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Baby names

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

Right, who needs a baby name? I'm armed with a baby name book from the 70's and I'm not afraid to use it

56 replies

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:04

I have just found the baby name book that my parents used in the '70's, lent to myself when naming my children and thought it may help/amuse others.

First published in 1954, I have the 1974 reprint and by jove it has some corkers in it

The Preface

Naming Baby can be a very long, hazardous and trying business, for there are almost as many difficulties to overcome as, say, at a Four-Power Conference. For example, will Baby in later years thank or curse the appellation so painstakingly arrived at; will it please the grandparents - a point for the most careful diplomacy; is the sound of sympathy with the surname; is it pretentious and difficult to pronounce; has it a diminutive which is not at all comlpimentary; and so on and so on. Nevertheless all difficult tasks repay the care and devotion lavished upon them - least not NAMING BABY.

This little book, of course, does not attempt to solve these multitudious problems for they are essentially personal. However, it is the compiler's hope that it will serve to aid in this onerous task by showing what a great variety of names there are to choose from, and something of their origin and meaning.

I'm hoping my scruffy little book will help someone find an untapped name from the past.

So, any requests for girls/boys names of a particular letter?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
rubyslippers · 08/04/2009 16:05

i am a child of the 70's

i am PG with DC2 and myself and DH do not agree on any name so far

hmmm - hit with with a girl's name beginning with H

MissTFied · 08/04/2009 16:06

Hi,

Girls name 'M' please.

Hulababy · 08/04/2009 16:08

So anything in there hat would have seemed way out for the 70s but is completely normal now?

I am child of the 70s so assuming most of the names would be name sof those I went to school with.

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:09

Haggar
Haggai
Hannah
Harriet
Hazel
Heather
Hebe Greek Goddess of youthwho waited on the gods. Now unfortunatelyconnected with barmaids. (lol )
Helen/Helena
Henrietta
Hepzibah

Any good!?

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 08/04/2009 16:11

Haggar ... will get back to you!

Hazel is pretty though

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:15

Mabel
Madeline, Madeleine
Magdalen, Magdalene
Maisie, Mysie
Malvina, Malvine
Mamie
Marcella, Marcelia
Marcia
Margret
Margareta,Margarita,Marguerita
Margot

Have I named a baby yet?

OP posts:
sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:16

That should have been Margaret

OP posts:
Stretch · 08/04/2009 16:16

Hazel is lovely!

MissTFied · 08/04/2009 16:18

Sorry, no, but then I am v fussy. I believe this baby boy or girl, is refusing to come out until I have some idea. Overdue by 9 days now!

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:18

Ahhh see this is working, I know two Hazels both in their 30's but no Hazel babies.

OP posts:
sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:19

More M's needed then...

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 08/04/2009 16:20

try a boy's name

you pick the letter

Toffeepopple · 08/04/2009 16:21

Hazel babies are on the up, I know three!

sleepsforwimps · 08/04/2009 16:24

Maria
Marion, Marian
Mariana
Marianne
Marie
Mariette
Marigold
Marina
Marjorie, Marjery
Martha, Marta
Martina
Mary
Marylyn
Matilda
Maud, Maude
Maudlin, Maun
Maureen
Mavis
May

Anything there? there's more if needed!

OP posts:
Stretch · 08/04/2009 16:25

'S' please, for a girl

(Not Sarah though as that's me!!)

ItsMargotBeaurEGGarde · 08/04/2009 16:26

I like Martha, Margot, Marianne.

Marcella is vile. I knew a horrible Marcella too. She was so Marcella-ish.

ItsMargotBeaurEGGarde · 08/04/2009 16:28

Stretch, what about Susie?

To be truly 70s though it has to be Suzy short for Suzanne, as Suzanne is more 70s and Susan is 60s.

But Susie would work now imo.

Hazel is lovely imo. A really nice name.

ShowOfHands · 08/04/2009 16:28

Maudlin? That's interesting, isn't it?

ItsMargotBeaurEGGarde · 08/04/2009 16:30

ps, what does it say beside Jennifer and Amanda?

And does it have today's names like Olivia and Amelia??

Is Ruby in the book? Edith?

Twims · 08/04/2009 16:31

Mavis and Maude are quite cool

ShowOfHands · 08/04/2009 16:32

Is Inigo in it?

MissTFied · 08/04/2009 16:34

I think you'd best give up on me! I did say I was fussy!

Thanks for trying though.

Stretch · 08/04/2009 16:36

I like Suzanne/Suzannah. I know it's not really a baby name, but hey, they're only babies for a short while!!

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 08/04/2009 16:57

I know a Suzannah who's called Sas as a nickname.

MadreInglese · 08/04/2009 16:59

I'm a child of the 70s (just), there are not many with my name as a first name, but about 1,354,643,135,436,513,854,384 with it as a middle name