I Must Confess: when I was a child, “Janet” to me seemed like one of those middle aged woman names.
I had a picture in my mind of a dowdy woman with her hair in a bun, complete with sensible shoes, a drab tweed skirt, and glasses!
While I certainly wore glasses, the rest of the description didn’t fit.
I didn’t know any other “Janets”; and the only famous “Janets” back then were Janet Leigh and Janet Gaynor, both actresses of a similar vintage to my grandmother. This probably helped form my opinion, as well as the characters called Janet in the the books I read or in TV shows or movies. In fact, it wasn’t until teacher’s college that I met another Janet – and then there were 4 of us!
Even today, you don’t really hear of baby girls being christened “Janet”.
Perhaps it really is true now – if it wasn’t before – and Janet has genuinely become a middle aged name!
Typical Names for a Middle Aged Woman
Looking at some of the names of the latest likers at the Middle Aged Mama page on Facebook, there are quite a few that rarely – if ever – belong to anybody born before 1975. Here are just a few of the other typical middle aged woman names, which I noticed:
Karen – Sharon – Tracey – Susan/Suzanne/Sue/Suzie/Susie – Deb/Debra/Debbie – Jenny – Linda – Cathy/Kathy – Vicky – Wendy – Julie – Carolyn/Caroline/Carol – Jan – Alison
Then I got to thinking of the male equivalents, and I came up with:
Darren – Steven/Stephen – Trevor – Wayne – Jeff/Geoff – Paul – Michael – David – Tony – Craig – Eric – Peter – Andrew – Martin
As soon as you hear any of these names, you can be pretty safe in assuming that the male is at least 35 or older.
Do you agree? What other typically “middle aged woman names” could be added to my list?!
Aroha says
Oh I could go on forever!
Terry. Robin. Karen. Margaret. Pam. Judy. Ray. I would have said George, but I bet that trend is fast changing after Kate and William.
…I know quite a few Traceys but then they are all mid 30s or older, so I guess it fits!?
Ness says
My sister-in-law is Janette (she’s over 50), but come to think of it I don’t think I have met any Janets! At least you’re unique! Meanwhile, Vanessa isn’t on your list so clearly I’m not middle-aged! Shut up…
When I was at school there was always at least one other Vanessa, but by far the most popular name was Tracey with all its different spellings. There were so many Traceys! Great topic. xo
Rae Hilhorst says
I know a lot of Karen, Tracey, Jenny. In fact three Jenny’s it gets very confusing when I’m sending text messages. My name is truly ancient and makes me quiver Rosalene Rae, I can’t tell you the amount of times people call me Raewyn, I just want to smack them, ever so politely of course xxxx
Kirsty @ My Home Truths says
Denise is one I’d put up there too – I’ve come across lots of them in my time, mainly from the 60s and 70s x
Raych aka Mystery Case says
Lorraine, but that’s possibly more of a grandmother name given it’s my mother in law’s name and she has been old before her time.
Tegan says
What about Janet from Rocky Horror Picture Show? She was a bit raunchy lol!
I fear that Tegan will soon become a middle aged name. It was popular when I was a kid, but I don’t know anyone who is younger than me with the name.
Pinky Poinker says
There are lots of Tegans at my school!
Emma Fahy Davis says
You know, I have so much trouble trying to picture baby Waynes. And baby Philips, and baby Fionas and baby Wendys.
Kathy Marris says
Yes that all sounds fairly typical of my era. I know so many Jennys, Sues, Wendys, Pennys, Debbies, Jackies, Sharons, Gails, Judys, Joys, Annettes and Jans. It is a dead give-away as to our ages!
Pinky Poinker says
I went to school with lots of Debbies, Kathys, Jennys, Lindas, Susans, Kims, Sharons, and Janelles. There was only one or two other Michelles. I think Michelle took off about ten years after I was born. I had a best friend when I was five called Janet. She was Canadian. Janets are nice π
Rita @ The Crafty Expat says
I think my name is a middle aged name. When I was at school, other kids loved to call me “ma tante Rita” (aunt Rita) because they all had an auntie called Rita. But, I love my name.
Sarah from Creating Contentment says
This is funny and true! I laughed when I read Stephen. This is my husbands name and he is always going on about how he doesn’t know anyone with this name. He wanted to name one of our kids stephen too, just to fix this problem!!! I also don’t find people naming their children Sarah these days either.
Kooky Chic says
Barbara, Carolyn, Narelle, Marlene, Angela. Trying to think of all my friends names Jaquie, Helen, Suzanne, Jason, and I could go on and on and on and have no friends left because they would die if they found out I was referring to them as middle aged.
Janet Camilleri says
I can definitely agree with Carolyn, Narelle, and Angela … and Jason too! It’s funny how people don’t like to wear the label middle aged. I’m a funny one I think!
Susan Turner says
Well I’m definitely middle aged then! π Interesting to note with my name is that i was born in ’64 and Susan was the most popular name for that year because of the actress Susan Hayward, (of which my mum was fond of). I often think of my school friends (Lynette, Sharon, Vanessa) and you don’t hear of those names much anymore. I find it so interesting the way names go in an out of fashion!
Janet Camilleri says
I know right! It feels like every second little girl under the age of 5 that I come across lately is either Eve, Evie or Ava!
Lurg says
Funnily enough, a lot of names that are positivly ancient keep popping up… There are a zillion Emilys. I agree about the Darren/ Susan/ Tracey…. names though. I think girls names are more varied but boys are more likely to be the presently popular ones.
My name is pretty rare… I’m the only Melanie in my school of 1800…staff or students. Sigh… But it has been around forever. I guess it became popular after Gone with the wind?
Janet Camilleri says
I know so many “Mels” (Melanie/Melody/Melissa) that I’ve lost track – can’t believe you’re the only Melanie at your school. Mind you it’s not a name you commonly hear in the under 20’s. When Mr 21 and Miss 19 were at school, Emily & Hannah were certainly amongst the most popular names for girls. I’ve noticed Olivia and Oliver are very popular in under 10’s, and Ava/Eve/Evie in under 5’s. It’s fascinating keeping an eye on the trends, and how you can pretty much judge a person’s age by their name!
Suzie Masters says
I was named after Suzanne Plechette (sorry about spelling of her surname, I don’t know her).
She was in 77 Sunset Strip. Which was a tv series before I was born. (March 1961).
I do not like the name Suzanne and loathe Susan and Sue. So changed it to Suzie when I finished school. Not legally though.
My mother till her last breath always called me Suzanne and she knew I hated it. I don’t use the word HATE very often.
My elderly Aunt (85) calls me Suzanne. He sister who is 81 calls me Suzanna and always has.
I get called Suzanne by my Dentist, but I try not to frequent his place too often….
Janet Camilleri says
I like Suzie … π
Melissa @ All Around Oz says
Melissa was not a common name in 1965! According to my sisters I nearly ended up as a Meredith! Now there’s a middle-aged name if ever I heard one!