See the results of this poll: Timeless or Dated?
Respondents: 62 (This poll is closed)
- Timeless…usable in 2013 : 36 (58%)
- Dated…not usable on a baby today: 26 (42%)
[name]Vanessa[/name] feels dated to me. Regardless of when [name]Vanessa[/name] was made up or how long it’s been around, I still associate it with the 80s and the 90s. I wouldn’t say that makes it unusable on a baby today though(I’ve met two under 5). [name]Vanessa[/name]'s a pretty name but, like I said on your other post, I think it lacks a WOW factor. It definitely wouldn’t make me do any double-takes. [name]Vanessa[/name]'s lovely though! Use it if you love it. 
I didn’t like [name]Vanessa[/name] much but then there was a nice new character in Neighbours, played by a stunning actress, whose name is [name]Vanessa[/name]. It made me like the name a lot more because now I associate it with her.
[name]Vanessa[/name] is not dated. It’s very useable on a child in 2013.
I wouldn’t say [name]Vanessa[/name] is timeless. In my mind, timeless is reserved for [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]James[/name], [name]William[/name] etc. However, I wouldn’t say [name]Vanessa[/name] is dated at all. I don’t think of a certain time period when I hear the name, probably because I know Vanessas of all ages. It’s not like [name]Gladys[/name] or [name]Sheila[/name] or [name]Michelle[/name] which seem confined to one era or another. [name]Vanessa[/name]'s lovely name and if you really love it, go for it! I can see it working very well on a baby today
I can’t vote. I don’t consider [name]Vanessa[/name] timeless. It feels very 80s/early 90’s but I rarely consider names unusable.
[name]Vanessa[/name] feels serious and heavy, along the lines of [name]Deborah[/name], [name]Barbara[/name], and [name]Patricia[/name]. I think those are the type of names that only suit adults but of course they have to be worn by children first. A cute nn like [name]Vana[/name], [name]Nessa[/name], or [name]Essie[/name] would be good while she’s young
Sorry, I LOL’d at this. It’s sweet that he’s concerned
I think it is somewhere in the middle. I agree its not timeless. That is reserved for the classics. It’s a pretty name and I don’t find it dated at all.
I’m not voting, as I don’t think either description really fits [name]Vanessa[/name]. If pressed, I would side with timeless. Perhaps “new classic” would fit it better. By no means do I think [name]Vanessa[/name] is unusable. It is a beautiful, solid choice for a girl. However, I do associate it with the 80s and 90s. That is from my own experience, though. I would put it in a category with names like [name]Samantha[/name], [name]Miranda[/name] (one of my favorties), [name]Sabrina[/name](another favorite), [name]Allison[/name], [name]Stephanie[/name], [name]Tabitha[/name] (again, one of my favorties), and the like. Absolutely nothing wrong with any of them, and all perfectly usable. They do, however, remind some of a particular decade.
I voted no, but I really think that it is somewhere in the middle. It is a bit dated, I wouldn’t personally use it, but I don’t think that it is horrible or unusable. It is kind of meh.
I voted dated but I needed an in between option. I definitely don’t find it timeless but I certainly don’t think being dated makes it unusable. Having a dated name is not the end of the world by any means. I know several very young girls named [name]Kimberly[/name] that pull off their names exceptionally well even though its a tad dated.
I really like [name]Vanessa[/name] and don’t see it as an 80s/90s name. I was born in 1980 and I only knew one [name]Vanessa[/name] growing up. It was in the top 100 in those decades but nowhere near top 10 names like [name]Heather[/name] and [name]Jennifer[/name].
I don’t think it’s dated, it’s just not very commonly used anymore.
I voted Timeless, usable in 2013. I don’t really consider it timeless, but I definitely still think it is usable. I like [name]Vanessa[/name].
I voted timeless, but its more in between. Its not timeless like [name]Elizabeth[/name], but its also not dated like [name]Jennifer[/name]. I think its a very nice, usable name.
I think it’s on the cusp. I don’t consider it a timeless classic, but I don’t consider it unusably dated either. I think it’s a nice name, I love nn [name]Nessa[/name]. I can see some people associating it with the 80’s, but it’s definitely usable.
Like all the others, I felt there needed to be a middle ground in the voting options. So I didn’t vote. [name]Vanessa[/name] is usable. Not a timeless name, but not dated. Besides, dated in perspective. A lot of early 1900’s names are now considered “vintage” or “granny chic” which I happened to rock for my last daughter here. [name]Gemma[/name] is definitely a choice dredged up from a long time ago. So if I can use [name]Gemma[/name], you can use [name]Vanessa[/name].
[name]Vanessa[/name] by the way is a name my 5yo daughter just adores. So maybe it will make a resurgence. I don’t know any [name]Vanessa[/name]'s and don’t know where she found the name. Must’ve been the TV.