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HelpRe: Gladys
in reply to a message by A
At one time I lived in the same short street as two Gladys people, one originally Scottish and the other a Yorkshirewoman. Yorkshire Gladys's equally Yorkshire husband used to call her Glad-Eyes sometimes; the other one had no nn that I ever encountered. And both were, you had to say, elderly.
Then there was a drought. So, no Gladyses until about 15 years ago, when I met a Francophone Congolese Gladys who must be in her early thirties by now. That seemed odd to me; certainly unexpected for all sorts of reasons.
The problem isn't only with its long-ago popularity surge. Gloria is the only other name I can think of that starts with Gl-, and it's hubristic but not shuddered at. Maybe the -ys ending, or the sound of it, puts people off? Janice has also sunk without trace, as has Clarice - they'd do fine as a rhyming sibset!
I don't like it or dislike it. I'd be surprised to meet a young one, as I was with Gladys from the DRC, but not unhappy. I wouldn't want to meet an Edna for instance, or a Bertha; Gladys is in a different league. But I'd never use it on a child.
Then there was a drought. So, no Gladyses until about 15 years ago, when I met a Francophone Congolese Gladys who must be in her early thirties by now. That seemed odd to me; certainly unexpected for all sorts of reasons.
The problem isn't only with its long-ago popularity surge. Gloria is the only other name I can think of that starts with Gl-, and it's hubristic but not shuddered at. Maybe the -ys ending, or the sound of it, puts people off? Janice has also sunk without trace, as has Clarice - they'd do fine as a rhyming sibset!
I don't like it or dislike it. I'd be surprised to meet a young one, as I was with Gladys from the DRC, but not unhappy. I wouldn't want to meet an Edna for instance, or a Bertha; Gladys is in a different league. But I'd never use it on a child.
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