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submitted 1 month ago by ptz@dubvee.org to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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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[-] iii@mander.xyz 63 points 1 month ago
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[-] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 42 points 1 month ago

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

[-] SassyRamen@lemmy.world 21 points 1 month ago

When you have bad copper you deserve to be forgotten!

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[-] NemoWuMing@lemmy.world 39 points 1 month ago
[-] Akasazh@feddit.nl 14 points 1 month ago

Clytemnestra

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[-] PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 32 points 1 month ago

Galahad

Eleanor

Emeline

Emeric

Lancelot

Siegfried

[-] gofsckyourself@lemmy.world 25 points 1 month ago

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

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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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[-] proudblond@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago

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

[-] taiyang@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

I've seen it once, although more recently met a Genevieve which feels even rarer and just as pretty.

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[-] proudblond@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

Oh! I thought of one, Gwendolyn Christie.

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[-] Trigger2_2000@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 month ago
[-] LunarLoony@lemmy.sdf.org 13 points 1 month ago
[-] Num10ck@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago
[-] all-knight-party@fedia.io 18 points 1 month ago

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.

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 9 points 1 month ago

My boss does that, and for that reason. I do like it. Unfortunately, he cannot help me get cash now from my structured settlement.

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[-] scytale@lemm.ee 9 points 1 month ago

I have 2 first names and I prefer to go by their initials. I’m so used to it that I sometimes don’t notice when someone calls me by my actual first name.

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[-] theedqueen@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago

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

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[-] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 17 points 1 month ago

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

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[-] son_named_bort@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago

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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[-] eran_morad@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack.

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[-] HipsterTenZero@dormi.zone 15 points 1 month ago
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[-] Vanth@reddthat.com 14 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I have a relative named Agnes in her early twenties. Don't do it. I find the Texas A&M jokes to be unbearable and I'm sure I hear less than 10% of what she hears

Mildred, Evelyn, Opal all names of my aunts +3 generations older than mine. Also try Betty as a diminutive for Elizabeth, Gerald, Hank, Errol, Mabel, Jerome, and Cordelia. These all scream white Midwestern US farmer to me.

Errol is most likely to have gotten into a bit of trouble and really seen the world when he was drafted for WWII.

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[-] Cuberoot@lemmynsfw.com 14 points 1 month ago

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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[-] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 month ago

I would say Marceline, but adventure Time kind of kicked that overdue revival into high gear.

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[-] Today@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago

How about Wanda. I had an aunt Wanda. She was kinda mean, but she had a lot of boyfriends.

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[-] grasshopper_mouse@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago
[-] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 12 points 1 month ago

Constantine

[-] MisterNeon@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago

Itzcoatl

Axayacatl

Axochitl

[-] PunnyName@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago
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[-] Tina@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Perhaps not as old as requested but

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

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 9 points 1 month ago

I went to school with most of the names on that list. Not picking on you, just feeling old. 😆

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[-] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 11 points 1 month ago

My twelve year old is Evelyn. My 14 year old is Genevieve. Which is apparently still out there but I thought it was pretty uncommon when we named her.

[-] sxan@midwest.social 9 points 1 month ago

Both pretty names! I'm particularly fond of "Genevieve."

I suspect there are several names no longer common in the US that are more common in other countries. I think "Genevieve" is still fairly common in France, and it's making a comeback in the states! You're doing your part!

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[-] blueamigafan@lemmy.world 11 points 1 month ago
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[-] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 month ago

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

I am not one of those people.

[-] ABCDE@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago
[-] classic@fedia.io 9 points 1 month ago

Edna sounds like the Karen of the 20th century

[-] lazylion_ca@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 month ago

Worse. Ednas were Karens that became managers. Even if they weren't manangers...

Have you heard the phrase "Do you want to speak to the man in charge, or the woman who knows what's going on?"?

That woman was Edna.

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[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 10 points 1 month ago

Any common ancient Roman name. Not enough "imuses" or "cleses" suffixing names.

Kolanakimus Huskerclese

[-] PunnyName@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago

A classics professor goes to a tailor to get his trousers mended.
The tailor asks: “Euripides?”
The professor replies: “Yes. Eumenides?”

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[-] RBWells@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month 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.

[-] dariusj18@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago
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[-] AlbertSpangler@lemmings.world 9 points 1 month ago
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[-] toast@retrolemmy.com 9 points 1 month ago
[-] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago
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[-] BanjoShepard@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

My wife liked the idea of Eleanor if we had a girl, I never liked it, but luckily we had a boy, so we didn't have to cross that bridge.

At work, we named the old, decrepit copier Opal in an effort to humanize it and get people to treat the old girl with more love and patience.

[-] kindenough@kbin.earth 8 points 1 month ago

Dutch names.

Truitje Fiep Toos Wies (my grandma) Pleun Fons (my uncle) pronounced Funs in South Limburg

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[-] manmachine@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago
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this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2024
147 points (99.3% liked)

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