Rethinking Classic Names

[miloowen]

When I first fell in love with names in the late 60s and early 70s as a kid, I was attracted to the type of old-fashioned [name_m]New[/name_m] [name_f]England[/name_f] Biblical/Puritan names and the romantic names of the [name_f]British[/name_f] novels I was reading at the time. [name_f][/name_f] I fell in love with [name_m]Giles[/name_m], for example, from reading a novel of R.F. Delderfield, and with [name_f]Amabel[/name_f] from a [name_f]Barbara[/name_f] Michaels novel. [name_f][/name_f] The names I disliked (including my own first name) were the names of my contemporaries: [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], LIsa, [name_f]Debbie[/name_f], [name_f]Kimberly[/name_f], [name_m]Allen[/name_m], [name_m]Jimmy[/name_m], [name_m]Bobby[/name_m], [name_m]Mickey[/name_m], etc.

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Now that I am in my 60s, with creative names and spellings abounding, I wonder when will the timeless names return? [name_f][/name_f] Anyhow, I have discovered that I suddenly like many of the names I didn’t like when I was a teen:

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[name_m]John[/name_m] – after all the strange spellings of [name_m]John[/name_m] variations these days (the one I dislike the most is Jhon) – I appreciate John’s simple, historic masculinity.
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]David[/name_m] – another name from my childhood that always became “Dave” in high school. [name_f][/name_f] I’ve always loved [name_m]David[/name_m] (not Dave) and [name_m]Davey[/name_m] and [name_m]Dai[/name_m] are such great nicknames.

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[name_f]Mary[/name_f] – [name_f]Every[/name_f] girl in school had some version of “Mary” in her name, as I grew up in a predominantly [name_m]Roman[/name_m] Catholic town. [name_f][/name_f] It was a name I didn’t really like at all, especially since I preferred [name_f]Miriam[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] But simple, classic [name_f]Mary[/name_f] has a lot going for her. [name_f][/name_f] Her nicknames are plentiful – [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Mamie[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], [name_f]Molly[/name_f], [name_f]Polly[/name_f] – but she’s a name that grows with the child.

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[name_f]Every[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] I knew was either [name_f]Lisa[/name_f] or [name_f]Beth[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] I have always loved the spelling [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f], but in the wake of the loss of the [name_f]Queen[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] in its own right is proud, generous, and can transcend most languages.

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Are there any classic names – names that have been around for centuries – that have you rethinking?

[Johannaa]

I really like [name_m]Thomas[/name_m]. It’s just a lovely, timeless name

[Greyblue]

I’ve known a couple of little [name_f]Marys[/name_f] and Elizabeths [name_f][/name_f]- and some teenaged ones too

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m], [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Emily[/name_f] are some I quite like

[miloowen]

[name_f]My[/name_f] son’s name!

[mellona]

For me, I have always especially loved [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] & [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] when it comes to classic names. [name_f][/name_f] They are so timeless, strong, feminine and gorgeous! I think they would make for a fantastic sibset, as well!

[daisydarcy]

Quite a few timeless classics that I don’t normally like have fallen onto my radar recently – [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_m]Peter[/name_m], [name_m]Adam[/name_m], [name_m]James[/name_m], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] and [name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], & [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]. There’s a raw simplicity and strength about them that is impossible to ignore.

[tori101]

I absolutely love classic names and really appreciate the effortless of these names. I think [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] & [name_f]Mary[/name_f] are gorgeous names

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I really love so many classic choices and my own personal list consist of predominantly classic names.

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I think a classic girl’s name that has massively grown on me is [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Susanna[/name_f].

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[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is a timeless, strong, stoic name that feels regal and unexpected. She has a range of beautiful nicknames including my absolute favourite nickname [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] has the lovely meaning ‘Pearl’ and is just a darling choice.

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[name_f]Susanna[/name_f] is another name that wouldn’t normally be on my radar but is definitely there. [name_f]Susanna[/name_f] is a lovely feminine choice that has pretty summery imagery, a lovely floral meaning and a sweet melodic sound. I think [name_f]Susanna[/name_f] is precious.

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For boys it would be [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m]. I know vintage gems like [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m] are popular but this one hasn’t really been on my radar until recent. [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m] is a family name for me and I always found a little clunky but now I love him. [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m] is sweet, cuddly, recognisable has the lovely nicknames [name_m]Will[/name_m] & [name_m]Freddie[/name_m] with the gorgeous meaning ‘peace’. I think [name_m]Wilfred[/name_m] is fab.

[rosajune]

I’ve always loved Thomas! I’ve been rethinking George in the past year, I used to find it boring but now for some reason I’m really drawn to it, I find it distinct sounding and strong, but also cute for a little boy.

also, agree with you about David! I really love just David but not so much Dave.

[mololy]

[name_m]Daniel[/name_m], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], and [name_m]Timothy[/name_m] have really grown on me recently, my hold up being that I would really dislike someone call my them [name_m]Dan[/name_m], [name_m]Tom[/name_m] or [name_m]Tim[/name_m]

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On the old-fashioned maybe not quite classic name front [name_m]Clifford[/name_m] and [name_m]Roger[/name_m] are my favorites

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For girls:

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[name_f]Nancy[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f] / [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], [name_f]Sally[/name_f], [name_f]Susie[/name_f] / [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] are all perpetually on and off my list as i feel hot and cold about them some days

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in keeping on theme, old-fashioned but not quite classic: [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- for some reason i just adore her, as well as [name_f]Georgie[/name_f] either short for [name_f]Georgina[/name_f] or [name_f]Georgette[/name_f]

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For the names you listed I actually know a couple [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_m]David[/name_m], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], and Elisabeth’s who are all under 10 years old

[AStudyIn_Scarlet]

[name_f]Victoria[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], and [name_f]Helena[/name_f] are some names I can think of for girls. I find them sweet.

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For boys, I like [name_m]Ernest[/name_m], [name_m]Richard[/name_m], [name_m]Edgar[/name_m], [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] and [name_m]James[/name_m].

[DCAT]

Yes,
[name_f][/name_f]I used to dislike [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] as it was so common when I was a girl, but now I find it beautiful.
[name_f][/name_f]Like you, I really love [name_m]John[/name_m] now. Simple and masculine with a rich history.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Jane[/name_f], again simple but with a rich history and literary associations.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- She’s simply gorgeous and you could never go wrong with her.
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- I knew a [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] growing up, he was a nice lad but I didn’t like his name then. If I had a son now, I’d very much like pick it! (or maybe John!)
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- when I had my son, every other little girl was [name_f]Emma[/name_f] or [name_f]Laura[/name_f], out of the two, I found [name_f]Emma[/name_f] the most boring, but now I find her stunning.
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- what an awful name, I used to think, but now she has grown on me, propelled by her meaning, ‘blessed peacemaker’
[name_f][/name_f]Finally, [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]. Simple, sweet and with a stunning meaning, ‘compassionate friend’. I think that is lovely.