Old lady names

[Gimmeechocolate]

I really love old lady names and already have 2 DDs with old names.

I have fallen in love with the name Ethel. Everybody I know hates it and laughs at it.

I guess what I am asking is what are your associations with it as a name other than 'old lady'?

[baskingseals]

What about Joy? i think it's popular as a middle name, but would be lovely as a first name.

i also have a bit of a secret love for Audrey.

[ZolaBuddleia]

I love Pearl too. There was a Beulah in my family, love it! Constance / Connie?

[atthewelles]

Ethel always reminds me of the sister in the William books (as another poster has said) but even though I loved the books, I really don't like the name.

What about Sybil?

[MidnightMasquerader]

Ethel wasn't a very likeable character, but she was glam.

[Cocodale]

Love it, heard of an Elsie the other day which I also think is lovely x

[BloodyAwful]

I have a DD with the same name as one of yours and have just had another called Elsa. I love Ethel, if you love it then use it! Enid is great too.

[Wereonourway]

I had a gran called lettice, she was basically called lettuce all of her life.
I like daisy and connie, I think they would go with your other ds's names( beautiful by the way)
What about bella??

[raisah]

Eloise
Violet
Lillian
Alma
Nora
Betsy

[Anjou]

The most important thing is that you like the name - who cares if others like it, or if they associate it with a girl from school/a neighbours dog etc!! There will always be trends and these will differ by area - one mans 'posh' is another mans 'chav'', I find! However, there are just some words which sound unpleasant/clunky no matter what your accent. For me, Ethel is one if them. It's just not a nice sound. I'd add Mavis, Maud and Doreen to that list too. (Sorry to anyone who has or likes those names - each to their own!).

There are some nice suggestions on here though. I'll add Cecily.

[tinygreendragon]

I hated my name as a kid because it was an 'old lady name' and I'm yet to meet another Joy who is under the age of 60. But since I've grown up I now love it because I haven't met another Joy my age .

I'm sure they are out there, I just haven't met them yet

[SneakyBiscuitEater]

To me Ethel is Ethel Hallow from the worst witch books, she wasn't very nice... How about some other nicer character names?

Mildred (Millie)
Enid
Maud

My DH vetoed all of the above as too witchy but I did luff the books.

[eatyourveg]

Doris Gladys Gertrude, Mavis and Ethel are all terrible
Mabel, Constance, Violet, Betty and Camellia (Millie) all much nicer