# Would you date someone named Mildred? Or Waldo? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061 "2007-03-22T19:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/21 "2007-03-22T20:00:22Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] Since we’re being completely shallow…I would only date someone whose name was preceded by something like Prince or King. [/QUOTE] How about Rex or Fido? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/22 "2007-03-22T20:00:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Or perhaps was followed by M.D. or CEO. What about Esq.? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/23 "2007-03-22T20:11:19Z")
My dear mom’s name was Mildred, though she always went by Milly (which by the way really is not that much better and neither is Wally for Waldo nor Hilly for Hilary). She knew the name was ugly and I find it hard to believe her parents didn’t think so too. I mean, things go in and out of style, but is “Mildred” really like the sound of angels singing to anyone’s ears? You asked about names and databilty so I guess I’ll move on to the guy’s names. While I would never reject anyone because of a name I consider undesirable, I think I would probably not use it very often. Screaming out “oh Archibald” whilst in the throes of passion produces a bit of an incongruous image in my mind. As for your list, the only name that really gives me pause is Percy. Percy is a cat’s name\* Okay, Waldo isn’t great either, but not entirely unmasculine. All the other names on the list I actually find very appealing. - To any Percys I may have offended, please take comfort in the fact that my real name conjures up images of bimbos, and not in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/24 "2007-03-22T20:12:38Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] What about Esq.? ☹ [/QUOTE] Fine, fine. You can be in the running as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/25 "2007-03-22T20:13:55Z")
🆒 ---
**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:** [March 22, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/26 "2007-03-22T20:25:26Z")
Old-lady names are quite common among young Hispanic women in southern New Mexico. I had dates with women who would now be in their mid-30s named Hortense and Ester, among others. I’ll admit that even though it shouldn’t matter, it throws me for a loop when I meet Generation X-age women with names that are seldom encountered in those younger than the Baby Boom generation: Joan, Joanne, Jean, Lois, and so on. It’s just an odd match, kind of like the Caucasian Keisha I knew in high school, or an established, sophisticated professional with a name like Candy or Luann. A name isn’t a reason not to date someone, though; if you like someone, you’ll get over it. I wonder if people a decade from now will be posting about twenty-somethings with such old-fashioned names like Linda, Veronica, Jennifer and Kirsten. “Ewwwww! Jennifer? That’s a lunch lady name!” [QUOTE=twickster] Joan? What’s wrong with Joan? [/QUOTE] To my ears, I think “50 year old lady with a terrible Buffalo accent.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/27 "2007-03-22T20:25:46Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] My wife dated a guy named Elmer at one time. Married him, even. 😉 [/QUOTE] Were you already married to her at the time? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/28 "2007-03-22T20:33:59Z")
To answer my own OP, Winifred - Sure. Winnie is nice. Ethel - Probably not, unless she’s like the one I knew. Then absolutely. Glynnis - Bring it on! Joan - No, explained above. Gertrude - If she went by Trudy, then yes. Frederica - Meh. Sure. Salpi - Rowr! Morgan - Yeah, I could do that. There’s an amazing porn star with that name. Yep. Octavia - I’d be a little afrais that she’d run me over in her chariot. Phyllis - Sure, as long as she didn’t call herself Phyl. New England Dopers who watch TV know why. Mildred - Naw. I’d always be thinking Mildew. Wanda - No. Really bad association there. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/29 "2007-03-22T20:36:20Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] To my ears, I think “50 year old lady with a terrible Buffalo accent.” 😃 [/QUOTE] Exactly! And I thought that 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/30 "2007-03-22T20:43:52Z")
As long as we are being shallow, If she has green eyes,big boobs and nice wide hips her name is unimportant. 😛😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/31 "2007-03-22T20:50:20Z")
What about big hips, green boobs, and nice wide eyes? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/32 "2007-03-22T20:50:51Z")
[QUOTE=akira5822] As long as we are being shallow, If she has green eyes,big boobs and nice wide hips her name is unimportant. 😛😃 [/QUOTE] **akira** , let me introduce you to my grandma… Oh wait, I guess her eyes are brown. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![rucciface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@rucciface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rucciface)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/33 "2007-03-22T20:52:12Z")
None of the men’s names on this list are unattractive enough to be turn-offs, but I think I’d have a tough time calling out “Oh, Viv!” in bed. He’d definitely end up with a nickname or endearment. I once dated a guy named “Bubba” and the closest I ever came to calling him by name was “Bubbalicious”. Otherwise, he was “hon” or somesuch. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/34 "2007-03-22T21:15:26Z")
Most of the men I dated have had plain names like Jim, Mike, Bob, and such. When I was in college, I dated a guy named Percival. He didn’t like being called “Percy” because he said it reminded him of the poet Shelley, whom he despised. Percival was a good-looking, funny, pleasant fellow, and he was one of the best kissers I ever dated. If I’d rejected him because of his old-fashioned name, I would have missed some mighty smoochin’. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/35 "2007-03-22T21:20:14Z")
[QUOTE=Belrix] I would think that most, well, \*ugly \* names could be made into a cuter pet name: Mildred is “Milly” Waldo is “Wally” Hilda is “Hilly” Any name ending in a “y” is automatically a minimum 27.3% cuter. [/QUOTE] I have known several women named Martha. The cute ones all went by “Marty.” The not-so-cute ones stuck with “Martha.” ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/36 "2007-03-22T21:21:49Z")
There are names that would give me pause, but none of the ones on that list. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/37 "2007-03-22T21:26:03Z")
Hey! What’s Joan doing in the OP??? My mom’s names is Joan. If there weren’t a pretty shallow guy willing to date a Joan I wouldn’t be here right now. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/38 "2007-03-22T21:36:35Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Dean [/QUOTE] [Yes, most definitely.](http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/5968/supernaturalpic50nr.jpg) (Even from a completely shallow standpoint, I don’t see a problem with half the names on the list. What’s wrong with Morgan or Malcolm or Ali?) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/39 "2007-03-22T21:54:15Z")
And I never thought I’d a date a Henry. Or a Charles. But I’m dating both. Charles, first name, Henry the name he goes by. Middle. But we both have rock hard old names so I think that works. And better Maybell (my greatgrandmother) than Britiny. Or Madison. But my SO and myself have names that go back the the the last millenium. They worked that long, they’ll work a little longer. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061/40 "2007-03-22T22:09:11Z")
I agree with the “old fashioned is better than made up soap opera” sentiment. I think calling a baby girl Beulah or Bertha these days would be a bit of a burden to her. For me I’d rather date a Mortimer, Chester, or Ezekiel than Schuyler, Chase, or Chance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-date-someone-named-mildred-or-waldo/397061.md?page=3)