Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
84Kviews
30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group
Everything in this world is transient, and fashion especially. Moreover, the fashion for names. What was incredibly popular with our grandparents looks really vintage and dust-covered today. Where did the wonderful Ebenezers and Jebedais, Wilhelminas and Lucilles go? Unfortunately, their number is decreasing every year.
On the other hand, there is also a reverse process. For example, back in the nineties, only the most stubborn fans of ancient mythology knew the name "Hermione", and in the 21st century the number of girls with this name in the USA and the UK is approaching several thousand. What is there to say? Just look at the NFL rosters in, say, 1992 and 2022 - and compare how much the naming trends have changed.
There is a popular thread in the AskReddit community whose topic starter once asked the question: "What first name is not used anymore?" To date, the thread boasts over 30.7K upvotes and roughly 31.3K comments with several thousand incredibly diverse first names.
Bored Panda has compiled for you a list of the most popular comments of this thread: from the ancient and even fictional Gilgamesh and Nyarlathotep to Kermit and Dorcas, undeservedly forgotten in recent years. In general, feel free to scroll to the very end (there are real gems at the end, just trust us!), like your favorite ones and if we missed something, be sure to write these names in the comments!
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My grandfather's name was Kermit. He went by KW. His best friends growing up were Ernie and Elmo (Elmo went by Bogue).
RELATED:
#3
Gay.
Have 2 great aunts named Gay.
Squirrelly Panda 2 years ago
The old definition of gay is happy. So Gay, the name, used to be akin to naming a child Joy.
#4
Isis. Poor Egyptian woman..
#5
I was at a rural graveyard recently and a woman's name was Experience, she was buried next to her sister Patience.
#6
Nobody has the name Agamemnon anymore.
I plan to fix that some day.
#8
Judas
#10
Had a Great Grandfather named Granite Commodore. I look forward to my son assuming this bad a*s name.
Edit: His name was Garnet Commodore. I typed this comment via mobile, didn't proofread. I come back 6 days later and this f****r blew up. My highest rated comment ever was a complete mistake. s**t.
#11
Flavius. Though my sister insists she's going to name one of her children that when she has them. My mother says there's no way she's allowing that
Edit: firstly, holy s**t I did not expect this many upvotes
Secondly, my comment about my sister naming one of her children Flavius isn't serious, she says it to get a rise from my mother. It's just a family inside joke.
Lastly, yeah I get that it's still a popular name in Romania, 100 people have already told me that.
kim morris 2 years ago
I very much wanted to name my first born son "Robin", was told no in very stern terms by my ex. So he was named Something Benjamin. Then my FIL told me to change his middle name, because it sounded "too Jewish". I am not making this up. Second son. My inlaws came to the hospital, and again told me to change HIS name, because it would be confused with his great-uncle, who was 80something at the time. Nevermind that her children were named after her brother, her other brother, her husband, and her cousin. SO glad they're both dead now.
#13
Hortense
Jefferson Selvy 2 years ago
The name of one of King Charles II's mistresses (there were many).
#15
I went to school with 2 different boys named Storm while I was growing up. Different schools, but they both had mullets and wore NASCAR shirts. Never again will we live in such a magical time.
Bill Tinsley 2 years ago
I used to know a girl named stormi. I currently work with two different girls named autumn and winter. Winters best friend from childhood is named spring.
#17
I dunno about you, but I haven't seen many people named Gilgamesh lately.
#18
Llewellyn. I believe there was no registry of this name being used for newborns last year.
#19
Jeeves. But I think it has a strong correlation to butlers and no parent wants to condemn their child to a life of butler-hood. Hell, even Jerry Seinfeld had a bit on that name.
Edit: TIL there was a series of short stories about a man named Reginald Jeeves. I always thought Jeeves was a first name. In fact, I've only ever heard of it used as the main identifier and never as a surname. The more you know. I still stand by my answer though.
#20
I can tell you that there certainly are children in the UK school system right now with the following names, which were suggested in posts here:
Amadeus, Ethel, Reginald, Roger, Maurice, Mercedes, Wilhelmina, Julius, Mildred, Myra, Myrtle, Beulah, Cora, Isis and Osama.
No Adolf, Rutherford, Orenthal or Judas though.
#23
I see a lot of people suggesting "old lady names" but they are the super popular ones. My daughter's preschool classmates and my high school friends children have names like Cora, Louisa, Mabel, Millie, Maeve, Evelyn, Dorothy/Dottie, Matilda, Gertrude, Pearl.
Not a single Jessica, Ashley, Heather, Jennifer, or any of those over-saturated 80s baby names.
#24
Gary. Once a very common name, only four babies were called Gary last year in the UK.
Just doesn't have a ring to it, little baby Gary.
#26
Was at a church and saw a grave to "Manly Powers." I've never met a "Manly" before. All of us guys decided to have our picture taken with the grave while we flexed our muscles.
Ian Webling 2 years ago
We had a chap called Simon Manley in school. He was very short. One day in geography class, the teacher was out and he was jumping from desk to desk. My neighbour looks at me and says, "One small step for man, one giant leap for Manley."
#27
Dorcus, it was my great-grandmother's name.
Lorraine R 2 years ago
Are you sure it wasn't the Biblical name Dorcas, which means 'gazelle'?
#30
Caillou
What do you think ?
Nathaniel 2 years ago
David Bowie's grandmother is buried in a graveyard near me. Her name was Zillah. Apparently it is biblical? I had a co worker who was pregnant, I put this forward as possible name. But it was a no.
Peign Gaming 2 years ago
Zillah is part of the story of Genesis. The name means Shade.
Load More Replies...
CozyPanda 2 years ago
Hmmm...they are names that are common in Africa even today along with Faith, Praise, Beauty, Blessing and other such names
Load More Replies...
Mad Dragon 2 years ago
I don't know why some people feel the need to resurrect old-fashioned names for their kids.*Turns to daughter* Right, Emmeline?
Nathaniel 2 years ago
David Bowie's grandmother is buried in a graveyard near me. Her name was Zillah. Apparently it is biblical? I had a co worker who was pregnant, I put this forward as possible name. But it was a no.
Peign Gaming 2 years ago
Zillah is part of the story of Genesis. The name means Shade.
Load More Replies... CozyPanda 2 years ago
Hmmm...they are names that are common in Africa even today along with Faith, Praise, Beauty, Blessing and other such names
Load More Replies... Mad Dragon 2 years ago
I don't know why some people feel the need to resurrect old-fashioned names for their kids.*Turns to daughter* Right, Emmeline?
Related on Bored Panda
