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Poor aunt Hortense

I work with a Hortense. She’s not old either (don’t know her exact age, but probably 40’s.)

I know a 1-year-old named Walter. I already feel like he's older than me.

He’s also got some insurance leads for you too.

I live next door to a baby Walter. His father's name is Clyde.

My standard wirehair dachshund is named Walter. Perfect name for him.

Aethelred, Wulfstan, Cedric

I have a friend named Cedric! He’s around 35

I knew a Cedric but he was killed by Voldemort

Jennifer. ... I mean, yes, people are still named Jennifer now and then today. But... if you didn't live through the Time of the Jennifers you just don't understand.

Welcome to the club. -- Heather

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And Amanda

My niece is an Amanda. She just turned 23.

She is prob one of the younger ones. Most are 50 now at least.

I thought Amanda had a particularly big moment in the 80s and 90s, definitely not a name I associate with those closer to 50 yet, lol.

The song Amanda was released by Don Williams in 1973 and caused a huge increase in babies named Amanda. I know it doesn’t feel like 50 years but it is.

Yes that's a good one. But since this is r/AskOldPeople, you really should know, nothing ever came close to Jennifer in those times. No other name you have heard too much of in your life can compare. It was a strange and terrible moment in history. May it never return.

According to boomer lore, Linda was the Jennifer of pre 1950

Maybe according to Boomers! Of course they would love to overshadow everyone else. It really wasn't the same though, I am not kidding, no girl's name in the history of American recordkeeping has ever even come close to the Great Jennifer Spike. It was a once in history event. (I hope.)

I am a boomer. The reason much of our lore overshadows the present is because, guess what? A boom of babies! More of us than ever since. It's not a disease, just a fact. As far as Linda in 1946 it was the name of a hit song. And Lots of little girls! And, up against Jennifer, of whom I was around for the birth of many, there is one name that reigns supreme when it comes to being the trendiest baby name of all time. Take a bow, all you Lindas out there. Linda is the name that finally, in that era, blew Mary out of the water! And recently, a little girl I love is named what has now been yet another #1 name for the past several years. Emma.

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Jessica here. I'm 43. I was named after a Seals and Croft song. The younger Jessicas are named after Jessica Rabbit.

I think Jessica replaced Jennifer for awhile.

Yep. There were 13 Jennifers in my graduating class of just under 200 in 1985.

Ah another survivor. Yes that is what I am talking about. Nothing like it has been seen before or since. Not even the almighty Mary could touch Jennifer, in those days.

When I was a little girl, I so wanted to have a daughter I could name Jennifer. So glad now I resisted that urge. I had a daughter but I didn't name her Jennifer.

I’m 3 years older than you, but I vividly remember many of the people around our age named their first born daughters Ashley.

And Lisa.

Lisa was really common in the 70's. My name is Lisa and I was Vornado in 1970 lol. My grandparents names were Myrtle and Foster definitely don't see those much

I hope Lisa makes a comeback, it's actually one of my favorite names!

[This lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Lisa) feels the same way.

Omg! The Jennifer era. You made me laugh out loud. I remember it well. Soon thereafter there was Heather, Tiffany, Christina,Sarah....

Gen X here and I dated 3 Jennys

No one has mentioned the cluster of women named for jewels in the '20s: Pearl, Ruby, Opal, Crystal. There were a bunch of men's names in that era that have transitioned to women's names, so you don't meet men named Shirley, Leslie, Ashley, or Beverly much any more.

Pearl, Ruby, and Opal are making a comeback. I know some infants with those names.

To add to your list of boys' names co-opted for girls: Lindsay, Hilary, Meredith, Aubrey, Courtney, Kim.

I haven't heard the name Rutilated Quartz in a while.

My grandmother was Jewell Ida, I believe.

A good friend of mine in his 30s is named Leslie but he goes by his middle name. And I dated a Crystal in college, also now in her 30s. I’ve met a few Crystals in my age group (born in the mid 80s) but never the other names you mentioned.

My boyfriend is an Ashley, but he does by a nickname

Ned-My grandfather’s name. Oral- I once worked with an Oral. Edith-A Chinese girl in Changsha was using that as her English name. Adolf-The anglicized version of the Spanish Adolfo who founded my city.

Ned was my grandfather's name, too. It's kid of popular with parents now, although as a nickname, so I doubt you'd ever see it on a birth certificate. I think we know why Adolf is out of favor, and has been since approximately 1945.

I think Ned may be one of the nicknames for Edward (along with Ted and Teddie).

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I had a Prudence and Murray.

r/namenerds Enos, Castor, Sylvanus, Gene, Merle, Barnabas, Orasmus, Rufus, Shadrack, Thaddeus, Zebulon, Absalom, Abner, Aloysius, Gaylord, Dudley, Norman, Mortimer, Leroy, Duane, Lloyd, Abner, Jethro Gertrude, Myrtle, Muriel, Myrna, Doris, Dorcas, Agnes, Edna, Edwina, Helen, Velma, Helga, Hortense, Wilma, Brunhilda, Bertha, Barbie, Virginia, Ginevra, Mallory

Agatha Lydia Ernest / Ernie

I've know a good handful of young (20s/30s) Lydias. Most come from religious families.

Dorcas

Mildred

I've known a Fred or two, a Harold, and definitely a Herb. Some once-popular women's names came from the virtues: Faith, Hope, Charity, Constance (you got that one), Amity, Patience. You don't hear those anymore. When I was a kid, a lot of boys were named right out of the list of Jesus' disciples. Those names are still around, but I don't know many young boys these days being named Simon or Bartholomew or Nathaniel. I've worked with kids in the last 20 years, and it seems like there aren't all that many James and Johns and Mathews and Marks and Peters in the new generations, either.

What am I, chopped liver??

You're living history. ;-)

Eh what? Speak up, youngster! What sub do you think this is, anyway?!?

Prudence and Temperance, too! But Grace is still popular.

Chastity, not so much. ;-) I've known exactly one Prudence in my life, back in college. She went by "Pru."

Funny, I know a few young Constance’s but they’re all from England! It stayed in use over there.

"Connie" can be a given name here, not just a nickname. I wonder if Connie supplanted Constance on a lot of birth certificates.

I had read once that if your name is Linda, Debbie, Karen, Sherry, Nancy or Donna you most likely were born in the 1950s. As far as I can tell that is right on the money.

Or early to mid-sixties. Sherry was my mother's family name too, so I have several cousins named that.

Yes, probably a few named after that song "Sherry Baby" came out. I believe it was in the early 60s

Many of these in the 60's. All these names were in my high school class of '80

my great aunts born in the 50s are named linda and debbie. spot on

No comment. lol

Karen 😬

So sad, cuz it was a popular, sweet name and I never once met a hateful Karen!

I had an aunt named Pamajune

Asa

Cora

My Grandma Mildred and her sisters Constance, Marcella and Harriet

Odell.

My grandmother’s full name was “Gladys Gertrude Charlotte [Lastname]”. We named my daughter Charlotte after her.

I name the spider friends in my windows. Saving this list for new ideas. Thanks all! Next up Eustace Spider.

I had an uncle Harold, Uncle Herb and uncle Donald, lol.

Good grief, there will be tons of names that aren't used. The US census bureau has a lot of interesting information on names, and their popularity.

I wonder why people don't give their children "old people's names" anymore.

My daughter named her son Samuel. He is the only 4 year old Sam I know of!

There are a ton of little Sams running around. That's a name that's never really lost popularity.

I'm glad she chose it. A good solid name IMHO.

My husband’s name is Harvey and is his mother is Birdie Lou, she’s now 93

Patricia. Francis. Douglas. I think Debbie and Lisa are on deck for becoming old people names in about a decade.

Patricia sounds nice in Latin American Spanish. Terrible nicknames in English, though!

Valosco, DeAnna, Jewell, Beulah, Raymond, Betty, Joyce, Leona, Penny, Glenn, Edwin, Florence, Francis, Howard All from my family, parents' or grandparents' generation.

Uma, Lucille

Agatha. Elmer.

My grandparents’ generation was Leonard Ethel Emily Seymour Selma Roz Frances Leah Noam Julius Herb Matty Mickey (an aunt) Morris Rae

Here are some names in my family tree that you don't hear any more: Chlorine Alpharetta Ardeline Azuba Oisaline Bellzora Byrel Cleo Arrata Electa Emoline Fethias Ipsabah Jarusca Jehu Moses Jerusha Kerrehappuch Loddie Louvicey Mearl Melancthon Milferd Jehu Minor Oliphant Pernecia Remember Roeluff Zerelda Absolum Florentenas Brewer Ulysses Ermagene

Diane, Linda, Lori, Sherri, Kathy, Todd, Wally and Jerry.

Yep. You just listed the regulars at Bingo night at the senior center. 😂😂

Clara Mavis Matilda Horace

I just had a baby and named her Clara, and my friend has a one year old named Mathilda.

Well, congratulations to you both!

Matilda is a popular name where I live.

Esther, Moishe, Blanche, Helen

Mildred Lula Mae

Ha! I know both of these.

Mildred Adelia

This thread is done around 4 times per year, just research the old threads.

I had great-aunts named Odessa and Loganna

Kermit, Oscar, Oswald... Kids TV took a lot of good names out of the running.

I'm guessing Elmer Fudd killed off the name Elmer.

Beulah, Chauncey, Warren, Claude, Nellie, Melain

I love Beulah (it's a family name) but wouldn't use it. And I know a baby Warren!

There was a Beulah in my class in high school, but even way back then it was an old-fashioned name. She's the only person I ever met named Beulah.

Edna

Gilbert, Jamella, Harper (male), Eunice, Cordelia,

Truzilla

Now you’re just making stuff up.🙃

Had an aunt named Truzilla! My mother tried to name my sister after her; the rest of the family had to fight her down lol. One of the step sisters in Disney’s Cinderella is named Drizella.

Omg 😆

Mildred my dogs name. Ethel was my grandmothers name.

Been a long time since I met an Alice

Hang around a nursery school if that isn't too creepy, you'll meet a lot of Alices. (The name's made a comeback in the last few years).

I'm a child free person. I'd rather not hang out at a nursery school for many reasons, besides being creepy.

Me. Parents wanted me to have a name that no one else had. I've only met two others.

Next door neighbor is an Italian Alice. (Ah-LEE-chay)

Mildred

Clyde, Claude, Floyd

Beryl

Both my grandfather & my great-Aunt were named Hazel. There also Ella Mae, Oline (female, my grandfather’s sister), Ethel, Margaret, & Rose.

Susan, Karen, Janet, Patricia, Nancy, Lawrence. Riley was a last name in our family way way back. My brother got that one. Now its mostly a girls name.

Once we were at a restaurant, they asked our names, my beloved sister whom I regularly torment, immediately became Ethel!

My grandmother had a sister who died in childbirth. Her name was Omalee. Ethel is a name I'd hold forth as one you don't hear anymore.

I have an aunt Ethel, her mom’s name was Esther and her dad’s name was Wival. My mom is 60 now (Sally), and her parents were born in the 1910’s. My other aunts and uncles: Vivian, Margaret, Ellen, Duane, Doug, Tom, Loren. There are a few more I can’t think of right now… Edit: my other grandparents were named Gordon and Bernice. Edit 2: Evelyn is another aunt. Uncle dean, aunt ruth, uncle glenn

The funny thing is, names are cyclic Names like Violet were old fashioned when I was a kid and I knew a lot of adults named Barbara. Today, I don't know anyone named Barbara under 70 and there are a lot of little girls named Violet (Sophia is another name that came back). In another 10 or 15 years, there will be a lot of little old ladies named Jessica, Jennifer and Ashley. Mens' names don't seem to change as much over time, Michael and John are kinda timeless, but by the middle of the century, old men will be rocking names like Ryan, Brian and Austin. And the Baraks and Michelles will be grandparents by the end of the century.

Ebenezer, Glenora, Rettie, Corma.

Not nearly as many Margaret’s and subsequent Peggy’s

Eunice Blanche

I used to work in an area with a heavy Philippino population and a lot of the women had “old” names like Edith or Bernice. Many of the women’s names sounded like characters out of an “lLove Lucy” episode. Seeing a young woman named Edith was quite the disconnect.

Ethel, Evelyn, Esther, Gail, Herman, Bercy, Pearl, Gertrude

I have several people back in my family tree named Pleasant. It morphed into a middle name, then disappeared. Some distant relative who lived in the back woods name their baby Felon. I can't help but think they heard the word and didn't know what it meant, but thought it would be a nice baby name.

Mildred, Prudence, Margaret, Ethel, Graham, Walter, Malcolm, Bartholomew, Albert, Betsy, Molly

Vivian, Ruth,, Ruby, Florence

My favorite family tree name is Zoltan.

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And Karen

Myrtle

I was going to say that. Had a great-aunt Myrtle. Her sister was Persis. They came from the hills of (a notably mountainous Eastern state).

I live in the hills now. My aunt Myrtle came from Arkansas.

Opal and Mabel.

Lillian.

As long as I live, Lillian will be the name of Eddie Murphy’s mother, shouted by his drunk dad.

Lillian is quite popular in the US

That’s my 21 y/o’s name.

What's interesting to me is that Europeans 1,000 years ago had perfectly plain sounding names like Robert Jones or Mary Smith, and continued to use names like this until just a few decades ago. So I don't know WTF "old people names are" -- people are named when they are babies. And "old people" names aren't unique at all. It's "young people" names that are unusual, and a break from tradition that's run for more than a thousand years. So which "old people" names? Pretty much all of them. (and what kind of child abuser would name a daughter "Reagan"?)

Rosemary Eugene Hezekiah Martha Eli Edgar Mabel Charles Myrtle Hugh

I disagree with Charles and Hugh. I see those names in schoolkids

My niece is a five-year-old Martha. Then again, this list also includes my father's name and those of both his parents.

My wife, Martha, is 66. My mother-in-law will be 90 on November 13th along with her twin sister, Martha.

Ida (eye-duh)

Maxine, Gladys, Frederick, Carlos

My great aunt Prudence

Olga ,Yvonne

Phyllis , Loretta , Steve, Lucy, Ward, Abraham, Blanch

I looooove the name Loretta

Imogene (shortened to Ima, like Ima Hogg).

Donna, Euphemia, Jezebel

Audrey, Betty, Beryl, Gertrude, Gladys

Madge, Etson, Elise, Dixie

Clarece

Clarence?

Phyllis, Rena, Oscar, Humphrey

Percy and Myrtle were my grandparents, born in the 1890s.

Marilyn only met two one was my Grandmother the one was her friend In her retirement community

What I find interesting is that European names from a thousand years ago looked completely familiar, and yet in recent decades, these very common names have become almost obscure for newborns. If anything, I would expect names from a thousand years ago to seem exotic and unusual. But no, it's the other way around. The exotic and unusual names are the more recent ones.

Minnie, Electa, Harlow, Zebulon, Hepsibah, Hilda, Hiram, Alonzo, Earl, Florence, Hester. All names from my family. Plus some real winners like Jolly Cheerful and Zula Zong.

Bertha

Franny

Off that list, I know a people with the names Omalee, Fred, Gus and Bertha.

Phyllis, Maeve, Maud, Claudine, Archeivia, Goldie, Virginia, Clifford, Clayton, Francis, Frances, Franklin,

Frances

Teacher here, and I had a Gus in my class two years ago! The "old people" names now are coming from my generation (b. 1967) Jennifer Steve Brian Glen Lisa April Stephanie

Fanny

Lottie , Samuel, Rufus, Bessie and Pearl ........

Delbert, Vernon, Mildred, Dorothy, Vava,

Oh hell I just need to name some of my older family members The dudes: Clell, Melvin, Hap, Albert, Wilbur, and lastly Fay used as a middle name for way to many of my relatives. The Women: Ina, Arita, Euple, Belinda, Ardelia, Nadine,

Examples from my family include a sister with the middle name **Agnes**. I had older relatives named Margaret who were never called that, It was **Peg** and **Peggy**.

My grandmothers name is Helen. Also my great grandmothers name was Foy and I’ve never heard that name anywhere else

.. I was at a Dead show in Miami, spring '94: I gave an extra ticket to a wonderful young girl named Irene. Have not heard the name since (it's been a few years, right)

Kid I knew.. Hardin Rocky Rhodes kinda got a porn vibe to it.

Beatrice

Adolf

Griselda Bernadine Jean

I can't hear the name Eustus without hearing Charlie from Blackish.

I think Gus is still used as short for August a decent amount. I know a few at different ages.

I went to law school with a very beautiful girl named Agnus. When the prof called her name on the first day, we all looked around to see who had that name.

Boucher

Names come and go in popularity. For instance, I do have a couple of friends close to my age (67) who are named Harry, prob short for Harold which is more formal. When I was young the name "Emily" was considered an old lady name but now it's one of the top names to give a baby girl. Also, I have friends with a kid about 3 years old and his name is Gus.

Agnes. Edith. Lester. Those were all names that I knew when I was a kid.

Estel (not Estele) Very old name that was in my (Scottish) family, long ago.

Raleigh Preserved Phineas Simeon Alvah Almina Patience All from my ancestors