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HelpStephanie
I want to talk more in depth about Stephanie. A couple people commented on it further down on the board, saying that it feels a bit different than other popular names of the 80s.
It definitely feels different to me. I'm actually kind of starting to love it. I seriously doubt I'd actually follow through, but the idea of naming a potential daughter Stephanie appeals to me. It would be so unexpected. It's so pretty without being the typical pretty of now aka Olivia, Isabella, etc.
WDYT of Stephanie? Does it transcend the 80s, crimped mall hair association for you?
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It definitely feels different to me. I'm actually kind of starting to love it. I seriously doubt I'd actually follow through, but the idea of naming a potential daughter Stephanie appeals to me. It would be so unexpected. It's so pretty without being the typical pretty of now aka Olivia, Isabella, etc.
WDYT of Stephanie? Does it transcend the 80s, crimped mall hair association for you?
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Yes, as I responded in the post about 80s names, it does stand out as different from other stereotypical 80s names. I quite like it. It would be a surprising choice for a child born today, but I think a lot of people would think it was an 80s throwback rather than recognizing it as more of a classic because it was so popular in the 80s. I would give it a little more time. I think it could start being used with more frequency again in a few more decades. I think it could also make a nice MN with a simpler FN. Anna Stephanie?
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No, it fits that stereotype, for me. It also reminds me of "Full House", especially the episode where that pop singer sings that song about his girlfriend, Melanie, changes the name, and Stephanie Tanner thinks it's really about her, even though she's like, ten. Anyone remember that? Just me? Okay.
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I'm a 90s kid, but I knew roughly as many Stephanies as I did Tiffanys, Brittanys, and Ashleys. It was popular in my area. That said... I think I've only ever personally known one Stephanie that didn't have some sort of attitude problem, or even worse a psychological issue. One - who, for some reason, was my friend in primary school - actually tried to push me down the stairs at her house; fortunately, my mother caught me. She pushed me because she thought I liked her younger sister better than her. (Hmmm... maybe I did, because you're the type of person who pushes people down stairs. Or, a few days later, into lockers.)
Oh, and the one Stephanie who was okay? Turns out that was her middle name. Her real first name was Anna (I think), but she didn't like to use that because she thought it was "boring."
So... yeah, if I meet a Stephanie my age, in my experience there's a 90% chance she is completely crazy.
Oh, and the one Stephanie who was okay? Turns out that was her middle name. Her real first name was Anna (I think), but she didn't like to use that because she thought it was "boring."
So... yeah, if I meet a Stephanie my age, in my experience there's a 90% chance she is completely crazy.
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It was somewhat popular from my mother's age group all the way down to a little younger than me. I like the name but I also know a lot of women named Stephanie, including some close friends of mine and my mother's best friend from her childhood (who is now one of my Dad's best friends) and she's essentially my Aunt. For that reason, it would seem odd to me to consider using it unless it was in honor of someone.
It's a name that I do think is pretty and it ages well. I think it was on the list for both of my brothers if they had been girls. When it's ready for a comeback, it will be a name I'd welcome back enthusiastically without being one of those old people who goes, "Stephanie?! EW. WHY?" I know why. It's gorgeous and it sounds regal to me without being fluffy or over the top.
It's a name that I do think is pretty and it ages well. I think it was on the list for both of my brothers if they had been girls. When it's ready for a comeback, it will be a name I'd welcome back enthusiastically without being one of those old people who goes, "Stephanie?! EW. WHY?" I know why. It's gorgeous and it sounds regal to me without being fluffy or over the top.
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My grandma has a friend named Stephanie in her late seventies.
I don’t really like the name due to personal associations, but it does have a nice sound.
I don’t really like the name due to personal associations, but it does have a nice sound.
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The Stephanies I knew in the 80s were preppy girls and sporty / cheerleaders. (where I lived in California, they were using Stephanie pretty heavily by 1970 - it was a fairly common name among kids my age)
To me it certainly is the "typical pretty" of Olivia and Chloe. Stephanies did not crimp, nor did they hang out at the mall. My impression of 1970s-born Stephanie is that she came from above average status - mom was a sorority girl, and so was Stephanie - and generally did pretty well for herself. What I think people have called "basic bitch" lately?
I think of it as one of those French-styled names that were popular - like Michelle, Denise, Danielle, Monique, Renee - the ones that, since they came from French and not from a surname, place, or word, have the potential to seem more classic, and more likely to be used for grand-daughters. More like Isabella, Olivia, Sophia than like Mia, Stella, and Lily.
I think it's a decent name, but I just don't like the spitty consonants ST and PH together like that. And the length with no good nicks.
To me it certainly is the "typical pretty" of Olivia and Chloe. Stephanies did not crimp, nor did they hang out at the mall. My impression of 1970s-born Stephanie is that she came from above average status - mom was a sorority girl, and so was Stephanie - and generally did pretty well for herself. What I think people have called "basic bitch" lately?
I think of it as one of those French-styled names that were popular - like Michelle, Denise, Danielle, Monique, Renee - the ones that, since they came from French and not from a surname, place, or word, have the potential to seem more classic, and more likely to be used for grand-daughters. More like Isabella, Olivia, Sophia than like Mia, Stella, and Lily.
I think it's a decent name, but I just don't like the spitty consonants ST and PH together like that. And the length with no good nicks.
This message was edited 3/10/2018, 12:28 PM
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This made me laugh.
My brother dated a Stephanie in the early '90s, so they would have been in their early 20s. (My brother is a year younger than you.) She was SO mall girl. Crimped hair, the attitude, all about pink, etc. Stephanie is very crimped hair to me - Andrea and Renee have the feeling you're talking about, above average, sorority girl.
My brother dated a Stephanie in the early '90s, so they would have been in their early 20s. (My brother is a year younger than you.) She was SO mall girl. Crimped hair, the attitude, all about pink, etc. Stephanie is very crimped hair to me - Andrea and Renee have the feeling you're talking about, above average, sorority girl.
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I'm fond of Stephanie. It has sounds in it that I like and I enjoy the way it looks written out. To me, it has substance and interest. It helps that all the Stephanies I've known have been kind, strong, intelligent people.
I love Stevie Nicks, and she is a Stephanie, born 1948... there is definitely an argument for Stephanie existing outside of the 80s, as RoxStar pointed out.
I'd enjoy having a little Stephanie in my preschool class. I think the sounds would provide a nice contrast to this era of "liquid" names. http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2012/7/the-rise-of-liquid-names
I love Stevie Nicks, and she is a Stephanie, born 1948... there is definitely an argument for Stephanie existing outside of the 80s, as RoxStar pointed out.
I'd enjoy having a little Stephanie in my preschool class. I think the sounds would provide a nice contrast to this era of "liquid" names. http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2012/7/the-rise-of-liquid-names
This message was edited 3/10/2018, 12:09 PM
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I just watched an episode of "A Crime to Remember" that featured the abduction and murder of 14-year-old Stephanie Bryan in 1955. I thought, "Wow, a Stephanie born in 1940!"
The question isn't really whether or not Stephanie existed outside the 1980s, though. It's been in the top thousand in the US, with the exception of one year, since 1896, so obviously it did. The question is whether or not it experienced a surge of popularity and then a fall, tying it to a two or three decade period. I think it's hard to argue that Stephanie isn't so tied.
The question isn't really whether or not Stephanie existed outside the 1980s, though. It's been in the top thousand in the US, with the exception of one year, since 1896, so obviously it did. The question is whether or not it experienced a surge of popularity and then a fall, tying it to a two or three decade period. I think it's hard to argue that Stephanie isn't so tied.
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I disagree, I think it sounds extremely 80s. I also don’t like the sound or look of it, or the nickname Steph. I actually quite hate it.
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I don't think it feels different from other 80s names. It feels really really dated, I know so many girls with this name. It's a dated classic, I would put it in the same category as Amanda, Alicia or Amy. I actually like the full name but I think it would be hard to enfore as all of the girls I know by this name (and I know so many) ended up being called Steph or Stephi and I just really don't like these nicknames.
It would be unexpected but not in an 'oh that's nice' kind of way but more in a 'wow by your name I would have guessed you to be 30 years older' kind of way. I guess many people here were born in the 80s/90s it would kind of be as if our parents had named us Deborah, Susan, Diane or Pamela. Now these names are starting to sound nice again because I guess they will make a comeback in the next 30 years or so but back then I definitely wouldn't have appreciated a 'mom name' like that.
It would be unexpected but not in an 'oh that's nice' kind of way but more in a 'wow by your name I would have guessed you to be 30 years older' kind of way. I guess many people here were born in the 80s/90s it would kind of be as if our parents had named us Deborah, Susan, Diane or Pamela. Now these names are starting to sound nice again because I guess they will make a comeback in the next 30 years or so but back then I definitely wouldn't have appreciated a 'mom name' like that.
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It's definitely dated, but I don't hate it. I don't much like it either, but I think I'd be pleasantly surprised to meet a little Stephanie.
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It seems older to me than a lot of popular 80s names because the only Stephanie I know is my cousin who was born in the 70s.
Mainly I associate it with other names with nie/ney/ny endings (which I dislike the sound of): Whitney, Britney, Courtney, Tiffany...and as a group those sound pretty dated to me.
The vibe I get from Stephanie in particular is similar to the vibe I get from Donna, except I'd maybe expect Stephanie to be a decade or two younger.
Mainly I associate it with other names with nie/ney/ny endings (which I dislike the sound of): Whitney, Britney, Courtney, Tiffany...and as a group those sound pretty dated to me.
The vibe I get from Stephanie in particular is similar to the vibe I get from Donna, except I'd maybe expect Stephanie to be a decade or two younger.
This message was edited 3/10/2018, 10:08 AM
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I do have a certain fondness for Stephanie, because I have known some wonderful ones. But, it really is the epitome of 80’s to me. It is twin sister to Tiffany, BFF with Amanda, Brittany and Ashley, cousins with Crystal and Jessica, frenemies with Melissa, Amber and Nicole.
All that to say.. very dated.
All that to say.. very dated.
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It's okay but it doesn't feel different than the other names to me.
There are five names that convinced me that a popular name should be avoided, and Stephanie is one of them. The other four are Ashley, Brittany and its spelling variants, Heather, and Sarah / Sara. I have known multiple people of each of these names. The people whom I've known with these names could never be referred to solely by their first names or else nobody would know which Stephanie / Ashley / Brittany / Heather / Sarah was being referred to.
No, it doesn't escape the 80s, crimped mall hair association, because in the US it has never had a period of popularity before 1960 and at this time we can't know if it will ever come back. It's tied to an era, for now at least.
I'm just not a big Stephanie fan but I think it's only due to over familiarity. Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say.
There are five names that convinced me that a popular name should be avoided, and Stephanie is one of them. The other four are Ashley, Brittany and its spelling variants, Heather, and Sarah / Sara. I have known multiple people of each of these names. The people whom I've known with these names could never be referred to solely by their first names or else nobody would know which Stephanie / Ashley / Brittany / Heather / Sarah was being referred to.
No, it doesn't escape the 80s, crimped mall hair association, because in the US it has never had a period of popularity before 1960 and at this time we can't know if it will ever come back. It's tied to an era, for now at least.
I'm just not a big Stephanie fan but I think it's only due to over familiarity. Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say.
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Stephanie's always been in my top ten, if I ranked them. You really can't go wrong with it. It's not as popular now as it once was, but you see a wide age range. Here in Delaware, I see it rather frequently in obituaries on very old women, especially women of Polish and Italian descent. And as near as I can tell, it's very popular for babies of Hispanic families now.
It's a name I could very happily have had myself, or just as happily given to my own daughter.
It's a name I could very happily have had myself, or just as happily given to my own daughter.
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