Girl name help - names that haven't made a comeback

jcartz · March 2014

I posted on baby names too, but I'm here more often and would rather hear your thoughts lol

The only two names DH & I can agree on for DD2 are Andrea & Jessica. Both are 80's names that haven't come back yet. The upside, she won't be one of 10 with the same name in her class. The downside... are they too old fashioned now? I'm not a fan of so many of the "old lady" names coming back, I don't want a top 50 name and I will not go yoo-neek either...

Thoughts on Andrea? Jessica?

FWIW, Andrea would be a nod to DH's grandfather, Andrew. We do not have middle names picked out but would not use them both (like the kid won't be Andrea Jessica LN or Jessica Andrea LN).

We have a list a mile long with reasons not to use each name. I'd like to use a J, C or A name but am not married to the idea. DD1 is Alexandra (nn Allie) Josephine.

Nichole8787 · March 2014

I don't consider either one of those names to be old fashioned but that's just me. I think that they are really vanilla main stream names. Either one will work. When I think old fashioned I think Esther, Gertrude, Maude etc.

princessxena · March 2014

Totally not old fashioned. Love them and you've got great reasons behind them!

Ylvelill · March 2014

Hehe I guess I am old, those names are the people I grew up with. I like Andrea better than Jessica

lynnyrd80 · March 2014

I think if anything, either name might seem like a "mom name" to her generation. I don't think that is a bad thing. I have a name that is more of my mom's generation that my own and I've always liked my name. Both Andrea and Jessica are good names. Especially compared to some of the names her friends will have as she grows up.

Skeemer · March 2014

I'm not a fan of either name. To me they're not old enough to be classic but not new enough to be fresh. If that makes any sense. lol.

ghostof5letters · March 2014

Love them both, especially Jessica. Not old, not dated, just not very common right now. I think they're perfect.

[Deleted User] · March 2014

I really like Andrea for a girls' name, especially with the meaning behind it for your family.

jcartz · March 2014

Ylvelill - me too. I'm a Jennifer - one of about a bajillionty growing up.
@skeemer - that's my worry, that they're dated - not old enough to come back yet.
@lynnyrd80 - yep. a mom name like me

Thanks ladies. I appreciate the honesty & input. I know they're perfectly nice names but they definitely are vanilla, and I don't know if I want her to have a mom name. We've considered Ann for the mn of Jessica, as it's my mn, and could be a nod to Andrew as well. I just worry it's too close to naming her after myself - Jennifer Ann. I'm vain but...

I over think this like every five seconds, but naming a HUMAN is so hard!

jnnfrrose6 · March 2014

jcartz said:

Ylvelill - me too. I'm a Jennifer - one of about a bajillionty growing up.
@skeemer - that's my worry, that they're dated - not old enough to come back yet.
@lynnyrd80 - yep. a mom name like me

Thanks ladies. I appreciate the honesty & input. I know they're perfectly nice names but they definitely are vanilla, and I don't know if I want her to have a mom name. We've considered Ann for the mn of Jessica, as it's my mn, and could be a nod to Andrew as well. I just worry it's too close to naming her after myself - Jennifer Ann. I'm vain but...

I over think this like every five seconds, but naming a HUMAN is so hard!

I'm a Jennifer Anne! Yeah for 80's names!

FWIW, I like Andrea better than Jessica. It doesn't seem as dated to me, but I didn't have a ton of Andreas in my class growing up, but definitely Jessicas.

AutumnBonfire · March 2014

I love the name Jessica (disclaimer: this may or may not be my real first name)!

lindslalala · March 2014

I prefer Andrea. I don't consider either old fashioned, they're not "old" enough to be. They're just very 80s...says the lady with a very 80s name herself.

ashcross · March 2014

I'm part of the Jessica, Jennifer, Ashley 80s clan so I don't feel Jessica is an old name or outdated but you right that those names haven't recirculated yet. I like Jessica better than Andrea.

baby+drumm · March 2014

I like both names, but if I had to pick one I would say Jessica. As a teacher, I see Andrea quite a bit.

Palan · March 2014

Are you referring to the 1880's, because nothing from the 1980's is "old fashioned"?

pfeilele · March 2014

I would agree that Andrea isn't as dated as Jessica. I don't think Jessica sounds as dated as Ashley or Jennifer though, and still perfectly acceptable!

LyndseylovesHugh · March 2014

Skeemer said:
I'm not a fan of either name. To me they're not old enough to be classic but not new enough to be fresh. If that makes any sense. lol.

This is how I feel too. They don't seem old fashioned, just a bit dated. That being said, there is nothing wrong with either of them, they are real names and spelled properly, so if you and your h love them go for it! I personally like Andrea better than Jessica, and it's not as dated sounding.

TRS48 · March 2014

OMG so 80's... @jnnfrrose6‌ we legit have the same exact name. LOL

1982Babies · March 2014

ghostof5letters said:

Love them both, especially Jessica. Not old, not dated, just not very common right now. I think they're perfect.

Agreed

1982Babies · March 2014

AutumnBonfire said:

I love the name Jessica (disclaimer: this may or may not be my real first name)!

*cough*..... busted.

Also, ditto.
haha

hcsmiley417 · March 2014

I'm a mid 80s baby, my name is Holly and I grew up with Jessica, Ashley, Heather, Heidi, Samantha, etc....so many of us and in the surrounding cities had those types of names. There was always more than 1. If it's a name you love, go for it. No matter what you decide as a name, some people will love and some will hate it. Oh well. Maybe you will start a trend and bring the names back. Lol.

BW1088 · March 2014

I agree that they are both solid, good names. I prefer Andrea over Jessica, but I know a LOT of Jessicas, so that's probably why. I'm one of those "I-know-50-people-with-that-name" from the 80s, too (Brittany).

BeardLover · March 2014

https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/12/how-to-name-baby.html

heres a really interesting article on baby name trends and fads. i read it the other day and thought of it right away with your question!

ftr: i dont care for either name, BUT! Your kid would likely be the only one in her class with her name with either one.

cuntasaurusrex · March 2014

jcartz said:

The downside... are they too old fashioned now?

I demand to know how old you are.

jcartz · March 2014

aliletz said:

jcartz said:

The downside... are they too old fashioned now?

I demand to know how old you are.

Ha! I guess I meant dated, not old-fashioned. But ftr: Born in 1980, I'm 34

honeybee434 · March 2014

I really like Andrea!

Jessica seems very 80's to me, so that stigma kind of makes me not like it as much. (My name if from the late 70's early 80's rush as well, so that may have me biased in a negative way.)

purpleXdandelion · March 2014

I'm Andrea so I guess you could say I'm partial to it.

Even growing up, I only knew 1 other Andrea so it's not like it was super popular then either.

abunai523 · March 2014

I like Andrea better of the 2, but I wouldn't side-eye either choice. I had similar requirements to yours about not being a fad name but not being youneek either, it's tough!

Fun fact: The first record of the name 'Jessica' was actually in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' in 1596. So you could say that Jessica is QUITE the old name!

dobbyisfree · March 2014

I personally prefer Jessica... but i know more Jessicas than Andreas and so Andrea seems older to me. But I like Jess and Andy as nicknames!

cuntasaurusrex · March 2014

jcartz said:

aliletz said:

jcartz said:

The downside... are they too old fashioned now?

I demand to know how old you are.

Ha! I guess I meant dated, not old-fashioned. But ftr: Born in 1980, I'm 34

Okay, good. I'm 31 and was all wide-eyed over here wondering if some 19 year old thought "my time" was old fashioned!!

tealowl · March 2014

ashleysyn2 said:

I think they're both dated. Andrea less than Jessica, but both are still dated. Growing up I knew a girl named Diane, and I always thought of it as a "mom" name. I would imagine they would be somewhat the same.

Ditto this. Although I think Jessica is cute, I just know soooooo many Andrea and Jessicas.

I grew up with a Diana, a Nancy, a couple of Barbara's, etc...which sounded like Mom names to us back then in the 80s/90s...

hminer4 · March 2014

bunny0711 said:

Andrea doesn't seem like a dated name to me.

Jessica screams 80s to me but I wouldn't side eye the way I would if you were naming your baby Heather.

Heyyyy what's wrong with Heather?! Yes my name is Heather and my best friend is an Andrea. We have typical 80s names but I actually like them both very much. I especially think its sweet that Andrea has a family connection for you.

ashesandpearls · March 2014

Jessica and Andrea do feel dated to me. Jessica more so than Andrea, probably because there are so many 80's Jessicas. But your daughter having a dated name is not a bad thing, unless it will bother you. There is no way to know in advance if it will bother her or not.