What are some interesting names in your family tree, good, bad, or interesting?
My great-gran was [name_f]Mamie[/name_f] [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], went by [name_f]Gertie[/name_f]. Paternal grandmother was [name_u]Mattie[/name_u] [name_f]Leola[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f], went by [name_f]Ola[/name_f]. I can’t make myself like [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], but overall I like the style of both names.
I have an uncle (or cousin something-removed technically) named [name_u]Dana[/name_u] and another named [name_u]Jodie[/name_u]. I’m a sucker for boys names that have been taken over by girls ([name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_u]Shannon[/name_u], [name_u]Blair[/name_u], etc) so I always liked their names.
Have a few interesting cousins’ names. One cousin has 2 girls, J0urbey M1cah and Jerzi3 McK1nley. Can’t say those are my style.
3 cousins who are sisters named Ch@na [name_f]Renee[/name_f], [name_f]Chelse[/name_f]@ [name_u]Del[/name_u]@yne, and Cha1se [name_m]Den[/name_m]@e, [name_f]Denae[/name_f] being a smoosh of [name_f]Renee[/name_f] and Delayne.
Several cousins (cousins’ children) with nice ([name_f]IMO[/name_f]) names too:
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u]
[name_m]Judah[/name_m]
[name_u]Avery[/name_u] H@zel, H@nnah R@e, Emers0n [name_m]Robert[/name_m], and [name_f]Margie[/name_f] Le0la
[name_m]Colin[/name_m], [name_u]Parker[/name_u], and [name_u]Carson[/name_u] (all boys)
Isa1ah, [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], Sar@h [name_f]Beth[/name_f], and [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
And my niece [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] with big brother [name_m]Jackson[/name_m] McCurry (family name on his dad’s side, goes by [name_m]Jack[/name_m]).
The names themselves are fine but I do find it very interesting that my brother, sister and cousin all have names that were rather uncommon or obscure when they were chosen and have now all gained a significant amount of popularity compared to when they were chosen. (My sister is F3licity which was rather obscure in NZ in 2000 and has now gained a decent amount of traction. My brother is 0liver and it was somewhat uncommon in 1994 but now… it’s near or top of the top 10 in 6 countries.)
My two other cousins and I? Still obscure and sitting far below the top 100. It’s just a trend I think is interesting
My grandmother was Mariangela but went by [name_f]Marie[/name_f].
I have a set of cousins named [name_f]Jessica[/name_f], [name_m]Rutger[/name_m], [name_u]Hunter[/name_u], [name_m]Yuri[/name_m] & [name_m]Hans[/name_m] - very [name_m]German[/name_m].
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] [name_f]Luella[/name_f] who went by [name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] who went by [name_u]Lynn[/name_u]
[name_f]Mamie[/name_f] [name_f]Lois[/name_f] who went by [name_f]Lois[/name_f]
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t know why they all went by their middle, and it’s not a tradition because they’re from different sides of the family. There’s also a girl [name_u]Michael[/name_u] who’s married to a boy [name_u]Dana[/name_u], so people get them mixed up all the time.
Because there aren’t many people with these names where I live, I find these names from my family tree to be the most interesting:
Ethelbert- My great-great-great-grandfather
Diedrich- My great-great-grandfather, Ethelbert’s son, immigrated to New York from Germany
Beatrice- My paternal great-grandmother
Sybil- Sybil Ludington is an ancestor from Beatrice’s side.
Albert- Diedrich’s youngest son
Howard- Beatrice’s dad
Royal- A very distant relative from Beatrice’s side
Juergen- One of my uncles, immigrated to New York from Germany in the 1950s
Harriet- Another very distant relative, I think, from Beatrice’s side
Donald- Diedrich’s second son. While I’m sure he was a pleasant person when he was alive, I will not use this name because of a certain someone who I will not name here. Also, it’s just not my kind of name.
Johannah- My maternal great-grandmother, immigrated to New York from Poland before WWI
Thaddeus- One of Johannah’s 9 children
Norbert- One of Johannah’s 9 children, my favorite grandfather. While he’d surely appreciate me wanting to honor him, he wouldn’t want me to name any of my sons Norbert. He didn’t really like the name himself.
Stanislaus- Norbert’s middle name, after St. Stanislaus.
Naomi- There are only 2 Naomis in my family: a great-great-aunt, and me. I was, and still am, also the only Naomi in all my classes.
Dorothy- My maternal grandmother, Norbert’s wife. She died a long time before I was born.
Ariel- My mom. She’s the only Ariel in the family, and was, according to her, the only Ariel in school growing up.
I have a sister called [name_f]Jacynth[/name_f], a great-aunt [name_f]Blodwen[/name_f] and an ancester [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Christabel[/name_f]…
No one knows where it came from, or why it was chosen. There’s only ever been one in the family and theres never been an explaination.
As it happens I love it, I have a love for unusual biblical boys names!!!
Also my great granddad was [name_m]Felix[/name_m], my great aunt is [name_u]Joyce[/name_u] (I’ve never met another one) my nan was [name_f]Pamela[/name_f] (again I’ve never met another) and my dad is [name_f]Daryll[/name_f], which is more unusual than most just because it could well be a misspelling of [name_u]Darryl[/name_u] or [name_u]Daryl[/name_u]. There’s a [name_m]Bear[/name_m] and a [name_m]Herbert[/name_m] who went by [name_m]Jim[/name_m]. My granddad is named after the doctor eho delivered him, dr [name_u]Drew[/name_u], which i think is quite interesting.
But the most interesting one by far is Kavin. Most people think its a misspelling of either [name_m]Kevin[/name_m], [name_m]Calvin[/name_m] or [name_m]Gavin[/name_m], but there’s absolutely no evidence of this, his mother [name_f]Doris[/name_f] genuinely just wanted to name him Kavin
I love coming from a large family, there are so many great names each with their own amazing stories!!!
I’ve got an ancestor from the 1600’s called [name_m]Wolfgang[/name_m] and the newest member of our family is my nephew, Swayde. Although prefer the spelling [name_m]Suede[/name_m], we have certainly got a lot of comments on how unique his name is and most all of them have been positive.
Although I’ve gone by [name_f]Luna[/name_f] for years my real name is [name_f]Nickelle[/name_f]. I suppose it is interesting, too. I’ve certainly had a lot of comments throughout my life on how unique it is.
The most interesting names are probably my cousin, [name_u]Rio[/name_u] and my first cousin once removed or something like that, [name_f]Harlow[/name_f]. The rest of the names are pretty well known.
Some of my favorites from my family tree. Some make me giggle, some make me scratch my head, and some just actually sound kind of nice.
[name_f]Louella[/name_f] -here’s the real funny part. Her mother’s name was Lovella.
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Pleasant[/name_f]
Ellender
Minnus
[name_f]Palmyra[/name_f]
[name_m]Matthaeus[/name_m]
[name_m]Lemuel[/name_m]
[name_m]Napoleon[/name_m] (also not kidding when I say his middle name was [name_m]Berthold[/name_m]… making him [name_m]Napoleon[/name_m] B.)
[name_m]Marques[/name_m]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Mable[/name_f]
Belulah
Birchner
[name_u]Early[/name_u]
[name_m]Newton[/name_m]
I absolutely love researching my family history! Here are some of the most interesting names I’ve come across throughout the years, whether it be for an interesting combo, an alternative spelling, unusual name for their heritage/religion, or a name that was ahead of the times.
[name_f]Alba[/name_f]
Lam
[name_u]Munro[/name_u]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] [name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_m]Abraham[/name_m]
[name_u]Lindsay[/name_u] [name_u]Leland[/name_u]
[name_f]Madge[/name_f]
Shortland [name_m]Stirling[/name_m]
[name_f]Sophronia[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] [name_f]Alvena[/name_f]
[name_f]Hephzibah[/name_f]
[name_f]Amey[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorice[/name_f]
[name_m]Neville[/name_m]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] who went by [name_u]Billie[/name_u]
[name_m]Augustus[/name_m]
[name_f]Bernice[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] who went by [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Keziah[/name_f]
[name_f]Juanita[/name_f]
[name_f]Chloris[/name_f]
[name_m]Cyril[/name_m] [name_m]John[/name_m] who went by [name_m]Jack[/name_m]
[name_f]Melba[/name_f]
[name_f]Reta[/name_f]
[name_f]Betsy[/name_f] [name_u]Bird[/name_u] (first and last name)
[name_f]Melody[/name_f]
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] Pretoria
[name_m]Clifton[/name_m] [name_f]Kandy[/name_f]
[name_m]William[/name_m] [name_m]Vito[/name_m]
Gragam
[name_f]Robina[/name_f]
[name_m]Rudolph[/name_m]
[name_m]Kevin[/name_m] [name_m]Mannix[/name_m]
[name_f]Sheila[/name_f] Strathclyde
[name_m]Aram[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
[name_f]Azor[/name_f] [name_u]Alex[/name_u]
Leibrown
[name_u]Windsor[/name_u]
[name_f]Bree[/name_f] [name_f]Barbara[/name_f]
[name_m]Thomas[/name_m] [name_m]Canning[/name_m] [name_m]Crocket[/name_m] (sn: Cousin)
[name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Evelyne[/name_f] [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] Pringle
[name_m]Laurance[/name_m] [name_f]Edna[/name_f] (f)
Watkin
[name_f]Amanda[/name_f]
[name_f]Nellie[/name_f] [name_f]Valetta[/name_f]
Jenning
[name_f]Bernice[/name_f] [name_f]Doris[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_m]Donald[/name_m] Joffie
[name_u]Lyle[/name_u] [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Melville[/name_m]
[name_f]Queenie[/name_f] [name_f]Winsome[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Alicia[/name_f]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Augusta[/name_f] who went by [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Maria[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] who went by [name_u]Lou[/name_u]
[name_f]Eileen[/name_f] [name_f]Valetta[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f]
Eastley
[name_f]Beverly[/name_f] [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]
[name_f]Clorinda[/name_f]
I didn’t realise how long my list was, so I’ve split it into rough quarters.
When I think about it, my family has some interesting names, especially if you’re outside of [name_m]Wales[/name_m]!
I’m [name_f]Carys[/name_f] - this is NOT pronounced the same as [name_f]Cerys[/name_f] but with a Ca sound as in ‘cat’
My brother is Lewys - this spelling isn’t unusual here but is unheard of elsewhere.
My female cousins on each side of the family are [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] and Tyfenn. [name_f]Angharad[/name_f] is very common here, she was one of three in her school year! Tyfenn (pronounced Teef-enn) is [name_m]Breton[/name_m] as her mother is from [name_f]Brittany[/name_f]. Their language is actually very similar to Welsh.
I had a great-grandmother called Heulwen (Hile-wen), who went by the nickname [name_f]Eila[/name_f] (pronounced like [name_f]Isla[/name_f]). And somewhere on my dads side of the family are male twins Dillwyn & Collwyn (pronounced with the welsh letter ‘ll’ - you’d have to listen to how this is pronounced as its impossible to write down.)
These aren’t all family and I’m not including foreign names for the most part
Kissy (Kissy is either his English name or just his nickname and his Vietnamese name is pronounced ‘one’ or ‘won’ but not sure how it’s spelled [name_f]Edit[/name_f]: Actually, One might be his English name with Kissy as nickname and something else in Vietnamese. I don’t remember; it was just weird)
Arnelda or Arnolda? (not sure how it’s spelled. Her dad pronounces it as the former but says it’s like [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] that ends with an ‘a’)
[name_f]Juanita[/name_f]
[name_f]Ima[/name_f]
[name_m]Bob[/name_m] (didn’t think I would actually meet a [name_m]Bob[/name_m]! lol)
[name_f]Fonda[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f]
[name_f]Tuesday[/name_f]
[name_f]Soraya[/name_f]
[name_m]Silas[/name_m]
[name_u]Ryan[/name_u] (female)
Alita
[name_f]Gem[/name_f]
[name_u]Barry[/name_u]
Anadice (not his real name but it’s what he goes by)
Cave (not his real name but it’s what he goes by)
[name_f]Donna[/name_f]
[name_u]Van[/name_u]
[name_m]Dax[/name_m]
Last name [name_f]Cherry[/name_f]
Last name [name_u]Lake[/name_u]
[name_f]Starla[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_u]Kari[/name_u]
Zyzla
[name_u]Connie[/name_u]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]
[name_f]Gigi[/name_f] (birth name [name_f]Virginia[/name_f])
[name_m]Vance[/name_m]
[name_f]Venus[/name_f]
[name_m]Bowen[/name_m]
[name_f]Evone[/name_f]
[name_m]Gordon[/name_m]
[name_f]LaDonna[/name_f]
[name_m]Troy[/name_m]
Kayunta
[name_m]Tre[/name_m]
Lilandra
[name_u]Dustin[/name_u]
[name_f]Aisha[/name_f]
[name_f]Brier[/name_f]
[name_f]Kara[/name_f]
[name_f]Susette[/name_f]
[name_m]Jorg[/name_m]
[name_f]Lesa[/name_f]
[name_f]Davina[/name_f]
[name_u]Lonnie[/name_u]/[name_f]Lani[/name_f] (birth name [name_f]Melanie[/name_f])
[name_f]Paige[/name_f]
Years ago my uncle compiled a genealogical binder 6 inches thick of my maternal mothers side going back at least 400 years. Of course I read it cover to cover, but that was a long time ago and I don’t have a copy. Some of the names were what you’d expect for the times, some beautiful, some not. I specifically took note of the twins, they were everywhere! And ones that I never forgot were Wickie and [name_m]Dickie[/name_m]. So so awful. Lol
