19th Century 'Cutesiness'

[manicinsomniac]

People seem to be reacting against some names that have been popular for a while because of that 'cutesy' ie sound. I'm thinking of Poppy, Daisy, Hollie, Mollie, Millie, Gracie, Lily, Tilly, Rosie etc.

But look what the Victorians did to some of their more solid names that we seem to be reusing now. These were all top 300 names of the era!

Gussie, Myrtie, Pearlie, Maudie, Dovie, Linnie, Lessie, Mittie, Dessie, Roxie, Goldie, Birdie, Virgie, Hallie, Georgie, Bertie, Dollie, Flossie, Nannie, Ollie, Lettie, Gertie, Hettie, Callie, Tillie, Nellie, Essie, Bessie, Minnie, Lillie, Susie, Hattie, Sallie, Mollie, Josie, Sadie, Elsie, Willie, Bonnie, Fannie, Mattie, Bettie, Gracie, Lottie, Allie, Effie, Lizzie, Janie, Abbie, Nettie, Mamie, Winnie, Margie, Addie, Millie, Rosie, Carrie, Jennie, Jessie, Daisy, Ruby, Annie, Nancy, Lucy, Amy.

I actually think they were worse than us!

I want triplets then I can call them Myrtie, Mittie and Mamie! Or possibly Dovie, Dessie and Dollie.

I used to live next door to a Dessie. Wonder what her full name was?

Desdemona?

Probably was, yes. I guess she would have been born in the 1930s.

Have you not seen the Horrible Histories sketch which also list the following as genuine Victorian names:

Raspberry Lemon
Lettuce burger
Bovril
Okay
Never
Toilet
Baboon
Evil
Happy
Freezer Breezer
Princess Cheese
Minty badger
Scary looker

Yep, definitely worse than us!!

I've always loved Dovie. I think it's so sweet... Even with my love for unusual names Lettuce Burger and Freezer Breezer had my holding my sides!

Mamie was my brother's childhood name for me (apparently he used to sing 'Mamie, wonderful Mamie' to me too!). It's absolutely nothing like my name though!

My SILs Great Auntie is a 1930s Dessie, and her full name is Decima.

From the list you gave, OP, I love Pearlie, Callie, Essie and Gracie. I am a big fan of 'cutsie' names!!

Lettice is especially fine!

I need a daughter so I can name her Princess Cheese

Dessie could also be Desirée.

Is Decima linked to Decimate, do you think?

Same root as 'decem' is Latin for 10.

Decima means tenth (girl) child and decimate means removal by a tenth (punishment for poor service in the Roman army one in ten would be killed by their 9 comrades).

It's just been twisted in modern times to mean high level destruction in a general sense.

That makes more sense than what was in my head.

Dessie ruled the street, no one crossed her, maybe why the force/ destruction association stuck with me!

My mum was one of 5 sisters called Daisy, Millie, Mamie, Nana and Golda. 3 on your list and nicknames for the other 2 too! Born 1908-1930.

From what SIL has told me, Great Aunt Dessie was the 10th child :)

love dovie! Anyone know what it's short for? Pronounced like the bird?