Ha… my great-grandfather was Wilbur Earhart! Now that’s aviation for ya… Also, he and his wife were Wilbur and Charlotte, just like Charlotte’s web!
Just thought of a few more from my family. Grandmother Hilda’s siblings were Eunice, Doris, Robert, and twins Arnold and Elbert. Grandfather Leslie’s siblings were Josephine, Karl, Loren (brother), and Eloise. Don’t know as much about the other side of the family, but I know my father’s father had a sister named Maxine. You don’t hear that a lot these days, either… anyone know a young Maxine? It’s not a bad name, actually.
Other random names from the ancestry: Theudas and Ephraim (went by Eph). Those are 1800s, though, so probably even older than old-folks names.
I do! She’s about 3 or 4 now, I guess. Also I used to have a hairdresser named Maxine. She’s about 35 or so.
I was debating between Annabel and Eloise for my daughter. Annabel won, but I’d consider Eloise for any future daughters. I think it’s lovely… but I hate Louise. Go figure.
Old lady name that seems to be having a revival: Evangeline. My cousin’s 2 year old was named after Evangeline Lilly from Lost, and I’ve seen the name popping up in the birth notices from time to time.
An interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed is how certain names, while hopelessly old or musty for certain groups, can still manage to sound cool and normal in other groups.
For example, I know some cool Asian folks with names that would be quite frumpy (or at least out of date) for a Caucasian (things like Vivian and Doris and Lucy) but seem completely normal for them. Now admittedly I don’t know any young Caucasians with those names (often a cool person can elevate a bad name), but it does seem like a lot of young Asians have old-fashioned first names.
The other one I’ve noticed is how names that would sound stuffy or…well…rather sissy on a white boy or man somehow manage to sound cool for an African-American man. Things like Vernon or Chauncey or Maurice, for example. Not sure why that is either, but I’ve seen it often enough that it doesn’t seem to be an isolated incident.
No stereotyping intended, of course. Just an observation.
Dimple is one of those names Indian people give their daughters…I’m not sure if it’s a REAL Indian name or one of those Colonial era names that North Indians liked (Pinky, Bunty etc.). Most of those types of names seem concentrated amongst North Indians.
Dimple Kapadia is a pretty famous movie actress.
My legal name is exceedingly oldfashioned-growing up I always wanted a name like Priya or Anjali but now I really like it. I’ve gone by my nickname for over a decade, though.
Any other Amelia’s out there? I was named after a great aunt, Louise Amelia. (My parents didn’t want me to be nicknamed “Weezy” …) I’m 59, and have always been called Amy, unless I was in big trouble.
On my ex-husband’s side, there was Mary Margaret (mother), and her sisters were Ione & Reba. Both bigtime Southerners. He was Winston James, Jr.
Dagmar (although I really like this name - it makes me think of a tall, beautiful, big-busted German woman)
Ginger
Belinda
Joy (I hate this name - I’ve never met a person named Joy who was even remotly joyful)
Gaye - I just can’t see this one making a comeback
One of my grandmothers was a Goldie. Funnily enough, it was her sister-in-law’s name, too. So for a long time there were two Goldie Samelastnames running around the same small town, and they’re the only two Goldies I’ve ever heard of.
Ha, just a side note, my childhood nickname was Weezy. And my name is Emily. Apparently it was after my great-aunt Eloise (must have looked like her?). So, Cazzle, take note! My great aunt Eloise Rosalie must have had a flair for the dramatic, though, as she went by a pen name of sorts for no apparent reason. It was “Cecily Ann.” Cecily, there’s another another old lady name that is actually rather beautiful, though I think it might be the origin of the nickname “Sissy.”
I think that any old lady name is fair game for a comeback. I’m just amazed that the name I chose for the daughter I never had hasn’t come back yet. It’s Claudia.
I always thought my Grandmother Hazel’s name was the ultimate in old lady, but Julia Roberts and someone in this very thread seem to like it.
My own name, Karen, is on its way to old-ladyhood I fear. My twin sister is Virginia, and I read somewhere that more babies are given that name than are given mine but she always hated it for being old lady.
My grandmothers were Ida and Shirley. I don’t foresee a comeback for either one. They’re ugly names so this is no great loss.
My husband’s grandmothers were/are Winifred and Vera. Winifred can only work if you turn it into Winnie IMO.
OTOH, my grandfathers were Nathan and William both quite fashionable today. My husband’s grandfathers were Thomas and William both again quite popular today.
So was mine. My niece who is going to be a year old this month is named after her.
My other niece is named Hazel.
My sister (their mother) wanted unique names for her kids, and decided to go with old-fashioned names instead of weird spellings or pronunciations for more modern names. I can understand why she wanted to do that- she’s a Jennifer born in the late 70s, and it seemed like there was always at least one other Jennifer in her class.
As a Jennifer myself, I undestand that completely. I would love to use something unusual, yet not too “out there.” I’m actually very jealous of Jennifer Garner. I loved the name Serafina (I think she went with the ph spelling) but I thought it was too out there for a real child’s name. So I named my cat Serafina My current favorites are Aurora and Lilah! I also adore Evangeline (have loved it ever since the Matthew Sweet song) but figured I’d get pegged as a Lost fan.
