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Amanda
I've been coming around to Amanda lately. I used to think it was tired and worn out from the 80s, but I've been reading a lot of Noel Coward lately and revisited the play "Private Lives," which involves a vivacious and beautiful Amanda from the first part of the 20th century (1920s or 1930s, I think). It's changed my view of it a bit, and I've always liked Mandy as a nickname. What do you all think of Amanda? Any favorite combos or nicknames?

This message was edited 7/18/2012, 2:28 PM

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I agree that we need to see 80's names come back, I love them and named my own daughter Lindsay five years ago. Amanda was on our list too, it is very pretty and classic sounding. I do like the nickname Mandy and know a couple of them though I would probably stick with Amanda for my own child. I would really love to hear Amanda on a baby, it would sound very fresh!
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I just have to disagree that we need to see 80s names come back. The people bearing those names are now only in their twenties. They are in the prime of life and have a long time to live. They are everywhere. It could be that most people in older age groups may not know a lot of people in their twenties, so they don't hear the names often, but I'm an older person whose friends are almost all much younger, and I've heard those names ad nauseum, as have the people who are now in their twenties. And those people are now in their child-bearing years, and it's perfectly understandable that they now don't want to use the names that they heard so much growing up. It's not that I don't like a lot of 80s names, because I do, but I think that they all have become boring from overuse and need a good further 50 years of rest, if not more.
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I've never been fond of Mandy--too Barry Manilow for me, maybe--but I've always liked Amanda. It's been years since I've met a baby Amanda, and I'd be happy to see one. Amanda has a lot going for it. It's elegant, pretty and feminine without feeling limp, and a classic...albeit one that was extremely popular in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It's datedness doesn't bother me, but I admit I love 70s/80s names. Anyway, since Amanda has never been out of the top 500, it's harder to date than names like, say, Megan or Courtney. My Great(x4)-Grandmother, born in 1811, was an Amanda Melvina. I don't recommend the combo, but it is kind of fun. I think the important thing about making Amanda combos is to avoid predictable middle names--no Amanda Lynns, Amanda Maries, Amanda Roses, etc. Amanda Phoebe
Amanda Sibyl
Amanda Juliet
Amanda Celeste
Amanda Estelle
Amanda Scarlet
Amanda Iris
Amanda Imogen
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I'm still soooooo sick and tired of it. Don't fall for the literary reference trick... no one will understand that she is Amanda after a play, and not just because her parents were unimaginative.I can't see myself ever appreciating names like Amanda, Emma, Nicole and Jessica ever again... I just know too many.Also, the MAN sound in Amanda, not a fan, really. "You're a man, duh"... I've seen it happen to too many Amanda's.
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I've always liked Amanda. It's on my long list, but never in my personal top 10 (only because there are always names I like more!) I don't care for Mandy. Surprisingly, among all of the Amanda's I know, the only Mandy I know is short for Miranda.
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I think Amanda is a beautiful name, and it deserved the popularity it had in the past. I have a cousin named Amanda Elizabeth, she is about ten or eleven now. Very pretty girl, a softball fanatic. Amanda really suits her, very feminine but not frilly or cutesy.I'm sorry to say I don't like Mandy at all. It seems wimpy, whiny and weak.
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I know so many girls named Amanda it's annoying. I understand why, it's a really pretty name and if I didn't hear it all the time I would probably really like it. I can't stand Mandy though. Not really a fan of any of the -andy names (Brandy, Candy, Randy, Andy, etc.) they sound kind of childish to me.
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My ten-year-old sister is named Amanda Faith. She has been the only Amanda in her class since she started school, so the popularity has definitely dropped off since I was taking classes. (We're sixteen years apart in age and I knew at least a dozen Amanda's!)I'm personally not a fan of Mandy, it seems a bit juvenile to me, although Manda doesn't bother me so much. I used to call my sister Manda bear when she was a toddler. She goes by just Amanda these days though. =)
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This is my brother's favorite name - he wanted to name his daughter Amanda Rose. His wife refused, though, as she was afraid of the Mandy nickname. They went with Brianna Lynn instead - I think Amanda would be better.I don't think Amanda needs a nickname and as for middle names, go with something unexpected. Some ideas:Amanda Josephine
Amanda Marguerite
Amanda Eve
Amanda Elinor
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Amanda is pretty. I think we need some 80's names to come back. :)
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I had a similar experience a few years ago, where I came around on Amanda once I started thinking of it in a more old-timey feel. More prairie-pioneer-ish for me though, but I like your Amanda too. So I do like it now. I don't dislike Mandy, although I don't like it either. I prefer no nickname for it.
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I've always really liked it. Its popularity kept me from ever considering it. It was number 3 the year my daughter was born. No way. But it is tired and worn out. It's only significantly started losing popularity within the last few years. I think it needs a rest, but it is a very pretty and classic name. I also like the nickname Mandy. So many names are ruined for me by potential nicknames, but, if it weren't for popularity issues, I'd gladly have an Amanda nn Mandy.
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