Harriet sweet Harriet

Awful names that have cutesy or masculine nicknames. That’s your style.

Back in the early 20th century it was common to just put your the nickname you actually wanted for your baby girl on the birth certificate.

Billy
Peggy
Sally
Jo
Johnnie
Bessie
Bernie
Jessie
Winnie
Freddy
Frankie
Ollie
Lou
Nellie
Dixie
Nettie

These were all top girl names in the first half of the century.

Anonymous wrote:If you're honestly considering these names you should not be allowed to have a child, if this is an indication of your decision-making.

DP. Interesting. I have a top 10 name and hate my parents for it.

If you're honestly considering these names you should not be allowed to have a child, if this is an indication of your decision-making.

OP, DCUM is full of haters. Winifred is lovely and do not let DCUM spoil it for you. That said, my “never got to use it” favorite old fashioned girl name is Augusta. August and Augustus are trending for boys, so why not Augusta for a girl??

Anonymous wrote:What is with all the old names? My 12 yr old just heard me rattle off these names, and she said, "They are going to be made fun of".

Your 12 yo sounds like a jerk.

I like Henrietta best.

Anonymous wrote:Ok, despite triggering my natural contrariness, you have all convinced to come down firmly against Winifred. My goodness.

But we do like that genre of name. I plugged it into Nameberry to see what else we might be overlooking, and these are the “similar names” that appealed to me. Thoughts, suggestions?

Edith
Harriet
Theodora
Minerva
Henrietta

Are you planning to call this child by a nickname? I hope so! Because these names are horrible if you are going to call them their full name. Edie for Edith is fine. Edith is not. Theodora could be ok and have some nicknames. Please do not name your child Minerva- it sounds like some sort of witch. Other posters said Georgia/Georgina which sounds cuter on it's own than names you suggested, and also has nickname Gigi. Francesca, nickname Frannie or Frankie is also cute.

Catherine or Dorothy? Same generation

Bob Fosse, the great Broadway choreographer who was married to the equally great Broadway dancer Gwen Verdon, called her Gwennie.

Frederica Von Stade, the celebrated mezzo-soprano, goes by Flicka.

Really don’t like any of them

Anonymous wrote:You forgot Bertha and Gertrude.

I understand liking old names, but I’m struggling to understand why you like names that are generally considered unpopular and ugly.

Can you explain what draws you to these names?

Gertie is really cute!

random list:
Georgia/Georgina
Alice
Millicent (I only like b/c nickname Millie)
Francesca (Frannie)
Irene
Penelope
Helena

Harriet brings positive associations for me....such as Harriet Tubman.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, despite triggering my natural contrariness, you have all convinced to come down firmly against Winifred. My goodness.

But we do like that genre of name. I plugged it into Nameberry to see what else we might be overlooking, and these are the “similar names” that appealed to me. Thoughts, suggestions?

Edith
Harriet
Theodora
Minerva
Henrietta

Gwendolyn will get you Winnie as a nickname.

Frederica is a name I secretly love.

+1 lol

Anonymous wrote:Biker Minnie

Mini Bike is a cute nickname.