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'Old-fashioned' names that might NOT make a come-back?

338 replies

PrincessFiorimonde · 04/04/2011 07:08

I was thinking about names that might have been popular about 100 years ago or more, and were then considered old-fashioned 30, 40 or even 50 years ago - but are now becoming more popular again. For example, Dorothy and Archie are names that are probably used more now than they were for babies born in the 60s or 70s.

So I wondered if there are names that have not made a come-back, and are not likely to?

For example, does anyone think these names are used much for babies born recently:
Eustace
Eunice
Jean (for a girl; not the French boys' name)
Joan (for a girl; not the Catalan boys' name)

I'm not trying to start a 'these are horrible names' thread. I'm just wondering which 'old-fashioned'-type names haven't really been revived. (Or perhaps I should say: haven't really been revived yet!)

OP posts:
tattycoram · 04/04/2011 07:30

I know a baby Jean.

Cyril and Cecil I can't ever see becoming fashionable again

kreecherlivesupstairs · 04/04/2011 07:34

Cuthbert or Neville for boys and Shirley for a girl.

hazeyjane · 04/04/2011 07:37

Fanny

exoticfruits · 04/04/2011 07:42

I think that they will all make a comeback-the 4 you mentioned have all had people who like them on MN! I have been looking at 1901 census and all the (horrible) names are back-Edith, Alfred, Sydney,Violet, Elsie etc and there are even people who like Ethel!!

It is only a matter of time before we get back to Brenda, Nigel, Colin and Maureen etc

Anaxagora · 04/04/2011 07:47

Brenda
Shirley
Bruce
Derek

ilovesprouts · 04/04/2011 07:58

gordon ,who would call there dc thatHmm

abgirl · 04/04/2011 08:14

Myrtle, I have a great aunt who the whole family call 'Myrtle the Turtle'Grin - she must know but doesn't seem to mind - can't see that one making a come back ever!

LaurieFairyCake · 04/04/2011 08:16

Kevin
Tracey
Sharon - all popular amongst my age group, think they'll take a while to come round again
Agnes
Euphemia

ValiumSoltera · 04/04/2011 08:43

Some of these names are from a more recent batch than the real 'old names'. Eg bruce and shirley. There are still bruces and shirleys who are alive. So you can't really say they're so awful they won't come back. Actually, bruce sounds cool to me. I think that will come back.

Myrtle is lovely. If Lyra and Miriam can come back then I don't see why Myrtle wouldn't/won't.

Obviously Kevin, Tracey and Sharon won't come back until 2050. But they will. People will name after their great grandmother Tracey or their ggf Kevin. It'll happen.

ValiumSoltera · 04/04/2011 08:46

Yeah I'll put my hand up and say I quite like Ethel!! I don't know why it's so hated anyway. Certainly no less pretty than Iris or Ivy imo.

I think, to be really serious here, the names that won't come back will be names which have a kind of germanic influence. There were names popular 90 years ago such as Ethelreid, Ethelburg, Alfraeda... I don't think these exact names will return. But versions of them will.

bandgeek · 04/04/2011 08:47

Gertrude
Euphemia (having said that, I rather like Phamie as a nickname!)

Horace for a boy

bandgeek · 04/04/2011 08:47

I always liked Phylis for a girl - people used to laugh at that one!

ValiumSoltera · 04/04/2011 08:51

hmmm, interesting. I don't think those names will be popular soon, but Euphemia actually sounds quite predictable to me. it ends in ia which is very popular now. People have used up Olivia and are looking for something with a similar feel in sound but oh holy grail unusual. Ophelia is already out there now. There are a few of them scattered about. Euphemia is not a huge leap from Eugenia/Ophelia. I would be surprised if there weren't at least five Euphemias within the next two years.

Gertie has that kind of Bertie Wooster 1920s vibe about it. You know the kind of names Pearl Lowe and tummytickler would choose!

eatyourveg · 04/04/2011 08:54

Beryl, Barbara, Sheila, Mavis, Cyril, Reginald, Terence, Percy ( although may be Percy could be cool one day)

Bubbaluv · 04/04/2011 08:56

Yep - Fanny is a goner surely.
I met a baby Horace a couple of years ago and really expected the mother to wink and tell me she was joking, but no.
Brian seems unlikely.
Mildred
Margery
Mildred
Guinevere
Garth

BornAgainDomesticGoddess · 04/04/2011 08:56

That's a shame, isn't it hazeyjane? I love the name Fanny, it's very 1920s.

ValiumSoltera · 04/04/2011 08:59

You put Mildred down twice!
Millie - Mildred! I bet there are a few already.
Guinevere, isn't that quite normal in Cornwall or Devon?

BuntyPenfold · 04/04/2011 09:16

I don't think Fanny will make a comeback, or Clytie (my great aunt Clytemnestra apparently)
And I am told Albert means something rude now. Well, always did, but I didn't know it did.

Hedwig3 · 04/04/2011 09:20

I LOVE Nora and I believe that there are a few about Envy

Not sure if I could put up with the catsbumfaces Sad

bobblehat · 04/04/2011 09:27

I'm always suprised Albert hasn't made a huge comeback as to me Bertie isn't too far away from Alfie (although I do know a lo with this name). I think Beryl will take a while to come back, as will Doreen and Brenda.

That said, I did know a Maureen who will now be mid thirties and there's a little boy I know called Douglas. It's just not a name I can imagine for a baby.

Skinit · 04/04/2011 09:31

Agnes? It's quite elegant now I look at it....

Nora

Cynthia

exoticfruits · 04/04/2011 09:43

Agnes seems very popular now.

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babybythesea · 04/04/2011 09:46

Norman. Definitely belongs to an old man. Or a goon.

LifeInTheSlowLane · 04/04/2011 09:52

The 70s names do seem less attractive now, but maybe they'll come back eventually! Names I remember from childhood that were really popular but you don't seem to hear now:

Sharon, Tracy, Jane, Claire, Jenny, Alison, Nicola, Lesley, Rebecca

Keith, Kevin, Darren, Gareth, Brian, Malcolm, Jason

cumbria81 · 04/04/2011 09:55

I know a baby Albert. Horrid name, imho.

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