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.
Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack.
I saw Jack, and I thought that’s pretty common, then realized I’ve never met a single Jack.
I also hope somewhere in the world there’s a gay couple named Jack and Dick.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_(given_name)
I know a few Jacks (and a Jaques and 2 Jacobs) and, according to that wiki page, my experience is typical.
Perhaps not as old as requested but
Ronald, Marianne, Cynthia, Evangeline, Melinda, Caesar, Magdalena, Betty, Rosetta, Balthazar, Thadeus, Lazarus, Otto, Bartholomew, Miranda
I went to school with most of the names on that list. Not picking on you, just feeling old. 😆
I always liked the name Woodrow, but I hate the nickname Woody, so it’s a bit of a wash.
- Verl
- Verna
- Pearl
- Elvin
Every time I hear “Verna” I think of Jenna’s mom on 30 Rock played to perfection by the late Jan Hooks.
Balthazar 🤌
It’s one of magi!
On that note, Melchior would make for a metal af middle name.
The name Ea-nāṣir is about 4000 years overdue for a comeback.
When you have bad copper you deserve to be forgotten!
What about Enkidu?
Actually had a friend in highschool with that name
I heard he’s in jail for stealing copper.
Galahad
Eleanor
Emeline
Emeric
Lancelot
Siegfried
You definitely don’t see many people named Lance, but back in the day people were named Lancelot.
Lancel is so hot right now.
More wine, Your Grace?
Underrated pun
Artherial legend. Nice.
Agamemnon
Clytemnestra
Doesn’t get more classic than that
Évelyne is faily common around here still.
Gilgamesh is one I haven’t heard in a hot minute, not sure about the comeback though.
True. Evelyne Brochu is my age.
Gilgamesh is one I haven’t heard in a hot minute, not sure about the comeback though.
Not with that attitude lol. Maybe we can ease it back in as a middle name or something.
I knew a Gilgamesh! Went by Gil.
Evelyn as a man’s name, if you want to be really old school.
True. And on the same note, I’ve known more men named Kelly than women.
I’ve also known more men named Leslie than women
I’ve known more Leslies than men and women put together
My great grandfather’s name was Hilary. My nan wasn’t entirely impressed when I mention it was a girls name as a kid xD
I think Millicent and Winnifred would be cute because you can shorten them to Millie and Winnie
May and June. I feel like there’s a lot of younger Aprils but the other two month names seem like old lady names.
Can confirm. I know several Aprils my age or younger, but no Mays at all, and no Junes younger than 70.
Went to university with a lady named (I kid you not): April May June
According to her, her parents thought it would be “fun”.
I would guess she is about 50-60 years old now.
There was a joke on Married with Children way back where Bud gets a Valentine’s day card from someone with that name. He is suspicious it’s a prank from his sister because “those are all works [Kelly] knows”.
Wonder if she was named after that episode? Lol
I used to know a woman named April, and her two daughters are May and June. (Both still under age 12.)
I 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.
Also try Betty as a diminutive for Elizabeth, Gerald, Hank, Errol, Mabel, Jerome, and Cordelia.
Why is Betty a diminutive of Gerald and Hank? (Among others)
Sorry, I don’t understand the connection between Agnes and Texas A & M. I did a quick search, which was less than useful. Can you explain?
“Aggie”
My vote is for Gretchen.
As a German I find Gretchen hilarious. Not a name you’d see in Germany despite its origins.
My vote is on Brunhilde, my grandma’s name. It’s a name only 80+y olds would have, but I like it
I love Elfriede and Ute, too
My great aunt was named Ute, I’ve never seen anyone else (in the US at least) with that name.
Hated it in Donnie Darko.
And none for Gretchen Wieners.
I’m fond of “Gwendolyn” but I’ve never met or even known of one, to my knowledge.
Oh! I thought of one, Gwendolyn Christie.
I’ve seen it once, although more recently met a Genevieve which feels even rarer and just as pretty.
I knew a Genevieve in college, and then my son’s best friend in preschool was a Genevieve who went by Jenny (or Geny?) and now my daughter has one in her class, so they’re making a comeback maybe?
I knew a Gwen in college, but it wasn’t short for Gwendolyn. Just “Gwen”.
My best friends kid is named Guinevere, is that archaic enough to fit?
