this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2024
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By old-timey names, I mean ones that you don't typically associate with anyone alive or younger than like 70.

Examples being:

  • Burl
  • Mildred
  • Herbert
  • Agnes
  • Evelyn (not as rare at the others, but getting there)

I've always liked the name "Opal" but I've only ever known two in my life. I was like 10-12 at the time, and they were both pushing 90.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Thaddeus, Ulysses, etc. I liked that people used to name their kids after figures of the ancient world.

[–] [email protected] 63 points 5 days ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I actually went to school with a Balthazar.

His parents were hippies in the 60s and never stopped being hippies.

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 5 days ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 days ago

Clytemnestra

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I must be in a weird spot because I know 3 different Evelyns under the age of 8.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, I noted that one as the oddball. Based on replies here, it's definitely a regional difference. In my area, it's all but extinct under the age of 60.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

It's definitely just those kids and super old folks, I don't really know any in-between

[–] [email protected] 42 points 5 days ago (3 children)

The name Ea-nāṣir is about 4000 years overdue for a comeback.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 5 days ago (2 children)

When you have bad copper you deserve to be forgotten!

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

I've always liked the name Ruben for some reason and only ever known one that I can recall (whose brother was called Robin).

I also am partial to Ezekiel and they can have Zeke as a nickname which I think sounds pretty rad.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 days ago
[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago
[–] [email protected] 32 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Galahad

Eleanor

Emeline

Emeric

Lancelot

Siegfried

[–] [email protected] 25 points 5 days ago (4 children)

You definitely don't see many people named Lance, but back in the day people were named Lancelot.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

I went to a school with an Eleanor, who really embodied her name by being way into the local SCA group, doing ren fairs all the time, and is now a medieval history professor.

She's the most Eleanor Eleanor you can possibly Eleanor.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Orpheus, Raphael, Hepaestus, Karlach, Orin, Sylvanus, William, ...

oops

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago
[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (4 children)

Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (3 children)
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Thurl (as in Ravenscroft.)

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 days ago

I find Mildred an ugly name, sounds like it means Mildew but worse. Like the most dreadful mildew.

Opal I think is pretty, that's a good name. As you say you like minerals, Ruby not bad either, my mom had an aunt Ruby Jack, born around 1920.

I did know a baby Eugenia, her parents were Costa Rican and pronounced it closer to Elu-henia than Eyu-henia or you-geenya. I think that one is prettier in Spanish but not bad in English.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 5 days ago (6 children)

I’m fond of “Gwendolyn” but I’ve never met or even known of one, to my knowledge.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Named my daughter Evelyn last year. I'm doing my part.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

Modern version would be Vyvyyn.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Évelyne is faily common around here still.

Gilgamesh is one I haven't heard in a hot minute, not sure about the comeback though.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 days ago

A lot of people these days seem to think that "Adolf" should come back.

I am not one of those people.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I think Millicent and Winnifred would be cute because you can shorten them to Millie and Winnie

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I've always liked the old anglo saxon names like:

  • Aethelweard
  • Aethelwulf
  • Aelfwynn
  • Aethelflaed

We just get stuck with plain ol Ethel and Alf.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 days ago (5 children)

Evelyn as a man’s name, if you want to be really old school.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 days ago (4 children)

May and June. I feel like there's a lot of younger Aprils but the other two month names seem like old lady names.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 days ago (8 children)

I want people to go by their first two initials, and then the entire last name. Y'know, "H. G. Wells, J.G. Wentworth".

It just makes everyone sound more fancy and serious.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Zebulon -- traditional Biblical name. Maybe still used in Israel, but not many Americans have used it since the days of Zebulon Pike (Pike's Peak) and Zebulon Vance (Civil War era NC governor).

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 days ago (5 children)
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[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

Perhaps not as old as requested but

Ronald, Marianne, Cynthia, Evangeline, Melinda, Caesar, Magdalena, Betty, Rosetta, Balthazar, Thadeus, Lazarus, Otto, Bartholomew, Miranda

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