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.

  • Today@lemmy.world
    12·
    3 months ago

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

  • tiredofsametab@fedia.io
    7·
    3 months 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.

    • taiyang@lemmy.world
      9·
      3 months ago

      I’ve seen it once, although more recently met a Genevieve which feels even rarer and just as pretty.

      • proudblond@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        3 months ago

        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?

        • oo1@lemmings.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          I’ve heard a Welsh musician called Gwennifer.
          I think Jennifer, Guinevere are all probably similar just different languages.

  • all-knight-party@fedia.io
    19·
    3 months ago

    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.

    • Bizzle@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 months ago

      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

    • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgOPEnglish
      10·
      3 months ago

      My boss does that, and for that reason. I do like it. Unfortunately, he cannot help me get cash now from my structured settlement.

      • palordrolap@fedia.io
        2·
        3 months ago

        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.

    • edric@lemm.ee
      9·
      3 months ago

      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.

      • palordrolap@fedia.io
        12·
        3 months ago

        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.

    • dufkm@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      3 months ago

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

  • son_named_bort@lemmy.world
    15·
    3 months ago

    May and June. I feel like there’s a lot of younger Aprils but the other two month names seem like old lady names.

      • Trigger2_2000@sh.itjust.works
        4·
        3 months ago

        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.

        • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgOPEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          There was a joke on Married with Children way back where Bud gets a Valentine’s day card from someone with that name. He is suspicious it’s a prank from his sister because “those are all works [Kelly] knows”.

          Wonder if she was named after that episode? Lol

  • Cuberoot@lemmynsfw.com
    14·
    3 months ago

    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).

  • kindenough@kbin.earth
    8·
    3 months ago

    Dutch names.

    Truitje Fiep Toos Wies (my grandma) Pleun Fons (my uncle) pronounced Funs in South Limburg

    • kubok@fedia.io
      5·
      3 months ago

      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).

      • kindenough@kbin.earth
        2·
        3 months ago

        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.

    • abbadon420@lemm.ee
      1·
      3 months ago

      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.