What are some old-timey names that you think should make a comeback?
What are some old-timey names that you think should make a comeback?
By old-timey names, I mean ones that you don't typically associate with anyone alive or younger than like 70.
Examples being:
- Burl
- Mildred
- Herbert
- Agnes
- Evelyn (not as rare at the others, but getting there)
I've always liked the name "Opal" but I've only ever known two in my life. I was like 10-12 at the time, and they were both pushing 90.
Orpheus, Raphael, Hepaestus, Karlach, Orin, Sylvanus, William, ...
oops
1ReplyGaylord
5ReplyBort
7ReplyThaddeus, Ulysses, etc. I liked that people used to name their kids after figures of the ancient world.
7ReplyI must be in a weird spot because I know 3 different Evelyns under the age of 8.
5ReplyTrollip
4ReplyHiram.
3ReplyNamed my daughter Evelyn last year. I'm doing my part.
3ReplyThurl (as in Ravenscroft.)
4ReplyI've always liked the name Ruben for some reason and only ever known one that I can recall (whose brother was called Robin).
I also am partial to Ezekiel and they can have Zeke as a nickname which I think sounds pretty rad.
7ReplyVivien / Vyvien
5ReplyI've always liked the old anglo saxon names like:
- Aethelweard
- Aethelwulf
- Aelfwynn
- Aethelflaed
We just get stuck with plain ol Ethel and Alf.
4ReplyIsambard
9ReplyArchimedes
19ReplyI find Mildred an ugly name, sounds like it means Mildew but worse. Like the most dreadful mildew.
Opal I think is pretty, that's a good name. As you say you like minerals, Ruby not bad either, my mom had an aunt Ruby Jack, born around 1920.
I did know a baby Eugenia, her parents were Costa Rican and pronounced it closer to Elu-henia than Eyu-henia or you-geenya. I think that one is prettier in Spanish but not bad in English.
10ReplyAgamemnon
38ReplyBalthazar 🤌
63ReplyAgnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack.
15ReplyThe name Ea-nāṣir is about 4000 years overdue for a comeback.
42Reply- Gerhard
- Ingrid
5ReplyEverett
19ReplyGladys
5ReplyA lot of people these days seem to think that "Adolf" should come back.
I am not one of those people.
11ReplyMy friend has little sons named Ray, Malcolm and Ernie. It suits them immensely to have these old man names and they are so adorable.
3ReplyGalahad
Eleanor
Emeline
Emeric
Lancelot
Siegfried
32ReplyI’m fond of “Gwendolyn” but I’ve never met or even known of one, to my knowledge.
20ReplyGertrude...who goes by Gertie
7ReplyI think Millicent and Winnifred would be cute because you can shorten them to Millie and Winnie
16ReplyÉvelyne is faily common around here still.
Gilgamesh is one I haven't heard in a hot minute, not sure about the comeback though.
23ReplyEvelyn as a man’s name, if you want to be really old school.
16ReplyEbenezer, or Eben for short
5ReplyRuth. You rarely meet Ruths these days.
7ReplyMay and June. I feel like there's a lot of younger Aprils but the other two month names seem like old lady names.
15ReplyPerhaps not as old as requested but
Ronald, Marianne, Cynthia, Evangeline, Melinda, Caesar, Magdalena, Betty, Rosetta, Balthazar, Thadeus, Lazarus, Otto, Bartholomew, Miranda
11ReplyZebulon -- traditional Biblical name. Maybe still used in Israel, but not many Americans have used it since the days of Zebulon Pike (Pike's Peak) and Zebulon Vance (Civil War era NC governor).
14ReplyI want people to go by their first two initials, and then the entire last name. Y'know, "H. G. Wells, J.G. Wentworth".
It just makes everyone sound more fancy and serious.
17ReplyMy vote is for Gretchen.
15ReplyI have a relative named Agnes in her early twenties. Don't do it. I find the Texas A&M jokes to be unbearable and I'm sure I hear less than 10% of what she hears
Mildred, Evelyn, Opal all names of my aunts +3 generations older than mine. Also try Betty as a diminutive for Elizabeth, Gerald, Hank, Errol, Mabel, Jerome, and Cordelia. These all scream white Midwestern US farmer to me.
Errol is most likely to have gotten into a bit of trouble and really seen the world when he was drafted for WWII.
14ReplyDutch names.
Truitje Fiep Toos Wies (my grandma) Pleun Fons (my uncle) pronounced Funs in South Limburg
8ReplyI would say Marceline, but adventure Time kind of kicked that overdue revival into high gear.
13ReplyEustace
6ReplyItzcoatl
Axayacatl
Axochitl
12ReplyIra
3ReplyConstantine
12ReplyMordechai
12ReplyAny common ancient Roman name. Not enough "imuses" or "cleses" suffixing names.
Kolanakimus Huskerclese
10ReplyHow about Wanda. I had an aunt Wanda. She was kinda mean, but she had a lot of boyfriends.
12ReplyBlessica
11ReplyMy twelve year old is Evelyn. My 14 year old is Genevieve. Which is apparently still out there but I thought it was pretty uncommon when we named her.
11ReplyEdna.
10ReplyI know a 10-year-old Agnes! And also a 40s/50s-ish Agnes (I can’t guess adult ages well).
7ReplyMy wife liked the idea of Eleanor if we had a girl, I never liked it, but luckily we had a boy, so we didn't have to cross that bridge.
At work, we named the old, decrepit copier Opal in an effort to humanize it and get people to treat the old girl with more love and patience.
8ReplyEmmett
9ReplyMyrtle
9ReplyBeryl
9ReplyUtnapishtim.
9ReplyTamsen
5ReplyBartholomew
7ReplyThaddeus
4ReplyProbably not Adolf.
How about Gaylord?
4ReplyCthulhu
6ReplyI work with a Burl (short for Burlin) and he's probably pushing 70...haven't seen any Horaces around lately, though. For a lady, Constance.
5ReplyDick
5ReplyI always liked the name Woodrow, but I hate the nickname Woody, so it's a bit of a wash.
4ReplyMing the Merciless.
5ReplyRoy. Ol'roy
5Reply- Verl
- Verna
- Pearl
- Elvin
4ReplyPapageorgio
2ReplyNot surprised to see nobody recommended bringing back Wilfred
Knew a Wilf once and he was a complete dickhead
1Reply