I am really starting to like [name]Gladys[/name] a lot for it’s vintage qualities and it’s rarity. I was thinking of having the middle name be a frilly sound to balance out the not so girly [name]Gladys[/name]. Does anyone have any good suggestions for a middle name?
Is this name too much for a little girl? I like that it has glad in it because it gives me a happy feeling. Is this name too dated? It seems like people are wanting to revive old-fashioned names, but there are certain ones that are just considered unattractive and I guess [name]Gladys[/name] is one of those.
Nothing against [name]Gladys[/name] per say, the only people ive known with the name were several women I cared for at a nursing home, so it does have a certain age attached to it!
I’d be cautious using it as a first name, as it’s really fallen out of favour and just doesn’t feel modern or useable anymore. Could be a good middle name choice though??
While [name]Gladys[/name] isn’t my favourite vintage name, it’s not the worst by far (that prize goes to [name]Bertha[/name] and [name]Beulah[/name]). [name]Claudia[/name] is a version of [name]Gladys[/name]. Since the sound of [name]Gladys[/name] isn’t the most attractive, I would choose something feminine for the middle name.
I like [name]Gladys[/name] quite a bit. I love that it ends in an S, and I think any name that has “glad” in there can’t help but sound happy.
I worked with a 20-something [name]Gladys[/name] (spelled [name]Gladis[/name]). She wore it well and really changed my feelings about its usability. It’s as easy for me to picture [name]Gladys[/name] on a little girl now as it is to picture an [name]Alice[/name], [name]Ada[/name], or [name]Hazel[/name].
You’re totally not alone in the weirdness. I was just about to say that my great-aunt spent her entire lifetime as “Aunt [name]Happy[/name] Bum” and sometimes would sign her name as just HB. (Also, to add, her full name was Gladys Harriet).
I did want to say that I did warm up to the name when I met my Mandarin teacher’s daughter would was called [name]Gladys[/name]. I think with the love that names like [name]Maris[/name] and [name]Carys[/name] get around here, that [name]Gladys[/name] might come back as a edgy, against the grain choice. Not yet, but maybe in a few years (or a celebrity will use it — much like how [name]Lily[/name] [name]Allen[/name] picked [name]Ethel[/name]).
Thanks everyone for the responses! I mentioned it to my husband, and he looked at me funny for a second but said it would only be a middle name option. I do know that it may cause some teasing (the happy butt I have seen online numerous times, or glad bags) and people immediately think of older ladies. I never knew about the phoebe thing since I have never watched Friends, but that would turn me off if people connected that.
I agree that if a celebrity uses it, it may come back. I would love to use it to just be different and try to change people’s outlook on the name, but it is naming a child and that is not the best way to be creative. Thanks for the comments!
My name is [name]Glenys[/name] and it gets mistaken for [name]Gladys[/name] A LOT. Sorry, but I am not happy when someone calls me [name]Gladys[/name]. cringe I am not an old woman. However, I did meet a [name]Gladys[/name] closer to my age once… I’m not sure how she felt about her name…
My name gets mistaken for [name]Gwyneth[/name] and [name]Glynis[/name] too, and I don’t mind that as much. [name]Glenys[/name], [name]Glynis[/name] and [name]Gwyneth[/name] sound a lot nicer than [name]Gladys[/name]. BTW - the actress is named [name]Glynis[/name] Johns not [name]Gladys[/name] Johns…
I really don’t like this name. It just doesn’t sound youthful to me. But I honestly don’t think most of the revived names sound youthful, so it’s all about your own taste. If you love it, you should use it.
