With [name_u]Joan[/name_u], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], etc. coming back around, is there a reason [name_f]Norma[/name_f] is never mentioned?
I adore [name_f]Norma[/name_f] Shearer (my Grandma’s favorite actress). It’s similar in sound to [name_f]Nora[/name_f], which is quite popular. It’s not clunky in any way, to my ears.
But my SO’s mother had a stepmother named [name_f]Norma[/name_f] who was particularly awful. As in, straight out of [name_f]Cinderella[/name_f] awful. So obviously I will never be able to use it.
But what do you all think of it, and is there a particular reason why it hasn’t seemed to come around in the way that [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], and the rest have?
To me, I find the “orm” sound unappealing. While [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], etc seem dainty and sweet, [name_f]Norma[/name_f] feels bulkier and less elegant.
I also think its similarity to the word normal might be hindering its resurrection.
Norma makes a beautiful middle name but I don’t see it coming back as it doesn’t have the vintage charm and is more so a uncool grandma type name compared to [name_f]Florence[/name_f] and [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], which is much sweeter and elegant
It makes me think of Bates Motel / Psycho, maybe that’s why? Not sure if it’s the same association for other folks. It’s not something that would stop me from using a name, but perhaps others.
I would say that some old-fashioned names make a comeback, but others don’t. E.g. [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], [name_f]Gladys[/name_f], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]… There’s nothing inherently wrong with these names, but they don’t sound fashionable nowadays.
To me [name_f]Norma[/name_f] seems rather dated. I also don’t care for its similarity to the word “normal”. Maybe in a few years’ time it will sound fresh again though.
Whenever I see ‘[name_f]Norma[/name_f]’ my brain immediately goes ‘[name_f]Nanna[/name_f] [name_f]Norma[/name_f]!’ simply because that’s my great grandmothers name, so in my mind [name_f]Norma[/name_f] is quite an ‘old lady’ name
It might be the ‘orm’ sound which is why many people aren’t fond of it, it’s not exactly the most modern or trendy sound among recent names.
When I think of norma I think of my lovely neighbour from my old house and for me that’s quite a bulky heavy name compared to [name_f]Nora[/name_f]. Although it is quite popular being at #29, maybe a Noranne or something, and add a prefix on the end.
I agree that [name_f]Nora[/name_f] is just softer and more appealing than [name_f]Norma[/name_f]. [name_f]Norma[/name_f] is harsh and just a mouthful to me. [name_f]My[/name_f] first thought is [name_f]Norma[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] which is a good or bad association depending on if you like [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] [name_u]Monroe[/name_u] but even she was urged to change her name!
Norman also doesn’t seem to have come around yet ([name_m]Norman[/name_m] [name_m]Bates[/name_m]? Stormin’ [name_m]Norman[/name_m]?).
I don’t think [name_m]Norm[/name_m] is a beautiful word or sound so that’s probably it.
And yet I can imagine a sharp, savvy woman named [name_f]Norma[/name_f], so maybe it’s time will come (and for boys, I do have a soft spot for [name_m]Normy[/name_m]).
Ah, but I have great hopes for [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], [name_f]Gladys[/name_f], and [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] … love them all!
And they have some lovely nns: [name_f]Gert[/name_f], [name_f]Gertie[/name_f], [name_f]Gerda[/name_f], [name_f]Trudie[/name_f], [name_f]Trudy[/name_f], [name_u]True[/name_u]. [name_f]Glad[/name_f], Gladdie, [name_f]Gladness[/name_f], [name_f]Gladiola[/name_f], [name_f]Essie[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f]…
Yes, I hope [name_f]Gladys[/name_f] gets revived at some point, because it’s quite a nice name once you separate it from the “old-fashioned” association.
It’s a family name so I’d love to like it, but it does sound clunky to me and not in a quirky vintage way, just heavy and unappealing. I think it’s the closed sound of ‘orm’ that puts me off, and the sound isn’t particularly feminine which adds to the heavy clunky feel of it.
