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Original poster

1960s top names

106 replies

pandavark · 27/03/2009 11:08

i was just looking at a list of the usa's most popular girls names for the 1960's. They're really normal names and i know lots of people with these names, but I dont think anyone would give their baby those names now. I wonder will they become fashionable again. Would you use these names? do you know any babies with these names? Here's some examples:

karen
susan
kimberley
patricia
donna
michelle
cynthia
sandra
deborah
pamela
b renda
angela
barbara
sharon
teresa
denise
tina
carol
tracy
stacey
sonya
sheila

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100yearsofsolitude · 28/03/2009 11:02

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TheJester · 28/03/2009 11:12

karen - no, but it's not awful
susan - yes, Susie I'm ready for
kimberley - ok, wouldn't use it but don't hate it
patricia - no
donna - nice I think
michelle - Shelley is nice imo
cynthia - yes, ok, especially with Thea for short. NOt Cindy.
sandra - OK, again, wouldn't use it myself, but if I heard of a baby Sandra it would be a little interesting.
deborah - Not awful. Debbie no different to Ruby, Phoebe, Libby in some ways.. But I prefer the new versions, predictably, given my generation.
pamela - a pretty sound but I prefer Paloma.
b renda - no, just a step too far.
angela - bit religious. No.
barbara - No. Dreadful, like Brenda only worse.
sharon - don't like it, but it is a pretty sound that was a victim of its own popularity (as well as Viz's satirists!). I can see it comng back eventually, it is a bible name so it won't go away for ever.
teresa - not keen myself but have heard of a few Tessas.
denise -yuck
tina - nope
carol - no. Just too frumpy but again, not an ugly sound I guess.
tracy - no. Won't recover. Sharon will crawl back eventually. Tracy, if it makes a come back it'll be 20 yrs behind Sharon. (the next time round)
stacey - ok. I don't actually know any Staceys who are nearly 50. Sounds a bit more 20 something to my ear.
sonya - a pretty sound, but again, makes me think of slappers in Ibiza. So I think it is another pretty name with image problems. It'll have a revival eventually though.
sheila - don't like this much, but I guess it'll come back in 2045 (ish)

TheJester · 28/03/2009 11:15

Pandavark, I predict/hope that I'll be a Grandma by 2040 (maybe before) and assuming names come back every 90 years, what were the most popular names in 1950??

That'll give me a warning of what my grandchildren's names might be! I suppose I should start bracing myself now

Mrsmam · 28/03/2009 12:08

I went to school in the 80's and there was loads of girls with those names. Though not sure there were many cynthia's around! Surely that cant make a revival!

womblingfree · 28/03/2009 12:10

I was nearly Stephanie or Lorraine in 1975 but ended up Caroline, which my mum thought was modern (just as well - best friend is Lorraine and SIL is Stephanie!)

When the vicar came round the ward to visit the new babies and ask if they were being baptised he commented on my 'lovely old-fashined name' .

I only know one other Caroline my age actually so perhaps he was on to something.

Know the following though:

karen - early 30's
susan - early 30's
kimberley - early 30's
patricia - early 30's
donna -early 40's
michelle - early 30's
sandra - late 30's
deborah - early 30's/early 50's plus my nan who would have been 100!
angela - early 30's
sharon - early 30's
tina - late 30's
tracy - early 30's

So a lot of those names maybe not quite as old-fashioned as first thought.

purlease · 28/03/2009 12:38

wombling free - I hae a cousin aged 37 and a niece aged 4 - both called Caroline- a good classic name!

willowthewispa · 28/03/2009 15:58

I really like Karen.

eandh · 28/03/2009 16:39

Lol I am 30 in a few weeks and my name is Michelle (named after the beatles song) I went to school with 3 other Michelle's in teh same class and know loads of Natalies, Nicola's, Laura's, Louise's and Jane's

womblingfree · 28/03/2009 17:12

Yep - I must admit I like it. Had to change my original surname by Deed Poll though - it was awful!

Lottybot · 28/03/2009 19:16

What about Beverley and Tanya- i know lots of Mums with those names now , but certainly no babies. I was born mid 60's,name of Charlotte-I was the only one for years and years- now its been top 3 for a good few years I think.

paddingtonbear1 · 28/03/2009 19:31

my name is on the list (born 68). I'm not that keen on it but I don't hate it enough to change it. My best mate has the same name as my mum had (it's on the list), despite being much younger!

singyswife · 28/03/2009 19:34

I work with a woman who's 2 yo is called Susan. When I first hear it I was

MannyMoeAndJack · 28/03/2009 23:00

All the names in this list are so resonant of being at primary school in the 70s.

Also:

Elaine
Jane/Jayne
Gay
Dawn
Diane
Mary
Marie
Lynn
Paula
Sarah
Sally
Bridget
Anne-Marie
Hayley
Janine
Julia
Belinda
Linda
Kirsty

....plus lots of others too!

NotanOtter · 28/03/2009 23:13

donna
brenda NO
tina no

streakybacon · 29/03/2009 10:03

I'm a 48 year old Karen.

I know about half a dozen other Karen's and we're all the same age, with only a few months between us.

We clearly had highly unimaginative parents.

My sister is Kim, early 50s.

When I was at school every other girl seemed to be a Susan or Carol.

KingRolo · 29/03/2009 10:35

In the last 5 years I have taught teenage
1 karen, 2 kimberleys, 2 deborahs and 3 staceys in secondary school but agree they are not so popular now.

The list seems to be quite mixed 60s and 70s IMO, I was born in 78 and my name is there, as are many of my friends names but names like Brenda, Cynthia and Sandra belong to the generation before me.

LeonieSoSleepy · 29/03/2009 12:15

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MrsMattie · 29/03/2009 12:17

I like Susan. I think it'll make a comeback.

I'm a late 70s child and we are all Louise/Michelle/Emma/Sarah.

BlackLetterDay · 29/03/2009 17:00

I know a 2yo Angela, and a 4yo Nigel.

SandJsmum · 29/03/2009 18:08

I met a Barbara who was 8 the other day...I thought that was a strange name for a child. Still who am I to criticise, Im a MICHELLE!!!

EightiesChick · 29/03/2009 18:50

Jux, I also absolutely love Cynthia. As people have said, it seems more like an older generation than 60s. My DH hates it though so no chance of using it for a daughter

I have the name that as someone said is more 70s than 60s but was very common. I was one of several in school.

I don't know of any kids being given these names now, but I'm sure it'll all come round again...

NotanOtter · 29/03/2009 21:07

leonie - i trust you mean my first list

there was a leonie a couple of years above me

ooh Heather another one

PhoenixFirefly · 29/03/2009 23:07

i'm a Donna (i'm 27, born 81) my mum is a Michelle, and yes, one of my middle names is Louise

ilovesprouts · 30/03/2009 10:15

hi was born late 60s my names on the list too num 6 {grin}

poshsinglemum · 30/03/2009 16:38

I quite like some of the really old fashioned names such as Esme but not Esmerelda! I recently met a baby mabel which is very sweet so i think names come full circle.My mum is called pamela and she's 50 something. i quite like Karen, Cynthia and Angela. i think of cynthia nixon. my middle name is donna.