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I have a fairly rigid definition of what a "classic" name is (in English). Here, I'll repost something I wrote in a previous thread:

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"I'd consider any 'classic' name in the English language to be one from the small pool of 'traditional' first names used in Shakespeare's time (not the fancy ones in his plays), plus some Hebrew names that came into popularity during the Protestant Reformation and are now mainstays. Though I'm not normally partial to 'classics,' these are ones I like:

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Abigail (even though many consider this "trendy" now)
Anne
Elisabeth
Jane
Marian
Molly
Rebecca
&
Adam
Daniel
Edmund
Francis
Jack
James
Joseph
Richard
Thomas
William"

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Medieval names that are considered classic, I just consider medieval. A truly "dated" name, for me, has to be something that was quite popular at some point in the 20th century but isn't anymore.

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Some of the most dated names I can think of (from different "dated" eras):

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Agnes
Bertha
Brittany (becoming dated)
Denise
Doris / Dorris
Dorothy
Edith
Edna
Ethel
Florence
Heather
Helen (though I think it can come back)
Jeanne, Jeannette, or anything with the nickname "Jeannie"
Jennifer (even though it only fell out of the Top 100 in the last couple years)
Jessica (becoming dated)
Jodi
Karen
Linda
Lori
Louise
Michelle (though I still like it)
Mildred (a medieval name that came back, and then became "dated")
Sharon
Tiffany
&
Albert
Brian
Chad
Clarence
Donald
Earl
Eugene
Harold
Howard
Jeffrey
Ralph (particularly if the 'l' is pronounced)
Raymond
Rodney
Rudy
Todd
Walter

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Being "dated" seems to be more of a problem for feminine names than masculine ones. Since the popularity of male names is much less volatile, it seems less likely that a male name becomes "dated," rather than simply "old fashioned" over a long period of time.

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Some previously "dated" names have made successful comebacks: Emma, Evelyn, Grace, Lillian, etc.

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Names I foresee being dated in the future:

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Ariana, Eliana, and other "liquid'y" names ending in -ana
Brooklyn
Emily
Isabella, and consequently anything else with the nicknames "Izzy" or "Bella"
Kinley, etc.
Liliana / Lillian / Lily (on a longer timeline)
Madison
Paisley
Payton, etc.
Tenley, etc.
&
Aidan, Brayden, Jayden, etc.
Bentley
Brandon
Jackson, etc.
Joshua / "Josh"
Logan (maybe not)
Mason (flash-in-the-pan)
Ryan

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Wow, this became long! Anyway... my $0.02.

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This message was edited 1/14/2013, 12:19 PM