My Grandfather was Douglas (Doug), and his siblings were Sydney (Syd), Robert (Bob), David (Dave), Dorothy (Dorrie), Hector (died as an infant but presumably would have been Hec like the uncle he was named for), Jean, Joyce and Marjorie (Marj). Auntie Jean has told me on several occasions how grateful she is to her parents for giving all of them such lovely names.
There are clearly generational differences at work here. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with most of their names, but you don’t hear them (particularly the girl’s names) and think “Sex Kitten”.
I also have to nominate Ralph. I used to date a Ralph (pronounced “Ralf” as in Wiggum, not “Rafe” as in Fiennes). Unsexiest name ever.
This is an interesting thread. As far as I can see, there are certain different cultural connotations to many names: being unattractive, being plain, being old, being nebbish or nerdy… It certainly goes well beyond the simple “being unattractive” of the OP.
I wonder if other cultures’/languages’ names have connotations like these? Some of the posts have already touched on it lightly, but any non-Western dopers care to add more?
“Elmer? You fuckin’ named him Elmer???”
“Not Elmer. ----Aylmer. It’s Anglo-Saxon for Beautiful Thing”
---**Brain Damage**
One of my favorite lines from a weird movie. Te protesing guy and his wife are keeping a pet monster that has wandered off into the first guy’s apartment. The first guy learns the creature’s name when the second guy bursts in and asks What he did with Aylmer.
Nowadays I don’t think a lot of people are naming their kids Elmer. Elmer Fudd has poisoned the name with associations, and any good will left over is gonna be squelched by Elmer’s Glue-All and Elmer Gantry.
I’d forgotten Ethel. I’ve never known any Ethels, so all I can think of are Ethel Mertz (Vivian Vance) and the Ethel that chases after Jughead. Not a sexy name. And whoever spelled it Ethyl needs to check their dictionary. And do you know any people named Propyl?
And I’m sorry if you’re a good-lookling Emily, but I still don’t find the name attra ctive. That’s going to be true of any name in here – statistically, there are going to be good-looking Griseldas and Elmers, but that’s not going to change our perception of the names.
Heh- I like that. The outfits i have seen pictures of her in make me think that (by todays standards- these pictures are from the 1920’s).However, I am told she was a knockout and a lovely person.
I couldn’t believe it when they kept Mr. Big’s name a secret all those years on Sex and the City and they finally reveal it and it’s…John. What a letdown. Talk about no imagination at all. I’m hoping there’s some inside reason for using it, like with Dickie (cringe) on Law & Order.
On “ER” in the past season or two, Nurse Chuny Marquez revealed that her real name was “Ethel,” when a thoroughly sauced Abby asked her how she got the name “Chuny.” She’s pretty hot.
I was in the Honolulu Airport two years ago, and had a long conversation with professional photographer Ethel Davies. She’s not bad looking. But when she introduced herself as “Ethel,” inside my exact thoughts were “Ethel? Your name is Ethel? You gotta fu¢|<in’ kidding me!”
Yeah, and Anne says in the first book that her parents were called Bertha and Walter, and ‘weren’t they lovely names?’ Anne, you red-headed fool, they were not.
I read kids’ books quite a bit (for research purposes of course :)), and always get a chuckle out of names that were used in the 30s and 40s. My favourite is of course ‘Fanny’ - and yes, I’m sure y’all are aware that that has a different, more graphic meaning over here across the pond.
Re the OP: Nigel, Neville, Colin, Martha are the first that spring shudderingly to mind…
This just begs the question: Is one supposed to think sex kitten upon hearing a female name? (not picking on you, just sayin’…)
I had forgotten Ralph. And add Craig to the list. Awful name, Craig.
I also forgot Muriel, Ardell and Hilda–my 2 grandmothers and great aunt. Throw Millicent in there as well…
Has Mildred appeared yet? Mildred and Gertrude, yuck names for the ages.
I have a friend my age (mid 40s) named Esther. I’ve known her for years and am of course used to it, but every once in a while I think, “lord, her name is Esther!”
Oh and I based the 25-year popularity on the age of my sisters, who are now 27 and have been surrounded by legions of Emilys since the day they were born.
Growing up, I knew several boys named Troy. Every one was an asshole/bully.
Phyllis and Gladys: elderly, sporting cats-eye glasses, wearing their hair in a beehive while playing canasta.
Yetta. The only Yettas left are ninety years old and speak Yiddish as a native language.
Speaking of names specific to ethnicity, there’s an old novel named Zuleika Dobson. Zuleika is an Arabic name, and in the context of a homogeneous society like Edwardian England, it just sounds deliciously exotic. Nowadays, any British or American who uses that as a name risks the child being mistaken for an actual Arab.
Similarly, Juanita had a wave of popularity among non-Hispanic whites around 1900.
Farrah is an Iranian name. I wonder where Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett ran across it.
My mother’s parents were Emma Bertha and Julius Elmer, and they were dairy farmers. Emma’s nice, and Julius is not so bad either. I don’t dislike Bertha and Elmer but they’re just not fashionable.
Interesting, since Colin is now a fashionable baby name on this side. I think people imagine good-looking, sophisticated Englishmen when they pick Colin. Nigel and Neville, however–no freaking way. I have never understood the former popularity of Nigel in the UK. Or Beryl for that matter.
I quite like Esther and Zipporah though. I was sort of rooting for Zipporah as a name for our second little girl (we could call her Zippy!) but my husband nixed it and we went with Emily.
Yeah, Colin’s just a personal one for me, brings up images of raincoats and Thermos flasks…
Re the friend called Esther above, I just remembered the name of a former housemate of mine - Concepta. :eek: Why yes, she was Catholic. As was her brother Ignatious and her various other religiously named siblings. ‘Hey Concepta, fancy gettin’ down and dirty with it?’ - Nah, never going to happen. IIRC her boyfriend called her Connie - good move.
