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HelpDated names
So, I was inspired by the post on Kevin and the concept of "dad names" and decided to throw together a list of dated names I dig. What are your thoughts on them? Do you consider them dated? What are your favourite "dated" names?
Ladies
Deborah
Donna
Eileen
Jessica (though this is still very popular here)
Kelly
Pamela
Paula
Sheridan
Stephanie
Susan
Gentlemen
Douglas
Frank
Glenn
Graham
Martin
Russell
Much obliged!
Ottilie
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/116467
http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9808453
Ladies
Deborah
Donna
Eileen
Jessica (though this is still very popular here)
Kelly
Pamela
Paula
Sheridan
Stephanie
Susan
Gentlemen
Douglas
Frank
Glenn
Graham
Martin
Russell
Much obliged!
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/116467
http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9808453
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
For me, a name is dated if it's not yet "cool" enough to be considered retro (even though most non-namenerds probably consider retro names to be dated as well. I like to think of them as up and coming.) It's kind of a sliding scale, for me: trendy-dated-retro-vintage-timeless.
Of your list:
Deborah- dated, but I could see it being used again.
Donna- dated.
Eileen- dated, but could get some use.
Jessica- more recently dated. Very 80s/90s to me.
Kelly- dated, 70s/80s.
Pamela- dated.
Paula- dated.
Sheridan- neither here nor there, as it was never used much in my area.
Stephanie- more recently dated, 80s.
Susan- this is retro to me. It's a "grandma" name, not a "mom" name. I quite like it.
Douglas- dated.
Frank- retro.
Glenn- never used much.
Graham- I think of Graham as vintage.
Martin- retro.
Russell- neither here nor there.
Some other names I consider dated and like, to varying degrees:
Carol
Allison
Amy
Fay/Faye
Melinda
Summer
Amanda- could also be considered vintage, I suppose
Debbie
Elaine
Ellen
Holly
Jenna
Justine
Of your list:
Deborah- dated, but I could see it being used again.
Donna- dated.
Eileen- dated, but could get some use.
Jessica- more recently dated. Very 80s/90s to me.
Kelly- dated, 70s/80s.
Pamela- dated.
Paula- dated.
Sheridan- neither here nor there, as it was never used much in my area.
Stephanie- more recently dated, 80s.
Susan- this is retro to me. It's a "grandma" name, not a "mom" name. I quite like it.
Douglas- dated.
Frank- retro.
Glenn- never used much.
Graham- I think of Graham as vintage.
Martin- retro.
Russell- neither here nor there.
Some other names I consider dated and like, to varying degrees:
Carol
Allison
Amy
Fay/Faye
Melinda
Summer
Amanda- could also be considered vintage, I suppose
Debbie
Elaine
Ellen
Holly
Jenna
Justine
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Ladies
Deborah - One of my friend's Mom's is called Deborah and another friend's aunt is called Deborah so I see it as pretty dated.
Donna - Again one of my Mom's friends is called Donna, and one of my Dad's cousins is called Donna. So again I see Donna as dated.
Eileen - I also see Eileen as dated because I know of several old people called Eileen.
Jessica (though this is still very popular here)- I know around four kids called Jessica so I see it as quite popular. I also like this name.
Kelly - This is one of my aunties' names, also a number of my friend's Mom's are called Kelly so again I see it as dated.
Pamela - Nearly every old person I see is called Pamela, or Patricia, so I see it as dated.
Paula - One of my Dad's cousins is called Paula so I see it as dated. The name in it's self sounds dated as well.
Sheridan - I don't see it as overly dated, although it isn't modern.
Stephanie - This name is kind of dated, but I know some people in their 20s and 30s called Stephanie so I'm not sure.
Susan - Another one that's hard to judge. Many people I know of called Susan are between the ages of 40 and 60, but I feel it's making a come back so it's kind of dated but not overly.
Gentlemen
Douglas - Hard to say. When I think of the name Douglas I either think of a like toddler or a man in his 50s or 60s. So I guess kind of dated.
Deborah - One of my friend's Mom's is called Deborah and another friend's aunt is called Deborah so I see it as pretty dated.
Donna - Again one of my Mom's friends is called Donna, and one of my Dad's cousins is called Donna. So again I see Donna as dated.
Eileen - I also see Eileen as dated because I know of several old people called Eileen.
Jessica (though this is still very popular here)- I know around four kids called Jessica so I see it as quite popular. I also like this name.
Kelly - This is one of my aunties' names, also a number of my friend's Mom's are called Kelly so again I see it as dated.
Pamela - Nearly every old person I see is called Pamela, or Patricia, so I see it as dated.
Paula - One of my Dad's cousins is called Paula so I see it as dated. The name in it's self sounds dated as well.
Sheridan - I don't see it as overly dated, although it isn't modern.
Stephanie - This name is kind of dated, but I know some people in their 20s and 30s called Stephanie so I'm not sure.
Susan - Another one that's hard to judge. Many people I know of called Susan are between the ages of 40 and 60, but I feel it's making a come back so it's kind of dated but not overly.
Gentlemen
Douglas - Hard to say. When I think of the name Douglas I either think of a like toddler or a man in his 50s or 60s. So I guess kind of dated.
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Deborah - I'm not sure why I object to it so much, I think I just really dislike the sound.
Donna - This is OK
Eileen - Not bad, I quite like this
Jessica (though this is still very popular here) - still is here too, I like it it's just so common :( and doesn't 'fit' nicely with my combos because it seems trendy
Kelly - don't like this at all
Pamela - not bad, but nothing special for me
Paula - nms
Sheridan - Not sure this was ever that popular here, but it's ok.
Stephanie - not bad
Susan - my mother's name
Douglas - don't like it
Frank - ditto
Glenn - tritto
Graham - NMS
Martin - I quite like this, I especially like the dutch Maarten
Russell - NMS
Some other dated names I like
Janet
Crystal
Lauren
Sadie
Jamie
Dorothy
Marie
Linda
Victoria
Roger
Edgar
Wallace
Walter
Neil
Nigel
Albert
Donna - This is OK
Eileen - Not bad, I quite like this
Jessica (though this is still very popular here) - still is here too, I like it it's just so common :( and doesn't 'fit' nicely with my combos because it seems trendy
Kelly - don't like this at all
Pamela - not bad, but nothing special for me
Paula - nms
Sheridan - Not sure this was ever that popular here, but it's ok.
Stephanie - not bad
Susan - my mother's name
Douglas - don't like it
Frank - ditto
Glenn - tritto
Graham - NMS
Martin - I quite like this, I especially like the dutch Maarten
Russell - NMS
Some other dated names I like
Janet
Crystal
Lauren
Sadie
Jamie
Dorothy
Marie
Linda
Victoria
Roger
Edgar
Wallace
Walter
Neil
Nigel
Albert
This message was edited 5/30/2015, 3:17 AM
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Thank you!
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Most of these I find dated, particularly Eileen, Donna, Pamela, Graham, Glenn and Russell. Is Martin actually dated? I really like it! I'd never thought of it as dated before. I also like Susan.
Dated names I like, although I'm not sure if they're actually dated or just uncommon/old-fashioned where I am:
Holly
Candice
Caroline
Bonnie
Erica
Mary
Karen
Gertrude
Prue
Sylvia
Martha
Leanna
Frieda
Belle
Dora
Diana
Lydia
Marion
Billy
Victor
Vincent
Monty
Pip
Edmund
Albert
Dated names I like, although I'm not sure if they're actually dated or just uncommon/old-fashioned where I am:
Holly
Candice
Caroline
Bonnie
Erica
Mary
Karen
Gertrude
Prue
Sylvia
Martha
Leanna
Frieda
Belle
Dora
Diana
Lydia
Marion
Billy
Victor
Vincent
Monty
Pip
Edmund
Albert
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I love Frieda (though prefer Frida), Vincent and Victor, and I'm very fond of Martha, Gertrude, Belle, Candice, Caroline, Belle, Lydia and Sylvia. And Billy is adorable.
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Deborah - seems midcentury steady like Gloria and Barbara, Sharon and Lorraine. Something dowdy about it now, hard to picture on a youngster.
Donna - I really like Donna. It wasn't as much of a fad as Deborah so doesn't seem as dated. Its similarity to Donald, though ... I don't know. I can see it being used again.
Eileen - still has a slightly youthful air despite the expectation of an older woman. Usable.
Jessica (though this is still very popular here) - it's not dated yet. She is probably under forty. So still usable, and I think it's a beautiful name.
Kelly - younger than Deborah, older than Jessica ... it's about like Jennifer, just less common and less likely to make a comeback because of the style. Which IMO matches the style of Ashley and they are both as likely to make a comeback for boys someday, as for girls IMO.
Pamela - kind of like Eileen except that I don't like it as much.
Paula - like Deborah. But I think it's more datey because it's a form of a male name, rather than an original feminine name.
Sheridan - total fadname, you can peg her age within less than ten years. Very dated despite not being that old. It's like Dale or Adrian on a woman. I don't like it, too surnamey and too like Sherman somehow.
Stephanie - it's like Olivia ... has enough classicness to not feel as dated as it is. Yet. But I'd be surprised to meet a Stephanie under 15. I like the name.
Donna - I really like Donna. It wasn't as much of a fad as Deborah so doesn't seem as dated. Its similarity to Donald, though ... I don't know. I can see it being used again.
Eileen - still has a slightly youthful air despite the expectation of an older woman. Usable.
Jessica (though this is still very popular here) - it's not dated yet. She is probably under forty. So still usable, and I think it's a beautiful name.
Kelly - younger than Deborah, older than Jessica ... it's about like Jennifer, just less common and less likely to make a comeback because of the style. Which IMO matches the style of Ashley and they are both as likely to make a comeback for boys someday, as for girls IMO.
Pamela - kind of like Eileen except that I don't like it as much.
Paula - like Deborah. But I think it's more datey because it's a form of a male name, rather than an original feminine name.
Sheridan - total fadname, you can peg her age within less than ten years. Very dated despite not being that old. It's like Dale or Adrian on a woman. I don't like it, too surnamey and too like Sherman somehow.
Stephanie - it's like Olivia ... has enough classicness to not feel as dated as it is. Yet. But I'd be surprised to meet a Stephanie under 15. I like the name.
This message was edited 5/29/2015, 7:50 PM
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Yeah, they're classics and that makes them seem less dated. They're only dated in the way Mary or Anna is dated. I guess Robert is a better example of a dated classic name.
But people are naming very few kids Thomas and Nicholas anymore, compared to in the past (midcentury for Thomas, 80s-90s for Nicholas). Maybe it's mostly because of increased name diversity rather than the names going out of fashion ... but I think people probably expect a Nicholas or Thomas to be an adult rather than a child, and to me that is kinda what "dated" is - the image of a name as being more likely to be one age than another.
Yay, someone who likes Sherry!
But people are naming very few kids Thomas and Nicholas anymore, compared to in the past (midcentury for Thomas, 80s-90s for Nicholas). Maybe it's mostly because of increased name diversity rather than the names going out of fashion ... but I think people probably expect a Nicholas or Thomas to be an adult rather than a child, and to me that is kinda what "dated" is - the image of a name as being more likely to be one age than another.
Yay, someone who likes Sherry!
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Deborah: it's okay but kind of heavy.
Donna: Much more lively than Deborah.
Eileen: I like this one, especially the spelling Aileen.
Jessica (though this is still very popular here) I don't really think of this as dated; I have seen by the charts/other posts that it's still very much in fashion in the UK, more so than it is here now. It's one of my favorites.
Kelly: Blah.
Pamela: This is really pretty but the nn Pam seems just about inevitable, and Pam is what I spray my baking pans with.
Paula: Ugly.
Sheridan: I'm not sure I'd call this dated since it's never been exactly popular. I do know one Sheridan and she is probably sixty or so now, and goes by Sherry, but the name Sheridan seems more in keeping with currently trendy surname names like Riley and Sawyer.
Stephanie: I don't call this dated either, and it's a favorite. There is a little Mexican girl in Valerie's class named Stefani.
Susan: Very pretty in a low-key, gentle kind of way.
Gentlemen
Douglas: Always seemed too stiff and buttoned-up. Doug is annoying.
Frank: I kind of like it though would probably not ever use it, though it is a family name.
Glenn: I like this. My brother-in-law is Glenn. It makes a very nice middle name.
Graham: Ugly sound, and was never really popular in the US anyhow.
Martin: Irritates the bejesus out of me for no good reason.
Russell: Makes a nice middle name.
Donna: Much more lively than Deborah.
Eileen: I like this one, especially the spelling Aileen.
Jessica (though this is still very popular here) I don't really think of this as dated; I have seen by the charts/other posts that it's still very much in fashion in the UK, more so than it is here now. It's one of my favorites.
Kelly: Blah.
Pamela: This is really pretty but the nn Pam seems just about inevitable, and Pam is what I spray my baking pans with.
Paula: Ugly.
Sheridan: I'm not sure I'd call this dated since it's never been exactly popular. I do know one Sheridan and she is probably sixty or so now, and goes by Sherry, but the name Sheridan seems more in keeping with currently trendy surname names like Riley and Sawyer.
Stephanie: I don't call this dated either, and it's a favorite. There is a little Mexican girl in Valerie's class named Stefani.
Susan: Very pretty in a low-key, gentle kind of way.
Gentlemen
Douglas: Always seemed too stiff and buttoned-up. Doug is annoying.
Frank: I kind of like it though would probably not ever use it, though it is a family name.
Glenn: I like this. My brother-in-law is Glenn. It makes a very nice middle name.
Graham: Ugly sound, and was never really popular in the US anyhow.
Martin: Irritates the bejesus out of me for no good reason.
Russell: Makes a nice middle name.
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Heh, I think this is the only list I've posted where you've generally approved! I can see some of these names being very Rox-esque.
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I consider all of your names "dated" except for Sheridan (so odd to see that one - it's purely unique for me!) and Graham. I only knew one Graham growing up, so it doesn't have much of an image tied to it for me. I adore Deborah (though I prefer to say it in a faux-British way: deh-BORR-ah. So dark and lovely that way). I also find Stephanie really sweet and light and cheery, and Eileen has guts, which I really admire. I also like Frank, Douglas, and love Martin. Martin is so cute I just want to gobble him up.
I like a lot of dated names. I often have a knee-jerk "ew" or "boring" reaction, but when I make myself sit with them and look at them differently, I often grow to love them.
My favourite dated names include (some of them are into "retro" territory - not sure if that means they are no longer dated):
Janet - the other day I imagined Janet on a baby and totally fell in love
Belinda and Melinda
Moira
Irene
Lucille
Heloise
Maxine
Millicent
Bonita
Juanita
Maud
Blanche
Thelma
Suzette
Francine
Bertha
Wanda
Crystal
April
Julie
Cynthia
Edna
Velma
I like a lot of dated names. I often have a knee-jerk "ew" or "boring" reaction, but when I make myself sit with them and look at them differently, I often grow to love them.
My favourite dated names include (some of them are into "retro" territory - not sure if that means they are no longer dated):
Janet - the other day I imagined Janet on a baby and totally fell in love
Belinda and Melinda
Moira
Irene
Lucille
Heloise
Maxine
Millicent
Bonita
Juanita
Maud
Blanche
Thelma
Suzette
Francine
Bertha
Wanda
Crystal
April
Julie
Cynthia
Edna
Velma
This message was edited 5/29/2015, 5:05 PM
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I LOVE dated male names too! They are way better than dated female names. :)
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Hehe, I'm British, and I'm afraid to tell you I pronounce it as DEB-rə. I wonder if people really do say deh-BORR-ah?
I like so many of the names you've mentioned! Janet, Moira, Lucille, Heloise, Millicent, Thelma, Priscilla, Franklink, Edgar, Ralph, Reginald, Leonard (Leonard!), Walter, Herbert. Interesting that you consider Lois, Duncan and Leon dated, as I've known people my own age with the names.
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Yeeeah...I know the de-BORR-ah pronunciation is not real. I probably saw it on a movie where people had really over-the-top fake "English" accents and just ran with it. I love it so much though! Life isn't fair!
Lois and Leon are definitely grandparent names in my area. Duncan I've rarely seen on a real living person, but it's got an old-fashioned feel, so I figured, eh, throw it in there.
Lois and Leon are definitely grandparent names in my area. Duncan I've rarely seen on a real living person, but it's got an old-fashioned feel, so I figured, eh, throw it in there.
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Deborah - sounds dated to me but I don't mind it
Donna - maybe dated, but it feels ageless to me, I can definitely picture it on a girl or teen and I like it.
Eileen - sounds dated, not a big fan
Jessica - maybe a bit? but I like it, and Jess feels modern to me
Kelly - I have an older relative with this name but I haven't seen it around enough for it to feel truly dated to me. I like it, I think it's a cute name for a girl.
Pamela - dated and honestly my least favorite girl's name ever
Paula - a bit dated maybe, but not too much, still very nice
Sheridan - don't hear this very often, not a fan but it's not too bad
Stephanie - a bit dated and nms
Susan - more classic than dated to me, it's a nice name but a bit boring to me as I know so many Susans
Douglas - more vintage than dated. It's actually kind of nice but I don't like the nn Doug at all.
Frank - prefer Franklin, just Frank is all old man to me
Glenn - again more vintage than dated, and I like it!
Graham - again feels vintage, and I can see it coming back in style. It's a nice name, very classic.
Martin - not sure if this is dated, but I really like it
Russell - a bit dated, nms either way
Hmm, my favorite "dated" names that come to mind are Melissa, Marilyn, and Clarence.
Donna - maybe dated, but it feels ageless to me, I can definitely picture it on a girl or teen and I like it.
Eileen - sounds dated, not a big fan
Jessica - maybe a bit? but I like it, and Jess feels modern to me
Kelly - I have an older relative with this name but I haven't seen it around enough for it to feel truly dated to me. I like it, I think it's a cute name for a girl.
Pamela - dated and honestly my least favorite girl's name ever
Paula - a bit dated maybe, but not too much, still very nice
Sheridan - don't hear this very often, not a fan but it's not too bad
Stephanie - a bit dated and nms
Susan - more classic than dated to me, it's a nice name but a bit boring to me as I know so many Susans
Douglas - more vintage than dated. It's actually kind of nice but I don't like the nn Doug at all.
Frank - prefer Franklin, just Frank is all old man to me
Glenn - again more vintage than dated, and I like it!
Graham - again feels vintage, and I can see it coming back in style. It's a nice name, very classic.
Martin - not sure if this is dated, but I really like it
Russell - a bit dated, nms either way
Hmm, my favorite "dated" names that come to mind are Melissa, Marilyn, and Clarence.
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I like Marilyn! That's another name I was thinking of just earlier.
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Deborah - I think it does feel a little dated, but it has a wide range. I know plenty of Deborahs from their 20s to their 60s, but I can't really picture it on a new baby.
Donna, Pamela, and Paula all feel dated to the 50s-60s.
Eileen, Kelly, and Stephanie have a pleasantly upbeat dated feel, and those are the dated names I like.
Jessica - definitely feels dated, but I still know a few little ones. Seems odd to me.
Sheridan - never met or heard of anyone with this name
Susan - Apparently this is a dated name, but that's always surprised me because the only one I've ever known is a cousin of mine who's about 30. It has a youthful feel, I think.
Douglas and Martin don't seem all that dated. Maybe a little. They're pretty classic. Although I think they're both more mature sounding names.
Frank feels dated to a man in at least his 60s, but I like it a lot as a nickname
Glenn - Also not really dated to me. I have a great-uncle Glenn and I've known at least 3 Glenns around my age (late 20s).
Graham - Not sure I've ever met a Graham in real life. Definitely not dated, but I love it and would use it.
Russell - A little dated, I went to school with plenty of Russells, but don't think I know any of other ages.
My favorite dated names are usually ones that are, like I mentioned in my comments, the upbeat feeling ones and usually from the 70s-80s. Like Stacey and Darcy.
Donna, Pamela, and Paula all feel dated to the 50s-60s.
Eileen, Kelly, and Stephanie have a pleasantly upbeat dated feel, and those are the dated names I like.
Jessica - definitely feels dated, but I still know a few little ones. Seems odd to me.
Sheridan - never met or heard of anyone with this name
Susan - Apparently this is a dated name, but that's always surprised me because the only one I've ever known is a cousin of mine who's about 30. It has a youthful feel, I think.
Douglas and Martin don't seem all that dated. Maybe a little. They're pretty classic. Although I think they're both more mature sounding names.
Frank feels dated to a man in at least his 60s, but I like it a lot as a nickname
Glenn - Also not really dated to me. I have a great-uncle Glenn and I've known at least 3 Glenns around my age (late 20s).
Graham - Not sure I've ever met a Graham in real life. Definitely not dated, but I love it and would use it.
Russell - A little dated, I went to school with plenty of Russells, but don't think I know any of other ages.
My favorite dated names are usually ones that are, like I mentioned in my comments, the upbeat feeling ones and usually from the 70s-80s. Like Stacey and Darcy.
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In which way do you consider your names dated? Some of them seem grandma-ish but others are more 80s? Or have I just answered my own question?
I like... (from my PNL and I wouldn't necessarily use all of these)
Esther
Gertrude - but obviously I wouldn't use it on an actual child
Helen
June
Maude
Nell
Rosamund
Vera
Albert
Edmund
Harold
Malcolm
I like... (from my PNL and I wouldn't necessarily use all of these)
Esther
Gertrude - but obviously I wouldn't use it on an actual child
Helen
June
Maude
Nell
Rosamund
Vera
Albert
Edmund
Harold
Malcolm
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Haha, yes, dated in both of those ways. Gertrude and Maude are both family names for me and I am therefore quite fond of them. I love Rosamund, too! And Esther, Nell and June are pretty lovely, though the latter is unusable for me. I'm fond of all of the boys' names you mentioned, too, apart from Malcolm.
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Just lately I've really started to like the name Stephanie, so I'd say that's my favourite dated name right now.
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There really is something so enjoyable about Stephanie - it's bouncy yet flows wonderfully.
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