this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2024
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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.

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[–] iii@mander.xyz 63 points 1 week ago (3 children)
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[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 42 points 1 week ago (3 children)

The name Ea-nāṣir is about 4000 years overdue for a comeback.

[–] SassyRamen@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (2 children)

When you have bad copper you deserve to be forgotten!

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[–] NemoWuMing@lemmy.world 38 points 1 week ago (3 children)
[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 14 points 1 week ago

Clytemnestra

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[–] PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 32 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Galahad

Eleanor

Emeline

Emeric

Lancelot

Siegfried

[–] gofsckyourself@lemmy.world 25 points 1 week ago (4 children)

You definitely don't see many people named Lance, but back in the day people were named Lancelot.

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[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Γ‰velyne is faily common around here still.

Gilgamesh is one I haven't heard in a hot minute, not sure about the comeback though.

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[–] proudblond@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I’m fond of β€œGwendolyn” but I’ve never met or even known of one, to my knowledge.

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've seen it once, although more recently met a Genevieve which feels even rarer and just as pretty.

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[–] proudblond@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago

Oh! I thought of one, Gwendolyn Christie.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I knew a Gwen in college, but it wasn't short for Gwendolyn. Just "Gwen".

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[–] Trigger2_2000@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] Num10ck@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago
[–] all-knight-party@fedia.io 17 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I 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.

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have 2 first names and I prefer to go by their initials. I’m so used to it that I sometimes don’t notice when someone calls me by my actual first name.

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[–] ptz@dubvee.org 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

My boss does that, and for that reason. I do like it. Unfortunately, he cannot help me get cash now from my structured settlement.

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[–] theedqueen@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think Millicent and Winnifred would be cute because you can shorten them to Millie and Winnie

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[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 16 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Evelyn as a man’s name, if you want to be really old school.

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[–] son_named_bort@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago (4 children)

May and June. I feel like there's a lot of younger Aprils but the other two month names seem like old lady names.

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[–] HipsterTenZero@dormi.zone 15 points 1 week ago (5 children)
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[–] eran_morad@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack.

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[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

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.

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[–] Cuberoot@lemmynsfw.com 14 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Zebulon -- 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).

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[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I would say Marceline, but adventure Time kind of kicked that overdue revival into high gear.

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[–] MisterNeon@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Itzcoatl

Axayacatl

Axochitl

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago
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[–] Today@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How about Wanda. I had an aunt Wanda. She was kinda mean, but she had a lot of boyfriends.

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[–] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 12 points 1 week ago

Constantine

[–] Tina@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Perhaps not as old as requested but

Ronald, Marianne, Cynthia, Evangeline, Melinda, Caesar, Magdalena, Betty, Rosetta, Balthazar, Thadeus, Lazarus, Otto, Bartholomew, Miranda

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I went to school with most of the names on that list. Not picking on you, just feeling old. πŸ˜†

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[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 week ago

A lot of people these days seem to think that "Adolf" should come back.

I am not one of those people.

[–] blueamigafan@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My 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.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Both pretty names! I'm particularly fond of "Genevieve."

I suspect there are several names no longer common in the US that are more common in other countries. I think "Genevieve" is still fairly common in France, and it's making a comeback in the states! You're doing your part!

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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

I 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.

[–] ABCDE@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] classic@fedia.io 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Edna sounds like the Karen of the 20th century

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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Any common ancient Roman name. Not enough "imuses" or "cleses" suffixing names.

Kolanakimus Huskerclese

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago (2 children)

A classics professor goes to a tailor to get his trousers mended.
The tailor asks: β€œEuripides?”
The professor replies: β€œYes. Eumenides?”

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[–] AlbertSpangler@lemmings.world 9 points 1 week ago (4 children)
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[–] toast@retrolemmy.com 9 points 1 week ago
[–] dariusj18@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] BanjoShepard@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

My 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.

[–] kindenough@kbin.earth 8 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Dutch names.

Truitje Fiep Toos Wies (my grandma) Pleun Fons (my uncle) pronounced Funs in South Limburg

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[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 7 points 1 week ago

I'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.

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