We have a doctor named Bertha. I think it was one of those cases where Asian parents chose an American name without really being aware of current fashions.
I don’t think anyone much liked Ethel, even back when it was more common. My grandmother’s name was Ethel Mae, but she insisted on being called Tina.
And for that matter, What’s the Matter With Helen?
My grandmothers were named Mildred and Margaret. Mildred went by “Millie” or “Bea” and Margaret went by, um, Margaret. Mildred was a heap of fun and Margaret was a sour old bitch.
So to sum up, nothing in this post has anything whatsoever to do with the topic of this thread.
Oh, come on, she’s not that bad. Who do you think would win in a cage match, her or Bob’s wife? 
The only name on the list I’d have any issue with is Eddie. Edward is a nice name. But it’s my dad’s name.
Praise God Or Thou Shall Be Damned might be a problem on the dating scene…
I have a very odd name and no ones ever not dated me for my name 
I’d love to meet an Octavia. She would be a wacky geeky chick who’s an absolute demon in the sack!
Damn right she would! Hubba hubba!
Come to think of it, my RL name is a little Martha-esque, but only in its country of origin, and I haven’t lived there for over a quarter of a century.
Judging by what I’ve been told, everywhere else I’ve lived it’s considered exotic and definitely not staid and mumsy like Martha. So there! 
Who would you turn down, be sort of meh, or be instantly head-over-ears with? And why? I would not turn down any of them. Why should I turn someone down based on a name?
Winifred Winnie, I would think of the nurse character from “I will fear no evil”
Ethel Tough name, makes me think of Ethel Mertz.
Glynnis Cute name, I would expect an Irish girl. I expect a Red Head or Pale Blond.
Joan A fine name, I expect a brunette for some reason.
Gertrude Eek, a really tough name. Mean parents.
Frederica Tough one, but looks good after Gertrude.
Salpi ??? I would expect an Asian girl.
Morgan Cool, I would be thinking Morgan LeFey.
Octavia An old Roman name, she would probably be Italian, I like Italian girls.
Phyllis Make me think of Cloris Leachman. I am neutral towards the name.
Mildred Millie, makes me think of Mary Tyler Moore in her Prime. A good thought.
Wanda Wow, Wonderful, Wicked Wanda, I am picturing Pettie Page for some reason.
Jim
Can you ask her where I can get some good wings in Tonawanda? Thanks.
There are many Filapino women where I work with very old-fashioned names—Flora, Amalda, Eunice, Elsa, Hilda, Camilla, Edna, married to Archie, Emeril, George, Felix, Virgil, Clementino, Arthur and Clyde. Some of the Hispanic women are Filamona, Americas, Armida, Fatima and Brisa, with Mauro, Refugio, Jesus and Jorge (pronounced whore-heh).
I might have trouble dating Jesus.( I know, Hey-soos, but still)
I wasn’t aware of that. My friend was born in the US but of Filipino decent so that might explain her being named Eunice.
Speaking of which, try this. Do a Google image search for “Joan”.
Winifred…Winnie
Ethel…Lettie
Glynnis
Joan
Gertrude…Trudy
Frederica…Fay
Salpi…Sally
Morgan
Octavia…Vi
Phyllis
Mildred…Millie
Wanda
Anatole…Nat
Malcolm…Mal
Rocco…Rocky
Eddie
Ali
Percy…Cy
Viv
Renzo…Ren or Rennie
Morgan…Morrie
Dean
Leland…Lee
Waldo…Wally
Well there you go. A large number of those woman are totally hot.
And now I have to think of my mom as totally hot. Like I’m not neurotic enough. Well a number of my boyfriends have found her pretty hot (more neurosis) and a few my Grandma Ruth. Which I then think is just a reflection of my very good genes.
I’d tease her about it but a name wouldn’t effect my dating decision. After all, I have a funky Korean name that most English-speakers can barely pronounce. I just go by the pronounceable half of my given name (Han), which some people still manage to screw up. No not Hen, Ham, or Haen goddammit. Yeah Han Solo, haha haven’t heard that one.
…Anyway, I’d like to add a few:
Bertha. Destined for morbid obesity.
Jeeves. Your parents obviously wanted you to be either a butler or a chauffeur.
Winston. Named after a pack of smokes.
I’ve seen the ‘old-fashioned English name’ thing among Chinese people here as well: Winston Chai, William Sung. Laurance Yap is a columnist for the Toronto Star.
There are an Edna and a Nora at work who are very attractive; the Edna is Chinese, and the Nora (short for Leonora) is Filipina and seriously hot. I also know a Vera who is seriously hot; she’s of Netherlands descent, though, and was named after the WW2 singer. I also know an Immie (short for Irmgard) who is past fifty and still cute, and was a real looker back when.
I lnow a Linda and an Ingrid, but that’s among the Swedish-by-marriage sector of my family. I still think those names are attractive, though. There’s a Fatima at my gym who is very attractive, and I once had a flatmate named Leslie America who was very attractive. (I, however, was not. At the time, I was one step above hermithood.)
And I like the name Octavia as well. I agree with Mbossa: she’d be unconventional and serioualy-attractive.
I met a Gabi (Gabriella) who was unconventional and seriously-attractive: she was Hungarian, short, smart, stocky, curvaceous, and had short bobbed hair and a delightful accent. When I met her, I couldn’t sleep well for three days. I would have asked her out in a hearbeat, but she was not single. :: sigh :: We never managed to cross paths often after that, and about a year later she went back to Europe.
I found out much later that her existing relationship did not last long, and that she’d left Canada because she could’t find anyone! :smack: And that she liked me! :smack: :smack:
Or your parents want you to love Big Brother.
OK now, just stop with that sort of behavior. You’re just being cruel.
Her actual name is Margaretta, which is not very pretty. But had she been named Mildred, Bertha, or Frank, she’d still be the most wonderful, beautiful, marriageable woman in the known universe. The woman I dream about every night. The woman I left my girlfriend for, perhaps a huge mistake. The first woman I’ve asked out in seven years.
And she said no.
Fuck.
Letti. It is to weep.
I had a friend whose niece got named after her grandmothers, Vera and Agnes. The niece would probably be in her early 30’s by now. I still wonder from time to time how she’s fared in life.
A neighbor of mine was a Winifred. She went by Win, which fit her serious personality better than Winnie would have.
I know “Winifred” sounds like a little old lady name, but I can’t help but think of the Winnie Cooper character from The Wonder Years. Danica McKellar has grown up.