Odd Names in top 1000 from 1890s

Today I was looking at the top 1000 names in the 1890s. I came across some pretty odd names, and some prove that trends repeat (misspellings, girls names on boys place names). This is the boys version, I already posted the girls in another post under “Girl [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Names”. If some are just small misspellings such as [name_m]Benjiman[/name_m], then I am leaving it out. These are just most that I found, not all. There were many unusual surnames, but I left most out since surnames are pretty trendy.

[name_m]Just[/name_m] Odd:

  • [name_m]Elder[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Haskell[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Orange[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Zollie[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Curley[/name_m]
  • [name_f]Waverley[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ruel[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Elvis[/name_m] (there’s only one [name_m]Elvis[/name_m]!)
  • [name_m]Melton[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Dow[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Ossie[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Squire[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Ansel[/name_m] ([name_m]Ansel[/name_m] Elgort! I do like this name)
  • [name_m]Wong[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Burr[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Clovis[/name_m]
  • [name_f]Roe[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Gale[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Ferd[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Newt[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Wheeler[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Hilton[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Pleas[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Furman[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Selmer[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Young[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Chesley[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Alpha[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Spurgeon[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Harve[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Arley[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Finis[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Okey[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Burley[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Len[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Lum[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Rube[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Dillard[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Hurley[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Hamp[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Orie[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Alois[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Loy[/name_m]
  • [name_f]Perley[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Zeb[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Thad[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Dayton[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Manley[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Murry[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Ennis[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Lemon[/name_m]
  • [name_m]French[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Ocie[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Rush[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Oral[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Oran[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Carleton[/name_m]
  • [name_f]Alonza[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Dell[/name_u]
  • Unknown (seriously!)
  • [name_u]Alvie[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Heber[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Urban[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Winfred[/name_f] (not [name_f]Winifred[/name_f], [name_f]Winfred[/name_f].)
  • [name_u]Alvah[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Geo[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Levy[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Hoyt[/name_m]
  • Horsea
  • [name_m]Saul[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Ford[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Orin[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Isom[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Obie[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Orrin[/name_m]
  • [name_f]Vernie[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Rolla[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Coy[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Eldon[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Odie[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Norbert[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Milford[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Burl[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Jesus[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Otha[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Elza[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Lem[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Lige[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Christ[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Ole[/name_m]
  • Azel
  • [name_u]Dorsey[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Elzie[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Albin[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Oren[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Orso[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Arlie[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Wm[/name_m] (yes, just [name_m]Wm[/name_m])
  • [name_m]Nels[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Sol[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Orval[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Napoleon[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Washington[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Winfield[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Junius[/name_m]
  • [name_f]Dee[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Omer[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Lon[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Myron[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Enoch[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Columbus[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Orville[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Alva[/name_u]

Misspellings:

  • [name_m]Edd[/name_m] ([name_m]Ed[/name_m], [name_m]Edd[/name_m], & [name_m]Eddie[/name_m]?)
  • [name_m]Lew[/name_m]

Girls Names on Boys:

  • [name_f]Ada[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Edith[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Martha[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Addie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Lillie[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Mattie[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Beverly[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Bessie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Edna[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Clara[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ida[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Bernice[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Bee[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Nellie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Annie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Essie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Marie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Gail[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Bertha[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Alice[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Lindsey[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Alma[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Dana[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Emma[/name_f]
  • [name_u]June[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Helen[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Millie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ivey[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Connie[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Hallie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Lacy[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Florence[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Anna[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Pat[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Ira[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Laura[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Stacy[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Maude[/name_f]
  • [name_f]May[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ella[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Eva[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Esther[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
  • [name_u]Courtney[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Carrie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]
  • [name_f]Fay[/name_f]

Place & Word Names:

  • [name_m]Admiral[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Denver[/name_u]
  • [name_f]Pleasant[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Webb[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Doctor[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Doc[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Worth[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Loyal[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Junior[/name_m] (never thought this was weird, since it was my great-grandmother’s brother’s name, but it was pretty low down there.)
  • [name_m]Park[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Colonel[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Paris[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Butler[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Golden[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Ivory[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Brown[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Son[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Wash[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Minor[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Fate[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Orlando[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Price[/name_m]
  • [name_u]West[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Ransom[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Pierce[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Lucious[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Lafayette[/name_m]
  • [name_f]Pink[/name_f]
  • [name_m]Israel[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Judge[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Prince[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Gust[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Early[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Green[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Arch[/name_m]
  • [name_m]King[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Noble[/name_m]
  • [name_m]General[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Dallas[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Royal[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Rex[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Major[/name_m]
  • [name_m]Dock[/name_m]

Trending Now:

  • [name_u]Peyton[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Percival[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Percy[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Finley[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Kyle[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Hayden[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Carson[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Bailey[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Parker[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Carter[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Logan[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Mason[/name_u]

[name_m]Wm[/name_m] was a common abbreviation for [name_m]William[/name_m]. At least judging by the documents that I have read on Ancestry.com, it was.

:slight_smile: !!!

Some interesting names in there. I like [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] and [name_m]Sol[/name_m] as nicknames and I like the clunk of [name_m]Norbert[/name_m] and [name_m]Columbus[/name_m].

Most gender benders and misspellings can be chalked up as mistakes in a time when the registration process was much more susceptible to human error and illiteracy rather than a trend, though a few of those girl names were actually male back then anyway. Unknowns (in [name_f]England[/name_f] at least) were usually babies who just hadn’t been named yet, but some were infants who had already died and were never named by their families. Some babies put up for adoption were also registered as ‘unknown’, perhaps because the mother couldn’t face naming them. Whatever the reason, there probably weren’t a bunch of children running around called ‘Unknown’!

[name_m]Wm[/name_m] is indeed an abbreviation of [name_m]William[/name_m], just as [name_m]Geo[/name_m] is for [name_m]George[/name_m] and [name_m]Edd[/name_m] could be for [name_m]Edward[/name_m]. You might also see [name_m]Chas[/name_m], [name_m]Jas[/name_m], [name_m]Thos[/name_m], Fdk and Jno. Blame the lazy registrars :slight_smile:

I like [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] and [name_m]Orlando[/name_m]. I know a [name_m]Geo[/name_m] (short for [name_m]Giovanni[/name_m]) and an [name_m]Elvis[/name_m].

Thanks for sharing, these are certainly interesting!

Oh, I’ve never heard of it. Thank you!

[name_m]Just[/name_m] realized I put “[name_u]Pat[/name_u]” under the “Girls names for boys” section. Sorry, I knew [name_u]Pat[/name_u] could be a boy’s name too. Wasn’t thinking.

Oh, okay, thank you! I was really confused about the “Unknown” thing, lol. I really did think there were boys named “Unknown” running around!

Never heard of [name_m]Geo[/name_m] or [name_m]Wm[/name_m], so I found them pretty odd. I like [name_m]Zeb[/name_m], too; I can see it making a comeback! Same with [name_m]Sol[/name_m].

Also didn’t know most of those names used to be boys. I saw names like [name_u]Allison[/name_u] and [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] and Mc-names, but I knew they were originally boys, so I left them out.

Thanks for the information! :slight_smile:

[name_f]Beverly[/name_f] and [name_u]Connie[/name_u] just would not suit as boys names!

Cool list! I like [name_m]Elvis[/name_m] (GP), [name_u]Arley[/name_u], [name_m]Oren[/name_m], [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u] (traditionally a masculine name), [name_u]Lindsey[/name_u] (again, traditionally masculine), [name_m]Orlando[/name_m], [name_u]Kyle[/name_u], [name_u]Hayden[/name_u], [name_u]Carson[/name_u], [name_u]Parker[/name_u], [name_u]Carter[/name_u], and [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m].

A few of these may also be misspellings. Especially back at this time, many many people were not educated and some name spellings reflected that. [name_f]My[/name_f] own great-great-grandmother (born and died living a very rural farm life) was named [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], but spelled it variously Magret, [name_f]Marget[/name_f], [name_f]Margit[/name_f], etc. in different documents. So “[name_m]Levy[/name_m]” may be [name_m]Levi[/name_m], “[name_m]Oral[/name_m]” could be [name_m]Earl[/name_m] (though I’ve heard this name before as [name_m]Oral[/name_m]), “[name_m]Harve[/name_m]” could be [name_m]Harvey[/name_m], “[name_m]Sol[/name_m]” might be [name_m]Saul[/name_m], etc. I’m not sure spelling was always meant to make a “statement” back then.

Also, [name_m]Orlando[/name_m] and [name_m]Israel[/name_m] are not place names. [name_m]Israel[/name_m] is a biblical name–he was the grandson of [name_m]Abraham[/name_m] and originated the twelve tribes of [name_m]Israel[/name_m]. And [name_m]Orlando[/name_m] is a very old (like at least several centuries) Italian name. In this case, the places are named after the people.