s/o Names you like but rarely hear

[Anonymous]

Virginia
Georgia
Sunny
Martha
Genevieve
Dominic
Benoit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There seem to be many young Eleanors/Ellies/Noras and Henrys/Coles/Benjamins based on the popular name threads.

What less popular names have you heard and liked?

Mine are Gwendolyn and Isa.

It's too bad because when I named my DD Eleanor it was not at all a popular name. In fact, I got many people who said not to use it because it's too old lady. Oh well, I love it and always have.

+1

Eleanor is a family name for us. My youngest sister was crushed when another relative (unrelated to "our" Eleanor) used it for her DD born earlier this year. You can't help what names are in the family, popular or not.

[Anonymous]

I love the name Tanith. I also like Lana, Laurel, Veronica, Elaine, Evie (not as a nickname), Heather, Felicia/Felice, Pamela, Dana, April and Autumn. I'm sure more will come to me...

For boys, I like Neil/Neal, Jay, Vaughn, Scott and Connell.

I have two girls with names that are not anywhere near the top of the popularity lists. The above names were the ones we did NOT use - I actually looked for names that were known but not currently being used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bridget is a classic name I dont hear too much. Mildred is my favorite "old person name" that I think should come back. Millie is adorable in my mind. Im done with all versions of Eleanor and Stella. Those old people names are DONE.

haha! The name Bridget is always interesting to me. Bridget is/was the stereotypical working/low class name in Ireland...it was THE name for Irish domestic maids/servants/the "help" so much so that for a really long time, many women would actually change their names to avoid that stereotype. I'm never sure if Irish American "never been to Ireland but my last name is Sullivan or O'Reilly!!!" crowd doesn't know this or doesn't care.

Anne/Annie was also a classic "help" name from that era. I have a friend named Anne whose grandparents were furious that her parents named her that because it was a maid's name to them.

I think it's good to take back those names and use them proudly.

(And btw, your heritage is your heritage, whether you've ever been fortunate enough to visit the country or not. )

[Anonymous]

Melanie (nickname = Lanie)
Irene
Gail (or current spelling that is popular = Gayle)
Mallory
Peter
Albert (NN = Albie, but used among close family only)

Yes, I'm from Gen X

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Iris and Martha.

I like Martha. Also Margaret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bridget is a classic name I dont hear too much. Mildred is my favorite "old person name" that I think should come back. Millie is adorable in my mind. Im done with all versions of Eleanor and Stella. Those old people names are DONE.

haha! The name Bridget is always interesting to me. Bridget is/was the stereotypical working/low class name in Ireland...it was THE name for Irish domestic maids/servants/the "help" so much so that for a really long time, many women would actually change their names to avoid that stereotype. I'm never sure if Irish American "never been to Ireland but my last name is Sullivan or O'Reilly!!!" crowd doesn't know this or doesn't care.

We know and don't care. Irish American naming conventions are distinct from Irish naming conventions, and this kind of class-nervousness doesn't mesh well with the large contingent of Irish Americans that take pride in the fact that we overcame discrimination.

That said, I have all the side-eye in the world for Irish Americans who've never been to Ireland buying into current bandwagon trend of naming their kids Aelish or Saorsie or Aoife. If someone had to teach you how to pronounce it after the age of 15, it's not your culture.

[Anonymous]

Matilda
Athena
Helen
Eileen

[Anonymous]

I really like many 80s girl names: Amanda, Jessica, Heather, Kimberly, Amy, Nicole. Imagine meeting a baby named Amanda!

[Anonymous]

Eloise
Adelia
Davina
Theodora
Rupert
Humphrey
Conrad

[Anonymous]

Also Helena or Helene.

[Anonymous]

I always liked Bryan. You don't hear it on too many little boys these days (although Ryan is still popular). Also like Steven, Peter, Patrick, and Martin.

Girls - I'm also into the 70s/80s names. I like Jessica and Laura a lot.

[Anonymous]

Heidi
Edwin

[Anonymous]

Marta
Aurelia
Luciana

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the name Tanith. I also like Lana, Laurel, Veronica, Elaine, Evie (not as a nickname), Heather, Felicia/Felice, Pamela, Dana, April and Autumn. I'm sure more will come to me...

For boys, I like Neil/Neal, Jay, Vaughn, Scott and Connell.

I have two girls with names that are not anywhere near the top of the popularity lists. The above names were the ones we did NOT use - I actually looked for names that were known but not currently being used.

Heather's mom here! Love all of these, especially Laurel.