Playing Around With 60's Names

Girl Names
1

I have never much liked the names popular in the 60’s when I was born but lately I have been having fun making some of them over.

Any thoughts on the subject or additions?

[name_f]Linda[/name_f] does not seem fresh, but I love [name_f]Belinda[/name_f], [name_f]Lindy[/name_f], and [name_f]Linnet[/name_f].

I still dislike [name_u]Lynn[/name_u], but again [name_f]Lindy[/name_f], [name_f]Linnet[/name_f], and [name_f]Linnea[/name_f] feel new to me.

I knew so many Susans, Suzannes, Susannes, and Susies that my poor father used to just write their phone messages down as “[name_f]SUSAN[/name_f] CALLED.” [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] has charm and I do love [name_f]Sue[/name_f].

[name_f]Debbie[/name_f] and particularly [name_f]Debra[/name_f] will never make my list, but [name_f]Deborah[/name_f] is lovely.

I can’t find any affection for most amalgamated names ([name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Susan[/name_f], [name_f]Annemarie[/name_f], [name_f]LeeAnn[/name_f], [name_f]LouAnn[/name_f], [name_f]JoAnn[/name_f]) though I am fond of [name_f]MaryEllen[/name_f] (reminds me of childhood jam!).

[name_f]Mary[/name_f] itself feels used up to me, but [name_f]Merry[/name_f] and [name_f]Merrilee[/name_f] do not.

[name_f]Melissa[/name_f] and [name_f]Missy[/name_f]: I think I’ve met too many I couldn’t stand.

[name_f]Heidi[/name_f] feels too childlike, though I love [name_f]Helma[/name_f].

[name_f]Tina[/name_f] sounds insubstantial, but [name_f]Trina[/name_f] has some zing still.

Of all the [name_f]Christine[/name_f]/[name_f]Christine[/name_f], [name_f]Kristin[/name_f]/[name_f]Kristina[/name_f] names, I think the CH ones fare best; there seems a certain richness in the “ch”.

[name_f]Angela[/name_f] no, but [name_f]Anjelica[/name_f] maybe.

I want to like [name_u]Kelly[/name_u] because I like many Kellys, but I actually think it would be cool to return that one to the guys.

[name_f]Paula[/name_f], never, though I do like [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] because of the [name_u]Noel[/name_u] Streatfeild Ballet Shoes books.

[name_f]Carolyn[/name_f] I’ve rediscovered because of [name_f]Nancy[/name_f] [name_u]Drew[/name_u] pen name [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f] [name_m]Keene[/name_m]. I actually prefer it to [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], even though [name_f]Caroline[/name_f] is a more royal, uptown-sounding name. [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f] seems to promise frocks, luncheons, and storms while motor boating in the late afternoon!

[name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] alas I can’t remember fondly. It never reminds me of [name_u]Monroe[/name_u], more of [name_m]Manson[/name_m]. [name_f]Marina[/name_f] feels fresh though and possibly even [name_f]Martina[/name_f].

[name_f]Karen[/name_f] I am liking better, but it still does not feel time for it again. Better [name_f]Keziah[/name_f], more zest!

Thoughts?

2

I like
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f]…
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f]…
[name_f]Marina[/name_f]…
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]…
However to make these names really fresh in 2014…
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] would become Zuzannah even [name_f]Zuzu[/name_f]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] would become [name_f]Coraline[/name_f].
[name_f]Marina[/name_f] would become [name_f]Mazarine[/name_f]
And [name_f]Mary[/name_f]… [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] or [name_f]Mamie[/name_f]…

3

those, especially Mamie.

4

I have an [name_f]Eileen[/name_f] and I love her name

5

I could never go for a [name_f]Linda[/name_f] name - [name_f]Belinda[/name_f] is a very negative name for me, thanks to a relative, but, I like [name_f]Clarinda[/name_f], which still has that ending sound.

[name_f]Linnea[/name_f] or [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] definitely wow me more than just [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] - most girls I went to school with had [name_u]Lynn[/name_u], [name_f]Marie[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_u]Lee[/name_u] or [name_f]Anne[/name_f] as their middle name (by most, I mean I was one of maybe 15 who didn’t (out of 150+).).

I dislike [name_f]Susie[/name_f] and [name_f]Susan[/name_f] thanks to my 100 year old great aunt, but I do love [name_f]Zuzanna[/name_f].

I agree about [name_f]Deborah[/name_f] - it’s lovely.

I’ve always liked [name_f]Marie[/name_f]-[name_f]Claire[/name_f], possibly because I’m part Quebecois, so it connects to my family.

I dislike [name_f]Mary[/name_f] but love [name_f]Marisol[/name_f], [name_f]Marielle[/name_f] and [name_f]Mariana[/name_f].

Ugh, don’t even start me on [name_f]Melissa[/name_f]! I know one who entirely turned me off the name, however, [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] seems much nicer.

[name_f]Shirley[/name_f] [name_u]Temple[/name_u] was (and still is to an extent) my favourite actress, so [name_f]Heidi[/name_f] will always have a special spot for me. For other classic children story names, [name_f]Pollyanna[/name_f] has always been special to me, because I was named after [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] [name_m]Mills[/name_m].

[name_f]Tina[/name_f] is a bit, blah, but I love [name_f]Martina[/name_f] or [name_f]Christina[/name_f].

I love [name_f]Christina[/name_f] or [name_f]Christiana[/name_f], and I used to love [name_f]Kiersten[/name_f].

I dislike [name_f]Angela[/name_f] and [name_f]Angelica[/name_f], however [name_f]Angelique[/name_f], [name_f]Angeline[/name_f], and [name_f]Angelina[/name_f] are lovely.

[name_u]Kelly[/name_u] was always a favourite of mine growing up, but I used to prefer the [name_f]Kellie[/name_f] spelling to make it look more feminine.

I don’t love [name_f]Paula[/name_f], but [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] and [name_f]Paulette[/name_f] are gorgeous.

I prefer [name_f]Carolyn[/name_f] too - I went to school with one who was wonderful. My younger sister has a best friend named [name_f]Caraline[/name_f], which I like too, if it’s pronounced as CAR-ah-line (as opposed to CARE-ah-line).

I want to love [name_f]Marilyn[/name_f] but just can’t, however [name_f]Merryn[/name_f] is beautiful.

I don’t love [name_f]Karen[/name_f], but [name_f]Karina[/name_f] is pretty.

Some 60’s names I love:

[name_f]Nancy[/name_f]
[name_f]Aileen[/name_f]
[name_f]Becky[/name_f] (my mum knew quite a few, she was born in 1967)
[name_f]Pamela[/name_f] ( I have an 18 year old friend named this, it suits her perfectly)
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]
[name_u]Julie[/name_u]
[name_f]Robyn[/name_f]

And from 1964 England
[name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Alison[/name_f]
[name_f]Joanne[/name_f]
[name_u]Nicola[/name_u]
[name_f]Sally[/name_f]
[name_f]Elaine[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]Melanie[/name_f]
[name_f]Valerie[/name_f] (my grandmother`s name)
[name_f]Jeanette[/name_f]
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]

You might be interested in this piece I found on British [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Names, [name_f]Elea[/name_f] (the writer of the blog) found some wonderful articles from Victorian [name_f]England[/name_f] about names, there’s one in particular that came to mind while I was writing this response.

It’s quite intriguing to see what they thought in 1851 [name_f]England[/name_f]!

6

that in addition to transforming [name_f]Linda[/name_f] into [name_f]Belinda[/name_f] (or [name_f]Clarinda[/name_f] as a writer pointed out) or [name_f]Lindy[/name_f] or [name_f]Linnet[/name_f], there is one of my very favorite names: [name_u]Linden[/name_u].

The tree that gives it its name is very beautiful and the word/name have a calm and lovely sound (to my ears).

In fact one could name one’s daughter [name_f]Belinda[/name_f] or [name_u]Linden[/name_u] and use [name_f]Lindy[/name_f] and [name_f]Linnet[/name_f] as nicknames.

7

Oh, [name_f]Heidi[/name_f] is just great. [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] and [name_f]Nancy[/name_f] still have some appeal, but I find the others fairly dull.