So I started reading [name]North[/name] and South and one of the characters is named [name]Fanny[/name]. I know that name is pretty much unusable here in the U.S. and definitely unusable in the U.K. So I was kind of curious, what other old names are unusable in modern times?
[name]Beulah[/name]. Although others may have a different opinion, I think the “byoo” sound is terrible.
[name]Dorcas[/name] probably isn’t coming back either. 
I agree with both of those. I had to do a research paper on the [name]Salem[/name] Witch trials, and [name]Dorcas[/name] seemed to be a popular name, and I was like ugh!
[name]Gaylord[/name] is another. [name]Cletus[/name] and [name]Hyman[/name] are pretty off limits too.
You definitely cannot use [name]Gaylord[/name], and I agree with the other choices as well. Any others?
I love vintage names but I can’t get behind any of these…
[name]Bertha[/name]
[name]Myrtle[/name]
[name]Mildred[/name]
Well [name]Mildred[/name] has the cute, funky nickname [name]Milly[/name] so it could work. [name]Myrtle[/name] does have the nature theme, so it might work as well.
Other names:
[name]Sherman[/name]
Wilmur
[name]Eunice[/name]
[name]Cuthbert[/name]
[name]Gertrude[/name]
[name]Horace[/name]
@[name]Sunshine[/name] kid I actually know a [name]Horace[/name] and he’s a total weirdo!
I think [name]Gertrude[/name], [name]Hortense[/name], and [name]Bertha[/name] are done for. For the boys I’m gonna have to go with [name]Dick[/name].
Aw, i get sad every time someone says [name]Gertrude[/name] is done for! I know a 1 yr old [name]Gertrude[/name] and she is unbelievably adorable, she’s totally changed my view of the name. It has a wholesome and genuine feel to me now.
As for the ones that really are done for, I’d like to add [name]Velma[/name], [name]Willie[/name] & [name]Bernice[/name].
It’s hard to say names are done for… I totally thought [name]Edith[/name] would never come back, but now it’s on the upswing.
That said, [name]Gaylord[/name], [name]Fanny[/name], and [name]Dorcas[/name] are not usable at all right now, as mentioned above. And I don’t think [name]Adolf[/name] will be useable in the near future.
On a side note, I read [name]North[/name] and South last year for the first time and loved it!
I agree with a lot of the name choices. Especially [name]Bertha[/name], [name]Myrtle[/name] (Moaning [name]Myrtle[/name] definitely doesn’t help it),[name]Eunice[/name], [name]Cuthbert[/name], [name]Gertrude[/name], [name]Dick[/name],I can’t see [name]Velma[/name] used for awhile, and [name]Adolf[/name].
@maggiefromcanada, I like it so far, and I loved the BBC series.
[name]Dudley[/name]. I don’t think it works that well nowadays.
[name]True[/name]. I didn’t like the name [name]Dudley[/name] reading the HP series
I don’t ever expect to hear of a young [name]Hortense[/name], [name]Myrtle[/name], [name]Thelma[/name], [name]Hulda[/name], or [name]Norma[/name].
I agree with [name]Hortense[/name], [name]Thelma[/name], [name]Hulda[/name]. I actually think [name]Norma[/name] could come back especially since that’s [name]Marilyn[/name] [name]Monroe[/name]'s real name. It has a certain vintage charm.
It makes me sad that [name]Velma[/name] is considered unusable. I kind of like it. On the other hand I do think [name]Bertha[/name], [name]Fanny[/name], [name]Dick[/name], [name]Hortense[/name], and [name]Adolf[/name] are definitly gone.
I actually feel almost ‘naugthy’ for writing the words/names [name]Dick[/name] and [name]Fanny[/name], they’re just bad.
I like a lot of vintage names, but agree with most of these. I have to protest on [name]Eunice[/name], though - I think she’s kinda clunky-cute.
Others I might add:
[name]Edna[/name]
[name]Erma[/name]
[name]Gomer[/name]
[name]Humphrey[/name]
[name]Mervin[/name]
I know a little [name]Norma[/name] - she’s 2.
I went for a job interview a month ago with a lady who was about thirty. Her name was [name]Dorcas[/name] 
Also, the BBC series ‘[name]Lark[/name] Rise to Candleford’ had a character in it called [name]Dorcas[/name], so I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some baby ones about somewhere.
I agree with the names [name]Gomer[/name] (sounds really silly) and humphery.
@renrose, is that a good series? I love costume dramas.