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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
    Community Member
    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

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

    I've met quite a few ladies named Patience and a lovely gent named Justice. So far they seem to live up to their names...although the only Charity I ever met was a greedy bugger.

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

    Patience is sort of nice, but something about Experience sounds awkward

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

    My favourite two ‘virtue’ names are Serendipity and Verity. Both not that unusual in my homeland, Australia.

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the name Verity. My sister had a friend in high school called Verity, plus she had red hair, so I was a bit jealous.

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    M O'Connell
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was in school I knew two unrelated girls, Chastity and Charity. Both were of Filipino, if that offers any explanation.

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

    I have an aunt called Prudence. She had 6 children in 7 years....

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

    Being French, my family tree was basicaly Nicole, Anne, Marie, Suzanne for women, Jean, Nicolas, François for men during centuries. Then the Révolution hit the fan and people were allowed more names and pretty optimistic apparently. Everyone became flowers or virtue for a decade or two.

    No One
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If my youngest was a girl she would have been named Patience.

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

    I would love to meet someone named Grand Master Cat Blaster. (Capital acquisitions tax… not the murder mitten moggy.)

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

    There was a girl named honesty in my school. Key word: *was*. She slammed some girls face into the desk and sent her to the nurse with a bloody nose. Atleadt she was honest about it tho.

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

    Patience and Prudence were a (briefly) popular singing duo in the 1950s.

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

    l like Patience, but Experience is... interesting

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

    How about: Eunice, Ethyl, Chastity, Temperance, Sally, Sue Ann, Willie, D**k and any y ending to a name, eg. Timmy, Tommy etc. Can’t stand the name ‘Tyler,’ sounds like Toddler and much, much better when shortened to ‘Ty.’

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

    Yikes https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.Fkcll0o20JVZFBelff-nJgHaEK%26pid%3DApi&f=1

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

    Apparently there was a 19th century Quaker with the name Experience Burt Merrick. Well, don't mind if I do!

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

    I know those are dated names, but I still think they're sweet.

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

    How about Petronella? My aunt wanted my mother to call my sister Petronella.....it didn't happen. I have never met a Petronella....

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

    Perhaps they've disappeared because neither one matters much these days.

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    #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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    #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

    Icarium13 Report

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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

    #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

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    #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

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