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HelpWhich decade had the best names?
I know it might be hard but try to just look at the names and at their sound/ meaning etc and try not to include popularity or whether they're dated or not. Just imagine they were all uncommon and had never been used, just sound wise, which decade had the best baby names?
I just realized that the 80s had very very nice baby names, most of them very feminine and dignified :P I mean it never really occured to me because I was born in the late 80s so many of them are very boring to me but when you try to put popularity aside there are some really beautiful names on the list.
Here are the lists, by the way:
http://www.behindthename.com/top/
This message was edited 4/5/2012, 4:47 PM
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It's hard for me to pick a favorite. The 60s and the 90s are probably the two decades I'm least attracted to, but I could still easily name children off the top 100 from every decade of the 20th century.
If I have to pick just one, I pick the 40s. For today, anyway.
If I have to pick just one, I pick the 40s. For today, anyway.
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I'd say the 1900 to 1909 period.
2000 to 2009 wasn't bad but the rise of Neveah scared me out of that one in my opinion. Especially since I can't use the Roman Empire data.
2000 to 2009 wasn't bad but the rise of Neveah scared me out of that one in my opinion. Especially since I can't use the Roman Empire data.
This message was edited 4/6/2012, 5:38 AM
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I'm going to look at the top 15 for each decade and I guess I'll find out that way.
TLDR:
it's a tie between the 1900's and the 1910's. :P
But I feel extremely passionless about all of these names except maybe Jacob. None of the top names are really horrible, I guess, just boring.
(I was sort of going with "If I had to name a child off this list, what would I accept?)
1880-1889:
William, Henry, Thomas, Edward, Walter
Mary, Anna, Margaret, Grace, Ethel
(10/30)
1890-1899:
William, Edward, Henry, Thomas, Walter
Mary, Anna, Margaret, Helen, Ethel,
(10/30)
1900-1909:
William, Edward, Thomas, Henry, Walter
Mary, Helen, Margaret, Anna, Ethel, Lillian
(11/30)
1910-1919:
William, Edward, Thomas, Walter, Henry
Mary, Helen, Margaret, Anna, Frances, Lillian
(11/30)
1920-1929:
William, Edward, Thomas
TLDR:
it's a tie between the 1900's and the 1910's. :P
But I feel extremely passionless about all of these names except maybe Jacob. None of the top names are really horrible, I guess, just boring.
(I was sort of going with "If I had to name a child off this list, what would I accept?)
1880-1889:
William, Henry, Thomas, Edward, Walter
Mary, Anna, Margaret, Grace, Ethel
(10/30)
1890-1899:
William, Edward, Henry, Thomas, Walter
Mary, Anna, Margaret, Helen, Ethel,
(10/30)
1900-1909:
William, Edward, Thomas, Henry, Walter
Mary, Helen, Margaret, Anna, Ethel, Lillian
(11/30)
1910-1919:
William, Edward, Thomas, Walter, Henry
Mary, Helen, Margaret, Anna, Frances, Lillian
(11/30)
1920-1929:
William, Edward, Thomas
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I decided to look at the lists (top 100) and write all the names down I love and would use as first or middle names if they weren't common (I try to just focus on the names and not on their popularity or whether they are dated) :) I like many other names such as Margaret, Marie, Pamela, Carolyn, Catherine and Virginia but not enough to use.
The 80s won :P My least favorite decades are the 40s and 50s. I decided not to look at the 90s etc because they don't have lists for the whole decades.
1880-1889: (12 names)
Elizabeth
Clara
Grace
Mabel
Lillie
Jessie
Ada
Mae
Hazel
Georgia
Emily
Amanda
1890-1899: (12 names)
Elizabeth
Clara
Grace
Mabel
Hazel
Lillie
Jessie
Mae
Dorothy
Emily
Georgia
Lucille
1900-1909: (14 names)
Elizabeth
Dorothy (wow this one is rising fast)
Grace
Clara
Hazel
Mabel
Lillie
Lucille
Jessie
Mae
Eleanor
Ada
Violet
Georgia
The 80s won :P My least favorite decades are the 40s and 50s. I decided not to look at the 90s etc because they don't have lists for the whole decades.
1880-1889: (12 names)
Elizabeth
Clara
Grace
Mabel
Lillie
Jessie
Ada
Mae
Hazel
Georgia
Emily
Amanda
1890-1899: (12 names)
Elizabeth
Clara
Grace
Mabel
Hazel
Lillie
Jessie
Mae
Dorothy
Emily
Georgia
Lucille
1900-1909: (14 names)
Elizabeth
Dorothy (wow this one is rising fast)
Grace
Clara
Hazel
Mabel
Lillie
Lucille
Jessie
Mae
Eleanor
Ada
Violet
Georgia
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I decided not to look at the 90s etc because they don't have lists for the whole decades.
http://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/ud/1990
The Top page probably could use a bit of a rewrite, because the data is on the site, but you have to know how to find it. The link here will give you the data for the decade.
We also have:
http://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/ud/2000
which is 2000-2009 :)
http://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/ud/1990
The Top page probably could use a bit of a rewrite, because the data is on the site, but you have to know how to find it. The link here will give you the data for the decade.
We also have:
http://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/ud/2000
which is 2000-2009 :)
This message was edited 4/5/2012, 10:03 PM
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I find the names from the 1980s the most attractive, also. I avoided most of them only because of their popularity. But I find it impossible to believe that this has nothing to do with when I was born. I find the 1920s and 1930s names all too plain and rather ugly, but obviously people back then didn't think so, and they weren't finding reasons to use Jennifer, Amy, Amanda, Michelle, etc. I pretty much think there's no escaping letting what is popular color one's perceptions. And now that I'm older, I confess, I am appalled at some of the names that are popping up in the top hundred (even the top ten) and it makes me wonder what's going on with the younger generation and what the world is coming to.
I was actually more interested in the top ten "Biggest Flash in the Pans" list under Name Analysis. This is because both my first and middle names are on that list! My first name was in the top one hundred for thirty-five years and my middle name was also in the top one hundred for thirty-five years. The average number of years for being in the top one hundred, for all ten names, was twenty-nine years. Are these really "flash-in-the-pans"? It seems to me that this is a pretty average length of time for a name to be popular. Granted, there are a few names, particularly boys' names, that haven't really had rises and falls in popularity, but I don't think that all names should be judged by that.
I was actually more interested in the top ten "Biggest Flash in the Pans" list under Name Analysis. This is because both my first and middle names are on that list! My first name was in the top one hundred for thirty-five years and my middle name was also in the top one hundred for thirty-five years. The average number of years for being in the top one hundred, for all ten names, was twenty-nine years. Are these really "flash-in-the-pans"? It seems to me that this is a pretty average length of time for a name to be popular. Granted, there are a few names, particularly boys' names, that haven't really had rises and falls in popularity, but I don't think that all names should be judged by that.
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The 1700s
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troll?
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Really? I`m a troll? I think you have been grossly misinformed as to what constitutes a troll.
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definitely a troll
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Very curious....
as to why you remain convinced of my troll designation. Maybe you`re just a troll as well, whose schtick is accusing others for no good reason?
I`ve been on BtN for over four years, so why don`t you go get your fill of self-righteousness somewhere else. And maybe post more than three words one of these days.
as to why you remain convinced of my troll designation. Maybe you`re just a troll as well, whose schtick is accusing others for no good reason?
I`ve been on BtN for over four years, so why don`t you go get your fill of self-righteousness somewhere else. And maybe post more than three words one of these days.
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No, I'm not a troll, people here actually know my user name and I've been here for even longer than you.
Your answer was troll-ish indeed. Either that or you didn't read my original post at all.
Sorry, just from your answer to my post I thought you were a troll! I apologize!
Your answer was troll-ish indeed. Either that or you didn't read my original post at all.
Sorry, just from your answer to my post I thought you were a troll! I apologize!
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I recognize you as someone who has been here a long time, so I'm not saying you are a troll.
But your answer to this post was "trollish." The question was which names are liked, based upon a decade, and based upon the popularity charts. You answered "The 1700s", which is not a decade, but a century, and is a time for which there are no popularity charts. It was also a time when a much smaller number of names were used, and all of them would be tried-and-true old classics, anyway, as any namenerd would know, certainly one who has been here for over four years.
So the answer appeared to be one that was made only to poke fun at the question, which makes it appear "trollish." Though you may not be a troll.
But your answer to this post was "trollish." The question was which names are liked, based upon a decade, and based upon the popularity charts. You answered "The 1700s", which is not a decade, but a century, and is a time for which there are no popularity charts. It was also a time when a much smaller number of names were used, and all of them would be tried-and-true old classics, anyway, as any namenerd would know, certainly one who has been here for over four years.
So the answer appeared to be one that was made only to poke fun at the question, which makes it appear "trollish." Though you may not be a troll.
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My reply to Panthera explains why my answer was legitimate.
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It was an answer that was easily misunderstood, though. I myself thought, before you posted any further, that you were ridiculing the question. So you should have just explained yourself at the beginning and not been condescending and then rude to Lily.
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Yeah
That was what I finally assumed was the reasoning she was being called a troll too, and I was thinking about it all day before I figured that out. And since I recognize her posting name, especially, I thought it was odd for her to be called that with what she said. Because I just interpretted it as she didn't read the post she was responding to very thoroughly. Snicker-worthy answer, but certainly not a trollish answer.
That was what I finally assumed was the reasoning she was being called a troll too, and I was thinking about it all day before I figured that out. And since I recognize her posting name, especially, I thought it was odd for her to be called that with what she said. Because I just interpretted it as she didn't read the post she was responding to very thoroughly. Snicker-worthy answer, but certainly not a trollish answer.
This message was edited 4/7/2012, 11:24 AM
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My thought too
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Do you know what a troll is? Someone who posts controversial topics just to bask in the ensuing chaos. Are you that offended by the 1700s? Maybe I thought too far back? I don`t remember any specification of the 20th century. Did I offer too broad a timeframe? Look at the top 1710 names vs the top 1790 names; I challenge you to find a significant difference. And would a simple misunderstanding of rules really mean someone wasn`t genuinely trying to answer the question.
Seriously, help me out here. I wouldn`t be a very good troll if I didn`t know what my material was.
Seriously, help me out here. I wouldn`t be a very good troll if I didn`t know what my material was.
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I'm sorry but your answer is trollish. Either that or you didn't read my post. And there is no official popularity list from 1710 - 1790. You just didn't read my post at all or you just didn't care about what I wrote. But just posting 'the 1700s nt' without any further explanation when someone asks you to pick from a popularity list and even copies a link in so you can look at it is a trollish answer.
I believe you when you say that you're not a troll because other board member have come to your defense, and I apologize, but your answer is still trollish.
I believe you when you say that you're not a troll because other board member have come to your defense, and I apologize, but your answer is still trollish.
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1900-1909
I've got to go with the first decade of the 20th century. The names there are soft and feminine and graceful and lovely, but not yet getting weird and harsh like Velma and Enid. There was a lot of the /th/ sound going around, which I happen to love. Also, Thomas was in the top 10 for men, with Henry right behind it. Can't complain about that!
I've got to go with the first decade of the 20th century. The names there are soft and feminine and graceful and lovely, but not yet getting weird and harsh like Velma and Enid. There was a lot of the /th/ sound going around, which I happen to love. Also, Thomas was in the top 10 for men, with Henry right behind it. Can't complain about that!
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1880s?
John, William, James, George, Charles, Frank, Joseph, Henry, Robert and Thomas.
I love (Jack), William, George, (Charlie), (Frankie), Joseph, Henry and Thomas, so that's a win for me.
For girls it was a toss up with the 1880s or 1890s but Marie and Ethel brought them down.
So for the 80s it's Mary, Anna, Emma, Elizabeth, Margaret, Minnie, Ida, Bertha, Clara and Alice.
Aside from Bertha, I think they're all fabulous. My car's name is Bertha, I think it's fun, but I'm not in a hurry to saddle a kid with Bertha.
Oh and the 10s had Mildred and Virginia (erk) and the 20s had Betty and Doris (mmm) so while the boys pretty much stay the same, I went with the 80s.
I would like to see the 90s and 00s, please! Haha.
John, William, James, George, Charles, Frank, Joseph, Henry, Robert and Thomas.
I love (Jack), William, George, (Charlie), (Frankie), Joseph, Henry and Thomas, so that's a win for me.
For girls it was a toss up with the 1880s or 1890s but Marie and Ethel brought them down.
So for the 80s it's Mary, Anna, Emma, Elizabeth, Margaret, Minnie, Ida, Bertha, Clara and Alice.
Aside from Bertha, I think they're all fabulous. My car's name is Bertha, I think it's fun, but I'm not in a hurry to saddle a kid with Bertha.
Oh and the 10s had Mildred and Virginia (erk) and the 20s had Betty and Doris (mmm) so while the boys pretty much stay the same, I went with the 80s.
I would like to see the 90s and 00s, please! Haha.
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