The forgotten names

Girl Names
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I was just thinking about the 100 year rule, and how a good chunk of names become fashionable again after 100 years. So I decided to go through the most popular names from 1924 and see which ones from the top 100 haven’t made a come a back.

These are the ones that haven’t returned to the top 1000 (or at least are not in the top 1000 for 2024). Are there any you could see gaining popularity again? Are there any you would consider using?

[name_f]Jean[/name_f] / [name_f]Jeanne[/name_f]
[name_f]Pauline[/name_f]
[name_f]Gladys[/name_f]
[name_f]Rita[/name_f]
[name_f]Marion[/name_f] / [name_f]Marian[/name_f]
[name_f]Jeanette[/name_f]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lois[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorraine[/name_f]
[name_f]Joan[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f]
[name_f]Mildred[/name_f]
[name_f]Edna[/name_f]
[name_f]Thelma[/name_f]
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f]
[name_f]Doris[/name_f]
[name_f]Phyllis[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernice[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Maureen[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]
[name_f]Shirley[/name_f]
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
[name_f]Norma[/name_f]
[name_f]Juanita[/name_f]
[name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]
[name_f]Bertha[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilma[/name_f]
[name_m]Willie[/name_m]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_f]Wanda[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolores[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Theresa[/name_f]

For me I could see these names returning to the list (or at least I would consider using them)

Jean/Jeanne- I feel if middles were kept track of, this one would probably be listed.
[name_f]Marian[/name_f]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Doris[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]
[name_f]Shirley[/name_f] (idk if this one will come back soon, but I think its sweet)
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]

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Ooh fun idea!

[name_f]My[/name_f] faves - a lot of which I think are due for a comeback

[name_f]Rita[/name_f]
[name_f]Lois[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilma[/name_f]
[name_f]Wanda[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]

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Interesting question!

I think these could come back:

[name_f]Rita[/name_f]
[name_f]Lois[/name_f] (it is ‘back’ in the UK atm)
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f]
[name_f]Doris[/name_f]
[name_f]Phyllis[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Shirley[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilma[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
Marion/an
Jean/Jeanne

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Honestly, I’m in love with about 80% of them, so I’m very much biased. :smile:

I could see these come back sooner rather than later, though:

[name_f]Jean[/name_f] / [name_f]Jeanne[/name_f] (especially as a middle)
[name_f]Joan[/name_f] (same as above)
[name_f]Rita[/name_f]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]

Fun facts: [name_f]Thelma[/name_f] is currently being revived in [name_f]France[/name_f], while [name_f]Maureen[/name_f] is more of a young adult name in Belgium!

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I know a handful of girls called [name_f]Lois[/name_f], they’re all in their 20s. I don’t know any others so I’d say this is more than ready for a comeback.

I also think [name_f]Jeanne[/name_f], [name_f]Ida[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] (my nan’s name), [name_f]Inez[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f] and [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] could easily have a comeback, too. [name_f]British[/name_f] journalist [name_m]Stacey[/name_m] [name_m]Dooley[/name_m] has a young daughter called [name_f]Minnie[/name_f], it’s also the pet name for the vagina in the UK so it took me by surprise when she called her [name_f]Minnie[/name_f], but I’m warming up to it!

For obvious reasons, I can’t see [name_m]Willie[/name_m] coming back. I worked with a girl called [name_f]Bernice[/name_f] who was in her late 20s and she absolutely hated her name and went by [name_f]Bea[/name_f].

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These are the ones I could see gaining popularity again:
[name_f]Jean[/name_f]
[name_f]Rita[/name_f]
[name_f]Marion[/name_f] / [name_f]Marian[/name_f]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lois[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f]
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilma[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]

Personally I wouldn’t use any of them (or any from the list as a whole), they’re nice names just NMS.

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A few of these seem fairly well remembered to me: [name_f]Inez[/name_f] and [name_f]Betty[/name_f] are two/four of [name_m]Blake[/name_m] L & Ryan’s kids. Those two and [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] seem like they’ve cut through?

But not so much the others, I agree!

I wish these ones would get more love: [name_f]Pauline[/name_f], [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] & [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]! The first two don’t sound great in an Australian accent but I find them so chic and pretty.

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These are the ones that feel most likely to have a revival in use at some point:
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] possibly
[name_f]Joan[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f] perhaps
[name_f]Mildred[/name_f]
[name_f]Thelma[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Betty[/name_f]
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_f]Wanda[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]

And I love these but I don’t hold much hope that new parents will go for them:
[name_f]Gladys[/name_f]
[name_f]Edna[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f]
[name_f]Phyllis[/name_f]
[name_f]Shirley[/name_f]
[name_f]Theresa[/name_f]

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I think these are ready to come back:
[name_f]Jean[/name_f] - Timeless, in my opinion, at least as a middle name.
[name_f]Rita[/name_f] - Very popular in my country (Portugal). I know dozens of Ritas, from newborns to 50/60 years old.
[name_f]Marion[/name_f] / [name_f]Marian[/name_f] - M names are so sweet and gentle!
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] - Similar to [name_f]Marigold[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f].
[name_f]Joan[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Joana[/name_f], [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] or [name_f]Johanna[/name_f] but [name_f]Joan[/name_f] is lovely, too.
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f] - [name_f]El[/name_f] names are so popular nowadays!
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] - [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] are timeless, [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] could receive a little more attention
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f] - It always sound youthful to me.
[name_f]Edna[/name_f] - Short and simple. It would be interesting.
[name_f]Doris[/name_f] - A lovely old-fashioned choice.
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] - [name_m]An[/name_m] underused gem. International, calm and distinct.
[name_f]Inez[/name_f] - Same as [name_f]Rita[/name_f], but we spell it [name_f]Inês[/name_f]. It’s considered a timeless, regal name where I live.
[name_f]Ida[/name_f] - Very similar to [name_f]Ada[/name_f] which is very appreciated.
[name_f]Wanda[/name_f] - I was expecting that the multiple [name_f]Marvel[/name_f] projects would help [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] rise again, but that was not the case.
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f] - It fits into the nickname-names trend.
[name_f]Theresa[/name_f] - [name_f]Tess[/name_f] and [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] are quite popular, so why not the full name [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]?

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[name_f]Lois[/name_f] → tricky because of the Family [name_m]Guy[/name_m] character, but it does feel like it could make a comeback
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] → feels fresh, would make a great honour for a Catherine/Katherine or any variation of that name
[name_f]Viola[/name_f] → feels very fresh but more melodic than [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], I think the [name_f]Viola[/name_f] [name_m]Davis[/name_m] association will help for this name
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f] → with nature names making a comeback, I think [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f] will too (but the lack of an intuitive nickname might delay that)
[name_f]Doris[/name_f] → I just love this name, so I’m rooting for her
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] → I know that a F1 driver named his youngest daughter who was born in 2023 [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], so definitely feels like she’s making her way back
[name_f]Inez[/name_f] → [name_m]Ryan[/name_m] [name_m]Reynolds[/name_m] & [name_m]Blake[/name_m] [name_f]Lively[/name_f] have a daughter with this name, so I feel like this name is closer to a proper comeback than others
[name_f]Betty[/name_f] → Same as [name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f] → same as [name_f]Doris[/name_f]
[name_f]Wanda[/name_f] → the character [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] Maximoff will surely help this name feeling more modern
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f] → tricky, because of Ms [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_m]Mouse[/name_m], but perhaps a nickname for more modern [name_f]Minerva[/name_f]?

overall, with the rise of the cottagecore/old money aesthetic + [name_m]Taylor[/name_m] [name_m]Swift[/name_m] tending to weave in similar names in her songs, some of these names are either on their way to a comeback or will make one in a couple of years

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[name_f]Love[/name_f] love love [name_f]Jean[/name_f], [name_f]Lois[/name_f] and [name_f]Ida[/name_f].

Like [name_f]Bessie[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Inez[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Shirley[/name_f], [name_f]Delores[/name_f] and [name_f]Wanda[/name_f].

As well as some of the above, I could easily see [name_f]Jean[/name_f] / [name_f]Jeanette[/name_f], [name_f]Marion[/name_f], [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] (surprised this isn’t in top 100! Is this US or UK stats?), [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Thelma[/name_f], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] and [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] coming back in some capacity; some more in a mainstream way eg [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] and some more in hipster circles eg [name_f]Wilma[/name_f].

We’re already starting to see some of these mid-century names being used as honours / middles, and I think these retro names have enjoyed a boost from the likes of Mad Men and [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] [name_m]Vision[/name_m].

This was really interesting, thankyou.

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I would consider using…
[name_f]Pauline[/name_f], [name_f]Marian[/name_f], [name_f]Lois[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Inez[/name_f], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], [name_f]Ida[/name_f], [name_f]Wanda[/name_f], [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] & [name_f]Joyce[/name_f]!

Some that might make a comeback…
[name_f]Lois[/name_f] (similar to Louise/Louisa), [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] (fits the [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] trend), [name_f]Viola[/name_f] (alternative to Violet), [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] (from Marvel)

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US stats. A few of these surprised me as well, Ellen Theresa, Jean, Ida & Joan I all expected to be ranked somewhere! And to be fair some of them were ranked in the past few years, I think Ellen was on the list in 2021. But none of them currently rank for the most recent stats.

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I had zero idea how much I love popular 1924 names!!

Names I would love to see come back:

[name_f]Rita[/name_f] :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:
[name_f]Marian[/name_f]
[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lois[/name_f]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Juanita[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolores[/name_f]
[name_f]Theresa[/name_f]

names I realistically think will come back:
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
Betty/Bessie
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f]
[name_f]Rita[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]

I think [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] has a good chance with the popularity of Ellie/Ella! I also think [name_f]Inez[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Rita[/name_f], etc, fit in with the short and spunky Trend, while [name_f]Joyce[/name_f] fits in with the virtue name trend.

I know a kid called [name_f]Bessie[/name_f], as well as teenagers named [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Shirley[/name_f], [name_f]Marion[/name_f], [name_f]Inez[/name_f], and [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]!

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We need to bring back:

[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] (Katie)
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f] (Trudy)
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] (Aggie)
[name_f]Bernice[/name_f] (Birdie)
[name_f]Maureen[/name_f] (Mina)
[name_f]Wanda[/name_f] (Wendy)
[name_f]Edna[/name_f] (Edie)
[name_f]Viola[/name_f] (Vi)
[name_f]Pauline[/name_f] (Lena)
[name_f]Inez[/name_f] - (Izzy)

[name_f]Love[/name_f] these names!

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Here are the ones I find intriguing and why:

[name_f]Pauline[/name_f] - This one I deabted not including, because it does feel dated, but [name_f]Paulina[/name_f] still sees some use and [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] does have a trim, pleasing sound. I don’t think it’ll ever trend, but I could see a small revival.

[name_f]Marion[/name_f] / [name_f]Marian[/name_f] - The [name_f]Marian[/name_f] spelling I think has a lot of potential among fans of [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] looking for something more unique.

[name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] - It’s just so cheerful. Maybe with [name_f]Jorie[/name_f] as a nickname?

[name_f]Lorraine[/name_f] - I just love a name with “rain” in it, but I also think [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f] is streamlined and pretty in a way that could appeal to fans of [name_f]Renee[/name_f] or [name_f]Marian[/name_f]. [name_f]Renee[/name_f], [name_f]Marian[/name_f], and [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f] would actually be a killer sibset, imo.

[name_f]Betty[/name_f] - I’ve seen a few mommy bloggers putting this name on their lists and she’s the title of a [name_m]Taylor[/name_m] [name_m]Swift[/name_m] song, so Betty’s definitely out there. I could see hipster parents using [name_f]Betty[/name_f] for sure.

[name_f]Viola[/name_f] - Honestly, I’m surprised this name isn’t already spiking in popularity. She’s Shakespearean, musical, basically a mash up of the mega popular [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. If I had to put my money on one name to rise up the charts, it would be [name_f]Viola[/name_f].

[name_f]Inez[/name_f] - I’ve seen this name a few times on nameberry lately and I can see why. She’s very streamlined and international, and the I beginning and Z end both lend her a unique cool.

[name_f]Minnie[/name_f] - [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] as a nickname I think has real potential. [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_m]Mouse[/name_m] is a strong association, but her name is a great combination of warm and fun and a little sassy.

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Names I can see getting more popular are:
[name_f]Marion[/name_f]
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]

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I love and would absolutely use

[name_f]Lois[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorraine[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellen[/name_f]
[name_f]Joyce[/name_f]
[name_f]Edna[/name_f]
[name_f]Gertrude[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f]
[name_f]Doris[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernice[/name_f]
[name_f]Inez[/name_f]
[name_f]Ethel[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]

I LOVE all of these! They are amazing and I really hope they start to regain some ground.

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Ooh, this is so fun to see! I’ll do a love, like, lose first, love being ones I’d use as a first, like being ones I like as a middle or otherwise, and lose being…lose!

[name_f]Love[/name_f]: [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Ida[/name_f]
Like: [name_f]Jean[/name_f], [name_f]Marian[/name_f], [name_f]Lois[/name_f], [name_f]Joan[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Joyce[/name_f], [name_f]Mildred[/name_f], [name_f]Edna[/name_f], [name_f]Thelma[/name_f], [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], [name_f]Doris[/name_f], [name_f]Phyllis[/name_f], [name_f]Bernice[/name_f], [name_f]Inez[/name_f], [name_f]Maureen[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], [name_f]Norma[/name_f], [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f], [name_f]Bertha[/name_f], [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], [name_f]Dolores[/name_f], [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
Lose: [name_f]Pauline[/name_f], [name_f]Gladys[/name_f], [name_f]Rita[/name_f], [name_f]Jeanette[/name_f], [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f], [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], [name_f]Bessie[/name_f], [name_f]Shirley[/name_f], [name_f]Juanita[/name_f], [name_m]Willie[/name_m], [name_f]Wanda[/name_f], [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]

On my own personal list I have [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] (top name), [name_f]Ida[/name_f], [name_f]Mildred[/name_f], and [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]! But the other ones I would just really like to be seen used!

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I’ve just checked UK stats and [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] is nowhere near the top 100 but is within the top 1000 according to the most recent stats we have. Well I never. Thanks for this :blush:

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