I think it’s safe to say I love the clunkier girls names ([name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], etc), but I’m not sure what everyone else views as being ‘clunky but cool’ or ‘so far out, it’s in’ when it comes to old fashioned girls’ names. [name_m]Feel[/name_m] free to share your ideas&opinions - I’m very curious to see what you all class as ‘so far out, it’s in’ when it comes to girls names 
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Oh wow, there are quite a few names I feel this way about. I can’t get over how awkward and old they feel when they come out of my mouth. Lol let me think…
[name_f]Eudora[/name_f]
[name_f]Augusta[/name_f]
[name_f]Griselda[/name_f]
[name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]
[name_f]Beulah[/name_f]
[name_f]Gladys[/name_f]
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]
I like all of them except [name_f]Beulah[/name_f] and [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f].
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Hmm…old but not yet (or maybe ever) vintage-cool…
[name_m]Eustace[/name_m]
[name_f]Erma[/name_f]/[name_f]Irma[/name_f]
[name_f]Ernestine[/name_f]
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Thelma[/name_f]
[name_f]Brunhilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Freda[/name_f]
[name_f]Edwina[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernice[/name_f]
[name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
That’s not to say I dislike all those, but I don’t think anyone has swept them free of mothballs yet.
Usable Clunky Names (in my opinion! :))
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernice[/name_f]/[name_f]Bernadette[/name_f]
[name_f]Claudine[/name_f]/[name_f]Claudette[/name_f]/[name_f]Claudia[/name_f]
[name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]
[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]/[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
[name_f]Frederica[/name_f]
[name_f]Eunice[/name_f]
[name_f]Judith[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]/[name_f]Hester[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolores[/name_f]
[name_f]Pauline[/name_f]/[name_f]Paulette[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Eugenia[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrna[/name_f]
[name_f]Roberta[/name_f]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgette[/name_f]
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtice[/name_f]
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]
[name_f]Octavia[/name_f]
[name_f]Prudence[/name_f]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f]
[name_f]Clotilde[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Leontine[/name_f]
[name_f]Sybil[/name_f]
[name_f]Gloria[/name_f]
[name_f]Zelda[/name_f]
[name_f]Margery[/name_f]
[name_f]Dagmar[/name_f]
[name_f]Augusta[/name_f]
[name_f]Constance[/name_f]
[name_f]Gilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Chloris[/name_f]
[name_f]Millicent[/name_f]
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f]
So Far Out They [name_f]May[/name_f] Be Always Out
[name_f]Mildred[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Ernestine[/name_f]
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f]/[name_f]Hildegard[/name_f]
[name_f]Bertha[/name_f]
[name_f]Beulah[/name_f]
[name_f]Gladys[/name_f]
[name_f]Brunhilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Doris[/name_f]/[name_f]Doreen[/name_f]
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
[name_f]Thelma[/name_f]
[name_f]Blanche[/name_f] - sounds good only in [name_m]French[/name_m]
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I share your love of old lady names or so clunky they are cool names.
I group them into a few categories:
THE ONES I [name_f]LOVE[/name_f], PERIOD, AND WOULD NAME MY CHILD:
[name_f]Gladys[/name_f]
[name_f]Beulah[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariadne[/name_f]
[name_f]Maude[/name_f]
[name_f]Eluned[/name_f]
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f]
[name_f]Polly[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Kitty[/name_f]
[name_f]Dinah[/name_f]
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]
THE ONES I APPRECIATE, BUT WOULD NOT NAME MY CHILD:
[name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Hortense[/name_f]
THE ONES I CONSIDER INTERESTING BUT [name_u]TRULY[/name_u] UGLY:
[name_f]Eunice[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Edwina[/name_f]
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
Eu- beginning names (eugenics association)
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtis[/name_f]
Dorolyne (actually knew a woman named this!)
[name_f]Dorcas[/name_f]
I find I am sick of flyway names – misspelled - light as air – insubstantial – fluffy. Not good solid names like [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] and [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f] and [name_f]Anne[/name_f] and [name_f]Tess[/name_f], but names that sound like cheesy romance novel heroines.
Now, give me a novel with a [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Agatha[/name_f], and [name_f]Eluned[/name_f], and I’m on it!
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Clunky-Antique Charm-My Favorites:
[name_f]Cambria[/name_f] (didn’t realize that “cam” names historically represent a prehistoric time period as well as what people would refer to as [name_m]Wales[/name_m](place name)
[name_f]Cambrie[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Cambria[/name_f]
[name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f]- a celtic goddess, of poetry-for this clunky fave of mine
[name_f]Sybil[/name_f], [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]* love this, [name_f]Beverly[/name_f](not as clunky but cute and spunky, old-fashioned and solid)
[name_f]Christabel[/name_f], [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Bernadette[/name_f], [name_f]Bridget[/name_f]*, [name_f]Evangelique[/name_f]
[name_f]Xanthia[/name_f]*, [name_f]Veronica[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], [name_f]Mildred[/name_f], [name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f], & [name_f]Garland[/name_f] & [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]
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I love some already mentioned: [name_f]Agatha[/name_f], for one, which I think is adorable to the fullest extent of the word; [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], which I think could be cute if worn by the right person. And others: [name_u]Inge[/name_u], [name_f]Oona[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] (clunky?). I’m a vintage name lover myself, though not necessarily clunky names : )
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“Clunky” names I love:
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]
[name_f]Ardith[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f]
[name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]
Clarimond
[name_f]Prudence[/name_f]
[name_f]Patience[/name_f]
[name_f]Beryl[/name_f]
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Frederica[/name_f]
[name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]
[name_f]Caledonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Camelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Demetria[/name_f]
[name_f]Eugenia[/name_f]
Temperence
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I like many that have been mentioned:
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
[name_f]Gladys[/name_f]
[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriett[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
A few that I can’t get behind:
[name_f]Bertha[/name_f]
[name_f]Beula[/name_f]
[name_f]Helga[/name_f]
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Try this list:
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[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Bertha[/name_f]
[name_f]Helga[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Winnifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
Tried not duplicate ones already mentioned.
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I actually knew a [name_f]Bertha[/name_f] in primary school. Let’s just say she wasn’t the nicest person in the world. 
Here are some names that I appreciate, that sound rather clunky. There will be a * by my favourites
[name_f]Eugenia[/name_f]
[name_f]Sibyl[/name_f]
[name_f]Nancy[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Claudine[/name_f]/[name_f]Claudia[/name_f]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Eunice[/name_f]
[name_f]Roberta[/name_f]
[name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f]*
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Millicent[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]*
[name_f]Maren[/name_f]*
[name_f]Maura[/name_f]
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]*
[name_f]Rhoda[/name_f]*
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Maude[/name_f]
Eluned
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Georgina[/name_f]/[name_f]Georgiana[/name_f] (this year is the first time in my life I have appreciated [name_m]Georg[/name_m]-names on girls, probably because I have been re-reading all the [name_f]Nancy[/name_f] Drews and the Famous Fives)
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u]*
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Oona[/name_f]/[name_f]Una[/name_f]
[name_m]Ingemar[/name_m] (does this count? It’s so clunky sounding:))
[name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
There are so many more out there, but here is a little list. Excuse any repeats, I know there will be quite a few!
[name_f]Mina[/name_f]
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It’s hard to say what people think are too clunky. I could tell what names work for me, but I think you are looking more for a general rule. It will also be a different take when I have kids, generally I like a lot of clunky old-fashioned names, but I’m not really sure I’ll put any of them on an actual child.
I have in general as far as my taste goes a weakness for —nce:
[name_f]Constance[/name_f], [name_f]Temperance[/name_f], [name_f]Patience[/name_f], [name_f]Prudence[/name_f], etc. Again the
I think one way to tell if a name is cool or not cool. Is if you would like the name for yourself, for someone else for anyone? I noticed for example when picking names for themselves people tend to go either more conservative or more stream-lined. I also think that those names that work on the right person aren’t very good for me, but that’s my opinion. For example I love the name [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f], and it’s one of those names that people say can work on the right person, but I’m not sure my daughter will be “the right person”. I probably will never use [name_f]Gretchen[/name_f] unless I turn into a Duggar and make the letter G mine. (NOT happening though)
So I also think it depends on what’s in now. Anything with exotic sounds or letters is in and sounds modern. So [name_f]Ines[/name_f], [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], etc.
It also has to due with how recently the name was used. I like [name_f]Patricia[/name_f] but I think it’s too dated and still too recent to comeback. There’s the hundred years rule.
I would try the coffee shop test or asking friends what they think.
I also think sometimes the right book, movie, etc. will make a dated name totally hip. Or conversely the right book, movie, that you love will make the name usable for you. Like [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] being used on the Office or Temperence from Bones might make you like those names. Or you really like The [name_m]Wizard[/name_m] of [name_m]Oz[/name_m] and [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] is a favorite.
I personally agree with most of the names people think are cool and clunky.
I would [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] to the not cool side. The only [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] I ever knew didn’t like her name at all. I think it’s too much for me.
Good luck!
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Looking up clunky names I wanted to see what people thought and considered clunky but love them. Interesting this thread is ten years old so it’s interesting to see what has changed.
Jumping out at me [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] has caught on. Mentioned or not ones I love
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
[name_f]Trudy[/name_f]
[name_f]Barbara[/name_f]
[name_f]Bess[/name_f]
[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolly[/name_f]
[name_f]Mamie[/name_f]
[name_f]Maud[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Nancy[/name_f]
[name_f]Millie[/name_f]
[name_f]Bonnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Brenda[/name_f] ( not sure it qualifies )
More on the fence about
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f]
[name_f]Hester[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Doris[/name_f]
Can’t get into
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
[name_f]Beulah[/name_f]
[name_f]Mildred[/name_f]
Haha! Fun to revive this 10yo thread. I will say that I have personally met babies and kids with these clunky names:
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] (Freddie)
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Prudence[/name_f]
I was at a playground the other day in a nice neighborhood in a big city in the [name_m]Pacific[/name_m] Northwest and the kids playing there were [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Eugenia[/name_f], and [name_m]Ernie[/name_m] (!)
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