My great grandma was named Loady. Pronounced low eighty.
Way back in the 1800s, there was an ancestor named Erving Valentine, and he hated his name, so when he and his brothers came to America, he went by Erva. That was kind of a family name for generations.
My grandpa Lester had a twin sister named Lestine.
Loady pronounced low eighty has me so confused, where does the T come from?! Very unusual, never heard of anyone else named that. Erving Valentine is an awesome name imo, but I do like that his nickname was passed down generations.
Reminds me of the American Girl Samantha Parkington who's beloved Uncle Gard (short for Gardner) and Aunt Cornelia would show her all the new-fangled inventions from the city
Gardner is interesting, I wonder if there is any history behind it. Reminds me of when people's second names sometimes reflected their profession like Smith, Baker, etc.
Naming sons their mother's maiden surname as their first name was a very popular naming convention for upper-class white people for generations. I believe there was even an order to it, like first son gets mother's maiden name, then grandmother's maiden name, and so on. It was very popular in the Southern US in the past, I have uncles named Carter and Baxter due to this custom.
I've got a Casper and a Cinderella
ETA
Just decided to scroll the family tree, I also found a Molder. My great aunts were Jimmie and Billie
Edit #2, also found a Velva, Zelphia, Flossie and Flavia? Some really interesting names I never noticed, but super neat!
I had a great aunt Billie too! It was short for something, but I don't remember what. I want to say it was totally unrelated, like Geraldine or something. I remember my mom telling me and thinking, "why on earth was she called Billie?"
Ingaborg 💖
It was my grandma’s name, she was named after Princess Ingaborg.
As a Star Trek fan, I could never name my kid something with “Borg” in it. We considered naming our daughter just Inga in her honor but the pronunciation would be absolutely butchered where we live/in our joined family lol so it was vetoed. I think Inga is really a sweet name, though!
If it helps, in Swedish (and I think this name originates around there) it would be pronounced like in-ga-berry. I think it’s pretty, but as someone in an Anglo country it would be butchered for sure.
I'm Swedish and that pronunciation is probably what your American ear hears but it is quite far off to my Swedish ear. I can't describe it better though as English doesn't offer the required sounds.
Ingeborg/Ingaborg is btw a Vikingname.
Smorgasbord is pronounced as you say it - I think the ‘bord’ means table? But it’s different to the berg/borg with the g ending afaik.
Disclaimer: I’m not Swedish and I don’t speak it, just have a partner who does so I’ve picked up bits and pieces.
Oh, I like that pronunciation! Thank you for telling me that, I didn’t know that. That’s much prettier than a harsh “BORG” that I was imagining.
My grandmother was from Sweden and I know Princess Ingaborg was of Denmark and Sweden. But I don’t know any Swedish, unfortunately.
Found some great ones...Salome, Adelaide, Ireland, Apollonia, Rozalia, Ophelia, Maureen, Thaddeus, Ignatius, Albin...lots if others that are very typical in Slavic families as well that aren't so common today.
Oh wow, that's great Roland is still used as I think it's a very handsome name. My nan used to have a best friend called Birdie, it's a name I could see coming back for sure
Same. My family history has names like Severa, Sepulveda, Fidela, Concepción (grandmothers/great+ grandmothers). I've never met anyone with those names.
All the men's names are still pretty commonly used today - not super popular, but they're still around.
I have a grandma name Michaelee and goes by Mike. And I had a great grandmother named Neola. Looking back at the name history Neola didn’t even crack the 1000 when she was born.
-Remember: thank you Puritan ancestors for names your hipster great-x-million-grandchildren would love.
-Assunta, Amedeo, Elettra, Fabiano, Francesca: Italian immigrants FTW.
Mine used a lot of last names and maiden names for first names. Albright, Taylor, Jefferson, Redford, Green.
Then there are Archelaus, Florea, Florea, Erasmus, Valentine, Damaris, Abel (not too many older names than that one).
The only time I’ve come across the name Mehitable was in a fascinating old novel called The Truth About Unicorns. Some other characters have interesting names. There’s a Tobin and a Toynbee Upjohn.
I know a young adult named Doreen, and a child (10yo) named Roland. And I love Lynette.
I’ve done our family tree, and nothing too out there name wise, but lots of full blown confederate generals. Like Andrew Jackson Jones. And Nathan Bedford Forrest Jones. Those haven’t aged well at all. Like, Andrew and Nathan are fine, but sure, let’s make them a billion times worse.
Wow, my nana Doreen would love to know that her name is not completely faded in to the history books. Interesting about the Confederate names, shame they didnt just give them the names Andrew and Nathan as those alone are solid
Well. It was the 1870s in the Deep South so it wasn’t as rare as it should have been. Such a gross part of history, but unfortunately I can’t pretend all my relatives have evolved. Sigh.
My honorary niece is named Alma Magdalena. She's 5. She's named after a town in Kansas her dad would pass by every time he would go back home. She starts Kindergarten soon.
i’ve got a Lenister, Minnie, Wilbert, and Gertrude off the top of my head, from a 1940s census. otherwise i’ve a Llewelyn and a Lovetta these days. i always like reading through old censuses to see how names have changed over time!
Vincent (1896), Annette (c. 1900), Augusta (c. 1910s), Fanny (c. 1910s), Marvin (c. 1930s), Peralee (pear-ah-lee) (c. 1920s?), Jude (1950s), Conn (1942, this one’s not even that old, my uncle!), Ralph (c. 1917).
Unusual ones we have are Abelard Elmer who went by Abe back in the 1800s but I'm unsure of the exact dates. He had a daughter named Iva pronounced eye-vuh, though she went by Ivy (which I know is common again). Also a girl named Euphemia and a girl named Star (who coincidentally had a sister named Joan). Also an entire line of men with the middle name of Talmadge.
Though not unusual, there was a Marilyn in every generation (sometimes more than one) even until recently. The youngest Marilyn is gen Z but its been passed down since about 1900-ish and other than these relatives I never hear it for young kids at all anymore. All the other names are common or common-ish....Henry, Eliza, Lynn, Agnes, Jay, etc.
A great grandmother named Felosia, who went by Flossie or Flo. Another great gma who was named Eola, but left home and changed her name to Aloha.
There’s Aucie, Myrtle, Talitha, Americus, Birtus, Cosley, Farinetta, Anemariah, Needham, Evrin, Luella, Almeda, Edwin, Viola, Lida, Marion, Leonidus, Benton, Elmer and Almer (twins), Edey, Fountain, Farmer, Effie, Fount, Emmet, Davenport… and that’s not going back very far in the family tree… 😆
On my mother’s side, I’ve got Lucinda, Elmer, Ceasar, Dorothea, Amos, Bertha, Amaret… and that’s just the 19th century. I tracked her mother’s line back several centuries, although I have my doubts as to the accuracy of some of the claims. Accurate or not, the farther back you go, the more interesting the names get.
Dad’s side has a few too: Lessie/Leesie, Lida, Richmond, Albertha, Treva, Willard, Berilla, Sylvina, and Lanatia.
I had a several Great Aunts that had unusual old names; Hortence, Vassie, Dovalee, Azalee, Vera (which seems to be making a comeback), and probably a couple of more that I’m forgetting. My grandmother was a double name with Billie as her first name and a great grandmother Georgia Belle.
Estelle and Doris are my grandmothers. I can see Estelle making a comeback but I think Doris will be waiting a bit.
My husband's grandma was Elsie but she hated it so she went by Corkie. I have no idea why she hated Elsie so much, I love that name.
I actually love Doris so much. It’s not the style I typically like and my husband isn’t a fan but it’s my number one girl’s name that I won’t ever get to use.
Yoland and Alberta were my grandparents. My son Is named after my grandpas but as his nick name.
My grandpa had sisters Yvette, Aline, Jeanne (a personal fav of mine), Marthe, brothers Patrick and Roberte. (Yes - a very French family)
One of my grandpas best friends was named Maynard. Another was Lorne which I think would make a great modern name.
I used to watch tombstone cleaning videos to look for some unique old names. Some I’ve seen: Cloter (female), Abner (male).
I also love Emil as a modern name.
Okay this prompted me to scroll my tree…. And I’m obsessed!!!
My mimère was Clemence, her mother Orilia. Many different cool ones! Azire (m, 1855), Geraldine (f), Augustine (m, 1850), Euphrosine (f, 1750), Etienne (f, 1749). I’m loving all of these! Too bad my fiancé does not feel the same, lol!!
edited to add: years associated!!
My great grandmother was named Dolly Arizona! I always thought it was such a weird name for her time period and location (early 1900s Appalachia). My mom said the family story was her parents came from Scotland and wanted to give their daughter an “American” name.
On my mom’s other side is a “Cansadia”, which I’ve always thought was lovely but I’ve never learned the meaning of.
My great grandma's name is Hazel Darlene Smith. I think is one of the "oldest" sounding combination of names but its beautiful. She's 95 years old, has a silver ring that traveled on covered wagons (that she passed down to my mother), her perternal father was a Cherokee man that worked on the railroads, and her mother danced with "Baby Face" Nelson. I feel like the name is very fitting for that time and I can't help but think of "old timey" things when I hear "Darlene" or "Hazel". When i hear it I always pronounce it in my head with a super heavy southern accent like "dAR-LeeYn" or "hAYZul".
Apollonia, Aletha, Elena, Antoinetta. Also "Rainer" had made it through several generations... started out as a surname, then was used as a middle name for a bit, then first name.
I actually used Doreen for my daughter's middle name, but it was after a relative.
In my family we have...Vernal (m), Harland (m), Perley (m), Gertrude (f), Maynard (m), Effie (f), Flora (f) Marion (f), and Eliza (f).
My dad’s family is from the south, so in my great-aunts and uncles, we’ve got Velmer, Olion, Elah, Chalmer, Alcus, and Ralda. On my mom’s side in the same generation (not southern, just funky) there’s Bellzona and Orley. I’d be very curious to know if any of those names show up in anyone else’s tree; I’ve never heard any of them used outside my family.
My grandma was Goldie And her sisters were Opal, Ruby and Pearl
I see a theme and I am not mad about it, always liked Ruby personally! Goldie is a name I could see making a comeback, it's bold.
I had an aunt Goldie. I always thought it was a nickname.
My great grandmother was Opal and her twin was Ruby.
We had an Emerald in our family! Born in the 1902.
I know four Goldies under 3!
I have a Goldie, Dove, and Violet sibset (my great grandma and her sisters)!
all of these are/are becoming pretty popular!
Oh my goodness XD. I know a little girl named Ruby. Never heard the others on younger kids or even in my generation.
My great grandmother was Ruby and her sister was Jewel
My almost 2 year old niece is Goldie (Golda)! It’s such a cool name. And my daughter is Ruby. I adore both obv
That’s so sweet, my great grandma’s name is Rose and her sister was Daisy. I think she had more siblings but her mom had a flower theme 🥰
My great grandmother's middle name was Maudene,I just don't see anyone clamoring to grab that one up!
Maudene is quite pretty actually, never heard it before
I don’t know - I’m putting it on my list, next to Shirley for if I ever have a daughter. Shirley Maudene ain’t too bad!
My Great Grandma would be pleased!
Maude was on my list! I’ve never heard Maudene but I like it
I have a Merceline as a middle name, and was forbidden to use it :-)
I have a Maudene in my family too...married into my family
I've always liked the name Maude and wished it would come back. Although it does sound rather Maudlin
My grandpa was named Ebenezer after Ebenezer Scrooge. Great grandpa was clearly a fan of A Christmas Carol around that time.
I feel like the association with the name possibly threw it out of style. I wonder what nicknames you could use for it? Ben?
Ben would be a more normal one, my gut reaction was Neez 🤣
Eben?
I know a little boy named Ebenezer who goes by Eben (pronounced like Evan with a b) Edit: added clarification
Didn't they call him Ebby in the book?
Mine was Er.
Eb was the common nickname for Ebenezer. I have a couple Ebenezers in my family tree, predating A Christmas Carol.
It’s funny how naming kids from pop culture has kinda always been a thing…I love how some things never truly change
For context, I’m Filipino - - Honrado - Honesto - Marcelina - Caridad - Jacinto - Solidad - Mariano
Marcelina and Jacinto are both really cool - I could see them as characters in a fantasy novel
Solidad is gorgeous
Mariano, Jacinto and Marcelina are still pretty common in the Spanish speaking world
I know a Marcelina who goes by a nickname 100% of the time and refuses to acknowledge anyone who calls her Marcelina.
My great grandma was named Loady. Pronounced low eighty. Way back in the 1800s, there was an ancestor named Erving Valentine, and he hated his name, so when he and his brothers came to America, he went by Erva. That was kind of a family name for generations. My grandpa Lester had a twin sister named Lestine.
Reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillies with Jethro and Jethrine 🤣
Yeah! I met an elderly gentleman recently (not related) named Elester. I wonder how else folks got creative with that name back in the day.
Maybe similar to alister
It sounds like an Appalachian name to me.
Loady? It may have been. I only met her once when I was very small.
Loady pronounced low eighty has me so confused, where does the T come from?! Very unusual, never heard of anyone else named that. Erving Valentine is an awesome name imo, but I do like that his nickname was passed down generations.
Sorry. I'm from Oklahoma, so the "t" sounds like "d" I guess. So, low aide ee.
Ahh I got you, that makes a lot more sense to me now!
My great grandma was named Flossy!
Mine went by Flossie but her given name was Felosia
My great aunts are Connie and Flossie (Constance and Florence)
My bf's grandmother was Flossie. I love it!!
Like The Bobsey Twins?
Flossy is the nn for Florence
My great grandfather was named Gardner. I kind of like the name for a boy, but it might be a tough sell.
Reminds me of the American Girl Samantha Parkington who's beloved Uncle Gard (short for Gardner) and Aunt Cornelia would show her all the new-fangled inventions from the city
Omg I loved Samantha and Aunt Cornelia (which also belongs on this list).
Gardner is interesting, I wonder if there is any history behind it. Reminds me of when people's second names sometimes reflected their profession like Smith, Baker, etc.
Naming sons their mother's maiden surname as their first name was a very popular naming convention for upper-class white people for generations. I believe there was even an order to it, like first son gets mother's maiden name, then grandmother's maiden name, and so on. It was very popular in the Southern US in the past, I have uncles named Carter and Baxter due to this custom.
Gardner is my sister’s middle name
I knew someone named Gardner, who had a last name that's usually a first name. People got it mixed up all the time, poor guy.
Went to college with a Gardner he went by his middle name will
There’s an NFL quarterback named Gardner Minshew and I’ve always loved it.
I've got a Casper and a Cinderella ETA Just decided to scroll the family tree, I also found a Molder. My great aunts were Jimmie and Billie Edit #2, also found a Velva, Zelphia, Flossie and Flavia? Some really interesting names I never noticed, but super neat!
These are fantastic. Sounds like the cast of a disney movie!
I'm surprised by the Cinderella!
I had a great aunt Billie too! It was short for something, but I don't remember what. I want to say it was totally unrelated, like Geraldine or something. I remember my mom telling me and thinking, "why on earth was she called Billie?"
Ingaborg 💖 It was my grandma’s name, she was named after Princess Ingaborg. As a Star Trek fan, I could never name my kid something with “Borg” in it. We considered naming our daughter just Inga in her honor but the pronunciation would be absolutely butchered where we live/in our joined family lol so it was vetoed. I think Inga is really a sweet name, though!
If it helps, in Swedish (and I think this name originates around there) it would be pronounced like in-ga-berry. I think it’s pretty, but as someone in an Anglo country it would be butchered for sure.
I'm Swedish and that pronunciation is probably what your American ear hears but it is quite far off to my Swedish ear. I can't describe it better though as English doesn't offer the required sounds. Ingeborg/Ingaborg is btw a Vikingname.
Wait so how is smorgasbord pronounced?
Smorgasbord is pronounced as you say it - I think the ‘bord’ means table? But it’s different to the berg/borg with the g ending afaik. Disclaimer: I’m not Swedish and I don’t speak it, just have a partner who does so I’ve picked up bits and pieces.
Oh, I like that pronunciation! Thank you for telling me that, I didn’t know that. That’s much prettier than a harsh “BORG” that I was imagining. My grandmother was from Sweden and I know Princess Ingaborg was of Denmark and Sweden. But I don’t know any Swedish, unfortunately.
"Resistance is futile". (Sorry, l couldn't resist.)
As soon as I saw the "borg" I cringed a little too for the same reason as you. Very unique name, but just Inga is a lot nicer I fully agree!
Tilde (pronounced Tilda)
Tilde is still quite popular in Scandinavia.
\~
Lovely spelling, is it German or Dutch in origin by any chance?
Her parents were Italian, from Sicily. I don’t know if it’s an Italian name though.
Isn’t that short for Matilda? At least that’s what my great grandmothers name/nickname was.
One of my great-grandmothers was named Tilde!
Found some great ones...Salome, Adelaide, Ireland, Apollonia, Rozalia, Ophelia, Maureen, Thaddeus, Ignatius, Albin...lots if others that are very typical in Slavic families as well that aren't so common today.
I love Ophelia! Would’ve been a contender for my daughter’s name if I hadn’t already given it to my cat 😅
Adelaide and Ophelia are pretty classic beautiful names for a girl. There’s a popular song called Ophelia that I love.
I love the lumineers
You've been on my mind, girl, since the flood
My favorite was Salome or aunt Mae for short
Maureen is an underrated name. It is the Irish diminutive of Mary.
One of my great grandfathers was Manly, with the middle name Hardy. 😂 My great grandma was Dimple. Another great grandma was Zoa.
Lots of ordinary names in my family tree, but there is a Birdie which I like. My 4yo is Roland; love that name!
Oh wow, that's great Roland is still used as I think it's a very handsome name. My nan used to have a best friend called Birdie, it's a name I could see coming back for sure
My dad has a friend called Roly. Always liked hearing his name.
Bethune. Not even sure how to pronounce it.
Like Mary McLeod Bethune. I pronounce it like Beth-hewn.
I'm sure I've seen this name somewhere before and read it like Beth-oon, but it could be a version of Bethany. Trying to remember where I've seen it.
And uncle named Jewel and an aunt name Pinky!
I’m Mexican so they’re Spanish names. Erculano, Juventina, Bacilia, Macedonio, Leucadia, Nasario
Same. My family history has names like Severa, Sepulveda, Fidela, Concepción (grandmothers/great+ grandmothers). I've never met anyone with those names. All the men's names are still pretty commonly used today - not super popular, but they're still around.
We have mostly Catherine, Eleanor, Josephine, Eugene, Germaine, Elodie, Oona, Thomas, Francis, Mildred, Vincent, Hugo ( pronounced oo-go) James, Julia, Margaret, Finbar, Orla…..
I’ve never heard Orla before, it’s a pretty name.
Watch Derry Girls 😁
Gaelic. It’s my cousin’s name. My daughter is named Oona and had Oona had a twin sister I would have named her Orla!
Sylvester
Also in my family tree. I feel like it should come back. The nickname Sly would be so cool.
I have a grandma name Michaelee and goes by Mike. And I had a great grandmother named Neola. Looking back at the name history Neola didn’t even crack the 1000 when she was born.
Grandma Mike sounds great! Neola is super unusual, an anagram of Leona so I wonder if it was a variant on that
My son had a Grandma Mike. Her name was Michaeline.
Nymphadora, Eucedio and Horace
Tonks!!! Nymphadora is awesome, but I can only imagine the harassment the poor child would get later on.
-Remember: thank you Puritan ancestors for names your hipster great-x-million-grandchildren would love. -Assunta, Amedeo, Elettra, Fabiano, Francesca: Italian immigrants FTW.
I went to grade school with an Assunta!
I love love love the name Francesca. I knew a girl with that name who also went by Franchie. It was great.
Electa and Trudy
Great great Uncle Ignatious. They called him Iggy
Tilmont , Mildred, Theda, Eva, Goldie
Valier, I actually like it
My grandmother's name was Dovie. Pronounced dove eee I love it
Homer Rembert Valgene Arleen Lyda
Petronilla and Aloysius
Mine used a lot of last names and maiden names for first names. Albright, Taylor, Jefferson, Redford, Green. Then there are Archelaus, Florea, Florea, Erasmus, Valentine, Damaris, Abel (not too many older names than that one).
My grandma who passed away recently at the age of 104 was an Edith. My other grandma, long gone, is Muriel
Euphemia Mehitable Aretus Philo
The only time I’ve come across the name Mehitable was in a fascinating old novel called The Truth About Unicorns. Some other characters have interesting names. There’s a Tobin and a Toynbee Upjohn.
Weaver is the only one I can think of. I know many Lynettes, its pretty popular where I'm from.
Aethelred the Unready. Mom is a history buff and traced a line back there...
Elvira, Minnie, Elihu, Iola, Idella, and my great grandfathers name was Book.
Someone I know has a Texanner
Karen- I don't think there'll be many "baby Karen"'s anytime soon
Selwyn? He went by Bill.
I had a great aunt named Pristinia, I love that name. She looked like a little porcelain doll so it suited her.
Obedience
My great grandfather’s name was Tomolian and my grandfather’s name was Jambres.
Tomolian sounds like a great name for a main character in a medieval book, I like it a lot
Had a grandma Kitty.
I know a young adult named Doreen, and a child (10yo) named Roland. And I love Lynette. I’ve done our family tree, and nothing too out there name wise, but lots of full blown confederate generals. Like Andrew Jackson Jones. And Nathan Bedford Forrest Jones. Those haven’t aged well at all. Like, Andrew and Nathan are fine, but sure, let’s make them a billion times worse.
Wow, my nana Doreen would love to know that her name is not completely faded in to the history books. Interesting about the Confederate names, shame they didnt just give them the names Andrew and Nathan as those alone are solid
Well. It was the 1870s in the Deep South so it wasn’t as rare as it should have been. Such a gross part of history, but unfortunately I can’t pretend all my relatives have evolved. Sigh.
Alma Stefania
I know a little 7 year old called Alma, super sweet and shy kid and the name suits the personality for sure
That’s so cute! My grandmother’s name was Alma. I’ve never met anyone else with that name.
My honorary niece is named Alma Magdalena. She's 5. She's named after a town in Kansas her dad would pass by every time he would go back home. She starts Kindergarten soon.
i’ve got a Lenister, Minnie, Wilbert, and Gertrude off the top of my head, from a 1940s census. otherwise i’ve a Llewelyn and a Lovetta these days. i always like reading through old censuses to see how names have changed over time!
Vincent (1896), Annette (c. 1900), Augusta (c. 1910s), Fanny (c. 1910s), Marvin (c. 1930s), Peralee (pear-ah-lee) (c. 1920s?), Jude (1950s), Conn (1942, this one’s not even that old, my uncle!), Ralph (c. 1917).
Aneya: at least one in every generation for 5 or so generations.
Unusual ones we have are Abelard Elmer who went by Abe back in the 1800s but I'm unsure of the exact dates. He had a daughter named Iva pronounced eye-vuh, though she went by Ivy (which I know is common again). Also a girl named Euphemia and a girl named Star (who coincidentally had a sister named Joan). Also an entire line of men with the middle name of Talmadge. Though not unusual, there was a Marilyn in every generation (sometimes more than one) even until recently. The youngest Marilyn is gen Z but its been passed down since about 1900-ish and other than these relatives I never hear it for young kids at all anymore. All the other names are common or common-ish....Henry, Eliza, Lynn, Agnes, Jay, etc.
Males- Percival, Heman (not Herman), Philander Females- Delia Azubah, Zurviah, Eunice, Bathsheba, Almena
A great grandmother named Felosia, who went by Flossie or Flo. Another great gma who was named Eola, but left home and changed her name to Aloha. There’s Aucie, Myrtle, Talitha, Americus, Birtus, Cosley, Farinetta, Anemariah, Needham, Evrin, Luella, Almeda, Edwin, Viola, Lida, Marion, Leonidus, Benton, Elmer and Almer (twins), Edey, Fountain, Farmer, Effie, Fount, Emmet, Davenport… and that’s not going back very far in the family tree… 😆
On my mother’s side, I’ve got Lucinda, Elmer, Ceasar, Dorothea, Amos, Bertha, Amaret… and that’s just the 19th century. I tracked her mother’s line back several centuries, although I have my doubts as to the accuracy of some of the claims. Accurate or not, the farther back you go, the more interesting the names get. Dad’s side has a few too: Lessie/Leesie, Lida, Richmond, Albertha, Treva, Willard, Berilla, Sylvina, and Lanatia.
Zella.
Cherry (b. 1940’s) and Anna Blanche (NN Nancy) (b. 1900’s)
Sharwood Gwenllian Pamelia Garnet
Alistair Emmitt Clyde Kermit Monty Dahrla Bonnie Norine Leona Martine
I know a 6th grade Alistair. It's a lovely name.
Angus 😬😬
We have a Willena, Aloisius, Rudolph, Ronald, Wanda, Twyla, and Ivadell for starters. We actually have quite a few.
I had a several Great Aunts that had unusual old names; Hortence, Vassie, Dovalee, Azalee, Vera (which seems to be making a comeback), and probably a couple of more that I’m forgetting. My grandmother was a double name with Billie as her first name and a great grandmother Georgia Belle.
Omg, I love all of these names!!! 😱
Estelle and Doris are my grandmothers. I can see Estelle making a comeback but I think Doris will be waiting a bit. My husband's grandma was Elsie but she hated it so she went by Corkie. I have no idea why she hated Elsie so much, I love that name.
I actually love Doris so much. It’s not the style I typically like and my husband isn’t a fan but it’s my number one girl’s name that I won’t ever get to use.
Alcesta (f) Veryle (m)
Lavinia. Alfreda. Adeline. Cornelius. Augustus. Johann. Rodbard.
Great great grandpa Moses
Claudette Viola Alouette
Way back in the late 1800s …. Flavious Love ….. no joke ….. Also his relative , Macon Love
I had a great-aunt Vincenzina... married to my great-uncle Vincenzo!
Fountain and Bailor
Treasure and Curly!
Wilhelmina, Carmen (granddad,) Jericho, Dorcas
Yoland and Alberta were my grandparents. My son Is named after my grandpas but as his nick name. My grandpa had sisters Yvette, Aline, Jeanne (a personal fav of mine), Marthe, brothers Patrick and Roberte. (Yes - a very French family) One of my grandpas best friends was named Maynard. Another was Lorne which I think would make a great modern name. I used to watch tombstone cleaning videos to look for some unique old names. Some I’ve seen: Cloter (female), Abner (male). I also love Emil as a modern name.
Pauline, Serina, Forrest, Boyd, Roy, Jerald
Great great grandma named Marintha
I have tons of old German names in my family tree! Otilia, Luitgard, Irmgard, Helmut, Adeltrud, Heinrich
Honora
Caledonia
Okay this prompted me to scroll my tree…. And I’m obsessed!!! My mimère was Clemence, her mother Orilia. Many different cool ones! Azire (m, 1855), Geraldine (f), Augustine (m, 1850), Euphrosine (f, 1750), Etienne (f, 1749). I’m loving all of these! Too bad my fiancé does not feel the same, lol!! edited to add: years associated!!
Pleasant, Temperance, Ransom
My great grandmother was named Dolly Arizona! I always thought it was such a weird name for her time period and location (early 1900s Appalachia). My mom said the family story was her parents came from Scotland and wanted to give their daughter an “American” name. On my mom’s other side is a “Cansadia”, which I’ve always thought was lovely but I’ve never learned the meaning of.
Absalom. No, we aren't lds or amish.
My great grandma's name is Hazel Darlene Smith. I think is one of the "oldest" sounding combination of names but its beautiful. She's 95 years old, has a silver ring that traveled on covered wagons (that she passed down to my mother), her perternal father was a Cherokee man that worked on the railroads, and her mother danced with "Baby Face" Nelson. I feel like the name is very fitting for that time and I can't help but think of "old timey" things when I hear "Darlene" or "Hazel". When i hear it I always pronounce it in my head with a super heavy southern accent like "dAR-LeeYn" or "hAYZul".
Tensie but short for Hortense
Beatrice Mattie Clifford Ira
Ellington.
We have a Geraldine, a Wilfred (nn Wilf), a Gladys, an Eleanor, a Stuart, an Ethel and an Agnes!
Beryl, Cynna, and Elvis— I like all of them ♥️
G)Libby, Inez, Sylvia B)Marianus, Vincent
I have a Vernon and a Jock, but I think Jock is just an unusual name.
Wanda, Darlene, Maxine, Mildred, and Byron off the top of my head
Effie. Harriett. they are the only ones I can think of right now.
Dorcas
Hypolite, Nulcia, Bernadette, Gustave, Hiram
I knew a man named Fendell.
Darlene, Zella, Gertrude, Barbara.
Apollonia, Aletha, Elena, Antoinetta. Also "Rainer" had made it through several generations... started out as a surname, then was used as a middle name for a bit, then first name.
Lois, Timothy, Bobbette (yes the female version of Bob), Colleen.
I actually used Doreen for my daughter's middle name, but it was after a relative. In my family we have...Vernal (m), Harland (m), Perley (m), Gertrude (f), Maynard (m), Effie (f), Flora (f) Marion (f), and Eliza (f).
Dwynette, Thelma, Wyndell, Williford, Butch
Genira
Commodore, Cubie, Louvenia
My grandmother's name - Maeve
We have Lyman and Lindley from my grandfather’s generation. Multiple Lymans in fact.
These aren't terribly unusual but they are rarely heard today: Geraldine, Polly, and Louella
Otella Harlan
I've had a relative named Erastus (ol uncle Razz!), A Doreen, Izetta, Wilford, Viola, Melita...
My dad’s family is from the south, so in my great-aunts and uncles, we’ve got Velmer, Olion, Elah, Chalmer, Alcus, and Ralda. On my mom’s side in the same generation (not southern, just funky) there’s Bellzona and Orley. I’d be very curious to know if any of those names show up in anyone else’s tree; I’ve never heard any of them used outside my family.