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Unusual or beautiful sightings from your family tree?
Mine are...
for context my family are originally Ukrainian JewsIda (Ita)
Vyacheslav
Klara
Ester
Sonya (I like it spelled like "Sonja")
Wolf
Larisa (I prefer the spelling "Larissa")Last names:
Reytblat (meaning "red leaf" in Yiddish)
I love this last name and I even started using it as my social media name!

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 5:58 AM

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If I was going to use an unaltered name from my family, it'd probably be Amzi, Azalea, Ruth, or Delora (all grandparents or great-grandparents).But for a longer list including random branches (I fell down a rabbit hole one day clicking on connected names on findagrave.com)...
My favorites, most of which aren't that rare:Isaac, Felix, Oscar, Ezra, Moses, Willis, Solomon, Elias, Elijah, Justus, Ozias, Estel, Casper, Cyrus, Lars, Perry, Gil, Julian, Ernst, Ezekiel, JesseLucinda, Jemima, Patience, Virginia, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Veda, Arabella, Drusilla, Octavia, Roxanna, Charity, Cherry, Naomi, Geneva, Ernestine, Charlotte, Viola, Valeria, Adelia, Letitia, Rosabell, Safronia, Esther, Bena, Jennie, Daisy

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This message was edited yesterday, 5:56 PM

If I was going to use an unaltered name from my family, it'd probably be Amzi, Azalea, Ruth, or Delora (all grandparents or great-grandparents).
But for a longer list including random branches (I fell down a rabbit hole one day clicking on connected names on findagrave.com)...My favorites, most of which aren't that rare:
Moses, Willis, Solomon, Elias, Elijah, Justus, Estel, Cyrus, Ernst
Jemima, Patience, Virginia, Veda, Arabella, Drusilla, Octavia, Naomi, Ernestine, Charlotte, Viola, Valeria, Adelia, Letitia, Rosabell, Safronia, Esther, Daisy Odesia, Eulogia, Lemon, Elmira, Sonia, Verena, Prudence, Cordelia, Theodora "Thomas"Weird enough they don't have a BtN name page (though a lot are in the submitted section):
Creed, Oath, Emron, Almond, Phaltiel, Delmas, Rhine, Rosseau, Palace, Odet, Columbus, Vineyard, Eagle, Williford, Fillmore, Loveline, Vernelle, Obedience, Neveline, Jency, Izella, Mandia, Melrose, Merliney, Vianna, Melvina, Palethia, Idela, Euva, Belva, Erline, Altha, Claris, Ardis, Armeda, Almedia, Ludena, Elender,Eudoxie, SylvaniaAlso seem either rare or vintage to me:
Elkanah, Roscoe, Virgil, Armand, Eldred, Archibald, Otho, Irving, Enoch, Elvis, Ira, Bertram, Homer, Otis, Napoleon Bonaparte, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Marion, Claude, Roma, Sherman, Elmer, Wilbur, Lucian, Leonidas, Cornelius, Ansel, Abner, Walter, Morris, Sylvester, Harley, Camillus, Shepherd
Mozelle, Agnes, Florence, Novella, Neva, Birdie, Pearl, Love, Lavinia, Zelma, Priscilla, Merle, Leona, Nona, Parthenia, Camelia, Rhoda, Ivory, Philadelphia, Flossie, Melita, Bonita, Mamie, Della Irene, NellieI have noticed you have a nigerian name and some typical African American Slavery-era names on the list. What's your ethnicity?
Omer is a very common Israel masculine name, though it is sometimes given to girls.

This message was edited yesterday, 9:40 AM

I noticed that about Omer, but I still think it sounds antique here (it's not just because it's not popular here though; Nova, Ivory, Lucian seem antique to me, even though they're popular again here lately). Has Omer been consistently popular in Israel, or did it rise in popularity at some point?Which one is Nigerian? Which ones seem African American to you?My surname is Ashkenazi, and with the exception of a Native American who I know nothing about beyond showing up on a genealogy test, my ancestors were Northwestern Europeans (Brits and Germans, for the most part) who pre-1900 moved to various places in what is now the Southeastern US. I can't attest to the ethnicity of all of these people given that I looked at cousins of grandparents etc; anti-miscegenation laws were suspended during Reconstruction (post US Civil War) era and after that, I'm not sure exactly how often they were enforced. Some of these people would have been poor white laborers during the 1800s; there is for sure overlap between poor white American names and African American names regardless (most of these people with a few exceptions were born in the US). Chieko at least I can confidently say was Japanese; Bena and Morris were siblings born in Germany.
I like Reytblat btw.

This message was edited yesterday, 2:40 PM

Mozelle and Novella were historically more African-American, but that doesn’t mean no white people at all had those names.
Oh, I didn't know that. I think of Mozelle/Moselle as having been common across the region, pre-1950. I had at least 4 in my family (from different sides, they weren't named for each other)...it's the only one that occurred that often, of the ones listed here.

This message was edited yesterday, 8:57 PM

My ancestry is mostly of mainland British descent, mostly English, Scottish and Welsh. I have some Irish, Italian and German, but not much.Maitland (middle name)
Aloysis (middle name)
Guy
Frances "Fanny" (my most recent Irish ancestor)
I love...
Maitland
Frances
My genealogy is mostly German, English, and Irish. A lot of the more recent generations lived in the American South.Females:
Noretta
Missouri
Keitle
Vela
Berilor
Sabra
Civil
Zilphia
Zilpha
Fina
Orlyn
Calpernia Verdue (first and middle)
Sophrona
Bronislawa
Okie
Marketa
Aphelia
Captola
Evelet
Wanita
Lacinda
Izelia
Lona
Ozela
Jovita
November
September
VilettaMales:
Ink
Yules
Isham
Aulcy
Eskell
Algie
Eggbert
Hamlin
Raiford
Enos
Needham
Dempsie
Vaclav
Antomin
Wenzel
Reinardt
Lemuel
Greenup
Mathison
Ransom
Columbus
Vernard
Rolandi
Absalom
Carvel
Jois
Joes
I really like Absalom, September, and Calpernia (though prefer it spelled Calpurnia).I also like Ozela, Wenzel, Marketa, Noretta, Keitle.Do you know the origin of Keitle?

This message was edited yesterday, 3:12 PM

I loveVela
Sabra
Civil
Calpernia Verdue
Sophrona
Bronislawa
Captola
Evelet
Lona
November
September
Viletta
Eggbert
Hamlin
Raiford
Enos
Dempsie
Vaclav
Wenzel
Reinardt
Lemuel
Ransom
Columbus
Vernard
Absalom
Carvel
Wedderburn (my late grandfather's middle name) (1947-2022)It's the only one I can find right now
Huw
Sophronia
Garnett
TheaAmelia— not at all unusual but I think this is one of the most beautiful girl names ever.
I love
Thea
Amelia
Sophronia
Irmgard
Cissie
Dorlina
Hepsibah
Nehemiah
Parfitt
Alphaeus
Austin Austin would not be unusual today but I have one who was born in 1905
I love...
Irmgard
Hepsibah
Nehemiah
Gumecinda
Hermenegilda
Hipólita
Maria Abraham
Eustolia
Nicolasa
Lionisia
Herminia
Edilia
Elida
Aurora
Herlinda
Baleriana
Aurelia
Doreida
Gricelda
Inés
Yadira
Viviana
AnahíGumesindo
Petronilo
Pantaleón
Nicomedes
Atenógenes
Sóstenes
Melitón
Candelario
Odilón
Eusebio
CiriloMy family is from Mexico btw

This message was edited 3/28/2025, 1:20 AM

I love...Eustolia
Lionisia
Herminia
Edilia
Elida
Aurora
Herlinda
Baleriana
Doreida
Gricelda
Inés
Yadira
Viviana
Petronilo
Pantaleón
Nicomedes
Melitón
Candelario
Cirilo(I could tell they're from Mexico, they're very Latin-American sounding)

This message was edited 3/28/2025, 5:12 AM

Some of these getting love are surprising; like Eustolia, Pantaleón and Melitón. They seem too old-fashioned for most people nowadays. Even my mother (Eustolia) doesn't like her own name xD.
I always think your family's names are so interesting when you post about them! I can maybe see why those would be old-fashioned (they vaguely remind me of Milton / Melvin, Eustace / Eunice, plus pant* is unusual) but Melitón still seems more dashing than Milton. :)I know it's because I'm just not familiar with them, but I notice that when people from other language/cultural backgrounds use names that seem out-of-date to me in English, it makes me see them in a new light.

This message was edited 3/29/2025, 9:40 AM

Thank you! I do too ☺️It's interesting to note that most of these are still being used in Latin America. They have a different concept of 'old-fahioned' lolI know what you mean, I'm also guilty of falling in love with names that are way overused in other cultures :p
On my dad’s Jewish side: Moshe, Naftali, Seymour, Vikhna, Yale, Zelman, ZypporahOn my mom’s German side: Balthasar, Caspar, Clamor, Diederich, Eldor, Emil, Gottlieb, Rosina
I like most of those (not Clamor or Seymour). I'd like Yael better than Yale.
I love
Clamor
Seymour
Naftali
Zelman
Eldor
Emil
Gottlieb
I like Reinier from my family tree. I like it's the same backwards :DI don't really know a lot of names from the older generation though. Some interesting ones from the older-ish ones, especiallyfor non-Dutch people:Det
Flip
Ad
Joekie
Lidwien
Cor
Miep
Helmi
Helma
My favourites:Jasmijn
Vera
Valerie
Elodie
Arwen
Carmen
Marco
I love
Vera
Valerie
Elodie
Arwen
Carmen
Marco
Helma
Lidwien
ReinierI love dutch names

This message was edited 3/28/2025, 5:13 AM

Pretty much 100% Swedish. Women:
Alfhild
Elna
Petronella
Ki
Hillevi
Hildur NordinaMen:
Valfrid
Nikolaus
Hilding
Algot
Ino
Isidor
Roony
Gottfrid
Ejner
Alrik
I love
Gottfrid
Isidor
Enjer
Valfrid
InoAlfhild
Elna
Petronella
Nordina (espically Nordina)
From your list, I think Larisa, Ester, and Klara are beautiful girl names. I also think that Vyacheslav is such a handsome boy's name!My grandmother is named Rivanna ("Rih-VANN-nuh"), and I've always that that it was a beautiful name; she was named after her own grandmother.
I also came across Janabelle, which I think is pretty and interesting.Unusual sightings that I'm neutral about (first names and middle names):
Fogle (used repeatedly after the surname Fogle, which was Americanized from von Vogel)
Haynesworth / Haynsworth
Perdieau
Vermelle
Mellie
Loa
Willette
Missouri
Jones
Winburn
Lawton
Hiram
Michau
Saint Louis
Winborn

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 12:32 PM

I love
Haynesworth
Perdieau
Vermelle
Mellie
Rivanna
Willette
Jones
Winburn
Lawton
Saint Louis
Winborn
Rivanna sounds pretty badass, do you know where it comes from? Ravenna maybe? Rivka+Anna?
Yay, I'm glad someone else loves the name, haha. I'd totally name a daughter Rivanna after her, if I ever could. I'm not so sure where the name originally came from! I asked her, and she was unsure as well, lol. I can assume that it came from Rivka and Anna...my family is of Jewish decent, so it'd make sense.
Ooh that tracks, I love inventive names like that that stay classy ;)
Obedience "Bedie"
Spicey
Jerusha
Barthania
Epsey
Lucinda
Mourning
Philisia
Chery
Pininah
Unity
Olifee
DoveryOnesimus
Ephraim
Obediah
Parham
Ingram
Warrick
Ambert
I LoveObedience
Jerusha
Mourning
Philisia (Is Philisia an illitirate spelling of Philistia?)
Pininah
Unity
Dovery
Ephraim
Obediah
Ambert
haha we could be related! my family tree also has Obendience "Bedie", multiple Lucindas, 2 Mournings, Ephraim & Ephriam, Obediah, and an Ingram, and probably more that I can't remember! wow
I feel like Obedience and Mourning were more popular than they're given credit for. At least in the South.
Well, hello cousin! Ha ha! Here are their full names: Lucinda Ward, Mourning Pope and Mourning Altman (strange that I have two like you do), Ephraim Ferrell, Obediah Winfrey, and Ingram Spence.

This message was edited 3/28/2025, 7:44 AM

I made a post about this several months back & here is pretty much a copy & paste of that:Here are some unusual, or straight up bizarre sightings that I came across while searching through a portion of my family tree in order to cure my curiosity and boredom. These are all on the maternal side. Ruffus Ranway (B. 1846. Ranway certainly stuck out to me)
Annibella (B. 1856)
Silvanus (B. 1771. Married to his wife Silvia. Silvanus & Silvia. 😅)
Hulda (B. 1771)
Alse (B. 1781. This may be a typo for 'Alyse' Not sure)
Thankful (B. 1700)
Louise Arzula (B. 1854. Again, for the middle name)
Washington (B. 1862. There are several)
Lurline (B. 1895)
Lafayette (B. 1906.)
Elfrida, Freda (Couldn't find any dates or information on, but were both sisters.)
Although certainly not unusual, I also came across several Lydia's, along with a 'Liddy' which just made me happy to see. 🤗
Edit: More unusual sightings.
Zaidee (B. 1770. This one was completely shocking to see as it comes across as ultra modern)
Tasker (B. 1848. Also seen this on a few others as a middle name. perhaps used & named after him)
Not unusual but still relatively uncommon, at least by today's standards: Chauncey (1809) & Phineus & Gideon in the same set. (1800's)
Found another Ranway: Vernon Ranway (B. 1902. I believe the grandfather or possibly great-grandfather of Ruffus)
Siblings: Deccia, Willard & Buras (1920s-1930's)From yours I like Ida, Klara (prefer Clara), Ester & Larisa

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 12:35 PM

I love:Hulda
Silvanus
Lurline
Elfrida, Freda
Edit
Vernon Ranway
Silvia
Ruffus Ranway
Lydia
and Deccia & Willard
Marian Elmira
Keturah
Juliann
Ann Rebecca
Henrietta Frances
Anthony
Jonathan
Lewis
Isaac
Basil
Prior
Otho
Martha
I love:Marian Elmira
Keturah
Henrietta Frances
Lewis
Basil
Prior
Otho
for context my family is: Deep South Usa.
the names here are some ancestors from 1700s-1800s
here's a loaded list...have fun!
Elender
Ellander
Sophronia
Sophrony
Sobrina
Melvina
Anglin
Jerrie
Eudora
Opha
Mattilee
Narcissa
Idora
Louvina
Hazelton
Hazentine
Arra
Silva
Pinkie
Jalenia
Adryann
Sissy
Mourning
Obedience
Pheobia
Roberta LeeRobert Lee
Nugent
Bowling or Bolling
Isom
Thorton
Abemlich
Absalom
Chiles
Micajah
Tokie
Calloway
Rankin
Ephriam
Upton
Odus
Oris
Drury
Youngberry
Burris
Bubba

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 11:57 AM

Youngberry! I've seen Littleberry in the South also. I thought it was random, but maybe it was part of a trend?

This message was edited yesterday, 3:48 PM

Such cool names in your family~Sophronia, Eudora and Narcissa are gemsSobrina is funny because it means niece in Spanish
It does sound very southern I love them, I think they're interesting (my favorites are marked by a *):Elender
Sophronia *
Sophrony
Sobrina
Melvina
Anglin
Eudora *
Mattilee *
Narcissa *
Idora *
Louvina
Hazentine
Silva *
Mourning * (it's a heavy name for a child, but it has a gothic vampire-ish feeling to it)
Obedience *
Bolling
Isom *
Thorton
Abemlich
Absalom *
Rankin *
Ephriam *
Upton
Odus
Oris
Youngberry

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 11:02 AM

Born in 1879 and married to my ancestor (very distant great-uncle I think): full name was Nellie. Father's name was Isaac Charles Newrick. Mother's name, born in 1844: full names Sandford Pick, birth surname Watson. Rather unusual in today's world; must have been astonishing in 1844.
I like Nellie and Sandford Pick
Artemiziya is my grandmother name :) I have relative from Canada who is name Natasia, nah-tah-SEE-yahFrom yours I love Ester & Vyacheslav

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 6:07 AM

I love Artemiziya.
Artemiziya is interesting. Is her name an Orthodox saint's name?
I also love Natasia.
I have to admit that both Ester and Vyacheslav are also probably two of my favorites.
She was named after Artemiziya Halytska
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F,_%D0%90%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%93%D0%B5%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B0 - in russian
Her parents were Ukraine nationalists, she was born fast after end Europe WW2 in 1946 (she part of my Ukrainian ethnic family) Natasia I do not know exactly where they get this from they say it is from Anastasiya
Oh, it's very interesting! I don't like international or cosmopolitan names. I think prioritizing ethnic names is very important.Edit: I thought you were referring to your grandma

This message was edited 3/27/2025, 10:48 AM