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HelpWhich vintage name do you NOT want make a comeback?
In the US, parents are increasingly turning to names that were popular at the turn of the last century or even mid-century to give to their newborns. Names like Henry, Olive, Everett, Dean, Harper, and Genevieve are on the top 100 or top 200 list after being absent for more than a few decades.
Which vintage names that were popular in the last century do you NOT want to make a comeback?
For me, it would be
Dottie
Reginald
Tad
Todd
Guy
Dennis
Betsy
Bessie
Wayne
Hattie / Hettie
Patsy
Harold
Barbara
Carl
Marge
Ralph
Terry
Judith
Leonard
Joan
Norman
Melvin
Which vintage names that were popular in the last century do you NOT want to make a comeback?
For me, it would be
Dottie
Reginald
Tad
Todd
Guy
Dennis
Betsy
Bessie
Wayne
Hattie / Hettie
Patsy
Harold
Barbara
Carl
Marge
Ralph
Terry
Judith
Leonard
Joan
Norman
Melvin
This message was edited 3/25/2025, 1:32 PM
Replies
Frances has made super nominal gains recently but I would put money on it becoming a commonplace name again.
This message was edited 3/30/2025, 11:08 AM
Has to be one of my least favorite names. Especially knowing the default nickname is as awful as Patty, why would you name a kid this?
I agree with your list except for the Biblical Judith -- don't see anything wrong with that name at all. Nor with Barbara, although it is perhaps too early for a comeback. Not that I love it.
I'd hate to see Horace making a comeback. And let's hope that Ichabod never trends. Can't understand the appeal of Maud and Maude nor of Agatha nor of Hermione nor of Florence and Norah (though I don't dislike Nora) and nor of Hilda -- not that Hilda is trending, but there have been girls named it recently in the UK and it must be just for the sake of having an "old lady" name.
I'd hate to see Horace making a comeback. And let's hope that Ichabod never trends. Can't understand the appeal of Maud and Maude nor of Agatha nor of Hermione nor of Florence and Norah (though I don't dislike Nora) and nor of Hilda -- not that Hilda is trending, but there have been girls named it recently in the UK and it must be just for the sake of having an "old lady" name.
I’ve heard people mention Agatha, which isn’t terrible, but I don’t love.
Oh gosh, I forgot to mention Agatha and Agnes in my list. Two of my least favorite names in the entire world.
Never liked Agatha but I think that Agatha Christie makes a nice namesake.
I agree with most of your names, except I like Judith and don't mind Betsy, Dennis, and Melvin.
For me, I would like Bernard, Bertha, Beulah, Blanche, Doris, Edna, Ethel, Gladys, Herbert, Irma, Norbert, Mildred, Myrtle, Nancy, Olga, Phyllis, Rufus, Sybil, and Thelma to remain in the past. Especially Rufus because it seems like such a dog name to me; I can't take it seriously on a real person.
Also, I wish Eleanor, Elsie, Florence, Frances, Harrison, Hattie, Lola, Mabel, Rosie, Sadie, Sullivan, and Willa hadn't made a comeback.
For me, I would like Bernard, Bertha, Beulah, Blanche, Doris, Edna, Ethel, Gladys, Herbert, Irma, Norbert, Mildred, Myrtle, Nancy, Olga, Phyllis, Rufus, Sybil, and Thelma to remain in the past. Especially Rufus because it seems like such a dog name to me; I can't take it seriously on a real person.
Also, I wish Eleanor, Elsie, Florence, Frances, Harrison, Hattie, Lola, Mabel, Rosie, Sadie, Sullivan, and Willa hadn't made a comeback.
Melvin actually has never left the top 1000 in the US actually, so there must be lots of people who agree with you on that front.
I’m actually shocked that Sybil has not made a comeback already. It seems to be a name that lots of people like. That, and Thelma.
I have a nephew named Reggie and I think it’s in the same vein as Rufus. A dog name, and after that an old person name.
Elsie, Rosie, Sullivan, and Willa I’m partial to, Lola I have mixed opinions about. I also have a nephew named Sullivan so I could be partial that way.
I’m actually shocked that Sybil has not made a comeback already. It seems to be a name that lots of people like. That, and Thelma.
I have a nephew named Reggie and I think it’s in the same vein as Rufus. A dog name, and after that an old person name.
Elsie, Rosie, Sullivan, and Willa I’m partial to, Lola I have mixed opinions about. I also have a nephew named Sullivan so I could be partial that way.
These because I find them just ugly:
Homer
Hubert
Humphrey
Rufus
Rollo (this one especially)
Burt
Wayne – agree with this one. And Payne, Dwayne etc.
Phyllis
Enid
Edna
Orpah
Norma
Irma
Wanda
These I dislike because too cutesy/boring:
Alfie – already come back
Ollie
Barry
Larry
Jerry
Elmo
Lisa
Millie
Nellie
Della
Keri / Kerry / Carey / Carrie
On the other hand, I find Leonard strong and lovely! I hope it does come back. So much better than plain Leo. I kind of like Terry because of Terrence. And Betsy Is my favorite NN for Elizabeth, so I'd like to hear it more often.
Homer
Hubert
Humphrey
Rufus
Rollo (this one especially)
Burt
Wayne – agree with this one. And Payne, Dwayne etc.
Phyllis
Enid
Edna
Orpah
Norma
Irma
Wanda
These I dislike because too cutesy/boring:
Alfie – already come back
Ollie
Barry
Larry
Jerry
Elmo
Lisa
Millie
Nellie
Della
Keri / Kerry / Carey / Carrie
On the other hand, I find Leonard strong and lovely! I hope it does come back. So much better than plain Leo. I kind of like Terry because of Terrence. And Betsy Is my favorite NN for Elizabeth, so I'd like to hear it more often.
A lot of the cutesy girl names have already come back too.
I’m usually far too tolerant of vintage/antique names, the uglier they are the more I like and pity them LOL
Perhaps…
Roy (just because I can’t pronounce it to save my life)
Laverne, Ladonna and any of that type
Doyle
Ha! I knew I would think of another one… Dora.
I don’t agree with your list except for maybe Leonard (I see it on Nameberry forums sometimes and I’m like, seriously guys??). I quite like Dottie, Patsy, Hettie, Betsy & Bessie, all as nicknames though, and Joan and Reginald. I am pretty indifferent to the rest though.
Perhaps…
Roy (just because I can’t pronounce it to save my life)
Laverne, Ladonna and any of that type
Doyle
Ha! I knew I would think of another one… Dora.
I don’t agree with your list except for maybe Leonard (I see it on Nameberry forums sometimes and I’m like, seriously guys??). I quite like Dottie, Patsy, Hettie, Betsy & Bessie, all as nicknames though, and Joan and Reginald. I am pretty indifferent to the rest though.
This message was edited 3/25/2025, 7:19 PM
My grandpa’s middle name is Le Roy…or should I say middle names lol. His half sister is also named LaDonna. Unfortunate names run in the family I suppose.
I’m so shocked anyone likes the name Leonard but again I wonder if people just name a kid an old person name to be in on the trends and then just plan to call them something else like Leo. My cousin named her daughter Marceline only to call her Mack. I don’t get it.
I’m so shocked anyone likes the name Leonard but again I wonder if people just name a kid an old person name to be in on the trends and then just plan to call them something else like Leo. My cousin named her daughter Marceline only to call her Mack. I don’t get it.
I agree with the majority of those names, especially in regards to:
-Guy (it's just weird. Be the equivalent of naming a girl, Lady)
-Betsy/Patsy
-Bessie (Good name for a cow. 🐮)
-Barbara (always strongly disliked this one)
- Joan (Although I do find Joanie adorable)
-Melvin (I don't know how tf that one is still on the charts AND even went up last year. How???
-Dennis/Denis (Reminds me of the word dentists & my family knew a guy named this that we wish we could all forget. I won't go into details here, but let's just say that the name is completely tainted & ruined for us.)
Some of the ones I can think of are:
-Donald (For obvious reasons)
-Nancy (Similar to Barbara, I don't understand why this one doesn't just leave already.)
-Ethel (I had a Great-grandmother named this and it reminds me of the iconic duo of Ethel & Lucy, but there's no denying that the name isn't exactly nice sounding.)
-Patrice
-Peggy
-Bruce
-Myrtle
-Howard
-Doris
-sybil
-Valerie
-Phyllis
-Ernest
-Guy (it's just weird. Be the equivalent of naming a girl, Lady)
-Betsy/Patsy
-Bessie (Good name for a cow. 🐮)
-Barbara (always strongly disliked this one)
- Joan (Although I do find Joanie adorable)
-Melvin (I don't know how tf that one is still on the charts AND even went up last year. How???
-Dennis/Denis (Reminds me of the word dentists & my family knew a guy named this that we wish we could all forget. I won't go into details here, but let's just say that the name is completely tainted & ruined for us.)
Some of the ones I can think of are:
-Donald (For obvious reasons)
-Nancy (Similar to Barbara, I don't understand why this one doesn't just leave already.)
-Ethel (I had a Great-grandmother named this and it reminds me of the iconic duo of Ethel & Lucy, but there's no denying that the name isn't exactly nice sounding.)
-Patrice
-Peggy
-Bruce
-Myrtle
-Howard
-Doris
-sybil
-Valerie
-Phyllis
-Ernest
I agree with you about:
Dottie
Reginald
Guy (if only because of the casual word "guy")
Betsy
Bessie
Wayne
Patsy
Harold
Ralph
Norman
Melvin
I'd also add:
Norma
Burton
Edna
Ethel
Frank
Murray
Joyce
Martha
Phyllis
Gerald
Geraldine
Thelma
Herman
Clyde
Lloyd
Floyd
Dale
Clarence
Eugene
Humphrey
... and I would've said Archibald / Archie, but I'm too late there, lol.
I've actually always liked Dennis. :-(
Dottie
Reginald
Guy (if only because of the casual word "guy")
Betsy
Bessie
Wayne
Patsy
Harold
Ralph
Norman
Melvin
I'd also add:
Norma
Burton
Edna
Ethel
Frank
Murray
Joyce
Martha
Phyllis
Gerald
Geraldine
Thelma
Herman
Clyde
Lloyd
Floyd
Dale
Clarence
Eugene
Humphrey
... and I would've said Archibald / Archie, but I'm too late there, lol.
I've actually always liked Dennis. :-(
This message was edited 3/25/2025, 5:44 PM
Beulah, Barney and Cletus are especially gag-worthy. Ugh. Hate the sound of them.
Bertha
Gertrude
Philomena
Josephine- I know this is already popular.
Wilhelmina
Tomasina
Egbert
Wilbert
Wilbur
Uriah
Ferdinand
Gertrude
Philomena
Josephine- I know this is already popular.
Wilhelmina
Tomasina
Egbert
Wilbert
Wilbur
Uriah
Ferdinand
Cletus. It is one of the ugliest names. Humphrey, Rudolph, Seth, Abner, Eustace and Enoch don't need to return as far as I'm concerned.
Hepzibah is not my cup of tea. I am not a Delilah fan, but it has already become popular.
Some names like Ermengarde and Barnabas are so clunky that, despite not liking them, I would be fascinated if they made a comeback.
Hepzibah is not my cup of tea. I am not a Delilah fan, but it has already become popular.
Some names like Ermengarde and Barnabas are so clunky that, despite not liking them, I would be fascinated if they made a comeback.
Maybe some people like the more unusual sounds. Knox seems popular, so maybe Enoch has a similar sound but a different vibe that appeals to people?
I actually know an Enoch. It’s not an uncommon name where I live and here it’s pronounced “Ee-nick.” Not sure if it’s pronounced differently elsewhere.
I know that Enoch is a biblically important figure related to "the last days" described in the Book of Revelation, and the number of people who really believe in that stuff seems to be increasing; I wonder if that's another reason why.