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[Opinions] Really old woman names
by peregrine
4/3/2024, 1:43 AM
I’m looking for ideas for the name of a character, and I like the idea of giving her an incredibly old woman’s name, one that would be ridiculous to see on a kid today and is unlikely to come back into style again soon. She’s supposed to have been born around 1930 in England, however I’m not super concerned about it being totally accurate, as long as it sounds vaguely feasible. I’ve been calling her Edna in my head so far, but I don’t think that sounds ‘old enough’, as it seems like it somewhat matches certain trends today.
So, does anyone have any suggestions for very old sounding girl names? Thank you!Also, does anyone know how to access the ‘England and Wales historical’ popularity charts? So far I’ve only been able to get to them by going through certain names that appear on them such as Edna, but I’m wondering if there’s an easier way to get there. Thank you :)

Replies

- Manipura (glaucous)
4/3/2024, 9:57 PM
Nanette
Nona
Jincy
Welthea
Belva
Velva
Melvina
Calvina
Ardith
Ardis
Dinah
Novella
Ardella
Zilpa
Otha
Irma
Hessie
Melrose
Maudine
Columba
Gregoria
Madge
Treva
Avis
Eula
Bobbie
Germaine
Parthenia
Parthenope
Minerve
Hildreth
Hildred
Gilda
Floy
Alpha
Opaline
Mickey
Orinda
Sissie
Vernelle
Fidelma
Ambrosia
Loveline
Albina
Virgie
Blondell
Elberta
Nelwyn
Wilda
Gerta
Caledonia
Edmonia
Marvel
Easter
Golden
TempleThey might be too American, idk.

This message was edited 4/3/2024, 10:35 PM

- Wraith (guest)   +1
4/3/2024, 4:37 PM
My go to for cronish names is Griselda. It has really grown on me over the years. Also Myrna, and Philadelphia, which was fairly Edwardian in usage iirc.
- New_Chloë (New_Chloe)
4/3/2024, 7:36 PM
Ooh, Griselda is a great one! I had forgotten about Griselda
- Rainya
4/3/2024, 8:49 AM
Yeah, I would agree Edna isn't as out there as other old woman names.I think these would work better:
Beulah
Blanche
Dimple
Ethel
Flossie
Mamie
Myrtle
- New_Chloë (New_Chloe)
4/3/2024, 8:10 AM
This is tough because sometimes these names can become ironically cool in their ugliness. If you want a genuinely bizarre out of place name, Gertrude, Mildred, Chloris, and Bertha seem to be some old lady names that feel safe from resurrection, even by ironic hipster types. Edna is good, but the thing is, I think Edna *could* feasibly "catch on" in terms of becoming an acceptably quirky name choice that people like and use very sparingly. It does have trendy vibes.
- RoxStar
4/3/2024, 6:42 AM
Edna was going to be one of my suggestions; the shortness of it and the oldness of it does kind of fit in with trends today, but the fact is, Edna never did regain popularity.AgathaBerthaConstanceDorisEuniceEthelFriedaGertrudeGladysHortenseHenriettaHildaJoanLaverneLoisLenoreMurielMyrtleMaudNormaPaulinePhyllisQuenieRobertaRhodaRosamundShirleyBerylGeraldineThelmaSelmaUrsulaVernaViolaVelmaWinifredWilhelmina
- honeyberry04
4/3/2024, 6:38 AM
My first thought is Beryl! Maybe a clunky feminization like Bernadette, Claudine, EdwinaAlso
Eunice
Dorcas, Dorcasina
Clorinda
Blanche
Berenice
Prudence

This message was edited 4/3/2024, 6:53 AM

- Canielle   +1
4/3/2024, 4:39 AM
Cynthia
Ursula
Phyllis
Gwendoline
Daphne
Minnie
Evelyn
Valerie
Wendy
Thelma
Cecily born in my family in 1927 but I cannot find how popular it was.

This message was edited 4/3/2024, 4:57 AM

- peregrine
4/3/2024, 6:00 AM
Thank you, I like Phyllis and Minnie as ideas!
- peregrine
4/3/2024, 6:01 AM
Thank you for the list! I’m considering Enid, Mildred and Myrtle. I would also consider Vera if I hadn’t already used that!
- EsmeLily   +1
4/3/2024, 3:11 AM
Gladys
Bertha
Mildred
Eunice
Doris
Beulah
Ethel
Gertrude
Edna
Mavis
Hester
Agnes
Enid
Wilma
Hilda
Ernestine
Bernadette
Geraldine
Alva
Wanda
Thelma
Melba
Myrtle
Agatha
Edith
Augusta
Cornelia
AlbertaSome of these names are gaining in popularity but most of them may never see the light of day again. Their hard, clunky sounds are no longer in vogue.

This message was edited 4/3/2024, 4:46 AM

- peregrine
4/3/2024, 6:02 AM
Thank you, I like Mildred, Ethel, Enid, Melba and Myrtle :)
- Canielle   +1
4/3/2024, 2:30 AM
Ethel
Olive
Joan
Winifred
Nora
Agnes
Gertrude
Mabel
Pansy
Pauline
Gloria
Yvonne
Hilda
Doreen Here are a few from my own family tree around 1934. Joan was ranked 4 and Doreen was ranked 8 in 1934.

This message was edited 4/3/2024, 2:39 AM

- peregrine
4/3/2024, 6:03 AM
I like Ethel, Pansy and Pauline as ideas, thank you!
- Janan (jeziana)   +1
4/3/2024, 2:21 AM
As names are cyclical, it would make sense to pick a name that was very rarely ever used. My grandmother saw Emma as an old woman name and was baffled when it came back!Hildegard
Morag
Eustacia
Melvina
Aldith
Hortense
- peregrine
4/3/2024, 6:03 AM
Morag is a good idea, thank you!