# Extinct Woman names **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 14, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840 "2009-02-14T18:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/81 "2009-02-15T08:56:42Z")
I’ve known at least four Mildreds, but I’m a senior myself and all of them are or would be older than I. > [@](#): > > **Auntie Pam** : I read a local obit yesterday for a woman named Dimple. Oh dear. If this was in Tennessee, would you mind PMing me? We have an older cousin named Dimple that we haven’t accounted for in a while. > [@](#): > > \*\* Cazzle\*\*: I know a family with a son named Jordan. Jordan is a surname in our family, so some of the men have the given name of Jordan. But it is pronounced as if it were spelled Jerden. That is a common pronunciation in the South. My generation had a lot of Betsys (short for Elizabeth). Elizabeth and Katharine offer such a variety of shortened names that they seem very tempting. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/82 "2009-02-15T08:59:05Z")
Some of the names from my family that scream _geriatrics_ are Homer, Lyman, June, Velma, Frances, Dolores, Willodean, Stanley, Marvin and Frank. Just makes you get a whiff of _BenGay_, _Metamucil_ and lilac dusting powder thinking about them. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/83 "2009-02-15T09:36:05Z")
I know a Walter in Ca- about 48. My great auntie Zillah was supposed to be a very attractive woman. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/84 "2009-02-15T09:51:27Z")
Everything ( or many things, anyway ) comes around. My grandmother’s names were Myrtle and Amelia. Both seemed horribly old-fashioned when I was a kid. Myrtle still does. Amelia, however, seems to be enjoying a resurgence. Meanwhile my once semi-common mother’s name, Judith, seems to be in decline. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/85 "2009-02-15T10:15:48Z")
For guys: Wilbert Edwin For girls: Dorthea ---
**Author:** ![bindera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@bindera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bindera)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/86 "2009-02-15T11:45:05Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > Drusilla When I was in high school three years ago, there was a Drusilla in the elementary school. In rural Ohio, to make it even stranger. ---
**Author:** ![longPath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@longPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longPath)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/87 "2009-02-15T12:43:34Z")
Both my SO and I had Grandmothers named Minnie, which one might think is a diminutive but it aint. I don’t think I’ve met any Minnies recently. Also, Hortense was a popular name at one time. ---
**Author:** ![longPath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@longPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longPath)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/88 "2009-02-15T12:51:58Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > Mildred and Prunella. I’ve met one Mildred in my life, and I know her for six years before I learned what ‘Millie’ was short for. I can’t believe those names sounded euphonius to anyone, at any time. I know two Mildreds both born just postwar I believe. [Prunella Scales](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0768795/) (Sybil Fawlty) is, I think a most unappealing name. I should have read the whole thread before posting. Oh well… I’m learning. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/89 "2009-02-15T13:24:20Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > Eve > Joan > Ingrid > Pearl > Louise > Barbara > Paula It must vary from place to place but I know at least one and in most cases several people with these names. ---
**Author:** ![Gundhilde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@Gundhilde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundhilde)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/90 "2009-02-15T14:37:43Z")
A year ago I met a severely attractive, early-20-something woman named Doris. And she went by Doris, too, with no hint of embarrassment. My grandfathers were Leslie and Arthur, grandmothers Hilda and Marian. Great-grandfathers were Levi, John, Wilbur, and Thomas, great-grandmothers Minnie Lulu, Sarah, Eva, and Charlotte. My husband and I went to name our future sons some old-dude names… we really like Desmond and Frank 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Halgar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3be4f8/32.png) [@Halgar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Halgar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/91 "2009-02-15T14:45:59Z")
I hope that “Hortense” doesn’t make a comeback. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/92 "2009-02-15T14:49:11Z")
I know two Veras. One is about 40-50 years old, while the other one is just in her early 30s. _Italics added by me_ > [@Mudshark](#): > > Eve > Beatrice- _This name, in another language (in my case Spanish) is more common._ > Astrid- _Same as above, plus there is one in my vet school class._ > Ingrid > Pearl > Dorothy > Renee- _Seen in vet school (mid 20s) and couple of other places_ > Louise > Florence _Ditto, mid 20s_ > Edith > Barbara _Other language thing_ > Paula _Few at work, there is one Paula aged about 30s, two Paulines (both older than 50). I also have one cousin (early 20s) with this name’s version in Spanish, plus few others._ > Cheryl > Darlene > Stella Someone mentioned not hearing someone named Eulalie. I went to school with one (Eulalia in Spanish, goes by Lali). I know a little girl named Olivia (she’s about 5). I’ll agree with the “grandparents name being cool again”. Heck, _I_ want to name my daughter after my great-grandmother, and my sons after my grandfathers. Good proper fitting names in which you can picture a youngster or an old person. My name sucks for that, it’ll always sound like a little girl (to me). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/93 "2009-02-15T14:49:47Z")
My mom was named Beatrice and I’ve never met anyone else with that name – heard of maybe two three. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/94 "2009-02-15T14:50:51Z")
I’ve known quite a few female Leslies. ---
**Author:** ![wolf-alice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9e8a1a/32.png) [@wolf-alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf-alice)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/95 "2009-02-15T14:58:46Z")
> [@](#): > > For boys, I nominate Vernon. I don’t think anything screams “old man” more than Vernon. Unfortunately not - [Vernon Kay](http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/vernonkay/biography.shtml), if you’re into that sort of thing. I’m sure this walking hairstyle will ensure a minor Vernon resurgence amongst the Heat magazine generation. > [@](#): > > A year ago I met a severely attractive, early-20-something woman named Doris. And she went by Doris, too, with no hint of embarrassment. I kinda-sorta know someone online (ha! What a noughties relationship) who goes by Doris by choice; I think she plans to change it legally (it’s not her given name). She’s also in her early twenties. Kids, eh. Anecdata! I’ve cousins called Dora and Ruth (and George, come to think of it), and a second-cousin called Beatrice… Martha seems to be making a comeback, and I recently encountered a mid-thirties Ursula. I’m going to bring back “Jean”, personally, for any hypothetical children. I love old lady names. Except “Prunella”, fair enough. That sounds like an unguent. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/96 "2009-02-15T15:01:16Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Dorcas. Or its Hebrew version, Tabitha. There was a Giving Tree Christmas Thingie for kids in a youth home a few years back. One of the names was **Dorcas** who was a _male_ and 16. I picked his name and I wish I could have given him buttloads of whatever 16 year boys want ( games, pron and candy.) because whomever named him probably didn’t realize his name was a very old welsh female name. I still think Dorcas is actually a very pretty name. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/97 "2009-02-15T15:03:10Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > Drusilla > Rowena > Eve > Joan > Beatrice > Astrid > Ingrid > Pearl > Dorothy > Renee > Louise > Florence > Edith > Barbara > Paula > Cheryl > Darlene > Stella My name is on that list and I’m not 30 yet. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/98 "2009-02-15T15:03:32Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > Drusilla > Rowena > Eve > **Joan** > Beatrice > Astrid > Ingrid > Pearl > Dorothy > Renee > Louise > **Florence** > Edith > Barbara > Paula > Cheryl > Darlene > Stella First and middle for me. THANKS MOM! The highlight of an Old Lady name is that I rarely have to mention our last name. I am the only one in the area. Like Cher, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/99 "2009-02-15T15:17:10Z")
Eve, Eva and Ava went through a reemergence - not uncommon in the preschool set. (Personally, I think all the E names are working through a comeback cycle, starting with Emily - the first wave Emilys are now all young adults, but Emily got too popular and Emma, Eleanor (Ellie), Elena and Eve are all heard in elementary school halls now.) I know a seven or eight year old Stella. My Sunday School class had the third grade girls Renee, Sophia, Nell and Kendra. Kendra was the only one without an old lady name. I know two under ten Solveigs - granted, I live in Minnesota, but Solveig is a Norwegian old lady name. ---
**Author:** ![Sami41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sami41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sami41)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840/100 "2009-02-15T15:29:55Z")
My given name is Marion, pronounced Marian (like Robin Hood and. . . that’ll be another nickel, thank you, please). I’m female, and realize that Marion is the masculine spelling of the name, but I was named after two great aunts (one on each side), who both spelled it ‘Marion.’ My sister’s name is Joan. We are both in our mid 30’s. Or at least I am. She may be in her late thirties. We also have a cousin named Levi, which was outdated in '74 when he was a baby, but I’d consider using now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinct-woman-names/485840.md?page=6)