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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

#1

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group My grandfather's name was Kermit. He went by KW. His best friends growing up were Ernie and Elmo (Elmo went by Bogue).

jemmaline , Purple Slog Report

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#2

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Adolf

dwc1970 , Brazucany.TV Report

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Nathaniel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder why the name went out of fashion? Did someone with that name ruin it for everyone else?

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#3

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Gay.

Have 2 great aunts named Gay.

wowcoolbeans , Les Chatfield Report

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Squirrelly Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The old definition of gay is happy. So Gay, the name, used to be akin to naming a child Joy.

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#5

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group I was at a rural graveyard recently and a woman's name was Experience, she was buried next to her sister Patience.

roadtrip-ne , Tim Green Report

#6

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Nobody has the name Agamemnon anymore.

I plan to fix that some day.

driku12 , Xuan Che Report

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Girts Frīdbergs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even without history, why would you name your child like that? It's a b***h to pronounce it.

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Firstname Lastname
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I named my stuffed animal Egg-amemnon as a play on the name, but that's just because she's the Easter bunny. We call her Aggie for short.

Withnail
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine a baby Agamemnon Smith... that child is going to learn to sink or swim early in life.

Manni Bhatti
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I l worked with someone called Agamemnon. He was a Greek scientist and was absolutely lovely! I also worked alongside a girl called Soapy. Perhaps the world of science attracts quirky names…

tuzdayschild
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia's life to win a war.

Atreïdes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He sacrificed his daughter after the war as soon as he got back home. I think he promised to sacrifice the first creature he saw, which unfortunately was his daughter.

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kitten levels tokyo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The letters in Agamemnon can be rearranged to spell Mean Mango, which I think we would all agree is a better name. (The letters can also spell “Goanna, mme” a common Australian dinner table comment ;)

KWilly
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A buddy from work got a dog from another friend of ours. When he was a puppy I would go over and play with him and told buddy #1 all about him. Since I "knew" the puppy, he asked for names. I told him Agamemnon but he told me he couldn't call for him when he was drunk with a name like that. I told him to call him "Aggie" for short...... his name is now Ray. Disappointed is an understatement.

Robert Trebor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A pastor friend had a miniature schnauzer named Sennacherib - Snack for short.

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Mario Strada
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, I don't see many Patroclos or Menelaus either. Maybe in Greece?

Seabeast
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Call him Aga for short, because he's really hot stuff. (Okay, only a Brit would get that one.)

Chris H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, in Greece and Cyprus, you can meet people called Agamemnon, Achilles, Odysseus, etc.

Mikey Kliss
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did go to school with a kid named Aristotle so some of those names get used still

Mary Hiers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Writing that name out in cursive is a chore. all those m's and n's and having to remember how many humps you draw for each ...

The lion tamer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not even in Greece, it's sad - too many Alexanders and Jasons though.

Atreïdes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, my name means “son of Atreus” which was Agamemnon

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#9

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Ursula, sea-witch straight up ruined that name

The_Ethernopian , Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Report

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glowworm2
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ursula was fabulous though. I see nothing wrong with having that name simply because of her.

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#10

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

anon , Hedning Report

#11

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

saareadaar , Biblioteca comunale di Trento Report

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kim morris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#12

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Never met a Heathcliff

anon , American Broadcasting Company (ABC) Report

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Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home, I'm so cold, Let me in your window, Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home, I'm so cold, Let me in your window."

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#13

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Hortense

anon , Atelier Nadar Report

#15

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

CheddarChe , Benjamen Benson Report

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Bill Tinsley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#16

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Grover, unfortunately.

Mutt1223 , vonguard Report

#17

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group I dunno about you, but I haven't seen many people named Gilgamesh lately.

Mixtape_ , Gwil5083 Report

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#18

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Llewellyn. I believe there was no registry of this name being used for newborns last year.

Llewellyns11 , lmcreglow Report

#19

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

PixelatedGamer , BBC Television Report

#20

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

moon_monkey , misskprimary Report

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#21

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Eustace.

InVultusSolis , Cartoon Network Report

#23

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

imtellingyoustories , Allison Meier Report

#24

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

kitjen , Paramount Global Report

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Sami B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad and brother are both named Gary, but it's more common in the US. Of course, my brother is in his 40s, so I'm not sure how popular it is with newer generations.

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#25

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Ebenezer

TipsAtWork , Elliott Brown Report

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Nathaniel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"'Eezer Goode 'Eezer Goode He's Ebeneezer Goode!" Who remembers that song? Apparently it contains references to drugs, who knew?

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#26

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group 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.

historymajor44 , Pantelis pan Report

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Ian Webling
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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."

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#27

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Dorcus, it was my great-grandmother's name.

pope0476 , takato marui Report

#28

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Mildred and Edith

anon , Bliss Papers Report

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glowworm2
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My late grandmother was Mildred and my late aunt was Edith. Both were awesome.

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#29

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Orenthal

doctor-rumack , Charles LeBlanc Report

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Sami B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked with an Orenthal in the late '00s. He was probably in his late 30s or early 40s. I'm pretty sure he went by his initials, though I can't recall now for sure.

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#31

Wilhelmina

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#33

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Linda. It's a weird name for a baby. Great for getting hr jobs, though.

anon , Daniel Benavides Report

#35

The name Lucille, unfortunately. I thinks it's just beautiful sounding. It sounds so pure, and it calls to mind the concept of... bright, white light, somehow.

anon Report

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Amy Watkins
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It also calls to mind Negan's deadly barbwire wrapped bat from The Walking Dead!

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#37

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Chauncey.

EDIT: Everyone knows exactly 1 person/gerbil named Chauncey.

pasher71 , Keith Allison Report

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#39

Ozymandias.

Fun fact: MY name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair.

Oh, Moses isn't that common either.

EDIT: Apparently Moses (and multiple variations of it) are quite common.

Moses_The_Wise Report

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Pan Narrans
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ozymandrias is the Greek version of what we would call Ramses II. And Ramses is still in use.

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#41

Most "Al" names. I've never met an Alfred, Albert, Alvin, or Alphonse in my life.

Edit: Everybody and their f*****g grandmother knows an Alfred/Alfredo except for me.

Edit 2: This comment was a f*****g mistake.

Edit 3: It's been a good run but f**k inbox replies.

Valentinexyz Report

#42

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group Xerxes

Edit: Apparently it's a lot more common than I realized.

ColdBeef , A.Davey Report

#43

30 Names That Have Completely Lost Their Attractiveness, According To Folks In This Online Group I once knew a kid named Knickerbocker, went by Nick.

Bonus comment: my dentist is named Dann, not short for Daniel, just Dann with 2 n's.

jcmib , Damien Report

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Michael Largey
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tried to make the feeble joke "So he's your d-e-n-n-t-i-s-t?" (without the hyphens), but the damn autocorrect won't let me misspell "dentist"!

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#45

Megatron. A shame that Family Guy has played such a role in its decline.

s-razlet3 Report

#46

Booker. I really wish this one was still used.

EDIT: This was in reference to Booker DeWitt, sorry to disappoint the five time world champion.

Fluxriflex Report