I’m planning a story with a group of four siblings who were adults in the 60s so born in the 20s and 30s.
The boys are [name_m]Robert[/name_m] “[name_u]Bobby[/name_u]” and [name_m]David[/name_m].
One of the sisters is [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] but I can’t chose between “[name_f]Betty[/name_f]” and “[name_f]Beth[/name_f]” for a nickname, I know [name_f]Betty[/name_f] would be more realistic but I like [name_f]Beth[/name_f] more.
For the oldest sister I’m torn between [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] “[name_f]Mamie[/name_f]” [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_f]Catherine[/name_f].
Suggestions would be great.
Between [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and [name_f]Beth[/name_f], I prefer [name_f]Betty[/name_f] but if you think [name_f]Beth[/name_f] is better, than definitely use that. [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and [name_u]Bobby[/name_u] are quite similar anyways.
I think [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] would best fit for the oldest sister. [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] would be my next choice but I think the other 3 siblings have names that are timeless and have been popular forever, while [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] strike me as more vintage choices that are coming back into style. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] have never been out of style.
As for which option, it would depend on the personality of the older sister. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] “[name_f]Mamie[/name_f]” to me sounds more loving and nurturing, almost like a second mother, while also being down to earth and a little nerdy. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] would be more of a cheerleader type, popular and perfect older sister, probably voted prom queen and had lots of friends, maybe has an “I’m older and therefore more mature than you” attitude with the younger siblings. [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] is somewhere in the middle, still has the slightly uptightness but also is a bookworm.
When I hear “[name_f]Beth[/name_f]” I think of [name_f]Beth[/name_f] [name_u]March[/name_u] from [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women (Civil War), and when I hear [name_f]Betty[/name_f] I think [name_f]Betty[/name_f] [name_m]Draper[/name_m] from Mad Men (50’s/60’s). I personally like [name_f]Beth[/name_f] better, and think it would probably work just fine.
For the other sister, I think [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] would work for accuracy. It was the second most popular girls’ name in the 1920’s. [name_f]Dottie[/name_f] could be a nickname, if you need one. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] was #5, so that would work, too. I think calling her [name_f]Mamie[/name_f] is a great nickname. I’ve been researching my family tree and I’ve found several [name_f]Mamie[/name_f]'s from that time period ([name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Martha[/name_f] and [name_f]Domenica[/name_f] all went by [name_f]Mamie[/name_f] in my family).
My opinions are that [name_f]Beth[/name_f] and [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]/[name_f]Mamie[/name_f] go best with your boys’ names.