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HelpYour all time least favorite classics (No restrictions)
Queenv has me thinking, what are your least favorite classics? You can define what you think is classic and list as many as you want.
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Sara(h)
Susanna(h) - But I do like Susan.
Julia - This is the only Juli- name that I don't like.
Rachel
Jill
Olivia
Jean
Nathan
Nathaniel
Michael - note that its just this spelling that I don't like.
Adam
Zachary
Matthew/ Matthias/ Mateo
Susanna(h) - But I do like Susan.
Julia - This is the only Juli- name that I don't like.
Rachel
Jill
Olivia
Jean
Nathan
Nathaniel
Michael - note that its just this spelling that I don't like.
Adam
Zachary
Matthew/ Matthias/ Mateo
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I dislike (to varying degrees):
Michael
Christopher
Matthew
Thomas
John
Benjamin
Robert
David
Samuel
Andrew
Daniel
Paul
Anthony
Rachel
Rebecca
Catherine
Sarah
Margaret*
Ruth*
Susan*
Irene (and this saddens me)
Emily
Charlotte
I don't even know if these count as classics, because to me they are kind of like Ethel and Gertrude - dated old lady. Normally I consider a classic name to be one where I couldn't guess a person's age or the time period based on the name alone, and I definitely see Ruth, Susan and Margaret as old people.
Michael
Christopher
Matthew
Thomas
John
Benjamin
Robert
David
Samuel
Andrew
Daniel
Paul
Anthony
Rachel
Rebecca
Catherine
Sarah
Margaret*
Ruth*
Susan*
Irene (and this saddens me)
Emily
Charlotte
I don't even know if these count as classics, because to me they are kind of like Ethel and Gertrude - dated old lady. Normally I consider a classic name to be one where I couldn't guess a person's age or the time period based on the name alone, and I definitely see Ruth, Susan and Margaret as old people.
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Charles!
I have an irrational hatred for Charles. It's so ugly. Char ulz. And Charlie is even worse.
Others:
Sebastian (not sure if this counts as a classic but it's my least favorite boy name ever)
Jack
George
Anything that starts with Ed-
Ann (love Anne, though)
Beatrice
Bridget
Frances
I have an irrational hatred for Charles. It's so ugly. Char ulz. And Charlie is even worse.
Others:
Sebastian (not sure if this counts as a classic but it's my least favorite boy name ever)
Jack
George
Anything that starts with Ed-
Ann (love Anne, though)
Beatrice
Bridget
Frances
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Ann(e)- Overused, boring.
Charlotte- because of personal experiences with people named this.
Elizabeth- same as above.
Frances- very much dislike the CES ending. I think Fran is cute.
Judith- seems harsh.
Lynn(e)- overused, boring, seems like every other female has this for a middle name.
Sarah- bad personal experiences with people named this.
Charles- sounds stuck up, overprivileged, demanding, difficult to deal with, dislike the nicknames Chuck and Charlie too.
Richard- I can't find anything to like about this one yet I'm not entirely sure why I dislike it.
Thomas- same as Richard.
George- to me it seems ordinary, backward, and undereducated.
Julian- I think of Julius Caesar. It seems harsh.
David- overused.
Michael- again, terribly overused.
John- see above.
James- see above.
Jack- see above.
Charlotte- because of personal experiences with people named this.
Elizabeth- same as above.
Frances- very much dislike the CES ending. I think Fran is cute.
Judith- seems harsh.
Lynn(e)- overused, boring, seems like every other female has this for a middle name.
Sarah- bad personal experiences with people named this.
Charles- sounds stuck up, overprivileged, demanding, difficult to deal with, dislike the nicknames Chuck and Charlie too.
Richard- I can't find anything to like about this one yet I'm not entirely sure why I dislike it.
Thomas- same as Richard.
George- to me it seems ordinary, backward, and undereducated.
Julian- I think of Julius Caesar. It seems harsh.
David- overused.
Michael- again, terribly overused.
John- see above.
James- see above.
Jack- see above.
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Sarah & Alexander/Matthew/Nicholas/Christopher
Sarah is one of the most milquetoast names I can think of. It doesn't even register as a name for me -- I regard it merely as two insubstantial sounds joined effetely to each other.
Although I don't mind Alexander, Matthew, Nicholas, and Christopher in full, the nicknames Alex, Matt, Nick, and Chris make me weep and wither from boredom. The situation has become so dire that I, who pride myself on never forgetting people's names, have started conflating Matt and Nick and Chris with each other and forgetting which one belongs to which person. I do love Alec, Sandy, and Sasha as nicknames for Alexander and Christy and Kit as nicknames for Christopher.
Sarah is one of the most milquetoast names I can think of. It doesn't even register as a name for me -- I regard it merely as two insubstantial sounds joined effetely to each other.
Although I don't mind Alexander, Matthew, Nicholas, and Christopher in full, the nicknames Alex, Matt, Nick, and Chris make me weep and wither from boredom. The situation has become so dire that I, who pride myself on never forgetting people's names, have started conflating Matt and Nick and Chris with each other and forgetting which one belongs to which person. I do love Alec, Sandy, and Sasha as nicknames for Alexander and Christy and Kit as nicknames for Christopher.
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Alice - to me it sounds like an old lady who is senile and smells of pee.
Anita - since I read of Anita Bryant and her homophobia, I simply can't stand this name.
Ann - it's so darn BOOOORING. Like, was that all you could come up with? A-N-N? Even Anne is better.
Anna - it's my own middle name, but it's BOOORING. In Sweden, about 1/3 of all girls are called Anna and 1/3 Maria.
Birgitta - it sounds so harsh and mean.
Elsa - old lady.
Maria - see Anna.
Daniel - absolutely can't stand it. Too many bad associations. Same with Dan.
George - sorry, but I can't associate this with a cute little prince. It's still a bad president to me.
Joshua - sounds like a sneeze.
Richard - it almost SMELLS boring businessman.
Stephen - boring, boring, boring.
Anita - since I read of Anita Bryant and her homophobia, I simply can't stand this name.
Ann - it's so darn BOOOORING. Like, was that all you could come up with? A-N-N? Even Anne is better.
Anna - it's my own middle name, but it's BOOORING. In Sweden, about 1/3 of all girls are called Anna and 1/3 Maria.
Birgitta - it sounds so harsh and mean.
Elsa - old lady.
Maria - see Anna.
Daniel - absolutely can't stand it. Too many bad associations. Same with Dan.
George - sorry, but I can't associate this with a cute little prince. It's still a bad president to me.
Joshua - sounds like a sneeze.
Richard - it almost SMELLS boring businessman.
Stephen - boring, boring, boring.
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 12:55 PM
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Eleanor and Caroline have been ruined for me because of people I know from my school. I'm also not keen on Emily for the same reason. I think Anna and Sophia sound annoying, even though I recently met an amazing Anna. This is all I can think of for now.
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The stale John and Mary.
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I used to hate Mary but it's grown on me.
My least faves:
Thomas - always makes me think of thermos
George
James
Phillip
Joseph
Nathaniel
Henry
Helen - makes me think of hens and is quite matronly...makes me think of "mother hen"-types
Martha (but love Marta)
Mabel (but I love Maple)
Ina
Emma - I'm on the fence with. It's not a particularly pretty sound to my ears, it makes me think of Elma / Alma, which screams ancient to me. But after knowing a gaggle of girls with the name, it kind of has attitude. Short, cool and to-the-point. But I don't get its popularity. I like Ama though.
My least faves:
Thomas - always makes me think of thermos
George
James
Phillip
Joseph
Nathaniel
Henry
Helen - makes me think of hens and is quite matronly...makes me think of "mother hen"-types
Martha (but love Marta)
Mabel (but I love Maple)
Ina
Emma - I'm on the fence with. It's not a particularly pretty sound to my ears, it makes me think of Elma / Alma, which screams ancient to me. But after knowing a gaggle of girls with the name, it kind of has attitude. Short, cool and to-the-point. But I don't get its popularity. I like Ama though.
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 11:28 AM
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Virginia
Madeline
Sophia (But I love Sophie)
Genevieve
Edited to add: Adelaide and Vivienne! Ugh!
Christopher
Andrew
Madeline
Sophia (But I love Sophie)
Genevieve
Edited to add: Adelaide and Vivienne! Ugh!
Christopher
Andrew
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 10:54 AM
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I've mentioned this before, but I loathe both Abigail and Jacob. Yuck to the maximum.
I think these are considered "classics" that I don't like:
Matthew
Timothy
Thomas
Samuel
Henry
Andrew
I go back and forth on James. I sometimes really like it, but I think I like the nickname Jimmy more. James on its own is pretty blah. Also fairly neutral on William and Richard.
ETA: Wait I don't know why I only did boy names. Girl names are harder because they fluctuate so much more. It's harder to name "classics" for girls, IMO.
But, here's a try of female "classics" I can't get on board with:
Margaret
Patricia
Caroline - but I love Carole
Helen - but I love Helena
Anna - but I love Ann/e
Hannah
Louise
Emily
Charlotte
Joan - but I love Jean, Jane, Johanna, etc.
Martha - but I love Marta
Isabella
I'm pretty neutral on Mary, Frances, Grace... this is hard to categorize!
I think these are considered "classics" that I don't like:
Matthew
Timothy
Thomas
Samuel
Henry
Andrew
I go back and forth on James. I sometimes really like it, but I think I like the nickname Jimmy more. James on its own is pretty blah. Also fairly neutral on William and Richard.
ETA: Wait I don't know why I only did boy names. Girl names are harder because they fluctuate so much more. It's harder to name "classics" for girls, IMO.
But, here's a try of female "classics" I can't get on board with:
Margaret
Patricia
Caroline - but I love Carole
Helen - but I love Helena
Anna - but I love Ann/e
Hannah
Louise
Emily
Charlotte
Joan - but I love Jean, Jane, Johanna, etc.
Martha - but I love Marta
Isabella
I'm pretty neutral on Mary, Frances, Grace... this is hard to categorize!
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 10:02 AM
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Beatrice and Peter.
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Not keen on:
Anthony, Timothy, Andrew, Matthew, Luke (although not sure I'd call that a classic in the UK, I've never met one), Hugh / Huw
Elizabeth, Catherine (although I like Catrin), Rose
NNs:
Kate (extra bonus points if spelt Cate)
Beth
Annie (Ann/Anne/Anna are all okay but I find this annoying)
Jack
Johnny, and most -y nns on men (Tommy, Billy, Jimmy etc)
Not really classics:
David, Adrian
Anthony, Timothy, Andrew, Matthew, Luke (although not sure I'd call that a classic in the UK, I've never met one), Hugh / Huw
Elizabeth, Catherine (although I like Catrin), Rose
NNs:
Kate (extra bonus points if spelt Cate)
Beth
Annie (Ann/Anne/Anna are all okay but I find this annoying)
Jack
Johnny, and most -y nns on men (Tommy, Billy, Jimmy etc)
Not really classics:
David, Adrian
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Ditto Luke.
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Ah yes, I forgot about Rose. One vote for Rose.
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ANNA
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Because it's so common where you're from? Or because you hate the sound?
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 3:04 AM
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Both I guess. I think I started to hate it because I heard it so much that it just became a nonsense word/sound. Anna has no personality. It's the most boring combination of letters ever. There's no imagination, no life.
ETA: I remembered this: http://www.behindthename.com/bb/baby/4515420
Do you still feel the same or is Anna back as your favorite name?
ETA: I remembered this: http://www.behindthename.com/bb/baby/4515420
Do you still feel the same or is Anna back as your favorite name?
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 6:15 AM
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Anna isn't back as my favorite but I'm loving it more than I was when I posted that :)
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Most of the Hebrew biblical names turn me off. Three all time least faves (hard to narrow it down):
Joseph
Caleb
Levi
"Really" classic names I actively dislike:
Theodore.
Felix.
William
Alice
George
Walter
Beatrice.
Louise
More I don't care much for, but don't dislike so strongly:
Ann / Anne (Anna is nice)
Winifred
Clara
Gertrude
Griselda
Eleanor
Katherine
Miriam
Esther
Luke (and Lucas too)
Enos
Otis
Owen
Philip
Natalie
Louis
Gerald
Joshua
Samuel (though I like Sam)
Jacob
Michael
Amos
Benjamin
Jeremiah
Susannah and esp Shoshannah (but I like Suzanne and Susan ok)
Isaac
Seth
Theresa
Enoch
Jocelyn
... that's all I can think of at the moment.
Joseph
Caleb
Levi
"Really" classic names I actively dislike:
Theodore.
Felix.
William
Alice
George
Walter
Beatrice.
Louise
More I don't care much for, but don't dislike so strongly:
Ann / Anne (Anna is nice)
Winifred
Clara
Gertrude
Griselda
Eleanor
Katherine
Miriam
Esther
Luke (and Lucas too)
Enos
Otis
Owen
Philip
Natalie
Louis
Gerald
Joshua
Samuel (though I like Sam)
Jacob
Michael
Amos
Benjamin
Jeremiah
Susannah and esp Shoshannah (but I like Suzanne and Susan ok)
Isaac
Seth
Theresa
Enoch
Jocelyn
... that's all I can think of at the moment.
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 12:26 AM
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I'm not sure how to define classic, I guess to me it's just a name that's been around for a long time and never really got out of fashion.
Okay, so classics I hate or don't like at all:
Elizabeth and other spellings. I also dislike most of the nicknames, but I do like Beth.
Jane
Mary. But I love Maria.
Ann and Anne. Anna is alright, but not one of my favourites either.
Charlotte. But I like Lotte, Lottie and Lotta.
Ruth
Frances
Eleanor
Sarah
Catherine and every other spelling
Claire
Philip
Alexander
Jack
Luke
Frederick and all other spellings. Freddie is kind of cute, but still.
Stuart
David
Eric
Wesley
Okay, so classics I hate or don't like at all:
Elizabeth and other spellings. I also dislike most of the nicknames, but I do like Beth.
Jane
Mary. But I love Maria.
Ann and Anne. Anna is alright, but not one of my favourites either.
Charlotte. But I like Lotte, Lottie and Lotta.
Ruth
Frances
Eleanor
Sarah
Catherine and every other spelling
Claire
Philip
Alexander
Jack
Luke
Frederick and all other spellings. Freddie is kind of cute, but still.
Stuart
David
Eric
Wesley
This message was edited 7/30/2015, 11:38 PM
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ETA
I hate Mary, Ann or Anne, Margaret, Jane, and Charlotte. I hate Robert, George, and Henry. If I think of more, I will edit.
ETA reasons: I don't care that Mary, Ann or Anne, and Jane are not that commonly used as first names these days. Their centuries of overuse means they are still generic. I think that if you use any of these names you may as well be calling your kid "Hey You." Plus Anne sounds like you're hawking something up.
Margaret is just terminally dumpy.
Charlotte is about 5 feet tall, has mousy brown frizzy hair, very thick glasses, poor posture, is always carrying a load of books, has never had a date, and wears orthopedic shoes.
I hate Mary, Ann or Anne, Margaret, Jane, and Charlotte. I hate Robert, George, and Henry. If I think of more, I will edit.
ETA reasons: I don't care that Mary, Ann or Anne, and Jane are not that commonly used as first names these days. Their centuries of overuse means they are still generic. I think that if you use any of these names you may as well be calling your kid "Hey You." Plus Anne sounds like you're hawking something up.
Margaret is just terminally dumpy.
Charlotte is about 5 feet tall, has mousy brown frizzy hair, very thick glasses, poor posture, is always carrying a load of books, has never had a date, and wears orthopedic shoes.
This message was edited 7/30/2015, 10:25 PM
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I'm going to rant about María :)
I consider it the quintessential classic name. Used for generations and with no signs of going out of fashion any time soon.
Where I am from, it may be one of the most used first names, but everyone that is María Whatever goes by Whatever.
Every class in every school has 5 or 6 Marías for sure. None of them go by María, of course. I've known a few people that go by the two names. But generally, if your name is María Middlename, you are known as Middlename.
My point is, this name is pointless :) While I love the sound of some María Something combinations, the fact that it's so common means that you are mostly going to use your other name to be more identifiable.
Maybe it is a pretty name. But the fact that so many people are called this (but almost nobody actually uses it) makes it boring.
I consider it the quintessential classic name. Used for generations and with no signs of going out of fashion any time soon.
Where I am from, it may be one of the most used first names, but everyone that is María Whatever goes by Whatever.
Every class in every school has 5 or 6 Marías for sure. None of them go by María, of course. I've known a few people that go by the two names. But generally, if your name is María Middlename, you are known as Middlename.
My point is, this name is pointless :) While I love the sound of some María Something combinations, the fact that it's so common means that you are mostly going to use your other name to be more identifiable.
Maybe it is a pretty name. But the fact that so many people are called this (but almost nobody actually uses it) makes it boring.
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That's really interesting. I didn't know about this custom.
Lots of girls here are Mary Whatever (usually a family surname) but they go by both. No one goes by just Mary though.
Lots of girls here are Mary Whatever (usually a family surname) but they go by both. No one goes by just Mary though.
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Oh I meant they go by the middle name, not their last name :)
Are Mary-Something hyphenated Marys? I always wonder if that's how it works in general. Hyphenated names are non existent in Spanish.
Are Mary-Something hyphenated Marys? I always wonder if that's how it works in general. Hyphenated names are non existent in Spanish.
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No, these girls have double first names like Mary Helen or Mary Parker or Mary Caroline or Mary Lawson. Their last names are not included. So Mary Lawson's full name would be Mary Lawson Smith, but she'd just go by Mary Lawson.
Usually they aren't hyphenated, but are always double names.
Usually they aren't hyphenated, but are always double names.
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I've thought about this for quite a while, and have narrowed it down to one per gender. That is an exaggeration in itself, since I could only think of one per gender that I genuinely dislike.
Victoria
I find it very bratty-sounding, though I am not sure it is a true classic anyway due to limited historical use. Queen Victoria also does nothing positive for the image I have of the name, and she makes it seem like all Victorias are destined to be mean. I don't mind the masculine form, Victor, however.
Alexander
I've become immune to Alexander, as it has been too overused, rendering it entirely blasé. It also strikes me as somewhat villainous-sounding. I find it very obnoxious, and over-"ambitious", as you recently described.
Victoria
I find it very bratty-sounding, though I am not sure it is a true classic anyway due to limited historical use. Queen Victoria also does nothing positive for the image I have of the name, and she makes it seem like all Victorias are destined to be mean. I don't mind the masculine form, Victor, however.
Alexander
I've become immune to Alexander, as it has been too overused, rendering it entirely blasé. It also strikes me as somewhat villainous-sounding. I find it very obnoxious, and over-"ambitious", as you recently described.
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 11:33 AM
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Agree as well on Victoria. Considering the bigger -ia names I tend to love (Virginia, Eugenia, Julia, Ophelia), you'd think Victoria would blend right in, but it definitely doesn't. Snooty city.
ETA: I just remembered why I hate it... growing up I knew a sibset Victor and Victoria! Their parents were THE worst. They were completely under the impression that their children were way beyond the other kids in our class in both academics and sports, yet Victoria couldn't kick a kickball and she once asked me if Vietnam is a country. She was just as abrasive as her mom and dad, which I guess has really given me the impression that Victoria exudes an air of "I am the best and nobody can tell me otherwise not even myself I am crazy."
ETA: I just remembered why I hate it... growing up I knew a sibset Victor and Victoria! Their parents were THE worst. They were completely under the impression that their children were way beyond the other kids in our class in both academics and sports, yet Victoria couldn't kick a kickball and she once asked me if Vietnam is a country. She was just as abrasive as her mom and dad, which I guess has really given me the impression that Victoria exudes an air of "I am the best and nobody can tell me otherwise not even myself I am crazy."
This message was edited 7/31/2015, 10:05 AM
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I also dislike Victoria. I didn't even think of it when listing my least favorites, but it definitely wins over Hannah and Sarah.
It sounds overstuffed to me. It's like a really cheap piece of reproduction furniture in a chain hotel.
It sounds overstuffed to me. It's like a really cheap piece of reproduction furniture in a chain hotel.
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