[Opinions] South African names from the 1940s and 1950s
This is taken from the attendance list at an on-line talk presented for and by retired people, but on this occasion open to others. The attendance list only covers retirees, who I guess would be anything from 60 years old upward.
The names are likely to be closer to British than American usage, I imagine. I also imagine that the gap is closing.
Hennie; Jim; Glenn; Robin; Michael; Rod; Tom; Keith; John; Mick; Phil; Ian; David; John; Peter; Philip; Richmond; Clive; David; Derek; Bob; Pat (gender unknown); Graham; Ed; Allan; Norman; Neil; Malan; Eric; John; John; Klaus; Godfrey; David; Pat (gender unknown); Blaise; Roger; Pat (gender unknown); Pat (gender unknown); Guy
Deborah; Leticia; Ann; Christine; Deirdre; Jeanne; Audrey; Dianne; Lori; Kathleen; Daphne; Margaret; Sal; Mary-Ann; Trudi; Jane; Ann; Beverley; Willemien; Marie; Daniela; Peta; Gillan (possible typo); Pamela; Anne; Jenny; Gilly; Diana; Therina; Elaine
Malan is a surname. My guess is that Therina is a feminised version of the surname Theron, in which case the h would be silent. Theron (the surname) is pronounced Trawn in US English; in UK English it rhymes with horn but the vowel is shorter.
The names are likely to be closer to British than American usage, I imagine. I also imagine that the gap is closing.
Hennie; Jim; Glenn; Robin; Michael; Rod; Tom; Keith; John; Mick; Phil; Ian; David; John; Peter; Philip; Richmond; Clive; David; Derek; Bob; Pat (gender unknown); Graham; Ed; Allan; Norman; Neil; Malan; Eric; John; John; Klaus; Godfrey; David; Pat (gender unknown); Blaise; Roger; Pat (gender unknown); Pat (gender unknown); Guy
Deborah; Leticia; Ann; Christine; Deirdre; Jeanne; Audrey; Dianne; Lori; Kathleen; Daphne; Margaret; Sal; Mary-Ann; Trudi; Jane; Ann; Beverley; Willemien; Marie; Daniela; Peta; Gillan (possible typo); Pamela; Anne; Jenny; Gilly; Diana; Therina; Elaine
Malan is a surname. My guess is that Therina is a feminised version of the surname Theron, in which case the h would be silent. Theron (the surname) is pronounced Trawn in US English; in UK English it rhymes with horn but the vowel is shorter.
Replies
This stuck out to me, if only because I've only ever heard, in the U.S., Charlize Theron's name pronounced as THER-uhn (with a soft "th").
I like:
Robin
Michael (too bad it's so overused)
David (ditto)
Derek
Graham
Allan
Eric
Klaus
&
Deirdre
Audrey
Kathleen
Daphne
Jane
Beverley
Marie
Anne
Diana
Therina (this is interesting, I'm almost surprised Therina / Terina never trended in the U.S. in the 60s / 70s)
Elaine
If anybody honestly told me they didn't think John was overused worldwide, I could just point to this class list as evidence to the contrary. It looks like it could potentially be used to argue there are too many Patricks / Patricias, as well...
Willemien intrigues me. I'm guessing it's pronounce wil-uh-MAYN?
I like:
Robin
Michael (too bad it's so overused)
David (ditto)
Derek
Graham
Allan
Eric
Klaus
&
Deirdre
Audrey
Kathleen
Daphne
Jane
Beverley
Marie
Anne
Diana
Therina (this is interesting, I'm almost surprised Therina / Terina never trended in the U.S. in the 60s / 70s)
Elaine
If anybody honestly told me they didn't think John was overused worldwide, I could just point to this class list as evidence to the contrary. It looks like it could potentially be used to argue there are too many Patricks / Patricias, as well...
Willemien intrigues me. I'm guessing it's pronounce wil-uh-MAYN?
I suspect that Charlize found her original ln pronunciation too unfamiliar to most Americans and chose to make life easier for them, and therefore for herself!
Willemien is the male name Willem (= William) feminised. And, Afrikaans being close to Dutch and German, the W sounds like a V and the i like an uh, or a schwa. And the -mien is like the Min in Minnie, the well-known Mouse. There's a light stress on vil and the main stress on MIN.
Willemien is the male name Willem (= William) feminised. And, Afrikaans being close to Dutch and German, the W sounds like a V and the i like an uh, or a schwa. And the -mien is like the Min in Minnie, the well-known Mouse. There's a light stress on vil and the main stress on MIN.