What are your thoughts on these "dated" names?

[thetxbelle]

Girls
Judith - I just can't see this coming back but then again I don't care for it so I might be biased
Nancy - I like this, it has a 50's feel but I don't think it has enough appeal to come back
Maxine - I think this would be nice if it weren't for that annoying Hallmark cartoon of a grumpy old lady
Coleen - too dated imo, might come back in 20 years or so?
Cleo/Clio - I like this, can see it coming back but I prefer Clea
Etta - Love this! I have a great aunt named Etta Mae so I'm partial to it, I think it has a lot of appeal right now with name trends.
Trudie/Trudy - too dated and cutesy in a 50's stereotype way to come back
Jeannie - OK but I think Jeanne nn jeanie could come back before Jeannie does.


Boys
Alvin - Have never been able to stand this and can't see it coming back but I have a bad association with it so Im biased
Douglas - have a young cousin named this so I def can see this coming back
Oscar - too dated, don't care for it and I can't see it coming back
Forrest - definitely fits todays trends so I can see it coming back full force.
Reuben - Where I live this name is not exactly considered refined or stylish so I can't see it coming back because of that perspective.
Virgil - love this, would love to see it come back and I think it has potential
Wallace - not sure about this, on one hand it has potential, on another it reminds me of Wallace Simpson so IDK
Stuart - yes I could see this coming back, its NMS but I would like to see others use it
Clarence - this might be too dated to come back anytime soon

[augusta_lee]

I love Cleo, and Wallace is in my top 15. I like quirky cousin Waldo even more.

[dayken95]

Girls
Judith- Don't like and really don't see making a comeback!
Nancy- I think in a couple of years it will be ready to comeback. Don't personally like it though.
Maxine- Very cute!
Coleen- Don't like but could see it being used.
Cleo/Clio- Don't really see this as dated, I find it very exotic.
Etta- Love it! Definitely ready.
Trudie/Trudy- Same with Judith.
Jeannie- I could see it coming back though I don't like it.


Boys
Alvin- With Alvin and the Chipmunks I don't think it will comeback any time soon.
Douglas- Kinda cute, I could see it.
Oscar- Don't like because of personal association but I think of Oscar the Grouch. It might comeback in a couple of years.
Forrest- LOVE! So ready.
Reuben- I could see it coming back into style.
Virgil- Oh no!
Wallace- i think of Wallace & Gromit but it is kinda cute.
Stuart- Don't like but have met some little Stuarts.
Clarence- I kinda like it but don't know if it's ready to comeback.

[harrietsmummy]

Judith- In a minority here, but I love Judith. I think its soft and gentle sounding. The soft 'th' is popular where I am- there are Tabithas and Theas popping up, so why not Judiths? I put it in the same boat as Loretta and Marion (used by SJP for her girls.) All it'd take it someone in the public eye to use the name...
Nancy- This one is coming back, I think! Our PM's daughter is named Nancy, and it pops up quite a lot in the upper middle classes. I quite like it but it has a 'jolly' vibe that I don't think I'd want in a name I would use personally.
Maxine- I hate this. Please let it not come back! It isn't in the UK that I know of. It sounds SO masculine to me. Brutish almost!
Coleen- Hmm, not a fan but I could see it coming back. Maybe in a few years anyway- it doesn't seem to have the vintage vibe of some of the others; and its that which seems to be attracting new parents where I am.
Cleo/Clio- Love both these, especially the latter spelling. Please goodness let them not flare up in popularity. Haven't heard of any Cleos or Clios for a long time, but I can imagine them becoming popular. Mythological link, like Chloe has, and a wearably brief name! I think Cleo/Clio has potential curb appeal- I can't actually see why this name isn't popular already!
Etta- Yep, as with Cleo. Short and sweet- like Ada, Isla etc. Could potentially come back- especially with the jazz association on its side. However, I also wouldn't bank on it- might need a boost from the outside. E.g. inclusion in a Twilight film or something tragic
Trudie/Trudy- Nope. This one isn't due for a revamp
Jeannie- Ditto this one!


Boys
Alvin- Like PPs said. Chipmunks still got him
Douglas- I know a little Douglas, and its grown on me. Still, I think this one will stay gathering dust for a while yet.
Oscar- This is so so popular in the UK! Maybe meaning that will happen in the US too?
Forrest- Hmm, don't see this one becoming too popular. It lacks charm IMO.
Reuben- Meh. This is alright. I see it as a bit 'jolly' too. Kind of silly sounding or something?
Virgil- Like this a lot, but too similar to the word 'virgin' to ever come back I think. Plus very serious and ancient associations. Not an obvious contender on the popularity charts
Wallace- This is cool- can see this one coming back. It has the same strong, surnamey but classic feeling as maybe, Lloyd or Clark
Stuart- NOO so goofy and dated sounding still
Clarence- I think too effeminate to come back. Too much like Clara, Claribel, Claire etc. And the 'Clar' beginning isn't tremendously cool- Claribel still carries associations with that cow! And I don't think Clarence entirely escapes from those poncey associations..

This was interesting! Good post

[everwaiteing]

Girls
* Judith - I love Judith. I see the full name as elegant and beautiful. If I had a half dozen daughters, I'd consider using it as a middle name. I would love to see it used more often, but I'm not sure that parents are ready yet for the nn "Judy."
* Nancy - It was a suave name in its day, but it's not really my style, and I CANNOT imagine it being used now.
* Maxine - It's not my style, as Max just feels masculine to me. I am not sure the "ine" ending is going to be stylish anytime too soon, but it might in light of the trend to call girls by masculine names. I CAN imagine parents calling their daughters Max.
* Coleen - I don't mind Coleen, but I CAN'T picture it being revived any time soon.
* Cleo/Clio - This one is not my style, but I CAN see it being revived at any time.
* Etta - I love Etta, and I think it is very usable now.
* Trudie/Trudy - Not my style. I think it might be revived, but it will probably not happen anytime soon.
* Jeannie - I DON'T think this one will be ready for a comeback for a very long time, IF EVER.

Boys
* Alvin - I CAN see it potentially being revived in the near future.
* Douglas - I think any chance for revival is a long way off. I think its an okay middle name.
* Oscar - I think it is already coming back, slowly but surely. NMS.
* Forrest - Any chance of true revival is probably a long way off, but I think it is an acceptable name to use now.
* Reuben - If Hugo has been revived, then Reuben certainly CAN be revived too.
* Virgil - I CAN'T picture this one coming back.
* Wallace - I think Walter has a much better chance. I CAN'T see Wallace, nn Wally, coming back.
* Stuart - I CAN picture this one coming back.
* Clarence - CAN'T picture it

[ksheja]

Judith - I think it's certainly usable, maybe not quite ready for a comeback. I kind of like Judith. I can see parents using the name in full, rather than Judy, as most Judiths were called when it was popular.
Nancy - not yet ready for a comeback - too mom even grandma generation. But maybe in 10 or 15 years. It was once a massively popular name, and not a new one - a future generation may love it again.
Maxine - I don't think this will ever get very popular (not sure if it ever really was), but it would make a slightly quirky choice.
Coleen - I'd rather see it as Colleen because Coleen looks like it should be said COLE-een rather than COLL-een. I think Colleen is quite a nice name, but not ready to come back in a big way, like most -een names, Kathleen, Maureen, etc. It's a bit dated, but does not sound old or middle aged to me.
Cleo/Clio - I see this mentioned quite a bit on here. Don't think it will get very popular - but maybe, it does fit in with the trends.
Etta - another one I hear mentioned on this site quite a bit, often as a nickname. I think it fits in with some of the current vintage style names.
Trudie/Trudy - not ready for a comeback, maybe because Gertrude isn't.
Jeannie - maybe Jean can come back with Jeannie as a nickname. Don't see it happening right now though.


Boys
Alvin not ready yet The chipmunk thing. Not a bad name though.
Douglas I can see it coming back. It's quite nice.
Oscar - a lot of people on here seem to like this name already. I can see it coming back.
Forrest - except for the Forrest Gump connection most people make, I think this is a great name that fits in with the surname trend.
Reuben - fits in with a lot of currently popular names.
Virgil - don't see it coming back soon.
Wallace - not ready yet. Maybe because of the nickname Wally.
Stuart - possibly could come back.
Clarence - not ready yet.

[jeska]

Nancy, Cleo/Clio, Etta - definitely. I actually love Cleo and Etta. One of my friends used Cleo for her little girl, and I was so jealous! Nancy was my favourite girls' name when I was a child, and I still have a soft spot for it, though I wouldn't use it.
Jeannie - maybe
Judith, Trudy, Colleen - I doubt it
Maxine - good grief, I hope not. I think it's one of the ugliest names for a girl ever. Ditto Roxanne. Or, even worse, Roxana/Roxanna.

[juliet.a]

I love Judith, Nancy, Maxine & Etta! I have a friend who has a 4 year old Judith-- too cute!

Oscar & Wallace are my favs from the boys. I think Wally is a wonderful nn

[capturedcastle]

Girls--only a fan of Cleo (for the brave), Etta (timeless), and Trudy (spunky).

Boys--Forrest totally works. Big fan of Reuben. I like Virgil, but again, only for the brave (hard not to think of "virgin"). Oscar and Stuart and good, but then I know some great guys with those names so I may be prejudiced. Douglas is ok, not my style. Alvin is a NO, and Clarence is...kinda snooty? How about Clement or Clark?

[compassrose]

Girls
Judith- Yeah, it sounds dated to me.
Nancy- See Judith! I could never see myself liking this name even though I liked the Nancy Drew books.
Maxine- I know of someone with this name. Her friends call her Max.
Coleen- Yikes! To me this is the name of a handful of moms in my area.
Cleo/Clio- Never thought this was dated. Knew a spunky kid named Cleo.
Etta- One of my nicknames! But it is a little old isn't it?
Trudie/Trudy- Like Judith with nickname Judy.
Jeannie- I like this. Not a fan of the spelling but I like it as a nickname.


Boys
Alvin- As in Alvin and the Chipmunks? Nickname could be Al, another dated name.
Douglas- In honor of a family member it could work. Also as a middle.
Oscar- Like this a lot.
Forrest- I like this one too. Maybe spelled Forest?
Reuben- Seems very mythical/fantasy like to me. Not quite sure it could work today.
Virgil- Dated for sure.
Wallace- I like this, actually. Nickname Wally? Sounds good.
Stuart- This isn't very dated at all. On the same line as Oscar.
Clarence- Like this. "Clar" names are not always bad for the boys.