Sometimes I like to imagine what drew yesterday’s parents to choices that feel out of style today, and I feel like I’ve really talked myself around on [name_f]Beverly[/name_f].
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Yes, it definitely feels dated, but there’s that same sprightly sound as [name_f]Everly[/name_f] or [name_f]Waverly[/name_f]. The starting B gives it a slightly heavy start, but it’s also warm and solid. I could see a modern teenager absolutely rocking the nickname [name_f]Bev[/name_f] and [name_f]Bevvy[/name_f] is quite cute on a little one. It feels mid century and a little bit garish to me, like oversized red glasses or olive green retro furniture. And there’s that little bit of literary clout from author [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] [name_m]Cleary[/name_m].
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I know it’s not ready for a full resurgence, but I think there’s a lot to love here. Does anyone else have a soft spot for [name_f]Beverly[/name_f]? Is it on anyone’s short list? [name_m]Or[/name_m] do you have another retro name you think has a lot of promise?
I absolutely LOVE [name_f]Beverly[/name_f], she’s been on my long list for a while. She’s so spunky, bright, & retro, and I adore the little literary connection as well – she’s definitely due for a comeback I think! [name_f][/name_f]A few other retro names that have so much promise… [name_f]Jillian[/name_f] (Jilly is such a cute nickname, and she could be an alternative to the ever-popular Lillian!), [name_f]Cadence[/name_f] (a spin on the -aiden trend), & [name_f]Joyce[/name_f]!
[name_f]Beverly[/name_f] is kind of cute and fun in sound [name_f][/name_f]- and nn [name_f]Bee[/name_f] or [name_f]Bebe[/name_f] might work too! I’d be pleased to meet one
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I actually knew [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] who was a teen! She’d be mid-20s now, but she wore it well
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I think Trudy/Trudie has potential [name_f][/name_f]- maybe [name_f]Cynthia[/name_f], [name_f]Lorna[/name_f], [name_f]Pamela[/name_f], and [name_f]Judith[/name_f] too
I’ve always wondered if [name_f]Everly[/name_f] would prompt [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] into resurgence! [name_f][/name_f] I admittedly am not a huge fan but see the appeal with [name_f]Everly[/name_f] and [name_f]Waverly[/name_f] as you mentioned. [name_f][/name_f] I don’t love [name_f]Bev[/name_f] but there’s plenty of other nns that are lovely. [name_f][/name_f] I actually worked with a [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] a while ago that was probably in her 20s and always found that interesting! [name_f][/name_f] The ties to [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] [name_m]Cleary[/name_m] are nice.
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I’m not a huge fan of B names in general, for girls though [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Bethan[/name_f], [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Bliss[/name_f], [name_f]Blythe[/name_f], etc. don’t do much for me either, and [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] feels a bit like those. [name_f][/name_f] There is the occasional B name I love (like [name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], and Brigid/Bridie), but they somehow feel a little different from [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] to me? [name_f][/name_f] Maybe it’s just the Be- beginning, although I do like [name_f]Bethany[/name_f] and that feels vastly different from [name_f]Bethan[/name_f] to me somehow.
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ETA: [name_f][/name_f] Beverly’s not a realistic option for me even if I liked it, there is a [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] I know of who completely ruined it for me, but I tried to put that aside and try to see it objectively for the sake of the thread haha.
I just don’t think the B phoneme is “in” right now. The only girl names in the top 100 with this sound are [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Abigail[/name_f], [name_f]Ruby[/name_f], [name_f]Brooklyn[/name_f], and [name_f]Gabriella[/name_f]. Compare this to Beverly’s heyday (1953), where you had [name_f]Deborah[/name_f], [name_f]Barbara[/name_f], and [name_f]Debra[/name_f] in the top 10 alone (plus others such as [name_f]Brenda[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f], etc. in the top 100). Sound trends come and go, and B names are “out” right now (I say this as the proud bearer of a B first name!)
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The first time that someone pointed out that [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] is just [name_f]Everly[/name_f] with a B on the front, I was kind of astounded that I never noticed that because they give me insanely different vibes. [name_f]Everly[/name_f] is so modern, young, and even fresh-sounding, a name made for the social media age. [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] to me is still very[name_f][/name_f] mid-century. There’s a lot of mid-century names that I actually like and will be excited when they eventually make a comeback, but [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] to me I have a hard time seeing it being in vogue again. To me, it leans more towards names like [name_f]Rhonda[/name_f], [name_f]Sheila[/name_f], [name_f]Phyllis[/name_f], [name_f]Marsha[/name_f], [name_f]Patty[/name_f] (no offense to these names! but they may be stuck in the midcentury) rather than names like [name_f]Susan[/name_f], [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] (out of style now but can envision them returning in the future).
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That being said, I don’t necessarily mind it for other people, I just personally think it sounds unfresh to me. I do think it stands to gain from its proximity to [name_f]Everly[/name_f], and it has trended slightly up recently (broke 200 babies in 2022, the first time since 1999).
[name_f]Beverly[/name_f] is currently in my top 3 for baby girl names! I have always always loved this name and would love to see it make a comeback (maybe not have everyone naming their babies [name_f]Beverly[/name_f], but some love on the name would be nice, haha)! [name_f][/name_f]I also love Judith/Judy, [name_f]Trudy[/name_f], [name_f]Joyce[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], [name_f]Linda[/name_f], etc.
Great observation by [name_m]Bryan[/name_m]. Perhaps with [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] and [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f] peeking back into consciousness, they might pave the way for [name_f]Beverly[/name_f].
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I love [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] and sometimes prefer the extra E in [name_f]Beverley[/name_f]. One of the things I like most about the name is the naturey meaning and imagery that gives me [name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] not that highlighting the beaver thing will really help promote modern usability [name_f][/name_f]
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I agree that [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] does feel dated. I have a lovely friend with this name and she’s in her 60’s. I like the name enough that I’d give serious consideration to using it though (if I was still in my child-begetting era, which I am no longer).
I never liked the name [name_f]Beverly[/name_f]. I knew several growing up and they all went by [name_f]Bev[/name_f], which sounds very harsh. [name_f][/name_f] People are more creative with nicknames these days so maybe [name_f]Bevvy[/name_f] or [name_f]Bee[/name_f] would make it prettier.
I LOVE Beverly!!! I have a few personal associations that are currently keeping it off my own list but I’ve been saying for years that it’s ripe for a comeback any time now. It shares sounds with both modern trendy names (Everly, [name_f]Waverly[/name_f], [name_f]Brinley[/name_f], etc.) and currently trending vintage revival names (Evelyn, [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Verity[/name_f], etc.) and vintage names often come back into style at around the 100 year mark which is coming up for [name_f]Beverly[/name_f], it peaked in popularity in the 1930’s so between those two factors I think it will both feel so old its usable again and be an alternative to other trendier names at the same time which should result in it coming back into style and getting some more usage within the next ten years.
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