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August 13th, 2008

Which baby names would you consign to the history books?

Posted by: Peter Griffiths

babies-cropped.JPGWhat’s in a name?

Perhaps we should ask Jordan’s baby daughter Princess Tiaamii when she grows up. Or Geri Halliwell’s girl Bluebell Madonna and Nicolas Cage’s son Kal-el, named after Superman.

The list of bizarre celeb names goes on and on, but for most of us the choice comes down to classic, cool or slightly quirky.

While official figures show that old-fashioned names are still among the most popular choices, some classic names remain firmly stuck in the history books.

Norman and Gertrude top a list of names that have fallen out of fashion over the last 100 years, according to research for the mother and baby website Gurgle.com.

While Ruby and Olivia are all the rage, Edna, Ethel and Irene are strictly off limits.

Other unloved entries on the list of endangered names include Clifford, Frank, Arnold, Leonard, Ada, Agnes, Elsie and Mabel.

Do they deserve to be neglected? Which of the current crop of quirky celebrity names or classic choices should join them in the history books?