vintage first names no longer in use today or not popular anymore

green papaya · May 12, 2011

please list some names from the golden era or earlier that nobody names their children anymore.

here are a few that are not common anymore:

Harry

Dick

Gertrude

Howard

Bessy

Edith

Mabel

Pearl

Leroy

Floyd

Alex · May 12, 2011

Sue

Charlotte

Those are both my grandma's names. Out of the ones you stated, I feel like Bessy would be one that could pass today. Maybe Pearl as well.

Yeps · May 12, 2011

Evelyn
Caramella

Edgar
Earl
Henry, to a slightly lesser extent.

All I had to do was name my grandparents (my paternal grandfather gets two names on the list.)

sheeplady · May 12, 2011

To follow Alex's example, my grandparents included:
Myrtle
Matilda
Leonard

Another few names I haven't heard in a while are Ada, Mae, Molly, and Shirley.

This is an interesting application to chart the popularity of a name in the US:http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager

V.C. Brunswick · May 12, 2011

Mary
Betty
Lloyd

lolly_loisides · May 12, 2011

Here are some of my grandparents/great aunts & uncles names. You certainly don't see these names much anymore.

Leopold
Maude
Winifred
Reiby
Kitty

The Good · May 12, 2011

Two names don't seem particularly common these days, among my generation here in L.A.

Richard
Lucy

I meet, or hear of people with these names more from the older crowd.

HoosierDaddy · May 12, 2011

Many names were regionally popular. My Great Grandfather's name was 'Micajah' Brown. A name that was quite popular in Wilks County,NC during the 1800s.
Harriet
Isabelle
Lamont
Mattie
Pearl
Rufus
Carrie
Delphia
Rachel
Lucinda
Polly
Arminda
Carrie
Otis
Myrtle
....all family names of that time period and area.
HD

AtomicEraTom · May 12, 2011

I woman I am seeing and I were discussing the naming of children a few days ago. The deal is Oldest Son, after myself. Then the next oldest, she would want Harold, after her grandfather. She also wants Gertrude and Beatrice for girls. I am partial to Betty, after my grandmother.

Fatal Red · May 12, 2011

Enid
Eugene

Miss Moonlight · May 12, 2011

When I was naming my daughter, I thought of my maternal grandma and her sister- Thelma or Ina Mae. My mom begged me not to use Thelma, and Ina Mae just didn't suit her. But it's a lovely name.

V.C. Brunswick · May 12, 2011

Dolores

Puzzicato · May 12, 2011

green papaya said:
please list some names from the golden era or earlier that nobody names their children anymore.

here are a few that are not common anymore:

Harry

Dick

Gertrude

Howard

Bessy

Edith

Mabel

Pearl

Leroy

Floyd

Harry is a very common boy's name in the UK - I don't know if that is down to Harry Potter or Prince Harry! My cousin, who is in his teens, was christened Harold Gordon, after his 2 grandfathers, and he was very relieved when Harry Potter came out and made Harry a cool name again.

Some of the old-fashioned girl's names seem to be coming back into vogue too - Harriet, Martha, Matilda, Daisy, Molly, Phoebe, Olivia and Grace have all been in the top 100 in recent years.

My grandparents - Edward, Gordon, Beverley & Liselotte. Edward is the only one I see with a chance of making a real resurgence!

JimWagner · May 12, 2011

Orville (my father's name)
Irene (my mother's name)
Oscar (my grandfather's name)
Ida Mae (my grandmother's name)

Doctor Strange · May 12, 2011

My parents names were Sidney (b.1919) and Tillie... on her birth certificate, though she used the equally uncommon Theodora/Teddy (b.1923).

LizzieMaine · May 12, 2011

Edith
Ruth
Hazel
Mildred
(I had four aunts with these names.)

My father was a Floyd and my grandfathers were Irving and Clifford.

Drappa · May 12, 2011

Since all of these have been Anglo names, I'll ad my paternal grandparents and great grandparents:
Erna
Johanne
Emil
Friedrich
Gustav Adolf

For obvious reasons I could never name my kids after my grandfather (last), but even the others wouldn't really work if I continue to live in the UK.
My husband was supposed to be named Rupert Oscar after a relative, but my MIL intervened.
I would love to name a potential daughter Erna after my grandmother, but fear the child would be teased too much.

scotrace · May 12, 2011

Grandmothers:
Grace (has again become popular - my daughter's name (18) is Grace). She had a rare middle name, Verneda.
Amanda (never really fell from popularity)
Mother: Marie Edna
Grandfather: Clarence
Great grandmother: Etta Mae

Other names that seem to have vanished: Dorothy, Phillis (for good reason!), Gladys, Eleanor, Frank (though I know one under 30).

scotrace · May 12, 2011

Here is a thread with many wonderful names. Merge on the horizon.

green papaya · May 12, 2011

woman's name Ethel

like at the gas station when they use to say fill her up with "ETHEL" who's ETHEL?

"If you run out of gas, get ethyl. If Ethel runs out, get Mabel!"

Groucho Marx (Character) - Quotes

vintage first names no longer in use today or not popular anymore

One Too Many

Practically Family

Call Me a Cab

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

Call Me a Cab

New in Town

A-List Customer

One Too Many

Practically Family

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

Head Bartender

Head Bartender

One Too Many

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