Message: "Lesser Used Older Names For Girls"

Lesser Used Older Names For Girls

by I Love Jesus (guest)

6/21/2018, 9:52 AM

With all the Sophias, Avas, Isabellas, Olivias, and Emmas running around, I wonder when the lesser used "older" names will come back around. If you had a daughter right now and had to use only ONE of these names below for her first name, which one would you choose? I personally would choose Betty!

Betty
Frances
Doris
Florence
Thelma
Ethel
Lucille
Edith
Beatrice
Gertrude
Estelle
Winifred
Prudence
Pearl
Faye

Replies

- Pink Princess

6/22/2018, 11:34 PM

I think I'd have to go with Lucille "Lucy".

- Kaesy

6/22/2018, 7:51 AM

Ahhhhhh, Edith is my absolute #1!

Florence is also pretty high for me.

- Eden (eden_eli)

6/22/2018, 7:29 AM

Touch choice!

I love Edith, Beatrice, Gertrude, and Prudence. I like Pearl, Faye, Winifred, Lucille, Doris, Florence, Betty (but only as a nickname).

Not a big fan of Frances, Thelma, Ethel, or Estelle, but I don't dislike any of them.

- Wordsmith

6/22/2018, 7:17 AM

Winifred

Winifred is one of my absolute favorite names. The runners-up would be Ethel, Edith, Gertrude, and Doris.

- Ninor (Frozten)

6/21/2018, 11:57 PM

I'd choose Edith. It's on my list and it works well where I live, and it's quite popular here as well. I like Beatrice too but mainly with the English prn. I can't stand Estelle.

- sambchop

6/21/2018, 10:41 PM

This feels like cheating because Florence is a SUPER popular name where I live, haha. But I would hands down choose Florence. I also like Frances, Doris, Beatrice, Gertrude, Estelle, Winifred, and Pearl. My SO suggested Faye if we have a girl.

- chickpea

6/21/2018, 7:25 PM

I would probably use Doris nn Dorrie. Both Dorrie and Doris are family names.

I would also consider Frances, Florence, Lucille, Beatrice or Estelle. My Facebook friend recently had a daughter named Frances "Frankie" Blue, and I really love the combo!

- Piccadilly

6/21/2018, 7:17 PM

I'm torn between Betty, Beatrice, Pearl, and Faye. Such a hard decision!

I think I'd go with Beatrice nn "Betty" so I get a two for one. If I were to choose a first and middle name from the list I'd go with Beatrice Pearl nn "Betty".

- irene (foxgloves)

6/21/2018, 6:57 PM

Edith !! my middle name, that i'd definifely go by if not for the person im named after not wanting me to. i would love Edith to be used more though.

after that, Winifred- definitely think this is coming back already. it's adorable.

- Joiya (guest) +1

6/21/2018, 6:27 PM

I know a two year old named Betty!

We chose Clarisse and Nadine as lesser used but older names.
I also really like Dolores, Shirley, Francine, Opal, Araminta, Eudora, Muriel, and Della, ...to name a few.

Simone is on my list but not sure if it fits and Judith is another I am unsure on.

Of your list, I really like Faye, Estelle and Doris.

- Joiya (guest)

6/21/2018, 6:31 PM

Misread your request for one choice. I pick Doris.

Also want to throw in Gale. One of my favorites.
And Dottie for Dorothy.

- T_E_T (guest)

6/21/2018, 5:09 PM

Faye

- Gracie (YMPvt)

6/21/2018, 4:26 PM

Well, DH and I agree on Winifred being nice, so I guess I'd pick that.

Not on your list, but I also love love love Alberta and Dolores.

Faye is nice, but I don't quite get that old lady feel from it.

- queenv

6/21/2018, 2:27 PM

Pearl. First runner-up, Lucille.

- RoxStar

6/21/2018, 2:20 PM

I'd pick Estelle ...

Because I actually do like Estelle, though more as a middle name.

- Myosotis

6/21/2018, 2:16 PM

Quite a few of these are popular where I live, Florence in particular. I really like Florence, Thelma, Frances, Betty, Lucille, Edith, Beatrice, Winifred, and Faye. But I would pick Lucille as I like the meaning, popularity, and sound.

- Emma_Katherine (guest)

6/21/2018, 1:12 PM

nt.

- Anneza

6/21/2018, 1:10 PM

My daughter is Beatrice, for family reasons, so ...

Among the others you've listed, I like Frances, Florence for family reasons, and Lucy though definitely not Lucille.

- Tassiegirl

6/21/2018, 11:42 AM

I would choose Faye. Second choice, Winifred.
If I could use the French pronounciation for Gertrude, then I like that. Never to call her Gert, though.

- Rosalia_Paw

6/21/2018, 11:06 AM

I love Estelle. It's on my list, has been for years, and would definitely use it.

Beatrice is actually growing on me although I used to hate it. I like nn Tris as used in Divergent. Faye is nice but can't seem to like it as a full name.

- noel (glaucous) +1

6/21/2018, 11:06 AM

This would be my short list...

Doris - I like the sound/look; don't love the meaning...although I could pretend it was related to "doron (gift)"...but I think I prefer Dorcas, anyway.
Thelma - love Velma, but idk, the Th makes it seem less compelling
Edith - always makes me think of green for some reason (which is a good thing); also have an older family member named this
Beatrice - some version of it pops into my head a lot for combos, though usually prefer Beatrix or Beatriz
Gertrude - have a positive personal association with it and a soft spot for Trudy
Winifred - love the meaning and tend to like feminine D endings
Prudence - GP, but ultimately probably I would avoid a virtue name

If I gave birth today, I'd pick Gertrude. It's just the one I feel most connected to. I'd maybe call her Trudy or Tru sometimes.

- Felie

5/16/2019, 1:11 AM

Hi !!!

I totally agree with you.

- Pie +1

6/21/2018, 10:50 AM

Florence is top 20 here & I know four of them, of various ages. Beatrice is top 100. Edith is probably in the top 100 now (#101 in 2016) , and Faye, Pearl, Betty and Frances are all in the charts at lower ranks.

I would choose Frances, after an awesome ancestor of mine, but I love Edith too and am fond of Florence, Beatrice & Doris.

- Tassiegirl

6/21/2018, 11:49 AM

I like Edith also, however, I'm imagining me actually using it, living where I do, French-speaking area. The "th" sound is so hard for French-speakers, even those with close-to excellent English.
so Edith would be"Edit". (Ee-dit", not edit, as in, editing a book.

I've mentioned before, I think, that Doris is sometimes used for boys. I have a male neighbour named Doris, and my son used to work with one.

- Fictionfan86110 (guest) +2

6/21/2018, 10:45 AM

Faye, even though I already plan on using it as a second middle name for a girl after my mom who passed away last month. );

Frances, Lucille, Winifred & Pearl are alright. Not a fan of the others

- I Love Jesus (guest) +1

6/21/2018, 11:59 AM

Faye is beautiful. Sorry to hear about your mom's passing. My condolences.

- Fictionfan86110 (guest)

6/21/2018, 12:39 PM

Thank you. She is greatly missed by close friends and family members.

It really sucks.

- mirfak

6/21/2018, 10:24 AM

I'd go with Edith.

The only ones I like at all are Edith, Betty, and Doris. And Frances is alright.

- littleRainbow

6/21/2018, 10:04 AM

I love Lucille and would definitely choose it!

But I also like some others from the list, like Beatrice, Frances, Edith and Winifred.

- Rachel Shaina (Evil)

6/21/2018, 10:03 AM

These names are already in the top 1000:
Frances - ranked #438, rising
Florence - charted in 2017, #979
Lucille - #262, rising {and knowing that many parents use this for "Lucy", which is #52, I wouldn't call this "lesser used" at all}
Edith - #476, rising
Beatrice - #559, steady
Estelle - #789, rising
Pearl - #650, fell in the last year
Faye - #710, rising

These are off chart & steady (within 5 births) from 2016 to 2017:
Betty
Ethel

These are off chart but rising from 2016 to 2017:
Winifred - expect this to be on the chart in the 2020s.
Prudence

These are off chart and falling from 2016 to 2017:
Doris
Thelma
Gertrude

If I were to use one, I'd use Beatrice. I also like (enough to use) Pearl, Faye, Edith, and Winifred.

This message was edited 6/21/2018, 10:06 AM

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