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.
Cthulhu
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
Ebenezer, or Eben for short
Neez
Neez nuts
My vote is for Gretchen.
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
My great aunt was named Ute, I’ve never seen anyone else (in the US at least) with that name.
And none for Gretchen Wieners.
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.
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”
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)
Bort
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?”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?!?”
Had me in stitches that one.
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…
Named my daughter Evelyn last year. I’m doing my part.
Thaddeus, Ulysses, etc. I liked that people used to name their kids after figures of the ancient world.
I think Millicent and Winnifred would be cute because you can shorten them to Millie and Winnie
Agamemnon
Doesn’t get more classic than that
Clytemnestra
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 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
I’m fond of “Gwendolyn” but I’ve never met or even known of one, to my knowledge.
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?
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.
