2mo ago

What are some old-timey names that you think should make a comeback?

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.

180 comments

Balthazar 🤌
- It's one of magi!
  
  On that note, Melchior would make for a metal af middle name.
- I actually went to school with a Balthazar.
  His parents were hippies in the 60s and never stopped being hippies.

The name Ea-nāṣir is about 4000 years overdue for a comeback.
- When you have bad copper you deserve to be forgotten!
  
  What about Enkidu?
- Actually had a friend in highschool with that name
  
  I heard he’s in jail for stealing copper.

Agamemnon
- Clytemnestra
- Doesn't get more classic than that
  
  Gilgamesh

Galahad
Eleanor
Emeline
Emeric
Lancelot
Siegfried
- You definitely don't see many people named Lance, but back in the day people were named Lancelot.
  
  Lancel is so hot right now.
  
  Lance Armstrong kinda killed it with all his cheating.
  Lance Bass might not have done it many favors either.
  
  Underrated pun
- Artherial legend. Nice.
- 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.
- Eleanor
  Eleanor (spelled "Ellinor" here) has definitely made its comeback already, we considered it if we got a girl (got a boy instead) and have since met multiple Ellinors in his age group.

Évelyne is faily common around here still.
Gilgamesh is one I haven't heard in a hot minute, not sure about the comeback though.
- I knew a Gilgamesh! Went by Gil.
- True. Evelyne Brochu is my age.
  Gilgamesh is one I haven't heard in a hot minute, not sure about the comeback though.
  Not with that attitude lol. Maybe we can ease it back in as a middle name or something.

I’m fond of “Gwendolyn” but I’ve never met or even known of one, to my knowledge.
- I've seen it once, although more recently met a Genevieve which feels even rarer and just as pretty.
  
  I knew a Genevieve in college, and then my son’s best friend in preschool was a Genevieve who went by Jenny (or Geny?) and now my daughter has one in her class, so they’re making a comeback maybe?
- Oh! I thought of one, Gwendolyn Christie.
- I knew a Gwen in college, but it wasn't short for Gwendolyn. Just "Gwen".
  
  My best friends kid is named Guinevere, is that archaic enough to fit?

Archimedes

Everett
- True...

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.
- 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.
  
  I'm imagining that your first name is something like Vijay and your middle initial is J, and so no wonder you wouldn't notice.
- My boss does that, and for that reason. I do like it. Unfortunately, he cannot help me get cash now from my structured settlement.
  
  Funny. I had a boss who thought that use of initials was pretentious. Or maybe I'm putting words in his mouth and it was specifically my use of a middle initial he didn't like. Harry S Truman's name would presumably have given him a headache.
  Either way, I countered that having a customised number plate on a car was surely just as bad, to which he had no answer.
- I'm about to heavily doxx myself so please be cool, but I go by B.E. Moore professionally on account of the fact that those are my initials and last name
  
  Does the B stand for Bizzle?

I think Millicent and Winnifred would be cute because you can shorten them to Millie and Winnie
- I used to work with a Millie - it was difficult to resolve such a cute name with such a competent engineer. Maybe it shows my biases but I feel like she had to overcome her name

Evelyn as a man’s name, if you want to be really old school.
- True. And on the same note, I've known more men named Kelly than women.
  
  I’ve also known more men named Leslie than women
- My great grandfather's name was Hilary. My nan wasn't entirely impressed when I mention it was a girls name as a kid xD
- Yves (pronounced 'Eve') as well.
  My grandfather's name was Zälly on his German birth certificate, but when he emigrated to the UK, people laughed because it sounded like "Sally," so he changed it to Solly, and eventually Sol.
  I also went to high school with a guy with South African parents who was named Kerrin (which sounds like Karen), which I am guessing is less weird in South Africa.

Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack.
- I saw Jack, and I thought that's pretty common, then realized I've never met a single Jack.
  I also hope somewhere in the world there's a gay couple named Jack and Dick.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_(given_name)
  I know a few Jacks (and a Jaques and 2 Jacobs) and, according to that wiki page, my experience is typical.
  
  Do you know which Jack is your favourite? You should have a contest determine your favourite Jack. A Jack-Off, if you will.
  
  Jack was Biz Markie's only young friend

My vote is for Gretchen.
- And none for Gretchen Wieners.
- As a German I find Gretchen hilarious. Not a name you'd see in Germany despite its origins.
  My vote is on Brunhilde, my grandma's name. It's a name only 80+y olds would have, but I like it
  
  I love Elfriede and Ute, too
- Hated it in Donnie Darko.

May and June. I feel like there's a lot of younger Aprils but the other two month names seem like old lady names.
- I used to know a woman named April, and her two daughters are May and June. (Both still under age 12.)
- Can confirm. I know several Aprils my age or younger, but no Mays at all, and no Junes younger than 70.
  
  Went to university with a lady named (I kid you not): April May June
  According to her, her parents thought it would be "fun".
  I would guess she is about 50-60 years old now.

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).
- I worked with a Zebulon (of course, we called him "Zeb") a couple years ago. He's in maybe his mid 20s now.
- He's teriyaki flavored!

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.
- Also try Betty as a diminutive for Elizabeth, Gerald, Hank, Errol, Mabel, Jerome, and Cordelia.
  Why is Betty a diminutive of Gerald and Hank? (Among others)
- Sorry, I don't understand the connection between Agnes and Texas A & M. I did a quick search, which was less than useful. Can you explain?
  
  "Aggie"

I would say Marceline, but adventure Time kind of kicked that overdue revival into high gear.
- The only Marceline I've ever heard of is Marceline Hugot. She played Kathy Geiss on 30 Rock. Yes, this is the second 30 Rock reference I've made in this post lol
  
  Find a spot for another
  
  Kathy Geiss jump scare

Mordechai

Itzcoatl
Axayacatl
Axochitl
- Bless you!
- Those are prescription only

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

Constantine

A lot of people these days seem to think that "Adolf" should come back.
I am not one of those people.

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.
- 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!
  
  The difference being
  Jen-e-vive
  Vs
  Zhawn-vi-ev

Blessica
- cVIIIlyn

Perhaps not as old as requested but
Ronald, Marianne, Cynthia, Evangeline, Melinda, Caesar, Magdalena, Betty, Rosetta, Balthazar, Thadeus, Lazarus, Otto, Bartholomew, Miranda
- I went to school with most of the names on that list. Not picking on you, just feeling old. 😆
  
  Haha yeah, I did worry that would happen! Just to clarify I definitely don't think they were 'old-timey', I just haven't personally seen them around in new generations for some time.....

Edna.
- Edna sounds like the Karen of the 20th century
  
  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.
- No capes!

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.

Any common ancient Roman name. Not enough "imuses" or "cleses" suffixing names.
Kolanakimus Huskerclese
- A classics professor goes to a tailor to get his trousers mended.
  The tailor asks: “Euripides?”
  The professor replies: “Yes. Eumenides?”
  
  Had me in stitches that one.
  
  Was playing Trivial Pursuit with family one time, classics question came up. My brother replied "Pericles". His 10-yo daughter said "Wrong!" He knew he was right & demanded the "correct" answer.
  "Testicles." Pronounced to rhyme with Pericles. It was the answer to another question on the card - What is removed from a horse to make it a gelding?
  The poor child. Her face as we all screamed laughing. "What?!?"

Isambard
- And Kingdom.
  
  And Brunel.

Beryl
- I like that one. I think I just like names that are also minerals.

Myrtle

Utnapishtim.
- That's certainly old-timey lol.

Emmett

Dutch names.
Truitje Fiep Toos Wies (my grandma) Pleun Fons (my uncle) pronounced Funs in South Limburg
- A very old-fashioned Flemish name: Veerle. One of the few bad-ass girl names in the Dutch language. It is derived from medieval times, when 'Veerlen' were travelling warrior women. I do happen to know several men named Fons, some even younger than me. I even know a man named Wies (his full name is Aloysius).
  
  Veerle is a beautiful name, rolls of the tongue. if I had a daughter I would liked to have her called Veerle. My Grandma is from a respected French family, I am not sure how she got named Wies, she is a descendant from the well known French Moreau family, married a mine worker, so rejected.
- My son is 5 and has all but Fiep and Fons in his class, but there is a Fien. Old fashioned names (or variations) are very popular these days... or five years 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.

Bartholomew
- Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever known a "Bart" IRL.
  
  But a lot of people named Bort, I assume?

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

I know a 10-year-old Agnes! And also a 40s/50s-ish Agnes (I can’t guess adult ages well).
- Maybe it's regional, then?
  The only (non-fictional) Agnes I can recall is Agnes Moorehead from Bewitched. Guess it hasn't been a popular name around me for some time.

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.

Bort

Ruth. You rarely meet Ruths these days.
- My cousin named her daughter Ruth (or maybe it's her middle name?) but either way they call her Ruthie lol

Gertrude...who goes by Gertie

Eustace

Gaylord
- Godfried

Roland always sounded cool.to ne.
- Roland was a warrior. From the Land of the Midnight Sun. With a Thompson Gun for hire. Fighting to be done.

Cthulhu
- Middle name F'tagn

I must be in a weird spot because I know 3 different Evelyns under the age of 8.
- 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.
  
  It's definitely just those kids and super old folks, I don't really know any in-between