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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[–] JoeKrogan@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago
[–] GlenRambo@jlai.lu 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)
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[–] Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world 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.

[–] iii@mander.xyz 63 points 5 days ago (3 children)
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[–] NemoWuMing@lemmy.world 38 points 5 days ago (3 children)
[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 14 points 5 days ago

Clytemnestra

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[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 42 points 5 days ago (3 children)

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

[–] SassyRamen@lemmy.world 21 points 5 days ago (2 children)

When you have bad copper you deserve to be forgotten!

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[–] kyle@lemm.ee 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.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 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.

[–] kyle@lemm.ee 2 points 3 days ago

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

[–] Num10ck@lemmy.world 19 points 5 days ago
[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 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.

[–] PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 32 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Galahad

Eleanor

Emeline

Emeric

Lancelot

Siegfried

[–] gofsckyourself@lemmy.world 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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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 4 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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[–] Tabooki@lemm.ee 4 points 3 days ago
[–] Trigger2_2000@sh.itjust.works 19 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] LunarLoony@lemmy.sdf.org 13 points 5 days ago
[–] eran_morad@lemmy.world 15 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (4 children)

Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack.

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[–] proudblond@lemmy.world 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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[–] AlbertSpangler@lemmings.world 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] Cyclist@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago (3 children)
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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 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.

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago
[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 4 days ago

Thurl (as in Ravenscroft.)

[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 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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[–] sntx@lemm.ee 1 points 3 days ago

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

oops

[–] jaxxed@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 days ago

Modern version would be Vyvyyn.

[–] Guthix@midwest.social 3 points 3 days ago

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

[–] SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 11 points 5 days ago

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

I am not one of those people.

[–] theedqueen@lemmy.world 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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[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 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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[–] oo1@lemmings.world 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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[–] son_named_bort@lemmy.world 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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[–] all-knight-party@fedia.io 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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[–] Cuberoot@lemmynsfw.com 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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[–] HipsterTenZero@dormi.zone 15 points 5 days ago (5 children)
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[–] Tina@lemmy.world 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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[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 14 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (3 children)

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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Gertrude...who goes by Gertie

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