Traditional names that used to be normal but couldn't be used now!

[CoalCraft]

So I was thinking of that old film Meet the Parents and was inspired to look for first names that historically were seen as normal or classic but absolutely could not be used today... At least not without raising many eyebrows!!

Of course the Meet the Parents example is Gaylord... A real name of Norman origin meaning "joyful" (yes I googled it nerd ), but one that wouldn't be top of many parents' shortlists today

Anyone have other examples?

What happened to Humpty?!

I was born in 1961. My great aunts included Edna, Ethel, Barbara, Lily (short for Elizabeth) and Hilda. To me those are very 'old lady' names as a result. However, they do appear to be making a comeback.

My name, on the other hand, which was super popular in my genneration ( six out of 66 in my year group in school) is currently completely out of fashion.

Whoops! Forgot Aunties Enid and Mattie.

@AdaFuckingShelby

What happened to Humpty?!

He had a great fall 😞

I had an Aunt Hilda. I do hope that doesn’t come back.

Aw - Hilda's a great name. Bring back Ethel too!

Actually she was my great great aunt. Hilda is a good name for a hippopotamus.

The actress who plays Fizz in Coronation Street has a daughter called Hilda.

I'm always surprised Agnes isn't more popular. It's very similar in sound to Alice, after all.

I love Hilda. Don’t think Agnes has the same sound as Alice at all! The French pronunciation is lovely though.

I quite like Borrodell
@Justilou1

I would assume it comes from Olde English for something - looking it up it was found in Ireland in 16thC

I'm quite fond of Hilda too.

He had a great fall

But, sadly, a terrible Thanksgiving.

I'm surprised you don't meet more little Wallys. Especially with the success of Where's Wally. It was only the mildest ever of insults, and I doubt anybody under 30 would even have heard of it used in that way!

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

I'm surprised you don't meet more little Wallys. Especially with the success of Where's Wally. It was only the mildest ever of insults, and I doubt anybody under 30 would even have heard of it used in that way!

I'm sure most people know full well what a Wally is! Except my autocorrect, which insists I must have meant Walker 🤔

I'm sure most people know full well what a Wally is!

Do they?! I haven't heard anybody call somebody a wally for a long time now - even middle aged people like me!

Or is it just widely 'duly noted' whilst remaining firmly unspoken?

My mum calls me a wally (affectionately) when I've been a bit dim and I think I might've used it too - I am under 30!

My cat is called Walnut and I call him Wally for short and say it suits him because he's such a wally! I'm 25 and I know what it means!

I think the Shrek films killed off the name Fiona.

Corona (corona Schröter German Singer and musician 1751-1802)

Re: Wally, there was someone at my school (circa 2010) with the surname Wallace who was rather disorganised and perpetually late. People used to call him Wally because of that.

When I was teenager there was a lady a few doors down who gloried in the name of Merlin Wankiri.

Laura - horrible name. Never met a nice one.

Laura - lovely name. Never met a nasty one.

Laura is a wonderful name, unfortunately my husband does not like it.

Laura - met some nice ones, met some horrible ones. Decent name. Classic.