Abraham Romanovich Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 No UK-born babies were named Nigel in 2020, according to ONS*. The Farage effect? or is big Nige a relic from a bygone age, no Wayne's either but Oliver is the most popular https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulat...dandwales/2020 Strange how you can almost guess a person's age by their first name. * Apparently 1 or 2 might have been. Min 3 required to show on official records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozo Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 4 minutes ago, Abraham Romanovich said: No UK-born babies were named Nigel in 2020, according to ONS*. The Farage effect? or is big Nige a relic from a bygone age, no Wayne's either but Oliver is the most popular https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulat...dandwales/2020 Strange how you can almost guess a person's age by their first name. * Apparently 1 or 2 might have been. Min 3 required to show on official records. No surprises on those lists, I hear those names all the time now, and half of them will be unfashionable in 10 years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Hitler Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 I think Making Plans for Nigel had a big negative effect upon the name; the Nigel in the song was useless and directionless and people who knew the song would instantly dismiss the name as a possible for their child. I have since heard nerdy people described as "a bit of a Nigel" and I'm guessing that that has the same source; and that's another reason for not picking it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreedyHarry Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, Eddie Hitler said: I think Making Plans for Nigel had a big negative effect upon the name; the Nigel in the song was useless and directionless and people who knew the song would instantly dismiss the name as a possible for their child. I have since heard nerdy people described as "a bit of a Nigel" and I'm guessing that that has the same source; and that's another reason for not picking it. Interesting! I wonder if Gordon suffered a similar fate! 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Hitler Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 59 minutes ago, GreedyHarry said: Interesting! I wonder if Gordon suffered a similar fate! A very good point; who would want to expose their child to a potential lifetime of being called a moron? 57 minutes ago, TomF said: ..and possibly Brexit without delving into that debate! Though people supporting it would be more likely to use the name so it's as broad as it's long. I can't actually think of any Nigels or Gordons who would have been born since 1980 after the two songs came out in the 70s. The main change I've noticed for younger blokes at work, say under 35, is that they tend to have one syllable Christian names. I don't have a theory as to why though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 And Palace fans being called the Stripey Nigels 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS2 Red Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 It's not a horrible name, but it just sounds like an adult. I struggle to see how anybody looks at a baby and thinks "he looks just like a Nigel!". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 (edited) Nigel is a generational name. My g’father born in 1902 was called Alfred or Alfie. G’mother born 1901 was called Hilda. Not names heard much these days but fairly common back then. Edited October 18, 2021 by Robbored Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwwtk Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Robbored said: Nigel is a generational name. My g’father born in 1902 was called Alfred or Alfie. G’mother born 1901 was called Hilda. Not names heard much these days but fairly common back then. It's cyclical - There's quite a few Alf/Alfie/Alfred's around nowadays. I can think of at least 5 my kids have been in classes with. There was also a Wilfred which isn't a name you'd expect to see any more! As well as at least one Keanu (sigh) Edited October 18, 2021 by richwwtk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppyDAZE Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, BS2 Red said: It's not a horrible name, but it just sounds like an adult. I struggle to see how anybody looks at a baby and thinks "he looks just like a Nigel!". Let's throw a Colin in there too. Awwww look at little baby Colin. Malcolm ? Let's have your non-baby names. Edited October 18, 2021 by AppyDAZE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS2 Red Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 9 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said: Let's have your non-baby names. Bernard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 Sidney Geoffrey Douglas Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozo Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, richwwtk said: It's cyclical - There's quite a few Alf/Alfie/Alfred's around nowadays. I can think of at least 5 my kids have been in classes with. There was also a Wilfred which isn't a name you'd expect to see any more! As well as at least one Keanu (sigh) Isn't there a Half Man Half Biscuit line about Alfie or Archie as a name? Both are on trend right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS2 Red Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 Æthelstan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 4 hours ago, Eddie Hitler said: Though people supporting it would be more likely to use the name so it's as broad as it's long. They'd be too old to have sex, let alone procreate, surely? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 18 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said: Sidney Geoffrey Douglas Dennis quentin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Hitler Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 2 hours ago, Red-Robbo said: They'd be too old to have sex, let alone procreate, surely? Over thirty years ago I didn't achieve a first for my degree. I have accepted that and moved on. The world is as it is; not as we would have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS2 Red Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 8 hours ago, Eddie Hitler said: I can't actually think of any Nigels or Gordons who would have been born since 1980 after the two songs came out in the 70s I had to Google, but the only two born after 1980 I've heard of are Nigel Reo-Coker and Nigel de Jong. I couldn't find anybody I'd heard of called Gordon who was born after 1980. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 My mum really disliked the name Mervyn. She reckoned it sounded ok as a boys name but once they grew into a man that he should change his name…………. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Shadow Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 Brian seems redundant these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italian dave Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 18 hours ago, Robbored said: Nigel is a generational name. My g’father born in 1902 was called Alfred or Alfie. G’mother born 1901 was called Hilda. Not names heard much these days but fairly common back then. Alfie has been consistently in the top 20 most popular boys names for the past decade or more. Hilda, not so much! Apparently last year even “Lucifer” was a more popular choice than Nigel! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hunt-Hertz Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 15 hours ago, Lanterne Rouge said: Sidney Geoffrey Douglas Dennis Cuthbert Herbert Arthur Albert Celia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said: Cuthbert Herbert Arthur Albert Celia Lots of Arthurs among the primary school set. The other names you mention, less so. Names given to kids in the 50s and early 60s are the ultimate unfashionable: Clive; Graham; Alan; Derek; Tim; Roger; Melvyn; Stuart; Terry. Also the "fad" names of the late 60s to 90s: Wayne; Lee; Scott; Shaun; Darren etc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Sheene Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 20 hours ago, Robbored said: Nigel is a generational name. My g’father born in 1902 was called Alfred or Alfie. G’mother born 1901 was called Hilda. Not names heard much these days but fairly common back then. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Gresley Born 1876 Died 1941. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozo Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 I've noticed a lot of kids are getting surnames as their first names like Harrison and Taylor. Many girls names have to end in 'a' nowadays. Ada, Eva, Olivia, Luna, Lena, Isla, Mia, Tia, Et Cetera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicki's soulmate Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 2 hours ago, mozo said: I've noticed a lot of kids are getting surnames as their first names like Harrison and Taylor. Many girls names have to end in 'a' nowadays. Ada, Eva, Olivia, Luna, Lena, Isla, Mia, Tia, Et Cetera. Who the **** would call their kid Et Cetera? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hunt-Hertz Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 3 hours ago, Barry Sheene said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Gresley Born 1876 Died 1941. I used to live very near Netherseal, where he grew up and is buried. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS2 Red Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 6 hours ago, italian dave said: Apparently last year even “Lucifer” was a more popular choice than Nigel! He's not only more popular, but he's also a nicer bloke. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshtonGreat Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 On 18/10/2021 at 14:26, Eddie Hitler said: A very good point; who would want to expose their child to a potential lifetime of being called a moron? Though people supporting it would be more likely to use the name so it's as broad as it's long. I can't actually think of any Nigels or Gordons who would have been born since 1980 after the two songs came out in the 70s. The main change I've noticed for younger blokes at work, say under 35, is that they tend to have one syllable Christian names. I don't have a theory as to why though. Alan Partridge's parents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 7 hours ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said: Cuthbert Herbert Arthur Albert Celia You get a fair few Herbies though - not sure if it`s shortened from Herbert or not though 47 minutes ago, AshtonGreat said: Alan Partridge's parents Alan - there`s another one. Adrian as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.