Fusty baby names...what are the dangers?

We all know that old names come around again cyclically, as with [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] and [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. We also know that some names don’t cycle back, names like [name_f]Bertha[/name_f] and [name_f]Norma[/name_f]. My question is: what happens when you name a child something that doesn’t cycle back into popularity? I’m considering [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. It might be a forerunner on the naming scene or it may fade into obscurity. Would a baby [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] be horrid or would it just be slightly unusual and fusty but manageable like [name_f]Roberta[/name_f]? I’m seeking honest input here as I consider naming my third baby, due in [name_f]September[/name_f].

Sorry to say, I’m leaning on the side of extremely hard to wear. If you look at how people who currently have the name [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] feel about their name on babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com, 53% say they would not recommend that people use it, and 34% say they don’t like their name. You very rarely see such high results for would not recommend and do not like it.

I think [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] missed out on the cycle, but [name_f]Willa[/name_f] didn’t. Maybe you’d like [name_f]Willa[/name_f] if you’re worried about how wearable [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] is? Or maybe [name_f]Willemina[/name_f], so you could use [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] as a nickname.

I’ve got a little analysis of the popularity of [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. It’s just my two cents - it may or may not be accurate.

Clickety click

The name [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] was given to 21 babies in 2012 in the USA. For comparison, [name_f]Norma[/name_f] was given to 60 and [name_f]Bertha[/name_f] to 28. I went a little bit back in time to see the trends:

1990: 59
1995: 41
2000: 24
2005: 23
2006: 22
2007: 24
2008: 23
2009: 30
2010: 27
2011: 27

It is hard to get accurate predictions on the future popularity of a name when it is given to so few babies, but we can see that the name has decreased in popularity until about the year 2000. From that point, it was given to 20-30 babies every year.
There has been a very minor spike in the popularity of the name in the last 4 years. It could be just some statistical fluctuation, or it could be the very first sign of an upcoming revival. It’s impossible to know for sure.

I think [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] has got potential. [name_f]Do[/name_f] confirm this, I went here (Clickety Click). Look at the graph: The popularity of W names has been decreasing from the 60s until the 2000s, where it has begun to rise a little bit again, mainly due to the name [name_f]Willow[/name_f]. [name_f]Willow[/name_f] shares the first 3 letters with [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. If it becomes more popular, then other similar names might follow, too.

…So what if [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] doesn’t come back? I think it’s wearable. Not very good, but wearable.
It comes down to personal preference in my opinion. If you really like the name, go ahead and use it. If it is just one of, say, 10 names you like, look at others which may have a more current style.

…Looking back, I’ve typed so much! It seems like I got lost in my predictions. Sorry for that! Probably I didn’t answer all your questions, but I hope I was helpful :smiley:

I have an [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] which could be argued as being equally fusty but I love her name. For us it was made an easier choice by being a family name so if she didn’t like it at least we have a good reason for using it. We gave her a modern, popular second middle name as back up incase she wanted to switch. The movie ‘Dispicable Me’ has made her name very well received in the playground. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps. [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] is not my style but certainly wearable, I would have thought the Flintstones were the big draw back.

I would argue for [name_f]Willa[/name_f] instead, or perhaps save [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] for the middle spot. I think one of [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]'s main issues is that there’s no great nickname to fall back on. If you do go with [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], I’d strongly suggest giving her an edgier and more easily worn middle name or perhaps double barrel it (ex., [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]-[name_u]Laney[/name_u]).

[name_f]Willow[/name_f] and [name_f]Willa[/name_f] are far more wearable. Older names on teens always seem to be a source of embarrassment… I know a [name_f]Millie[/name_f] who will cut you if you call her by her full name ([name_f]Millicent[/name_f]) and even a [name_u]Sami[/name_u] who thinks [name_f]Samantha[/name_f] is an old lady name and hates it. [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] will forever be someone’s great aunt, I think.

In my life (22), I have met two people named [name_f]Bertha[/name_f]. When I was in high school, a girl in my class was named [name_f]Bertha[/name_f]. Now I work with an older woman named [name_f]Bertha[/name_f].

Before meeting the first [name_f]Bertha[/name_f], I of course had the same general opinion of it as everyone: yuck. But, meeting her made the name totally wearable. Now it’s even cute to me. It’s not my favorite, of course, and I understand why people don’t like the name, but actually meeting people make names seem real rather than images.

My much younger sister had an [name_m]Elmer[/name_m] in her class when she was in kindergarten. He was adorable! The name became adorable with it.

Name your kids what you want. Plus [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] doesn’t sound to “frusty,” it’s like [name_f]Willa[/name_f].

If you’ve named your other two children equally fusty names, use [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. If not, use [name_f]Willa[/name_f].

I love all this great feedback. Thank you! I’ve gotten so much to think about.

The siblings are [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f] so they’re old-fashioned but not overly fusty…

[name_f]Wilma[/name_f] isn’t my style but I don’t think it’s such a horrible choice. Yes it’s fusty but it’s not as bad as [name_f]Hortense[/name_f]. Also, I’d prefer [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] than a made-up kree8tiv name.

I think [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] is one of those names where, just based on sound alone, it feels like it should be popular (a [name_f]Willow[/name_f]-meets-[name_f]Emma[/name_f] hybrid), but instead it’s languishing in the attic. The name is definitely in style limbo compared to [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_f]Evie[/name_f] - which, although old-fashioned, are very “now” - and as others pointed out a little [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] wouldn’t have a nickname to fall back on. You could name her [name_f]Willow[/name_f] [name_f]Emma[/name_f] or [name_f]Willa[/name_f] [name_f]Emma[/name_f] (or [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Emma[/name_f]! Swoon!) and use [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] as a nickname. That way, if she truly dislikes [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], she would have some options later in life. (Always a good thing!)

I think it’s all about the wearer. I’m friends with a [name_f]Hilda[/name_f], which I find equally fusty, and she’s still popular and pretty and funny and pulls it off extremely well, and even the few criticisms she gets ‘’[name_f]Hilda[/name_f] - is that you’re witch name?!‘’ are flawlessly handled.

Maybe that’s a learned thing, I don’t know, and maybe had her name been [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], that part of per personality would be underdeveloped (I find the whole do-names-influence-personality subject fascinating) or maybe she’s just got that sort of personality anyway.

I honestly love [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. I’d use it, give her a trendier middle name and hope for the best.

Agreed! Maybe [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] could be a nickname for [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]?

I would use [name_f]Willa[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] with siblings [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f]. [name_m]Jack[/name_m] is a nickname itself, and it’s pretty timeless. [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] is only slightly old-fashioned, but univerally lovely, and [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is an adorable nickname. [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] would be stuck with just fusty old [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. [name_f]Willa[/name_f] is very similar to [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], it still has the same slightly old-fashioned style as the sib names, but it’s a lot more fashionable and cuter than [name_f]Wilma[/name_f].

[name_f]Willa[/name_f] could always be used as a nn for [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] as well as super cute [name_m]Wim[/name_m].
I won’t say I like the name, but I don’t think it’s as fusty as names like [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] and [name_f]Edith[/name_f] which are springing back.

I think [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] is extremely difficult to use because it will always bring up the Flintstones connotation and will burden a child with relentless teasing unless she is extremely gorgeous and popular.

The idea that it was given as a name to less than 30 babies also scares me because it would mean a drastic lack in privacy. Anything that girl does will be easily found through google which may become a problem when she’s applying to colleges or for jobs. We all want to think our daughters will be angels but anything that winds up on the internet stays there forever so any mistake she make will definitely follow her throughout her life with a very unique name like [name_f]Wilma[/name_f].

I prefer [name_f]Willow[/name_f], [name_f]Willa[/name_f], or [name_f]Winnie[/name_f].

[name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] nn [name_f]Evie[/name_f], and [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] do not go together at all.

[name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] are currently popular and timeless not old-fashioned. The nickname [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is adorable, modern, and trendy.

I say use it! I’ve met a few kids with what I considered “fusty” names, but after meeting the kids my opinion on the name changed. Instead of [name_m]Albert[/name_m] being an old man name [name_m]Albert[/name_m] is an adorable little boy. The same thing will happen with [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], she will be your adorable daughter, not an old lady name. Once you people meet her they will find [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] wearable, even if they don’t right now. So if you love [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] use it!
I also want to second the suggestion of [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] nn [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] “[name_f]Evie[/name_f]”, and [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] “[name_f]Wilma[/name_f]” swoon perfect sibset!

I wouldn’t use [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], especially not with siblings named [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]/[name_f]Evie[/name_f]. [name_m]Both[/name_m] of those are well past sounding moth-eaten, but I don’t [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] is close to returning yet. The flintstone connotation is very strong too. If this were me, I’d feel like I was the sibling stuck with the ugly name. I also recommend a name more on the upswing than this.

I highly doubt that a teenage girls 15 years from now will be happy she’s named [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]. I imagine she will wish often her mother had gone with [name_f]Willa[/name_f]. It’s just much more in vogue stylistically. [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] make come back someday, but it won’t be in your daughter’s generation. It just doesn’t have the right sound, and whatever it has going beyond that (if you think about it, [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] doesn’t have quite the right sound either) is killed by the Flintstones. I do think it’s still used in certain Latin American countries, which might be where some of the 30-odd [name_f]Wilma[/name_f]'s born every year are coming from. But even in Spanish, [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] is FUSTY.

[name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] are charming, current, yet classic names. [name_f]Wilma[/name_f] would seriously be the odd one out in that group. You’re brave, but maybe too brave-- use something more present and pretty, like [name_f]Willa[/name_f], or [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]…