Honest Opinions, Please!

I’ve recently fallen back into the 80s names that I’ve been so obsessed with in the past and would love some feedback on these favourites, just to see how usable they are and gauge public reaction to them, if I were to ever use them for a future little one! :slight_smile:

I do work with children though, so a big advantage for me is that none of these are names I hear often, apart from on adults lol.

Here are my favourites;

[name_u]Kimberly[/name_u]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]Stephanie[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Courtney[/name_u]
[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]
[name_u]Dana[/name_u] ([name_u]Day[/name_u]-na)
[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f]
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Tiffany[/name_f]
[name_f]Michelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristina[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Danielle[/name_f]
[name_u]Kelly[/name_u]
[name_u]Lindsay[/name_u]
[name_u]Julie[/name_u]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_f]Melanie[/name_f]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]
[name_f]Alisha[/name_f]

I know it’s a bit long, I’m sorry! But any/all thoughts on the usability of these names would be lovely :slight_smile:

Thank you!! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

I think all could be useable, but the ones that I think are more timeless and I could see a toddler/elementary school age child also wearing are:

[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f]
[name_f]Michelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristina[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Danielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
[name_f]Alisha[/name_f]

I always liked [name_f]Heather[/name_f] as a nature name, but I don’t know if it’s ready for a comeback.

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These are the ones I’d think could still work well on a child:

[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Courtney[/name_u]
[name_u]Dana[/name_u]
[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f]
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
[name_f]Alisha[/name_f]
Maybe [name_f]Heather[/name_f], [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f] and [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] (to me they seem kind of clunky-cool and might be ready for revival)

The others just seem too dated for me, sorry. I can’t really picture them on a child, but I suppose if you know one then you get used to it and it seems usable.

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It’s interesting… I’m an educator also, and I’ve taught students with really interesting names- not even so much cre8tive ones, but names that sound pretty dated. At first blush, it takes a few days to get used to it (they’re often honor names, which is why they are dated and might not have come back yet,) but they grow on me quickly as the student him/herself does.

None of these names are hopelessly dated to the point that you should avoid it if you love it. If I’d have a little girl in my class with any of these names, I’d smile, and in a few days it would be so normal to have a little [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f] or [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f] around!

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These are the ones I think are the most usable!
[name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_u]Julie[/name_u]
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]

[name_f]Joanna[/name_f] is my favorite from your list, I actually find it quite timeless!

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[name_u]Kimberly[/name_u]
I think it’s light and rhythmic - it could work. It has sounds like on trend names like [name_u]Everly[/name_u] and [name_u]Ember[/name_u]

[name_f]Heather[/name_f]
Warm and earthy. Totally in line with names like [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] and [name_u]Piper[/name_u]

[name_f]Stephanie[/name_f]
Quirky and cute

[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
I find it a bit abrupt and clunky

[name_u]Courtney[/name_u]
It’s grown on me - I can imagine a cheery girl with this name

[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]
It does feel very done and dusted

[name_u]Dana[/name_u] ([name_u]Day[/name_u]-na)
[name_u]Love[/name_u] this. It’s cute but mature

[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_u]Love[/name_u] this. I enjoy the sounds and the springy feel

[name_f]Desiree[/name_f]
Such a stunning and interesting sounding name

[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]
[name_u]Light[/name_u] and pretty

[name_f]Tiffany[/name_f]
Cute and funky

[name_f]Michelle[/name_f]
Like [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], it feels done and dusty but [name_f]Chelle[/name_f] makes a cute nn

[name_f]Kristina[/name_f]
I prefer just [name_f]Kristy[/name_f]

[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_u]Love[/name_u] it. Cute, rough and tumble but pretty

[name_f]Danielle[/name_f]
Quite nice and sleek

[name_u]Kelly[/name_u]
I think it’s quite cute but not fussy

[name_u]Lindsay[/name_u]
Nice enough

[name_u]Julie[/name_u]
I can picture a little [name_u]Julie[/name_u]. It’s cute and pretty

[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
Versatile and warm

[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]
Cute and quirky

[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_u]Love[/name_u] it - sharp but sweet

[name_f]Melanie[/name_f]
[name_u]Love[/name_u] this too - lyrical and soft

[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]
Cute and cool

[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]
I always find this one a bit harsh

[name_f]Alisha[/name_f]
I like the soft sounds

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I think all of these names are usable. Some of them might not be my style but I don’t think any of them are too dated to use.

These are the ones I like the most:
[name_f]Stephanie[/name_f]
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f] (I’ve never met anyone named this. It’s not a dated name in the UK. I think it’s lovely.)
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristina[/name_f] (I do prefer [name_f]Christina[/name_f] though)
[name_f]Melanie[/name_f]

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I like [name_u]Kelly[/name_u] [name_f]Bethany[/name_f] and [name_u]Holly[/name_u] from that list!

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[name_u]Kimberly[/name_u] has so much spunk! I definitely think it would work on a little one today!

[name_f]Heather[/name_f] is a truly underrated nature name that is definitely due a comeback!

[name_f]Stephanie[/name_f] has such a wonderful sound, looks great on paper, and has lots of nn options!

[name_f]Kristen[/name_f] is a little hard for me to imagine on a baby, but I still think it’s a beautiful name! I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to get used to a little baby [name_f]Kristen[/name_f]!

[name_u]Courtney[/name_u] actually doesn’t seem that dated! I would picture most [name_u]Courtney[/name_u]'s as high school age! (I do get kind of a negative vibe for some reason. Maybe I knew a bratty [name_u]Courtney[/name_u] or something lol!)

[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] feels like a mom name to me, but I think it’s still usable since she can still go by [name_f]Jenny[/name_f]/[name_f]Jennie[/name_f]!

[name_u]Dana[/name_u] doesn’t seem dated to me either! Perfectly usable!

I LOVE the name [name_f]April[/name_f], and with other month name being so popular, it fits right in! Not dated imo!

I don’t really like [name_f]Desiree[/name_f] (it feels made up somehow), but I think it could still work today.

[name_f]Melissa[/name_f] is one of my best friend’s mom’s names, so it feels stuck in that generation to me.

[name_f]Tiffany[/name_f] just makes me think of the jewelry company. I don’t see it as dated. (I also personally don’t care for this one as much.)

[name_f]Michelle[/name_f] feels like one of the more dated ones from your list.

Of the rest of them (I’m loosing steam over here lol!) I think that these are usable today: [name_f]Kristina[/name_f], [name_f]Erin[/name_f], [name_f]Danielle[/name_f], [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u], [name_u]Julie[/name_u] [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f], and the rest of your list down from [name_u]Holly[/name_u]!

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!

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  • [name_u]Kimberly[/name_u] - It does sound pretty dated, but I met a little “[name_f]Kimmy[/name_f]” once and couldn’t deny how adorable that is…so a nn like that might make it more wearable. Overall, I could see this one working.
  • [name_f]Heather[/name_f] - Mmm…yes? After all, nature names are very popular, so it might not feel too out of place.
  • [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f] - This one has a cute sound, and I think it could definitely work today.
  • [name_f]Kristen[/name_f] - Maybe. It was just so common in its day that the world might need a little break from Kristens and Kristys, imho.
  • [name_u]Courtney[/name_u] - This one for sure! I can easily picture this one on a child today.
  • [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] - See [name_f]Kristen[/name_f]. Although, [name_f]Jenny[/name_f] would be super cute!
  • [name_u]Dana[/name_u] ([name_u]Day[/name_u]-na) - It doesn’t have the same cutesy vibe that make others like [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f] and Courney work…but I don’t think it’s terrible.
  • [name_f]April[/name_f] - Absolutely. It may have been well-used in the '80s, but the fact that it’s a month name makes it hard to find it dated. (At least, for me.)
  • [name_f]Desiree[/name_f] - I personally don’t think this name has an appealing sound. But it’s certainly not unusable if you love it.
  • [name_f]Melissa[/name_f] - Why not? And with a fresh nn like [name_f]Missy[/name_f] or [name_f]Lissa[/name_f], this would wear perfectly well.
  • [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f] - Mmm…this one might be a little too dated, tbh. Sorry. I just can’t hear it without it sounding outdated.
  • [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] - I think it sounds very dated, but I know a family with a little [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] and it does wear pretty well. So this one is usable, I would say. People will just have to get used to a little one with the name.
  • [name_f]Kristina[/name_f] - See [name_f]Kristen[/name_f].
  • [name_f]Erin[/name_f] - I can totally see this one working well today.
  • [name_f]Danielle[/name_f] - I actually know a family with a toddler-aged [name_f]Danielle[/name_f]. They call her [name_u]Dani[/name_u], and, while it’s not my personal favorite, I think it wears perfectly fine.
  • [name_u]Kelly[/name_u] - This one is cute, but it feels fresher for boys these days.
  • [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u] - See [name_u]Courtney[/name_u].
  • [name_u]Julie[/name_u] - Sure, why not? [name_f]Julia[/name_f] is more timeless, and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] is probably more current…but I think [name_u]Julie[/name_u] sounds fine. It has that same cutesy ending, like [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f], that makes it feel girly yet wearable on any age.
  • [name_f]Bethany[/name_f] - Sorry, same as [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f].
  • [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f] - I think this one would be fine.
  • [name_u]Holly[/name_u] - Cute! I can easily see this on a little girl today.
  • [name_f]Melanie[/name_f] - Considering that this name feels incredibly dated, it’s amazing to me that it still remains fairly popular at #105. I think this name is not just dated; it’s way overused. Sorry. :confused:
  • [name_u]Kelsey[/name_u] - See [name_u]Courtney[/name_u].
  • [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] - [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] is pretty classic. I don’t think this one would seem odd at all on a little girl today.
  • [name_f]Alisha[/name_f] - Yeah, sorry, this one, too, feels very dated and overused.
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I don’t think any are unusable. Some are dated imo, but that’s a subjective thing and not necessarily a bad thing. None of them are really my style though but there are several that I have a soft spot for. I don’t exactly like them but I don’t dislike them either.

[name_u]Kimberly[/name_u]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Courtney[/name_u]
[name_u]Dana[/name_u]
[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_u]Kelly[/name_u]
[name_u]Lindsay[/name_u]
[name_u]Julie[/name_u]
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]

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[name_u]Kimberly[/name_u]- I just don’t like the sound of this name. I find it hard to say.
[name_f]Heather[/name_f]- This name is awesome! Greyblue is right, it fits in with names like [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] and [name_u]Piper[/name_u].
[name_f]Stephanie[/name_f]- This is a cute name. I really like it. It sounds really bright and sporty.
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]- This name sounds mature and intelligent, but in a great way!
[name_u]Courtney[/name_u]- Someone bright and cheerful would use this name.
[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]- I think it’s gonna take a little longer before this name comes back after the huge surge
[name_u]Dana[/name_u] ([name_u]Day[/name_u]-na)- I’m not so sure about this. A friend spells it Deyna, and I like that, though.
[name_f]April[/name_f]- This name still works!
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f]- I really like how it’s spelled, but I don’t like the sound very much.
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]- Yessssssss
[name_f]Tiffany[/name_f]- Hmmm… I don’t really like this.
[name_f]Michelle[/name_f]- This name has a nice sound. I don’t really like it on any of my friends with that name, but for some reason a young girl named [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] seems great.
[name_f]Kristina[/name_f]- I like [name_f]Kristen[/name_f] better.
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]- [name_u]Love[/name_u] this spelling!
[name_f]Danielle[/name_f]- Hmmmmmmm… I don’t really like this name
[name_u]Kelly[/name_u]- :heart:
[name_u]Lindsay[/name_u]- :heart:
[name_u]Julie[/name_u]- [name_u]Julie[/name_u] seems like it would be good for a young girl! What about [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] so that if she ever decided that [name_u]Julie[/name_u] was too childish sounding, she could go by [name_u]Jules[/name_u] or just [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]?
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]- ehhh
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]- I love this name! Especially nn like [name_u]Jackie[/name_u].
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]- I love this name too! [name_u]Hollis[/name_u] also sounds nice, for the same situation as [name_u]Julie[/name_u].
[name_f]Melanie[/name_f]- This just seems too 80’s popular girl to me- same with [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f].
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]- This name sounds pretty cute.
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]- I really like this soft name. [name_m]Just[/name_m], NEVER [name_f]Johanna[/name_f].
[name_f]Alisha[/name_f]- I like [name_f]Alicia[/name_f] better.

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I’m not American so I don’t know if this is any tangible help, but i’ll give my five cents anyway

Names I like, but definitely feel at least a little 80’s/90’s:
[name_f]Heather[/name_f], [name_u]Courtney[/name_u], [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], [name_f]Kristen[/name_f], [name_u]Julie[/name_u], [name_f]April[/name_f], [name_f]Kristina[/name_f] (I prefer [name_f]Christina[/name_f]), [name_f]Erin[/name_f], [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f]

Names that aren’t my style and also feel very dated to me:
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f], [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u], [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f], [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], [name_u]Kimberly[/name_u], [name_u]Kelsey[/name_u], [name_f]Alisha[/name_f]

Names I think are definitely usable:
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f], [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f], [name_u]Holly[/name_u], [name_f]Melanie[/name_f], [name_f]Danielle[/name_f], [name_f]Michelle[/name_f]

As pp’s have already said, I don’t think any of these names are unusable, and they are all pretty names, but some of them do feel more dated

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It’s interesting to learn what names others find to be “dated”, and makes you wonder what factors are in play. The decade/year you were born, country or region you’re from, and your particular associations with certain names within your family/friends, etc. I was born in ‘96 in the midwest, and the names on your list that scream 80’s to me the most are [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u], [name_f]Heather[/name_f], and [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f]. Other names on your list feel ready for revival, in my view, like [name_u]Kimberly[/name_u], [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f] and [name_f]April[/name_f] (perhaps I’m biased because I like these names :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:)

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I definitely think all of these names are usable! The ones I like the best are -
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f] - love krissy or kris
[name_f]Erin[/name_f] - think this is cute and wouldn’t class as 80s
[name_u]Julie[/name_u] - definitely ready for a comeback, also love joley
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u] - I have cousins (under 5) with these two last names and know lots of other little [name_u]Holly[/name_u]’s and kelseys so would definitely fit

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Hey, these are the ones I think are most usable to me, although I think you could use them all if you really liked them:
[name_u]Kimberly[/name_u]- would love to meet a little [name_f]Kimberley[/name_f]
[name_u]Courtney[/name_u]
[name_u]Dana[/name_u] ([name_u]Day[/name_u]-na)
[name_f]April[/name_f]
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Tiffany[/name_f]
[name_f]Kristina[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Danielle[/name_f]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_u]Holly[/name_u]
[name_f]Melanie[/name_f]
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]

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Thank you all! :slight_smile: I’m glad that despite their datedness, they still appear to be usable.

@flamingo - I’m an [name_u]Early[/name_u] Education student, and I’ve yet to hear any names that are “dated” on my placements, apart from a few vintage revival names that haven’t yet broken the US top 1000 :stuck_out_tongue: I do find that names grow on me if they’re something I’m not used to now though when I meet a child named them! I find myself liking/appreciating a lot of names that I never imagined I’d like.

@rosajune - That is super interesting to me! I was born in the mid 90s, and have lived in [name_f]Canada[/name_f] all my life, but I went to school with a [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], [name_f]Heather[/name_f], [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f], [name_u]Kimberly[/name_u] and [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f], so they feel dated, but less 80s and more 90s to me! [name_f]My[/name_f] sister and I grew up with girls named [name_f]Sandra[/name_f] and [name_f]Nancy[/name_f], so those don’t seem really as dated to me either!

I think any of the names could work. “Dated” seems like a lack of better word, they’re mostly just “familiar”. More familiar than other names nowadays.

It’s funny; in your list you have my name, my moms name, an Aunt, Cousin, friends, and even my past roommate’s name. Lol

And I’m sure if you use any of those names, you will have family/friends finding an association to it.

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That’s true! I suppose that might be what I like about them, the familiarity! That is funny though, haha! I had several friends growing up whose names are also on my list but I haven’t really spoken to them in years lol.

I think a few of these could be really nice to use now! Some feel very dated because they had a period of mass popularity, but choices like [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], [name_u]Julie[/name_u] and [name_u]Holly[/name_u] feel a little more timeless. I also think any nature names, even if a little dated, are still very usable, so [name_f]Heather[/name_f] and [name_f]April[/name_f] are still in play. I also think [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f], [name_f]Bethany[/name_f], [name_f]Erin[/name_f], [name_u]Dana[/name_u], and [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] wouldn’t be too shocking on a little one now. And there was actually a [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f] in my son’s preschool class!

The ones I probably would avoid using are [name_u]Kelsey[/name_u] and [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f], [name_u]Courtney[/name_u], [name_f]Kristin[/name_f]/[name_f]Kristina[/name_f], and [name_f]Desiree[/name_f]. They just don’t feel ready for a comeback.

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