# Names you associate with "white trash" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364 "2003-09-28T21:35:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/1 "2003-09-28T21:35:18Z")
I am currently writing a story, and a need a name for a character. Think of a woman in her forties built like a linebacker with a bad dye job and a hockey player’s smile. And her personality matches her looks. What would you name her? Please note, I’m not trying to offend anyone. The phrase “white trash” generally gives a good mental image. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/2 "2003-09-28T21:47:45Z")
I think “trailer trash” might be the more acceptable term nowadays - but hey. How about Velma or Hattie Daisy or Bert (short for Bertrice) ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/3 "2003-09-28T21:49:56Z")
How about one of those names that are also words, like Destiny or Charisma? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/4 "2003-09-28T21:53:37Z")
Lois ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/5 "2003-09-28T21:54:40Z")
**TVGuy** , I didn’t use “trailer trash” because I was afraid some would misconstrue it to mean “black.” ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/6 "2003-09-28T21:58:06Z")
Thelma Luanne Charlene Marlene Ginny Sue Anne Bobbie Lorena Mary Lou Pretty much every other two name combination except Sarah Jane. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/7 "2003-09-28T22:01:17Z")
Misty ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/8 "2003-09-28T22:02:24Z")
Definitely Charlene. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/9 "2003-09-28T22:08:39Z")
Porcina ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/10 "2003-09-28T22:11:57Z")
Depends on whether she’s from the North or the South. **Michael Ellis** has the Southern names nailed, but what if your white trash character is from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania or upstate New York? I have met several shopworn, seen-much-better-days women named _ **Tammy** _ in rural and blue collar industrial areas in the North. _ **Dee Dee** _ is a similar Northern name, although the name reminds me more of a slightly chunky blonde sports bar hag than someone matronly. Buffalo’s blue collar neighborhoods are filled with fourtysomething women named _ **Joanne, Frances** _ and _ **Francine.** _ ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/11 "2003-09-28T22:17:41Z")
Bertha Betty Lou Mike (I knew a girl named Mike, it was short for ???, yikes!!!) Linda Lou Daisy Mable or maybe people just call her by here nick: Hogan Gash Whoopass Hank Snots Booger ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/12 "2003-09-28T22:26:16Z")
Vera ---
**Author:** ![bojon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@bojon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bojon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/13 "2003-09-28T22:35:52Z")
Gotta be…Lillith ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/14 "2003-09-28T22:36:36Z")
I’ve never known a black person who lived in a trailer, but then I’m from whitetrashville. Rows and rows of trailers with white folk living in them. I second Thelma and Velma. But yes, it does depend on North or South. Jean, Evelyn. Tammy, I agree with too. Oh, there’s Virginia, too. ---
**Author:** ![sleepytimebaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@sleepytimebaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleepytimebaby)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/15 "2003-09-28T22:56:38Z")
Bertha… that is the name I picture to fit your character ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/16 "2003-09-28T23:00:58Z")
Tammy, definately. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/17 "2003-09-28T23:10:23Z")
Enorma ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/18 "2003-09-28T23:14:10Z")
The location I think will be the Rust Belt (parts of IL, etc.) I should have mentioned she is not meant to be a nice lady. She is not the protagonist, either. Definitely in an antagonist position. Please keep the ideas coming! This is helping a lot! I tried those baby name sites, but naturally, they didn’t have a search for white trash names 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/19 "2003-09-28T23:15:01Z")
Earlene ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364/20 "2003-09-28T23:15:23Z")
Continuing with my above-mentioned theme: April, Dawn. And, Lurlene. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-you-associate-with-white-trash/204364.md?page=2)