20:35

I'd like to add Lorraine, Patricia, Pauline, Christine, Glenda & Beverley.

I think Mary is actually making a comeback, albeit in a hyphen type way. Carol was also popular early 80's.

boredwithworknow · 30/06/2008 20:41

Can you all go and post on the 'I've put my foot in my mouth' thread please - my mum was a Sheila, and I am a Brenda!!

greenelizabeth · 30/06/2008 21:42

You are a Brenda? No way? ARe you 68? Only joking, do people tell you all the time that you are 'young for a Brenda'.

I get that a bit with my name too.

StressTeddy · 30/06/2008 21:43

I'm not sure it depends when they next get down to Top Shop!!!

Flibbertyjibbet · 30/06/2008 21:50

Blimey greenelizabeth you've got my first and middle names in that list of yours - I am seriously dated by that!

Came on to post though, that the current thing for shortie names on birth certificates will mean that the names coming back will be:
Barbara Babsie
Patricia Patsie
Janet Jannie

etc etc

And all the people now who put Ellie on the birth certificates instead of Elenor because they say that Ellie is now a proper name in its own right, will be saying 'but you can't put Babs on the birth certificate!!!'