Realistically, how usable is [name_f]Mildred[/name_f]? Our daughter is [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], and I think [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] works really nicely as a sister for her (we are currently expecting a boy, so this is all hypothetical). The only problem is that [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] seems to be the archetype of old lady names. [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] has such a lovely meaning and the nicknames [name_f]Millie[/name_f] or [name_f]Mila[/name_f]. What do you think?
[name_f]Mildred[/name_f]
Meaning: āgentle strengthā
Origin: English
Was in the top 1000 from 1900-1984
Peaked in 1912-1920 at #6
Currently ranked #2388 with 78 babies born in 2016
If names had smells, [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] would smell like mothballs and the antiseptic cleaners used in hospitals. [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] is just ugly and old to me, and not in a way that could be cool. But Iām sure people said the same thing about names like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] twenty years ago. I think [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] needs a bit more time in the attic before we try to dust it off and reconsider it.
I think [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] is just as usable as [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]. I used to think [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] were old-fashioned, but they caught on. I donāt see why [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] canāt. It sounds quite nice.
I like it. It makes me think of [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] [name_m]Pierce[/name_m], an excellent character, and Thoroughly Modern [name_f]Millie[/name_f]. It has nickname potential, and a good meaning. I think kids would be too young to know itās an āold lady nameā, other parents might judge youā¦but to hell with 'em.
I donāt hate [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] (in fact, I used to adore it, as well as [name_f]Edna[/name_f], [name_f]Doris[/name_f], [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], etc.), but these types of names I found werenāt quite ready for revival here (though in the UK i have seen [name_f]Doris[/name_f] popping up for babies). I do still like [name_f]Doris[/name_f] as a guilty pleasure name, but would I ever use it? No, I donāt see it happening. Iād stick [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] into this category as well - itās not terrible, and it is a well-known name, however, I donāt think itās ready.
I think [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] just needs a bit more time to sound fresh for me. However, [name_f]Millie[/name_f] is superb. [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Millie[/name_f]. I think in general the ādredā ending might be the biggest issue for me which is entirely sound preference. Similar to how I like [name_f]Gemma[/name_f], but that pesky G gives me pause.
[name_m]How[/name_m] do you feel about [name_f]Millicent[/name_f]?
Thanks for the feedback. I feel pretty neutral about [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] unfortunately. I do see what youāre saying about the ādredā part that is unappealing, but I donāt mind it so much, it reminds me of [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] and [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] as well as the word kindred.
Another name I can appreciate from afar. I think a little girl would be saddled with such a heavy choice. I think she will make a comeback, but perhaps not yet.
This was my Great-grandmotherās name and I happen to adore it. She was always grandma to me, obviously, but I was told she was often called [name_f]Millie[/name_f]. Having said that, I [name_f]DO[/name_f] feel it is a dated name. However, if [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Ester[/name_f], etcā¦can gain love and popularity, I donāt see why [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] canāt have her turn, too.
@southern.maple hit the nail on the head for me. If names had smells [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] would smell awful. I donāt like it. I donāt think itāll ever be ready for revival. Its time has gone and I canāt see it coming back. I stick [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] in the category of ānoā alongside names like [name_f]Doris[/name_f], [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], [name_f]Bertha[/name_f] and [name_f]Susan[/name_f].
[name_f]Mildred[/name_f] is unfortunately a no for me. Like some others have said here, it needs a while longer before it feels fresh again - if it does. Iām not convinced it will ever make a comeback.
But I really really love [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and all its cute nicknames - [name_u]Mattie[/name_u], [name_f]Tilly[/name_f], [name_f]Milly[/name_f], [name_f]Tilda[/name_f] - and have previously thought a lot about other names to go with it!
Here are my suggestions:
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Theadora[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Edith[/name_f] ([name_u]Mattie[/name_u] and [name_f]Edie[/name_f]!)
Wow, you really have different āold ladyā names to us here.
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f] and [name_f]Susan[/name_f] would not be old lady names in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] at all.
[name_f]Susan[/name_f] would be a classic, like [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_f]Audrey[/name_f].
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f] would be relatively modern. Iāve never met a [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] over 40.
I suppose it would be quite an 80ās name.
Anyway, I digressā¦
I always associate the following names together: [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Mildred[/name_f], [name_f]Millicent[/name_f], [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Agatha[/name_f], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f],
Iām sorry but [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] is one of the names I hate and donāt think I will ever see the appeal. I agree with @southern.maple and @eoxima. [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] is way too close to the word mildew for my liking. I also hate the dred part. I donāt know who would want ādreadā in their name. But [name_f]Millie[/name_f] and [name_f]Mila[/name_f] are super cute!
There isnāt enough lipstick in the world to make [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] pretty. I know everyone wants to resurrect old lady names these days, but this is one that should stay buried. There are a few names, such as [name_f]Mildred[/name_f], [name_f]Bertha[/name_f], and [name_f]Thelma[/name_f] that were godawful then and remain godawful now.
I donāt mind [name_f]Mildred[/name_f], but donāt love the rhyming [name_f]Mil[/name_f]/til in [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] and [name_f]Matilda[/name_f].
A ā[name_f]Millie[/name_f]ā name I quite prefer is [name_f]Millicent[/name_f], which I think deserves more use.
Iām neutral on [name_f]Mildred[/name_f]. It is little old lady but [name_f]Mila[/name_f] does freshen it up. I donāt like the ādredā in it. Um as a sibling to [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], it doesnāt work, imo, [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] often gets shortened to [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] will probably be shortened to [name_f]Millie[/name_f], even with [name_f]Mila[/name_f].