8 replies to this topic

[Marvelous_Things]

So, I was thinking earlier about some older names from my family's history, and how some of them are actually very nice. Most of these names are from my grandparents' and great-grandparents' generations. Thoughts?

 

 

Boys

Rives (prn. Reeves. This one has actually been used on both genders, but I more associate it with boys since it's the middle name of my brother, father, and grandfather).

Abner

Nash

Alexander

Clarence (used extensively on both sides of my family)

John

Steven

Wallace

Oliver

Boyd

Cecil

Howard

Thomas

Andrew

Melvin

James

Matthew

Francis

David

Erskine

 

 

 

Girls

Mildred

Irene

Nancy

Jane

Victoria (my great-grandmother, who I am named after)

Ethel

Virginia

Ruth (twin sister of Lillian)

Lillian (twin sister of Ruby)

Ruby

Serena 

Beatrice (nn Beat prn Bee-at)

Barbara

Pamelia (like Amelia with a P)

Helen

Valley

May

Etta

Agnes

Beulah

Catherine 

Frances

Wanda

Joann

Mary

Elizabeth

Marie

 

 

[HaydensMama18]

Favorites

Alexander
John
Thomas
Andrew
James
Matthew

Nancy
Victoria
Lillian
Ruby
Serena
Barbara
Catherine
Elizabeth

Neutral :/

Nash
Cecil
David

Marie
Mary
Jane
Ruth
May

Least Favorites

Rives
Abner
Clarence
Steven
Wallace
Oliver
Boyd
Howard
Melvin
Francis
Erskine

Mildred
Irene
Ethel
Virginia
Beatrice
Pamelia
Helen
Valley
Etta
Agnes
Beulah
Frances
Wanda
Joann

[brittany111]

Rives (prn. Reeves. This one has actually been used on both genders, but I more associate it with boys since it's the middle name of my brother, father, and grandfather).

Abner

Nash- I adore Nash! i think it's darling

Alexander- Classic

Clarence (used extensively on both sides of my family)

John

Steven

Wallace

Oliver

Boyd

Cecil

Howard

Thomas

Andrew

Melvin

James-Ive always had a soft sport for James

Matthew

Francis

David

Erskine

 

 

 

Girls

Mildred

Irene

Nancy

Jane-Classic and short and sweet

Victoria (my great-grandmother, who I am named after)Love Victoria and the the fact it if from yourself and your great grandmother.

Ethel

Virginia

Ruth (twin sister of Lillian)

Lillian (twin sister of Ruby)

Ruby-​Wouldn't Ruby and Serena make a great sib set!

Serena-LOVE@ 

Beatrice (nn Beat prn Bee-at)

Barbara

Pamelia (like Amelia with a P)

Helen

Valley-I think this would be a lovely m/n. 

May

Etta

Agnes

Beulah

Catherine 

Frances

Wanda

Joann

Mary

Elizabeth

Marie

[Caillean]

from your girls list Agnes stands out to me. It is such a pretty but underrated name, and I can picture a little girl Agnes as well as a 20 or 40 year old.

I really do like Clarence from your boys list.

 

Nancy is a name I absolutely can't stand (probably because in Germany Nancy is one of those names uneducated people find really cool and American-sounding so it has a widely recocnised negative connotation here). I always found it interesting how some names are perceived in other countries.

 

I have never heard Beulah or Ethel or Etta and would not use them. Other than those 4, I like all of the names on your female list and could picture all of them as awesome choices for a little girl. They could be combined with a more "stylish" name for a modern twist.

From what I saw, Agnes, Mildred, Irene, Beatrice are among a group of names becoming very pupular again (the generation that associates old warty aunts with those names is now the Grandparent generation). Seeing as I don't like modern, made-up names, I instantly find myself drawn to old-fashioned names. Thanks for the inspirational list!

[brimariiee]

From favorite to least favorite for each gender.......

 

Boys

Andrew

Oliver

Nash

Matthew

Thomas

Howard

James

Rives

Alexander

Steven

John

David

Wallace

Melvin

Boyd

Clarence

Abner

Cecil

Francis

Erskine

 

 

 

Girls

Victoria

May

Marie ~My middle name actually haha

Jane

Elizabeth

Catherine

Beatrice

Ruby

Pamelia

Ruth

Joann

Mary

Wanda

Etta

Lillian

Barbara

Virginia

Nancy

Valley

Helen

Serena

Irene

Beulah

Agnes

Mildred

Ethel

Frances

[Marvelous_Things]

from your girls list Agnes stands out to me. It is such a pretty but underrated name, and I can picture a little girl Agnes as well as a 20 or 40 year old.

I really do like Clarence from your boys list.

 

Nancy is a name I absolutely can't stand (probably because in Germany Nancy is one of those names uneducated people find really cool and American-sounding so it has a widely recocnised negative connotation here). I always found it interesting how some names are perceived in other countries.

 

I have never heard Beulah or Ethel or Etta and would not use them. Other than those 4, I like all of the names on your female list and could picture all of them as awesome choices for a little girl. They could be combined with a more "stylish" name for a modern twist.

From what I saw, Agnes, Mildred, Irene, Beatrice are among a group of names becoming very pupular again (the generation that associates old warty aunts with those names is now the Grandparent generation). Seeing as I don't like modern, made-up names, I instantly find myself drawn to old-fashioned names. Thanks for the inspirational list!

 

That's really interesting about Nancy. I never would have thought it was thought of as particularly American-sounding (I would have expected something like Britney or Ashley, actually). Here it's just thought of being a little old-fashioned, but isn't negatively perceived. 

 

As far as Agnes goes, it's actually one of my least favorite of my names on this list, so we obviously have different naming styles. 

 

Anyway, thanks for the comment!

[Marvelous_Things]

 

-Wouldn't Ruby and Serena make a great sib set!

 

 

 

 

Ruby and Serena were actually sisters! Serena was my great-grandmother and Ruby was one of her sisters.

[Remy Hadley]

You have some great names in your fam! I like quite a few, Rives is neat and I like Abner and Wallace a lot. Jane, Victoria, Ruth, Lillian, Ruby, May, Etta, and Agnes are lovely! I especially love May and Etta <3 

[Savannahjean]

Rives

Alexander

Oliver

Thomas

Andrew

James

Matthew

David

 

Girls

Irene

Victoria 

Lillian 

Ruby

Serena 

Helen

May

Etta

Catherine 

Elizabeth

Marie