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[–]ccc1942 82 points  

Kinda sounds like a gas station

[–]Floofie62 32 points  

Hahahaha! IT DOES!!! It was a name I saw in an old cemetery and it just stuck with me, but I also think it was Grandpa Walton's name.

[–]RottenToTheCore187 22 points  

It was grandpa Walton. My cousin was named after him.

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[–]DisclosE2020agency 4 points  

Sounds like an ancient alien race to me .

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[–]BelliesOmnomnom 44 points  

I know someone whose kid is a Zebulon!

[–]theuphill 3 points  

Is the shortened version Zeb? Cos Zeb in colloquial Lebanese means dick… as in penis.

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[–]LSU2007 21 points  

There’s an adult store down the road called Zebulon

[–]rumplydiagram 6 points  

My 25 year old cousin is named Zebulon ... we just call him Zeb

[–]poehlerandparks19 6 points  

and it’s SUCH a cool name, I could see it coming back soon

[–]BryonyVaughn 6 points  

I have a soft spot for Zebulon/Zeb. I love the character Will Geer played on The Waltons, Grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton.

[–]MuchMoreThanaMama 6 points  

I live near a Zebulon. Very small town.

[–]50 somethingbubblegoose 5 points  

We had a Master Chief when I was in the Navy in the early 90s named Zebulon. Guy was from West Virginia.

[–]TrumpTheAntichrist 5 points  

I know a Zebulon. The name lives.

[–]Kindof5150 5 points  

Zebulon Powell, pro snowboarder, young, extremely talented

[–]llamawolf 3 points  

Pikes Peak in Colorado was named after Zebulon Pike. I assumed it was a super rare name back then, like the equivalent of XAE-yaddayadda. It’s a great name!

[–]Koankey 4 points  

Yeah that's so 3000's fellow time traveler

[–]Sleepygirl57 4 points  

I wanted to name our youngest that but hubby refused. I adore the old TV show the Walton’s and have loved that name since I was a kid.

[–]adhdmamallama 4 points  

My husband wanted to name our kid Zebulon. We fought over it every time I was pregnant. Zebulon, Roscoe, and Jerome were always his top 3 baby names. Thankfully he did not prevail.

[–]wdrub 4 points  

I have a good friend name Zebulon. In nyc

[–]Mayor_of_BBQ 5 points  

I live in Appalachia and I know two guys named Zebulon, both under 35

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[–]ColdRolledSteel714 45 points  

So uncommon these days, many people have no idea how to pronounce it.

[–][deleted] 71 points  

Aloe-ish-us yeah?

[–]60 somethingPlasticBlitzen 5 points  

I always thought it was funny, in my hometown they would shorten it to Aloys, pronounces al-ois. If I hadn't known, I never would have guessed that was the diminutive for Aloysius.

[–]Heccubus79 3 points  

I learned how to pronounce it from Tom and Jerry (specifically: episode 42 (1949)- Heavenly Puss, at 3:06 minutes in)

[–]FireflyBSc 5 points  

It was the villain’s name in the “new” version of The Lorax, so a new generation might have learned a bit.

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[–][deleted] 7 points  

My father's middle name, he says people can't spell it or pronounce it so he uses A, and his father's middle too - after Saint Aloysius. I wonder if it's common still in Ireland.

[–]gendercerebralfluid 5 points  

Wonder no more; It is not. I've only ever heard of one, and he was a character in a program called Hardy Bucks. Look it up. Thank me later.

[–]RiellyJIgnatius 4 points  

This is a great name.

[–]majestic_flamingo 3 points  

Pendergast fans unite

[–][deleted] 4 points  

I met an Aloysius about 15+ years ago and he was about my age and I'm gen x.

[–]20 somethingnxcrosis 4 points  

I actually know someone in their late 30s with this name.

[–]Blu_fairie 3 points  

About 5 years ago my cat Aloysius passed away. I named him that just because it was such a pretentious name and he was a pretentious cat.

[–]healthcrusade 4 points  

I had a doctor with that name. He was Asian, and fell into that category of “parents gave me an old timey England name”

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[–]HamRadio_73 434 points  

Gertrude

[–]procrastinatorsuprem 230 points  

I know a Gertrude, but they go by Trudy which I think is adorable.

[–]Adventurous_Yam8784 69 points  

My neighbour’s dog is Gertie and we love her so much

[–]Remarkable-Junket655 31 points  

My dog was named Gertrude (Gertie) she died of old age.

[–]GenXjohndoe60610 41 points  

Condolences. Our now-14yo dog came with that name (aka Ghertz, or nanny dog). She'll nope upstairs disapprovingly if the TV is too loud, and will stand by the back door at 9pm when it's time for her evening constitutional and tuck-in. We're trying not to mourn her before she's gone, but it's hard.

[–]Adventurous_Yam8784 5 points  

It’s such a great name for a dog. RIP to your Gertie ❤️

[–]CommercialAlert158 10 points  

OMG I was thinking about that name for a dog because my mom used to call me that as a child 😢

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[–]chopperdaddy 34 points  

My grandmother’s given name was Edna Gertrude, but she went by Trudy.

[–]KissesandMartinis 4 points  

My mama was Edna also!

[–][deleted] 3 points  

My maternal grandmother was Agnes. So glad mum didn't name any of us after her.

[–]50 somethingTheMossyShoggoth 4 points  

My late aunt was Lovina Gertrude. She went by Jane.

[–]belleandbent 5 points  

My grandma went by Trudy too! Adorable nickname.

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[–]Elegant_Principle183 21 points  

That’s my dog’s name. Lol.

[–]50 somethingInfamous_Towel_5251 6 points  

It's was my PC name for years. It would have been my youngest child's name, but I had a boy and that would have been weird.

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[–]kikiveesfo 6 points  

I know two living Gertrudes, both go by Gertie. One is 60 and one is 8!

[–]AdDisastrous6356 4 points  

My grandmother middle name . Died in 2022 aged 106

[–]JethroDogue 5 points  

Very common in Africa

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[–]MarzipanFairy 29 points  

Hamilton will probably make this one popular again.

[–]Beruthiel999 31 points  

ooo, that's pretty. Let's bring that one back!

[–]40 somethingBudgiejen 7 points  

That’s coming back. Not nearly as much as Theodora. But people on r/namenerds love Theo and Thea

[–]jakeisaliveyay 5 points  

dear theodosia what to say to you...

[–]EstrogenIsland 4 points  

You have my eyes. You have your mother’s name. When you came into the world, you cried and it broke my heart.

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[–]MadameFlora 232 points  

So unready.

[–]TheLastDaysOf[🍰] 20 points  

I love that the punchline is that "unready" translates from the old English as "poorly advised" (ie the nomenclature was intended to protect the reputation of the Crown) while we 'misunderstand' that same language as uncanny in its frankness.

[–]50 somethingNotYourSweetBaboo 14 points  

And it was a play on words.

Æthelred means "noble counsel", so "Æthelred the Unready" mean "Noble Counseled the Uncounsled"

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[–]princethrowaway2121h 42 points  

Underrated comment.

[–]wagowop 5 points  

Love it!!

[–]Old BatVegetableRound2819 6 points  

Snort

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[–]ed_spaghet12 28 points  

elon musk joined the chat

[–]meowsqueak 52 points  

Ælfgifu (pronounced elf-ee-fu, probably) was a popular women’s name once upon a time, also.

[–]Emotional-History801 4 points  

Oh really? On the planet of xrgl09?

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[–]50 somethingDoubleDrummer 7 points  

I know a 20 year old Ethelred (he doesn’t use the ash AE character though).

[–]MissO56 4 points  

that seriously made me giggle!!

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[–]stealthpursesnatch 118 points  

I’m more surprised that an Amish man plays pickleball with the English.

[–]Kind-Ad9038 101 points  

The Amish play pickleball with real pickles.

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[–]NeuroPlastick 28 points  

My aunt married two men named Elmer.

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[–]Deadlysinger 37 points  

My mom is Blanche but she is 92.

[–]70 somethingWAFLcurious 16 points  

I had an Aunt Blanche, born about 1905.

[–]40 somethingfeedyrsoul 5 points  

I recently met a young Blanche! Couldn't believe it!

[–]Oldjamesdean 5 points  

I had a great aunt named Blanche. She died decades ago.

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[–]Due-Cargist1963 130 points  

Ebenezer

[–]I have t-shirts older than youissi_tohbi 66 points  

I knew one! But he was an immigrant from Hong Kong and they tend to pick wild English names for themselves. For example I also knew a Purple and an Elwin. All of these people were in their 20’s.

[–]Shabettsannony 8 points  

Purple might be my new favorite name - that feels so random as an American but I can totally see why another culture would pick a color.

[–]40 somethingBudgiejen 9 points  

Ford Prefect

[–]I have t-shirts older than youissi_tohbi 3 points  

It totally fit her too! She was spunky and adorable, very purple!

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[–]Vahva_Tahto 7 points  

looool if he was fom Hong Kong, he likely named himself after the restaurant chain 😂

[–]Snoutysensations 8 points  

I've met some great HKers with names like Venus and Ego.

[–]snappy033 4 points  

I knew an Apple and Lolita from HK. She insisted on Lolita despite people explaining the literary reference. Also like 50 HK people named Peter.

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[–]laminarflowca 25 points  

There’s a guy in the place He’s got a bittersweet face And he goes by the name of Ebeneezer Goode His friends call him Eezer and he is the main geezer And he’ll vibe about the place like no other man could He’s refined, he’s sublime, he makes you feel fine Though very much maligned and misunderstood But if you know Eezer he’s a real crowd pleaser He’s ever so good, he’s Ebeneezer Goode

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[–]Gen Xanosmia1974 35 points  

I had a great aunt Beulah and one of her sisters was named Bertha. Ooof.

[–]80. "One day at a time"Building_a_life 17 points  

Talk about making a kid feel old from the day they were born!

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[–]BerthaBenz 216 points  

Bart: "So I says to Mabel, I says-"

[–]Geeko22 62 points  

I have a cousin named Bart. Growing up we called him Bart the Fart, of course.

[–]BerthaBenz 45 points  

Homer: Let’s see. Bart, dart, cart, e-art. Nope can’t see any problems with that.

Problems you have with only four fingers.

[–]StromboliOctopus 5 points  

My stepdads name is Bart. I met him when I was 7 and never heard that name before.(This is pre-Simpons). He told me that when he was born, he smelled so bad that his Dad named him Fart, but that when his Mom woke up she got mad and changed the F to a B on his birth certificate, and now he's Bart. But he said that his true real name will always be Fart. That was the best story I'd ever heard up to that point in my life, and it still makes me smile.

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[–]PhesteringSoars 6 points  

RIP Aunt Mabel (Pancreatic).

[–]ralthea 8 points  

Mabel’s making a comeback

[–]60 somethingkiwispouse 8 points  

Only Murders in the Building.

[–]OldJackDaw 7 points  

You're just gonna ignore Gravity Falls like that?

[–][deleted] 3 points  

I met a young woman named Mabel just yesterday.

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[–]Healthy-Wash-3275 151 points  

Fanny

[–]gladiatrix8 69 points  

Oh yeah! That was my great grandma's name. Actually, it was Fageleh, and Fanny was her nickname. So that's a double whammy in my book. Very nice lady, not a great name.

[–]freyascats 50 points  

Man you haven’t lived till you’ve met a Fegelah Slutzky

[–]greenmtnfiddler 6 points  

That's a new one! Usually "Fanny" is short for Frances or Stephanie.

[–]60 somethingelucify 6 points  

My friend's Jewish grandma calls me Fageleh. And I'm a guy. Weird...

/jk

[–]WalkingOnSunshine83 6 points  

My grandmother called gay people “Fageleh.”

[–]MarzipanFairy 5 points  

When I was a teenager I worked in the county extension office for the summer. There was a lady registered in Homemakers named Fanny Washer.

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[–]hucareshokiesrul 20 points  

I knew a Fanny. She’s, I guess, in her early 30s now. She’s Latina. I’m not sure what her background is more specifically, but maybe it’s not as old fashioned in her family’s culture.

[–]Gen-XTiegra_Summerstar 5 points  

I know a Latina named Fanny too. She's got to be in her 70s by now, but when I was younger she worked the lunch counter at Woolworth's and had jet black hair and wore sheer white dress shirts over black lace bras. Very loud but super, super sweet.

[–]Mountain_Voice7315 7 points  

The “lunch counter at Woolworth’s” has its own archaic atmosphere.

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[–]MuckleRucker3 3 points  

A particularly funny name if a girl with that travels to the UK.

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[–]Traditional-Sky-2363 43 points  

I know one that’s 12.

[–]seattlemh 14 points  

I went to school with a Wilhemina. She's in her 40s.

[–]ag0110 6 points  

I know two who are infants. I think this one is coming back.

They both go by Willie.

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[–]More-Complaint 147 points  

Myrtle

[–]50 somethingthingmom 49 points  

This was my grandmothers first name and she hated it. So she went my her middle name which was Edna. Which I think could also be on this list.

[–]ChangeAdventurous812 4 points  

My great grandmother went by her middle name, Elmira, which I just can not understand since her first name was Caroline.

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[–]Gen XNarrow-Big7087 17 points  

I have a neighbour named Myrtle. I don’t think she’s any older than 75.

[–]lgm22 9 points  

Lillian. My grandmothers middle name, Grace was her first, always loved that.

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[–]Beruthiel999 65 points  

One of the best opening lines of all time: "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." (CS Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader)

[–]asiledeneg 8 points  

Tailor: Euripedes?

Client: Eumenides?

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[–]avidthinker83 6 points  

Good ol’ Orville Orville Redenbacher. It’s now 1am. Guess I’ll go pop some popcorn now. Made me hungry.

[–]30 somethingblenneman05 4 points  

My 1937 born Gwamma’s dad was named Orville. He died at 35 years old of a heart attack at the breakfast table in Beardsley, Minnesota

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[–]Pleasant-Pattern7748 57 points  

there’s a kermit at my daughter’s school. i think he’s in 4th or 5th grade.

[–]Deadlysinger 35 points  

I know a Kermit and I’m not talking about Teddy Roosevelt’s son. He comes from a long line of Kermit’s but he only had daughters so it dies with him. My Kermit is 39.

[–]60 somethingtogtogtog[🍰] 5 points  

I would just call one of my daughters Kermit.

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[–]BatUnlucky121 4 points  

Kermit Ruffins the trumpet player was born in 1964.

[–]NOLA2Cincy 4 points  

Successful trumpeter and night club owner from New Orleans, Kermit Ruffins, is only 60. Given his currently popularity here, I suspect there will be some little Kermits running around soon.

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[–]brightonianbs 5 points  

There was a local politician in Brighton, England with the magnificent name of Nimrod Ping.

[–]Dry_Amount2779 5 points  

I laughed out loud when a little boy introduced himself as Nimrod. Lots of introspection and regret afterwards.

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[–]CosmicTurtle504 48 points  

“Why’re you calling me “Jésus”? Do I look Puerto Rican to you?”

“The guy back there called you Jésus.”

“No, he said “Hey, Zeus!” My name is Zeus.”

“Zeus?”

“Yes, Zeus! As in Father of Apollo? Mount Olympus? Don’t-fuck-with-me-or-I’ll-shove-a-lightning-bolt-up-your-ass Zeus! You got a problem with that?”

— Die Hard With a Vengeance

[–]Mizunderstood22 6 points  

I started grinning while reading this. Core memory activated!

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[–]oleblueeyes75 23 points  

Hmmm. I have a friend from Kansas that has an uncle named Zenus.

[–]70 somethingWAFLcurious 16 points  

Well that’s cool! I found that some records for him have been misinterpreted to be “Linus”. I guess Peanuts made Linus more recognizable than Zenus.

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[–]40 something - Gen Xyerederetaliria 5 points  

That's cool!

[–]60 somethingRoutine_Mine_3019 22 points  

You have Zenus envy!

[–]krissym99 4 points  

Ok I can't stop chuckling.

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[–]Switchlord518 135 points  

Poindexter

[–]1977fendaar 89 points  

Too soon. (RIP David Johansen)

[–]Vegetable-Branch-740 8 points  

I was going to say the same thing. 😢

[–]Ratxat 4 points  

Standin’ on the wall…

[–]Cronewithneedles 4 points  

Barbie’s dream date! IYKYK

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[–]Mindless-Client3366 8 points  

A childhood friend of mine has a daughter named Temperance. She's 19 or 20 now.

[–]40 somethingiridescentnightshade 4 points  

I know of one little girl with this name. I think she's in 4th or 5th grade. You're right, though, not real common.

[–]Additional-Share7293 11 points  

Parents must have been fans of the TV show Bones.

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[–]pupperoni42 112 points  

Agnes and Agatha seem to have come back around for the youngest generation now.

[–]admirablecounsel 18 points  

I love the nickname Aggie. I suppose you could just call your child Aggie without a formal first name.

[–]catylg 5 points  

I know an Agnes. She's Scottish and she goes by Nan, which I think is sweet.

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[–]LesterMcGuire 4 points  

Agnes, Agatha, Jermaine and jack were all friends with Biz Markie

[–][deleted] 5 points  

My middle name is my grandmother's first name. When I was very young and didn't know I'd been named after her I told her I didn't like my middle name.

She took it in stride, took a big drag on her Camel cigarette and said, "Be glad you don't have my middle name -- AGATHA!"

So, to me, an "Agatha" chain smokes and drives a Ford Pinto. 😄

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[–]dukeofbronte 29 points  

My grandaunts included Agnes, Doris, Irene and Matilda…all verging on lost names, except a few young Matilda’s may survive due to the famous children’s story.

[–]Crazy-4-Conures 21 points  

I kind of like the french pronounciation ONN yez

[–]PavicaMalic 15 points  

It's a popular name in Poland and Hungary.

[–]AlgaeDizzy2479 5 points  

She was from Poland, actually! 

My Dad just corrected me, she was born around 1910 in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. 

[–]Effective_Pear4760 3 points  

I had a 2xgreat grandma named Anežka, probably born 1855. She was from Moravia when it was a part of Austria too.

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[–]Blank_bill 18 points  

I have a niece named Agnes.

[–]I have t-shirts older than youissi_tohbi 5 points  

My 12 year old’s best friend is named Agnese, it’s Agnes but the Italian version (pronounced kinda like “An Yez” or “Anyeeeezeh! Basta!” when her Sicilian mother is very annoyed 😂)

[–]30 somethingPineappleSituation 4 points  

My great grandma was named Agnes and hated it. She gave herself a new name as a teenager and that’s what is on her headstone. I’m named after her and I’ve got the name she gave herself.

[–]30 somethingLeviSalt 5 points  

It means lamb! Lamb of god!

[–]zoomgirl44 6 points  

Worked with a woman named Agnes, she’s 60 now

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[–]Iwonatoasteroven 94 points  

Many Mennonites in Mexico speak an odd dialect of German so that tracks.

[–]punkkitty312 26 points  

Many Mennonites speak Plattdeutsch. It's a northern German dialect that's sometimes called Low German. My parents were from Niedersachsen and were fluent. But because they emigrated to the USA after WW2, they didn't want us to deal with anti German bias and didn't teach us any German. I really wish they had. Outside of Mennonite groups, Plattdeutsch is a dying dialect.

[–]OctoDeb 7 points  

My Oma and Opa were from small towns near Bremerhaven and they spoke Plattdeutsch! They emigrated right before the war. I’ve never heard anyone else mention Plattdeutsch, in fact, this is the first time I’ve seen it spelled. Thank you internet stranger for bringing up some memories 💙

[–]SoHereIAm85 4 points  

I live in Niedersachsen and thought the dialect was one of the most neutral sounding?

I grew up with a lot of Amish, and their German is really different. I thought it was Swiss influenced? The two groups I knew were very uncomfortable with high German only using it at church.

Sorry your parents didn’t teach you. My family had the same approach but about Hungarian.

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[–]Weekly_Ad8186 16 points  

Interesting. My grandfather's name was Elmer , indiana german baptist descent.

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[–][deleted] 51 points  

Adolfo is a fairly common name still

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[–]Pura9910 77 points  

as well as Elon lol

[–]boostman 30 points  

That was never a real name in the first place

[–]Wendybird13 7 points  

While pondering names for our new cat, my husband asked why there are no men named Oak, if Rowan and Ash are names. So we googled that and discovered that Elon means oak tree. (Needless to say, our cat is not named Elon.)

[–]WowsrsBowsrsTrousrs 4 points  

Ilan, pronounced the same, is a popular name for Jewish boys,from a Hebrew word for tree; one of my cardiologists is an Ilan.

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[–]TheFoxsWeddingTarot 8 points  

Was that name ever going to catch on?

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[–]OldHappyCamperDancer 15 points  

I know a guy...he was born 1957. In Washington state. Adolf.

[–]50 somethingPennyCoppersmyth 26 points  

The PNW has a bit of a Nazi problem. Just sayin'.

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[–]40 somethingPopular_Speed5838 26 points  

They just go by Dolph these days.

[–]libananahammock 5 points  

I grew up in the Lutheran church when I was a kid in the 90s so there were a lot of German-Americans as is often the case in many US Lutheran churches.

We had this one man who was in his 90s and his name was Duffy. Sweetest man ever. I remember saying something to my mom one day about his name, something like that’s a weird name I’ve never heard that before and she was like oh that’s just a nickname, his real name is Adolph but for obvious reasons, he goes by Duffy lol.

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[–]Containsgrubs 66 points  

Bertha 

[–]Nightmare_Gerbil 5 points  

I work with a Bertha who’s in her twenties.

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[–][deleted] 6 points  

I knew a wonderful lesbian couple both of whom were named Karen. I can't imagine either asking to speak to the manager.

[–]between 43 and 56slfnflctd 3 points  

Yeah, I've known several Karens who are great, kind people and I hate that their name became such a huge viral ugly meme. I'm not a fan of common names belonging to large numbers of actual random humans being turned into negative memes in general, it just feels low effort and trashy to me.

[–]CalgonThrowMeAway222 3 points  

I totally agree. Also, strange that the collective “Karen” replaced the collective “Gladys” as the nosy neighbor. No need to ruin a lovely name like Karen when we could have kept using Gladys instead.

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[–]80. "One day at a time"Building_a_life 18 points  

Lily Tomlin's Ernestine used to be famous.

[–]60 somethingelucify 5 points  

One ringy dingy… Two ringy dingy… We don't have to care, we're the phone company! (snort)

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[–]60 somethingPlasticBlitzen 5 points  

Flora was a common art nouveau name. I had a great Aunt Flora. Lily was common then also, as was Dora. Those were the sisters of my grandma, Edna. They also had a sister Euline.

[–]Helicreature 4 points  

I know a 20 something Flora.

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[–]60 somethingPlasticBlitzen 4 points  

My cat's first name is Ignatius. But he goes by Thunder.

[–]Mindless_Log2009 5 points  

That's a proper cat name.

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[–]50 somethingOld_Palpitation_6535 3 points  

I know an Abner in his mid-20s. Talked to him yesterday. Cool guy.

[–]Scarletclue 3 points  

I know a less than 10 year old Abner! His siblings have equally cute older names. Ira, Amos and Margaret.

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[–]Exact_Attention_1193 62 points  

Otis

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[–]sjk8990 24 points  

Otisburg? Otisburg?!

[–]SlyFrog 6 points  

Unexpected Hackman reference. :(

[–]NOLA2Cincy 5 points  

A great moment in a great film

[–]VeganDemocrat 5 points  

Would you like to see a really long arm, Otis??

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[–]NHfordamnsure 5 points  

I know several Otis’ that are 10-12!

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[–]Beruthiel999 4 points  

Ick! A bod!

[–]PleasantYesterday671 3 points  

There is a guy in my yoga class named Ichabod - he's so annoying

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[–]Saint_fartina 85 points  

Increase. Barnabas.

[–]pit-of-despair 69 points  

Decrease. Cotton.

[–]pearlywest 6 points  

I have an ancestor named Hatevil. You don't see THAT anymore!

[–]Low_Cook_5235 23 points  

Increase! I’m from WI and buildings, parks etc are named after Increase Lapham

[–]50 somethingPennyCoppersmyth 10 points  

I know a Promise in her 30s.

[–]NeptuneAndCherry 4 points  

Man, you went old old there

[–]KithAndAkin 4 points  

Astrolabe, the son of Abelard and Heloise

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[–]40 somethingBudgiejen 5 points  

I know an Enoch who is 46 or so

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[–]StrangeJournalist7 51 points  

Horace. Wilma. Irma.

[–]SpaceDave83 83 points  

My cat is named Irma, Irma Gersh.

[–]Ironikka 4 points  

Also Hortense

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[–]50 somethingPennyCoppersmyth 3 points  

I know a Mildred.

[–]60 somethingSuspicious_Kale5009 4 points  

My mom was a Mildred, but she went by her middle name. I can't think of anyone I've known in recent years who called themselves Mildred, but I'm sure there are some Millies out there who are really Mildreds.

[–]rusty1066 6 points  

Grandma was a Mildred, aka Millie

[–]Bugss-bugs-bugs-bugs 3 points  

I'm getting leeches soon. I have names picked out, Mildred and Barnabas. 

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[–]realmaven666 20 points  

honoria

[–]concentrated-amazing 18 points  

Honoria Winchester!

[–]IndestructibleBliss 5 points  

Flagg: "And you'll be reunited with your sister Hono-reeah!"

Charles: "that's 'honOhria'"

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[–]Laura9624 6 points  

There's a novel Sula.

[–]stealthpursesnatch 5 points  

By Toni Morrison. Amazing work.

[–]epikurious 5 points  

My mother's name was Zula. She was surprised when once at the hair salon she ran into another Zula. I've wondered where the name came from.

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[–]StationOk7229 19 points  

Beulah

[–]ambytbfl 4 points  

Vernon is my dog’s name ❤️

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[–]50 somethingExploringWidely 34 points  

Men named Joyce

[–]70 somethingWAFLcurious 41 points  

Or Leslie.

[–]thrilled37 34 points  

How about Ashley?

[–]OldLow-Piglet9315 28 points  

Let's just mention that the joke in Airplane "and don't call me Shirley" ignored the fact that for a long time Shirley WAS a male name.

[–]Humble-Dragonfly-321 28 points  

And Beverly.

[–]Dependent-Sign-2407 17 points  

And the actor who said the line was named Leslie!

[–]MaryAV 4 points  

John Wayne's real first name was Marion

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[–]poehlerandparks19 8 points  

Courtney!

[–]40 somethingBudgiejen 5 points  

I know a dude named Ashley. He’d be about 43. Goes by Ash

[–][deleted] 3 points  

Evelyn?

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[–]Fantastic_Tone_8822 7 points  

Or men named Carroll,

[–]solojones1138 5 points  

I dunno I know men in their 30s named Ashley and Shannon.

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[–]66 and wear an onion in my belt 🧅gadget850 15 points  

My ancestors Hazael (Biblical male name) and Ethel Eugenia.

[–]40 something - Gen Xyerederetaliria 16 points  

I like the name Ethel. I have a friend named, Esther. I like that too.

I'm actually Spanish and some of these "older Americana" fascinate me. I remember reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" and loving the name Atticus Finch.

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[–]jamaicanadiens 16 points  

Gaylord or Lavina

[–]Gribitz37 17 points  

Esther is a popular Jewish name. I know two Esthers who are in their 20s.

[–]New-Vegetable-8683 3 points  

There are so many Esthers!

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[–]Delicious-Pea-7594 29 points  

Herbert

[–]Ex1tStrategy 59 points  

My first name unfortunately. Still alive

[–]DaftPump 32 points  

Still alive

Fortunately!

[–]ccc1942 5 points  

So glad to see the period after unfortunately, rather than before it.

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[–]KhunDavid 12 points  

About 20 years ago, I would have said Ruth (my grandmother’s name), but it seems to recently been getting a reboot.

[–]FarCoyote8047 12 points  

My grandfathers name was Merlin. Other than him and the wizard I have never heard that name. So I pick that.

[–]phris-bee 4 points  

I know a 10yo Beryl. Super uncommon

[–]80. "One day at a time"Building_a_life 3 points  

A friend's daughter is named Beryl. She's about 50 now.

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[–]BreakingUp47 21 points  

Maude

[–]60 somethingSunnyTCB 8 points  

I would love it if Maude made a comeback!

[–]crazycatlady331 6 points  

Maude Apatow, 27.

[–]Laura9624 5 points  

Maeve has renewed popularity.

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[–]concentrated-amazing 21 points  

My son is in preschool with an Emmett.

[–]50 somethingInfamous_Towel_5251 8 points  

With the Twilight novels I'm surprised Emmett hasn't come back.

[–]poehlerandparks19 5 points  

I know like 25 Emmets lol, it’s fairly popular!

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[–]50 somethingPennyCoppersmyth 27 points  

Love them all. Especially Pilar.

[–]johndoesall 5 points  

Herlinda, Aurelia

[–]60 somethingRoutine_Mine_3019 5 points  

I've known a couple of cute ladies named Mercedez here in the States. Still fairly common in the US in the Latin community. So is Carmen.

Maria is a very common name in the US in all communities.

Never known anyone named Pilar.

[–]StrangeJournalist7 5 points  

I know plenty of women with all of those names.

[–]70 somethingWAFLcurious 3 points  

I had a good friend named Carmen. I love it.

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[–]kindnessoffensive 30 points  

I'm pretty sure the last 2 are having a bit of a revival.

[–]80. "One day at a time"Building_a_life 5 points  

Yes, about Silas anyway. Lots of them around.

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[–]60 somethingSuspicious_Kale5009 5 points  

Billie Eilish's brother, who produces her music, is Finneus.

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[–]40 somethingPickles_McBeef 4 points  

I work with a Ulysses. I'd guess he's late 20s, early 30s.

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[–]50 somethingImportant-Jackfruit9 8 points  

Here's a list of some of my ancestors' first names. They are all dead, and I'd be surprised if anyone alive has these names...

Chlorine Alpharetta Ardeline Azuba Oisaline Bellzora Byrel Cleo Arrata Electa Emoline Fethias Ipsabah Jarusca Jehu Moses Jerusha Kerrehappuch Loddie Louvicey Mearl Melancthon Milferd Jehu Minor Oliphant Pernecia Remember Roeluff Zerelda Absolum Florentenas Brewer Ermagene

[–]IndependentTeacher24 6 points  

Henrietta

[–]70 somethingRVFullTime 5 points  

Possibly short for Harriet..

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[–]Yookusagra 5 points  

My great-grandfather was Rosando Antridge (leaving off surname). One of his sons was named Gartholid Idolid, and daughters included Eula and Mola. (My grandfather was boringly named William.)

[–]Superb_Astronomer_59 17 points  

Eunice

[–]lammer76 5 points  

This is a cute name.

[–]dprimavera 3 points  

I knew a Maisie, passed now, and she was Indeed a sweetie

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[–]DjinnaG 3 points  

There’s a Hazel in our youngest’s preschool class

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[–]Darkforeboding 5 points  

Cecil

Elsie

Gladys

Oma

Eustache

Lula

Maude

Estelle

Ethel

Gertrude

Abner

[–]New-Vegetable-8683 4 points  

with the exception of Petunia these are all quite trendy names.

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[–]Icy_Truth_9634 3 points  

Homer

[–]Internal_Zebra_8770 3 points  

Edna.

[–]Economy_Ice_5448 3 points  

Edna

[–]50 somethingDIYnivor 3 points  

Hubert, Milton, Cornelius, Lafayette, Gideon, Reuben

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[–]WaitingForEmacs 5 points  

Gertrude, Mehitable, Hagar

[–]60 somethingRoutine_Mine_3019 5 points  

Hagar. Love the Biblical names. Sounds male these days, but is female in the Bible I think.

Hagar the Horrible was a Viking man I think.

[–]BatUnlucky121 4 points  

Abraham’s other wife and the mother of Ishmael.

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[–]BernieNow 6 points  

Clarence

[–]60 somethingRoutine_Mine_3019 3 points  

My son is named Clarence. Middle name however. Middle name is the place to be whimsical in naming children. Never first name. Trust me I know and I won't tell you why.

My great grandfather's middle name was Phero, and my uncle's middle name was Quintard. I guess it runs in the family.

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[–]JediActorMuppet 5 points  

Otto

[–]50 somethingerilaz7 3 points  

One of my great-grandfathers was named George Washington.

[–]Deadlysinger 7 points  

Never mess with a woman named Ruby or Opal.

[–]80 and feelin' itsowhat4 7 points  

My dog is Ruby - from the Kenny Rogers song, "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town". +

(hint: My Ruby would do just that if she could just slip her leash)

[–]concentrated-amazing 6 points  

My niece is Ruby!

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[–]preachers_kid 2 points  

Wilford

[–]woburnite 2 points  

I've never heard of Muscum. Did you mis-spell it?

[–]ScatterTheReeds 2 points  

Mildred 

[–]mybrassy 2 points  

Ethel. Mildred. Blanche

[–]50 somethingJagged_Rhythm 2 points  

Hazel

[–]tryingtobeopen 2 points  

Bertha

Gretchen

Ezra

Archibald

Cornelius

Silas

Imogen / Imogene

Gertrude

And many, many more!!!

[–]kenster77 2 points  

Ebenezer

[–]mamaperk 2 points  

Ethel

[–]gagurl40 2 points  

Ida

[–]doocurly 2 points  

My 5th great grandfather is Hurlbutt Harding.

[–]Single_Editor_2339 2 points  

On my father’s side my grandfather was Ned, and my grandmother was America.

[–]Alarming-Cry-3406 2 points  

Viola, Gertrude

[–]Username-sAvailable 2 points  

Irmgard

[–]jim-i-am 2 points  

Still can't believe Darryl is hanging on....

[–]OftenMe[🍰] 2 points  

Hiram

[–]BrainsAdmirer 2 points  

Myrtle

[–]Knarfeinna 2 points  

FLOSSIE

[–]crap-happens 2 points  

Mildred

[–]GuitarJazzer 2 points  

Gladys

[–]HangmanGentry11 2 points  

Willamina

[–]Bomb__diggity 2 points  

Vera.

[–]70 somethingAmebaLost 2 points  

Odis, rip pops 

[–]kevinlc1971 2 points  

Ruth Inez. That was my grandmother’s name. I miss her.

[–]JcTemp77 2 points  

My grandmothers first name was Jimmie.

[–]50 somethingmessageinthebox 2 points  

Adolph. I think that one is gone.

[–]DVDragOnIn 2 points  

Ethel. I know that some names are coming back, but I feel like Ethel is gone for good. I was born in the late 1950s, and I have never known an Ethel my age or younger. Happy to be proven wrong if any posters out there know bunches of elementary-school-age Ethels.

[–]InhumanFailure 2 points  

Margaret

[–]croc-roc 2 points  

Bertha

[–]Kooky-Nectarine675 2 points  

Otto