I think there are three facotrs which make a name very dateable. Firstly, any name which was top 20 popular in the 90s, but did not remain in the top 20s through the 00s and into the 10s is now going to become an old person name. This is because those names are more obviously dateable as they can be tied to a period in time. So for example, even though they're both in the NZ top 10 for 1998, Caitlin is much more dateable than Olivia (which has persisted in the charts to this day). Also, any names from 20-30 years ago which fit a pattern. For example, for our parents generation it was the karen/sharon or brenda/kendra/Linda pattern. I'm not sure what this is in todays terms - Hannah, Anna, Emma? Even though those names weren't individually super popular, they're more easily noticeable as "old names" because we associate them with other similar names of the era. And of course, any names that are celebrity or character driven e.g. Hermione and Daenerys, as these kids grow up their names will be very obviously from a certain era.
As a certified Old(TM) in the eyes of Gen Alpha, I'm sure, the most common names of my generational cohort are: Jessica, any iteration of Caitlin/Kate/Katie, and for guys, Mike/Michael and Chris(topher). It's utterly hilarious to me to imagine that the name Jessica is Alpha's version of, idk, Ethel? Agnes?
I'm grateful that my mother went rogue to spell my name in a weird/semi-nonsensical way; perhaps it'll be spared being relegated to the retirement home of names.
My name is Stephanie and I’m going to stand in solidarity with the Ashleys and Joshua’s of the world because I was born in 1987, and those were definitely popular baby names in the 80s. Mine included! They’re such classic, wholesome names. They don’t sound anything like Gertrude or Theodore. Now those are old people names. 😂
I have a youth fashion brand - there are like 30+ Rachel's and Sarah (s) of paying customers - the Mum's!!!! I have four kids including two Alpha's yet, two Z's and yet to meet a Rachel or Sarah little kid yet. Do see other names that may have seemed old fashioned when us Millenials were born - Maeve, Fred, Etta etc
Catherine (me, but I go by Cat) and other iterations, especially Katie. Brittany. Matthew. Brandon.
It's so interesting how names become somewhat generational even before they are deemed "old". My sister is the only Debra (Debbie as a kid and now Deb) our age (30s) that I know. Which makes sense because she was named after my mom's cousin who died young in a car crash. It still doesn't feel old, though.
Same for my son. He was named after his late grandfather, and while it's not an old fashioned name, there definitely aren't any other kids his age with the same name.
My name is Abby/Abigail and I grew up knowing (and continue to meet) at least 5 other Abigail’s around me at one time but I am STILL meeting children with the name so I don’t think it’s old yet… must be a classic I guess 💁♀️
As a massive fan of Taylor who literally only learnt about this Singapore exclusivity yesterday I think it's really shitty of Taylor and her team or whoever it was who made this decision. Definitely disappointing to hear this has happened
Normy is a name for the ages!
I think there are three facotrs which make a name very dateable. Firstly, any name which was top 20 popular in the 90s, but did not remain in the top 20s through the 00s and into the 10s is now going to become an old person name. This is because those names are more obviously dateable as they can be tied to a period in time. So for example, even though they're both in the NZ top 10 for 1998, Caitlin is much more dateable than Olivia (which has persisted in the charts to this day). Also, any names from 20-30 years ago which fit a pattern. For example, for our parents generation it was the karen/sharon or brenda/kendra/Linda pattern. I'm not sure what this is in todays terms - Hannah, Anna, Emma? Even though those names weren't individually super popular, they're more easily noticeable as "old names" because we associate them with other similar names of the era. And of course, any names that are celebrity or character driven e.g. Hermione and Daenerys, as these kids grow up their names will be very obviously from a certain era.
As a certified Old(TM) in the eyes of Gen Alpha, I'm sure, the most common names of my generational cohort are: Jessica, any iteration of Caitlin/Kate/Katie, and for guys, Mike/Michael and Chris(topher). It's utterly hilarious to me to imagine that the name Jessica is Alpha's version of, idk, Ethel? Agnes?
I'm grateful that my mother went rogue to spell my name in a weird/semi-nonsensical way; perhaps it'll be spared being relegated to the retirement home of names.
My name is Stephanie and I’m going to stand in solidarity with the Ashleys and Joshua’s of the world because I was born in 1987, and those were definitely popular baby names in the 80s. Mine included! They’re such classic, wholesome names. They don’t sound anything like Gertrude or Theodore. Now those are old people names. 😂
As a fellow, but slightly younger, Stephanie I totally agree with you!!
My name is so old it's biblical. Outside of Israel, I very rarely meet any other Reubens, even the ones with weird spelling (Rubin, Ruben)
Reuben is such a nice, strong, masculine name. I’ve only met a handful of them. All of my kids have strong biblical names too.
I have a youth fashion brand - there are like 30+ Rachel's and Sarah (s) of paying customers - the Mum's!!!! I have four kids including two Alpha's yet, two Z's and yet to meet a Rachel or Sarah little kid yet. Do see other names that may have seemed old fashioned when us Millenials were born - Maeve, Fred, Etta etc
Gotta add Gertrude & Herman to that old fashioned list. 😅
I think the TS news is shady AF and not a good look for her
Catherine (me, but I go by Cat) and other iterations, especially Katie. Brittany. Matthew. Brandon.
It's so interesting how names become somewhat generational even before they are deemed "old". My sister is the only Debra (Debbie as a kid and now Deb) our age (30s) that I know. Which makes sense because she was named after my mom's cousin who died young in a car crash. It still doesn't feel old, though.
Same for my son. He was named after his late grandfather, and while it's not an old fashioned name, there definitely aren't any other kids his age with the same name.
Any version of Catherine. Katies, Cates, Kates, Cathies, and the rest will be relegated to the days of MP3s and Crank Dat remixes.
My name is Abby/Abigail and I grew up knowing (and continue to meet) at least 5 other Abigail’s around me at one time but I am STILL meeting children with the name so I don’t think it’s old yet… must be a classic I guess 💁♀️
Hii i love your page. Can you please do a segment where you suggest good authors please? I'm legit running out of book recommendations?
Not sure if I have an old person name but I do have a common dog name -😆
i have had an old person name for my entire life and i love it. embrace the age!
As a massive fan of Taylor who literally only learnt about this Singapore exclusivity yesterday I think it's really shitty of Taylor and her team or whoever it was who made this decision. Definitely disappointing to hear this has happened
I’m a Josephine, def an ‘old’ name. 💁♀️
I thought it was widely known that the Singapore government had paid TS for exclusive shows in Asia?
I only heard about it yesterday so maybe not?
My partner told me about it at least two weeks ago. I asked him and he said he’d seen it on twitter.
I haven't used twitter for about 3 years now so that's possibly why I missed it!