A woman has told of her shock after discovering the name her friend intends to give her unborn baby.
The mum says her pal is due to give birth to a daughter imminently and when she asked her about name choices she was stunned to hear what she had decided on.
Taking to Mumsnet the woman said: |I know I'm old now. A friend is planning on calling her baby Joanne.
"And it's not after a relative, she just likes it. Is this it for us over 40s? Are there going to be loads of little Lynns and Sharons running round soon?
"What other names are we about to see!?"
The post prompted hundreds of responses from people equally shocked at the unusual choice.
One said: "oh dear, I'm a late 80s baby I wonder when Rebecca, Amy and Laura will be making comebacks."
Another said: "Michelle, urgh I hate that name, so many 70's parents chose that name and raised a horror child."
"Joanna is super common where I live, probably 50% under 10s we know are Joanna/ Joannah for girls or Johan/ Jonas boys," said another.
But others said 80s names were definitely on the up.
One said: "I know a little Audrey and a little Gavin."
"Amy, Rebecca and Laura never went out. Amy in particular is timeless. I know people of every age called Amy from 50 down to little ones and 3 or 4 in each of my kids years," said another.
A third added: "I think Rebecca, Amy and Laura are lovely names (I'm 40)"
One mum observed: "My kids think Linda and Sylvia are nice names for their future children."
"I think Lynne is really pretty, and Sharon and Tracey. I'd like to see them come back," said another.
One mum had some favourites she'd like to see come back: "I think some of the 80s names are due a comeback. I love Sarah and Lisa and Jean. Angela and Andrea I think will come back too."
Another said: "I know a few Eric's, what about Kevin though, the world needs more Kevins"
But one gran said it's inevitable that Joanne, Tracy and Sharon will eventually make a comeback, because that's what has happened to popular names from her parents' and grandparents' generation.
She said: 'As an over 60 the sentiment expressed by OP (Original Poster) is exactly what I've thought when I've heard old lady names (ie my grandparents and parents generation) being used now. Daisy, Bertha, Martha, Eric, Ernie, Dorothy, Alma, Erica, Nessie, Agnes (invariably reversed to Senga by those unfortunate enough to be given it) - all pensioner names! So yes, I expect there will be Sharon and Tracey's due a resurgence."
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