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HelpSome 1940s names
These are some dated names that were popular in the 1940s. The “80 year rule” will probably bring some of them back into popularity over the next decade. Which once’s do you think will come back and which ones do you think will stay gone?
Donald
Ronald
Larry / Lawrence
Gary
Kenneth
Raymond
Harold
Douglas
Melvin
Marvin
Leonard
Eugene
Barbara
Patricia
Linda
Carol
Sandra
Judith / Judy
Sharon
Nancy
Carolyn / Caroline
Karen
Joyce
Donna
Susan
Janet
Kathleen / Katherine / Kathy (and other spellings)
Janice
Diane / Diana
Marilyn
Martha
Gloria
*previously posted as summitseeker*
--hike more / worry less--
Donald
Ronald
Larry / Lawrence
Gary
Kenneth
Raymond
Harold
Douglas
Melvin
Marvin
Leonard
Eugene
Barbara
Patricia
Linda
Carol
Sandra
Judith / Judy
Sharon
Nancy
Carolyn / Caroline
Karen
Joyce
Donna
Susan
Janet
Kathleen / Katherine / Kathy (and other spellings)
Janice
Diane / Diana
Marilyn
Martha
Gloria
*previously posted as summitseeker*
--hike more / worry less--
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I met a 24 year old Linda the other day. It was kind of nice, or unexpected at least. It's the first time I've heard it on someone younger than me.
I'd think Marilyn would fit right in with all the *lyns right now. I've seen Gloria used for kids a couple times in recent years.
I know a Karen and a Susan who were born in the late 80s. Katherine and Caroline don't seem dated to me.
I've warmed up to these in the last year or two:
Marvin
Nancy
Janet
Same as above but to a lesser degree:
Ronald
Harold
Douglas
Raymond
Leonard
Barbara
Martha
I've always liked them (because of personal associations, so my opinion on them doesn't really change):
Kenneth
Judith
Joyce
Kathleen
Diane
I'd prefer if these didn't come back (for a while yet, if ever):
Donald
Larry
Gary
Melvin
Eugene
Patricia
Carolyn
Donna
I'd think Marilyn would fit right in with all the *lyns right now. I've seen Gloria used for kids a couple times in recent years.
I know a Karen and a Susan who were born in the late 80s. Katherine and Caroline don't seem dated to me.
I've warmed up to these in the last year or two:
Marvin
Nancy
Janet
Same as above but to a lesser degree:
Ronald
Harold
Douglas
Raymond
Leonard
Barbara
Martha
I've always liked them (because of personal associations, so my opinion on them doesn't really change):
Kenneth
Judith
Joyce
Kathleen
Diane
I'd prefer if these didn't come back (for a while yet, if ever):
Donald
Larry
Gary
Melvin
Eugene
Patricia
Carolyn
Donna
This message was edited 6/15/2018, 9:37 PM
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Lawrence, Leonard & Douglas are already in the charts in the UK. I like Lawrence a lot, and Larry.
I know a little Carol and several Nancys -including the most recent birth in my family - and Martha is in the top 100. I like Susan, but can't see it happening for a while as all the existing Susans aren't old ladies yet.
I know a little Carol and several Nancys -including the most recent birth in my family - and Martha is in the top 100. I like Susan, but can't see it happening for a while as all the existing Susans aren't old ladies yet.
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Encouraging that these names are coming back in the UK. The US lags behind on a lot of name trends but maybe we’ll catch up.
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I briefly considered Douglas, but it's now off my list. I still have Melvin on it - but it's a very common name for children where I live so nothing weird there. Leonard is my nephew's MN. I don't really mind Ronald, Harold or Marvin either but they're not for me.
From the girls I like Caroline, Katherine, Diana and Marilyn but wouldn't use any of then.
From the girls I like Caroline, Katherine, Diana and Marilyn but wouldn't use any of then.
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Donald -I hope this one is dead for the ages now.
Ronald -McDonald. It won't be back soon. Sorry Weasley.
Larry / Lawrence -Lawrence could maybe see a comeback.
Gary -This is still a name we're making fun of so I don't see it coming back unless it's short for Garrett or something.
Kenneth -?? Maybe?
Raymond -Ew, I hope not.
Harold -Maybe in some places, but not in the US and that's mostly the mindset I have to go off of.
Douglas -I can see this returning. My sister named her terrier Douglas last year. Douglas Booth is young. I can see it working.
Melvin -Isn't this the giraffe on Madagascar? Nothing special so I hope it doesnt.
Marvin -ew. No thanks.
Leonard -Leo, yes. Maybe even Leopold. I can't see Leonard any time soon.
Eugene -Eugene is like the only form of this name, I don't like. All of the other forms are so much more attractive. But if I came back, I wouldn't hate it and it might would help popularize Eugenia.
Barbara -meh. I don't feel like we're there yet.
Patricia -ditto
Linda -This one has teh set backs of having been too close to Lindsey and will therefore hold it back until the generations have forgotten Lindsey more too.
Carol -This one may take a surprising turn when Captain Marvel comes out next year. Who knows? Her name is Captain Carol Danvers.
Ronald -McDonald. It won't be back soon. Sorry Weasley.
Larry / Lawrence -Lawrence could maybe see a comeback.
Gary -This is still a name we're making fun of so I don't see it coming back unless it's short for Garrett or something.
Kenneth -?? Maybe?
Raymond -Ew, I hope not.
Harold -Maybe in some places, but not in the US and that's mostly the mindset I have to go off of.
Douglas -I can see this returning. My sister named her terrier Douglas last year. Douglas Booth is young. I can see it working.
Melvin -Isn't this the giraffe on Madagascar? Nothing special so I hope it doesnt.
Marvin -ew. No thanks.
Leonard -Leo, yes. Maybe even Leopold. I can't see Leonard any time soon.
Eugene -Eugene is like the only form of this name, I don't like. All of the other forms are so much more attractive. But if I came back, I wouldn't hate it and it might would help popularize Eugenia.
Barbara -meh. I don't feel like we're there yet.
Patricia -ditto
Linda -This one has teh set backs of having been too close to Lindsey and will therefore hold it back until the generations have forgotten Lindsey more too.
Carol -This one may take a surprising turn when Captain Marvel comes out next year. Who knows? Her name is Captain Carol Danvers.
This message was edited 6/15/2018, 12:00 PM
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I also just remember that I grew up with a kid named Douglas nn Doug so he'd just now be in his late 20s.
It didn't strike me as odd in elementary, but I remember looking back on it in high school and thinking his name was odd for our time.
Also, my sister just got her dog shaved into a funny schnauzer look and now refers to him as "New Doug."
It didn't strike me as odd in elementary, but I remember looking back on it in high school and thinking his name was odd for our time.
Also, my sister just got her dog shaved into a funny schnauzer look and now refers to him as "New Doug."
This message was edited 6/15/2018, 12:06 PM
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Aww! Doug is such a cute name for a schnauzer. I’m sure he looks adorable
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Names I could see rising again in the next ten years:
Laurence
Douglas
Marvin
Leonard
Judith
Nancy
Joyce
Kathleen
Diana
Marilyn
Martha
Gloria
Names that I think will become fashionable again further in the future:
Raymond
Kenneth
Harold
Melvin
Eugene
Patricia
Sharon
Carol
Karen
Susan
Janet
Diane
Janice
Names I think will be gone for a looooong time:
Donald
Ronald
Larry
Gary
Barbara
Linda
Donna
Kathy
Names that never left:
Caroline
Katherine
Laurence
Douglas
Marvin
Leonard
Judith
Nancy
Joyce
Kathleen
Diana
Marilyn
Martha
Gloria
Names that I think will become fashionable again further in the future:
Raymond
Kenneth
Harold
Melvin
Eugene
Patricia
Sharon
Carol
Karen
Susan
Janet
Diane
Janice
Names I think will be gone for a looooong time:
Donald
Ronald
Larry
Gary
Barbara
Linda
Donna
Kathy
Names that never left:
Caroline
Katherine
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I mostly agree with this. Definitely think -ary names won’t come back; they were the 1940s version of -ayden names and are really tied to that time period. Of course I could be wrong.
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Funny you should say that, I was watching Parks and Rec recently and thinking about the gag where Jerry starts getting called a different rhyming name every season and picturing that with -aden names in like 50 years,, some poor guy named Kaden whose coworkers won’t stop calling him Brayden and Jaden and Hayden. Hehe.
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No need to wait 50 years — it happens to me now with some regularity. I get Aiden, Jayden, and even Hayden. And yeah, a lot of people will have to deal with that in the future.
The only -ary name that I hope comes back is Gary, because the meaning is strong and the name feels distinctive to me. It’s wonderful if it’s not a rhyming trend.
The only -ary name that I hope comes back is Gary, because the meaning is strong and the name feels distinctive to me. It’s wonderful if it’s not a rhyming trend.
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