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Where’s Waldo? First names nearly extinct

  • By Aaron
April 4, 2015
Where’s Waldo? First names nearly extinct

If you’re a Waldo, Zelma or Sherwood, you have a name that’s one in a million! In 2013, only five or fewer babies were given these names in the US. Even the name Gary is becoming more rare, with only 28 in England and Wales, and 442 in the US in 2013.

Names often cycle through popularity, with some already extinct. Here are six names on the verge of extinction – according to Nameberry:

Girls:

Barbra: This unusual version of the more popular “Barbara” dropped to the Top 1000 in 1971, and is on the brink of vanishing.

Claudine: The female version of “Claudius,” it was ranked in the Top 1000 for the first half of the 20th century.

Sheba: A shortened version of the Biblical name “Batsheba,” only five girls were named Sheba in the US in 2013. Be happy you’re not a Batsheba, as it wasn’t recorded at all!

Boys:

Elmo: More than 100 years ago, this shortened version of Guglielmo, the Italian form of William, was ranked at 247 until the 1950s when it disappeared. It seems only Sesame Street’s furry friend is one of the sole survivors of the name.

Sherwood: The name managed to make lists from 1897-1963 and peaked at 533 in 1938. However, only five baby boys in the US were given this name in 2013.

Waldo: Where’s Waldo? On only five boys’ US birth certificates in 2013. Previously more popular at number 347 in 1881, its popularity has declined, due to anti-German sentiment sine 1941..

Does your family have any rare or unusual first names? Let us know in the comments below.

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  • J

    April 4, 2015

    Rhuhama, Myrtle (not in same name)

  • Ellwyn Heisler

    April 4, 2015

    How about Ellwyn? I was named after my uncle who died in WWII.

  • Dana

    April 5, 2015

    My Grandfather’s first name was Gurth.

  • MaryEllen Hall

    April 6, 2015

    My husbands great grandfather had a unusual first name Golden. No one else was given this name in the history of the family.

  • Ruth

    April 9, 2015

    My Great x4 grandmothers name was “Adversity”

  • jayne

    April 9, 2015

    My mothers name was Hertha. I have have never met anyone else with that name.

  • Nancy

    April 23, 2015

    Verda was my mother’s name. Only heard one other person with this name.

  • Leslie

    April 26, 2015

    I have a great-grandmother named Genevieve Salome, and a grandmother whose middle name was Vesta (she hated it!) There were several women named Thyrza in one family line. On my husband’s tree there are several Parmelia entries (sometimes spelled Pamelia) as well as Phyllida.

  • Donna B.

    May 14, 2015

    My great-grandfather on my father’s side was named “Zoel”.

  • sheila

    June 7, 2015

    I have a Tryphena, sometimes spelled Tryphenia

  • Dixie Ramirez

    June 7, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Vianna

  • Peter

    June 7, 2015

    My wife has an unusual spelling of her name, we have only encountered it four times over the years. Sharlene

  • Wayne King

    June 7, 2015

    How about Ralph, Minnie, Edith and Alwyn? My Dad and his siblings first names.

  • Karen

    June 7, 2015

    I named my son Andrian after my father. I’ve only ever seen it twice that was my father and now my son. I recently saw it in an old name book it was spelt Andreien.

  • Louise Steuben

    June 7, 2015

    Philinda Minerva, went by Nerva

  • Terry M.

    June 7, 2015

    My mother’s name was “Berlie” I have never seen another.

  • Elsie

    June 7, 2015

    My dad’s middle name was Beaver. He was named after his aunt’s married last name.

  • DAS1951

    June 7, 2015

    Names like Hertha and Ruchama (or similar spelling) may be extremely unusual in the US, but not so in other parts of the world.

  • Mitch Selleck

    June 7, 2015

    How about “Ertie”. My daughter’s husbands grandfather was named this.

  • Rolande

    June 7, 2015

    Rolande~~( female)~How often do you hear that???

  • Andrew

    June 7, 2015

    My father’s Nam was Kermit

  • Roten Cooper

    June 7, 2015

    What about Roten

  • Esther

    June 7, 2015

    Father, Aunts and Uncle — Verda Louise, Latimer Elwyn, Clyde Alston, Letha, Merton, Fletcher Watson

  • Jean Wheeler

    June 7, 2015

    My Father’s name was Thaine

  • Ann

    June 7, 2015

    My father’s Christian name was Fettes.

  • Jeannie

    June 7, 2015

    My Grandmother’s Christian name was Robina.
    My husband’s Great Grandfather’s Christian name was Cannon!!
    My dad’s Christian name was Gourley. I have an Aunt called Mona.
    I am known a Jenaleen.

  • Sherry W.

    June 7, 2015

    My 4th great-grandmother was named Honor.

  • Shirley

    June 7, 2015

    my grandmother’s name was Lidwina. My name is Shirley.

  • Phyllis Stll

    June 7, 2015

    my mother’s first name at birth was Holinda. She never liked it so she shorten it by taking off the Ho.

  • Robert Geerling

    June 7, 2015

    I have an unusual girl’s name in my ancestry.
    The father liked the name so much that he named his third child “Appolonia” and when she died shortly after her birth, he again named a girl child a few years later by that same name. She survived and lived to a high age in her nineties. I have never heard that name used again.

  • Julie Jimenez

    June 7, 2015

    My paternal grandmother was Otila. My brother was named Lorenzo after my paternal grandfather. My maternal grandmother was Bernaldina. My maternal great grandmother was Florenae.

  • Eva Esther Rachel

    June 7, 2015

    Just to comment on three of the names mentioned:
    Rhuhama – is a still-used name in Israel – English equivalent would translate something like Mercy
    Thyrza – pronounced Tirtza in Israel is quite a common name, meaning something like Desired (Desiree?)
    Verda – We have Varda in Israel, a type of rose

  • Judy H

    June 7, 2015

    I never here the name Judith anymore except on older people

  • Kevin

    June 7, 2015

    Yes, what about _____ fill in the blank. I think the article was about once somewhat popular names, not names that were never popular. That being said if I want a name with meaning then I would not name a daughter after Bathsheba or a son after a goofy cartoon character named Waldo so they can be forever ridiculed. And Elmo? Who wants to be forever tickled? So while I am ok with these names vanishing, it would be interesting to hear how some of the unique names other commenters have posted came about rather than just posting. What about _____?

  • Jackie

    June 7, 2015

    My great-grandfather was Doctor or Doc as a name and not a title and he named his son Pearl Lee. I have found several incidences of these names in my family.

  • Carla D.

    June 7, 2015

    Oveda Exene, Rhea Audenthia, Wiebe, & several of foreign origin which may be doing well in their home countries.
    Also some from several generations back of the AEthylfrith, Elgifu variety & not quite so old as in Patience, Desire and so forth.

  • barbara Wolfe

    June 7, 2015

    My daddy’s middle name was Severn

  • Sue Keelan

    June 7, 2015

    My maternal grandmother and her mother were both called Sithey

  • Judie

    June 7, 2015

    My mother’s name was Nedra.

  • Dee

    June 7, 2015

    Nelda is my middle name. Don’t know how my mother found this one.

  • sir_erwin

    June 7, 2015

    My name must be rare. I was always the only Erwin in all my claases in school.

  • sir_erwin

    June 7, 2015

    One of my ancestors has an unusual name. It is a biblical name; but I have rarely encountered it; Asenath –often misspelled.

  • sir_erwin

    June 7, 2015

    My family name is also quite rare; Lepiarczyk.

  • Shirley Remy

    June 7, 2015

    My husband (born 1936 in South Africa) has the first name ENSLIN. His grandfather (born in Colchester, eastern England, 1880s) had this as his second name. A friend suggested that this might have been a surname in the family and a corruption of the old French surname Ancelin. Anybody got any ideas?

  • Sylvia H

    June 7, 2015

    First name on birth certificate is Gertrude. I hated it. Legally changed it. My grandmother pronounced it Gert-rude.

  • Robert

    June 7, 2015

    How rare is Shadrack and Wealthy? Both were GG Grandfathers.

  • Pablo

    June 7, 2015

    Summerson and Happy are two of the more unusual names in our tree.

  • Gayle Scheffler

    June 7, 2015

    My first name is Genoise. No one knows where it came from.

  • Proud Daughter of Harold

    June 7, 2015

    Harold – very popular old English name for 15 centuries, even well into the 20th century, now almost extinct

  • Philip

    June 7, 2015

    First name for me, my dad, my grandad, and his great uncle: Clonnie (seems to be a Scots/Pict name, related to Cluny an Clinton). I go by my middle name. Neither of my boys is named Clonnie.

  • Bruce Kalapach

    June 7, 2015

    How about “Benedict”. Remember that the shortened “Ben” is from Benjamin.

  • Marilyn Boyd

    June 7, 2015

    My great grandmother’s name was Georgie. Her dad wanted a boy

  • Sandra (Taylor) Coy

    June 7, 2015

    My grandpa’s name Volney and my Dad’s name Atlee and on my husband’s side his Dad’s name was Upton!! Thanks, Sandy

  • Jean

    June 7, 2015

    Bertha and Mildred are other names that don’t seem to be used anymore.

  • Jeann G

    June 7, 2015

    My Grandfathers name on my Mom’s side was Elsie. And my Grandmother’s name on my Mom’s side was Thelma. And my Grandmother on my Dad’s side was Mallie

  • Gabrielle

    June 7, 2015

    Rolande, the female version of Roland, is still often used in French speaking countries. Erwin is still quite common in Germany. My father’s name was Eugene. My grandmother was called Felicie, and my great-aunt Ottilie.

  • Gordon

    June 7, 2015

    One of my wife’s ancestors was named Bailey

  • Janice

    June 7, 2015

    “Thadius” is now in our family tree, and my father’s name was “Elias”.

  • JoAnne

    June 7, 2015

    One of my great grandmothers was named Icebinda and the other was Elizine. I have never heard either name before.

  • Janice

    June 7, 2015

    Syriac/siriac.was a distant cousins name Alva is my own middle name

  • Di

    June 7, 2015

    I have a cousin, Rebel Delilith. My grandfather was Wallace William. My daughter is Mical. My grandson is Lachlan.

  • B Henry

    June 7, 2015

    My father’s and grandfather’s middle name was Bastian. My husband’s gg-grandfather was Eleazer.

  • Adrienne

    June 7, 2015

    My granddaughter is named Seska

  • Colin

    June 7, 2015

    There were quite a few Ebenezers in my family, until Dickens used it.

  • maureen

    June 7, 2015

    I have a new great niece named Wincy

  • maureen

    June 7, 2015

    my new grand niece is named Wincy

  • Cocojean

    June 7, 2015

    My husbands grandmothers name was Maud. Not used anymore I can sure understand why.

  • Shyrlee Roberts

    June 7, 2015

    My name is Shyrlee, has anyone seen that before? I have seen Shirlee but not my spelling.

  • Mary

    June 7, 2015

    Is Honoria used any more? (Irish ancestors) Mostly Nora nowadays, I guess.

  • Denise

    June 7, 2015

    I s my name rare

  • Dana Carr

    June 7, 2015

    My grandfather’s name was Creed, my grandmother’s name was Mamie, my mother’s name was Nannie and my father’s name was Gilbert. All of these names are not heard anymore.

  • Flo Henry

    June 7, 2015

    I have a cousin named Rolande.We’re french canadian so I expect it is a french name. I really like the name. Just had a great grand daughter and was hoping for her to be named Rolande but no luck.
    How about my fathers name Eximer?

  • Vern Lyman Collins

    June 7, 2015

    My middle name is Lyman. Only one person that I know had that name.

  • Mel Bell

    June 7, 2015

    Elbert, & Absalom & a middle name used a couple of times, birdsong.

  • Egan

    June 7, 2015

    How about my wife’s first name ‘Flossie’, one of her sisters is named ‘Effie’. There are a few of her ancestors with those names, as well. There are a couple of ‘Appalonia’ as well

  • Heather

    June 7, 2015

    Nesta my mothers name, her sisters were Zena and Noela

  • Esther

    June 8, 2015

    My mom’s name was Fannie
    Dad was Hyman

  • Milda Phillips

    June 8, 2015

    My name is Milda, I was named after my maternal grandmother. Her middle name was George. Her mother’s name was lavenia… I have seen several spelling of it.

  • MARIE R

    June 8, 2015

    MY GRANDFATHER OLIVO, HIS BROTHER TOMASO, MY GREAT g/f GUISEPPE, 2 X GREAT GRANDMOTHER LEVINA, 3 X GREAT G/F JACOBI,
    MY DAUGHTER A FAMILY NAME, VIRRINA..

  • elena

    June 8, 2015

    Gr grandma Zillah had a sister Asenath.
    My mothers family had Edith, Pauline.Joyce, Edna, Aubrey, Harold

  • Ronald

    June 8, 2015

    My wife had an aunt that died as a child named Zenni. No one new about her until I started their genealogy.

  • Peter

    June 8, 2015

    My Wife’s second given name is Erlyn. Her father was named Erle.

  • Gladys

    June 8, 2015

    I think Gladys is an almost extinct name (hopefully). Another rare name is Gordona (my sister’s name).

  • Toni Browne

    June 8, 2015

    Great grand mother naned Chelnissa Glee

  • Victoria

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Loreathea.

  • Etta

    June 8, 2015

    My maternal grandmother – Tishie, an aunt – Talitha,and my name is Etta

  • Jacqui McCargar

    June 8, 2015

    We have a couple of unusual names in our family Ransom is one also Philander among others I don’t remember now

  • Janice

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmothers names were Hilda and Florence. My mother was named Florence also but went by her middle name,Marie,to avoid confusion. My middle name is Marie also,as are two of my nieces.

  • Richard

    June 8, 2015

    How about Warr??

  • vicki

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Kyree. She was born in 1902. i have never heard of another Kyree. She hated hername, but I think it was rather nice!

  • Kathie

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother’s middle name was Celeste. I wanted my daughter to have the same middle name, but I misspelled it, so her middle name is Celese!

  • Lois Boyer

    June 8, 2015

    LOIS – I am 97 years old and know of less than 6 persons still alive with that name!

  • Tanya

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother is Dulcie (she prefers to be called Dulce), this is I name you hardly ever hear of, even among the older generation

  • candlou

    June 8, 2015

    My wife’s Grandmothers Maiden name was Karlina Katrina Klumpp.

  • Helen B

    June 8, 2015

    My mother’s name was Cammary

  • Alf Dixon

    June 8, 2015

    My son in law has an aunty called ‘Wattle Blossom”

  • Alf Dixon

    June 8, 2015

    is referred to as ‘Blossom” born 1923.

  • vandra-ann

    June 8, 2015

    I was given the christian name of Vandra-ann. Anyone know the origin of this name?

  • Everil Neil

    June 8, 2015

    My name is .Everil. My mother was supposed to read if in a book. I have not been able to find the book.

  • Hugo Dominguez

    June 8, 2015

    In Panama they named some girls Usnavy.

  • Cherie Bennett

    June 8, 2015

    Kayne, Zaidee, Sylvie, Kyzar, Ella, Zali, Zizwe, Xavier, Kezia, Nia & Tai. They are all my great nieces & nephews.

  • Helen Ward

    June 8, 2015

    My late MIL’s name was Hughenna – always called Ena – No Hugh on either side of her family. My 3x Great Grandmother, and her mother were both called Temperance.

  • Bruce

    June 8, 2015

    Wife’s GGGGrandmother was Redia… or Ready, or Retta, or Reada, or Reda, or Readie… her name was spelled differently in every census, on all of her kids’s marriage licenses, and even in the cemetery record book she was Ratey – (no stone marker found at cemetery).

  • Ruth Laban, Perth, Australia

    June 8, 2015

    Ruth: Before I married, I worked for an ophthalmologist and we had two patients with very unusual names – Iona Bierwagen and Citronella Snodgrass.

  • Shirley McIvor, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

    June 8, 2015

    My second name is “Naina”. I have seen it no where else.

  • Ingrid

    June 8, 2015

    Summerfield, Eolus, Madessal, Elias, Hiram, and Marva just to name a few!

  • Karen

    June 8, 2015

    Parents should be more thoughtful when naming their children. They have to live with it for a long time.

    In recent years I have seen names like Zaddock, Odin, and more recently Xail. And many of the old names like Mabel, Florence, Joyce, Archie and Eugene are making a come back.

    And let’s not forget those celebrities who think that names like Apple, North, Tiger Lily, Peaches, Buddy Bear are acceptable. Hopefully these names are just a one off.

    Instead of going on an ego trip – think of the children.

  • Wally

    June 8, 2015

    My name is Waleska. My grandmother’s name was Basilisa.

  • claire t

    June 8, 2015

    My mother Emma Maude Florizelle her sister Malissa Annaronie there aunt Cinderilla aka Rilla

  • Cynthia

    June 8, 2015

    My daughter’s grandmothers’ names are Richardine and Gether.

  • Michael S

    June 8, 2015

    Since of the stranger middle names could have been commemorating their mothers’ maiden names. The following people, all reasonably famous, would fall into this category:
    Alice Pleasance Liddell
    Isembard Kingdom Brunel
    William Webb Ellis.

  • Barb

    June 8, 2015

    My husband’s grandfather was Absalom.

  • Jan

    June 8, 2015

    my father copped 2 family names as 2nd & 3rd names, Caitcheon and Eager. His son and his brother also got Eager. This was an attempt to carry on the grandmother’s ( and gt. grandmother’s) family name. but it stopped with my brother who refused to take it further

  • Allen Wagner

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was IdaBelle.

  • Shirley McKinley

    June 8, 2015

    My name is Shirley McKinley nee Kendall my fathers name was Ramoth Kendall Ramoth is a name that I have not heard of other than him.

  • Melody McLeod

    June 8, 2015

    First name Melody second name Corien
    First name of daughter Dezarae

  • Lois

    June 8, 2015

    My dads name was Oscar Delose and my aunt how I have as my middle name was Lavina and my first name Lois are all old names

  • Cassie Rhue Jarrett

    June 8, 2015

    How about Rhue? I have never seen my name anywhere else.I also have uncles named Solomn Jehu, Felix and my dad is Homer Cal. I also have aunts named Neva Erdele and Minnie Maude. My grandmother is Missouri Adeline.

  • Maryg

    June 8, 2015

    My father’s middle name was Waldo. He never liked it, he was named after his uncle. Others great grandmother, Effa Rilla, other great grandmother Ada Lillian. More distant grandmother Sytha and her grandmother also Sitha. I found Greenberry and also Piersol both brothers of ggggrandparents. All names seem to have cycles, but I haven’t seen any of these coming back, maybe that’s sad. They are unique and interesting names.

  • Ivan

    June 8, 2015

    My Grand father name was Ishn, I have never seen this name elsewhere. Anyone. Has a clue where this name came from?

  • debbie

    June 8, 2015

    in my family there were many lula’s and hattie’s names not being used ant more.

  • Lucille Caton

    June 8, 2015

    I have a Eugene (female) also Shadrack

  • Merline Fitzgerald

    June 8, 2015

    My name is unusual Merline, the only other I know of is Merline Ottey the bare foot runner. My ancestors had 7 generations of ‘Friend’ as boys first name.

  • William

    June 8, 2015

    There was a woman next door that was named Viola called her Vi. Also another woman was named Blanche. I have a relative named Jovie. The names Viola ( Vi ) or Jovie. I have never heard them before. Blanche, I have only heard used 2 times. One of them though did not have the (e) as a last letter.

  • William

    June 8, 2015

    Oh ya, I also have a cousin named Onalee. Sometimes people spell it without the ( a ).

  • Linda

    June 8, 2015

    My Great Grandmothers middle name was Methulia

  • kathy

    June 8, 2015

    my mum was bathia

  • Terence

    June 8, 2015

    My grandfathers first names were Elden Hay

  • Jenny Grinstead

    June 8, 2015

    My Mother is Netta, her sisters Alveen and Melva. My birth name was Ginnette, which was often misspelt.

  • Chris VonTanner

    June 8, 2015

    My GrandFather is Gilbert, my GrandMother is Mary Belle, My Father is James Gilbert and my Mother is Claudine.

  • Maureen

    June 8, 2015

    My cousin’s name was Hardrous. Don’t know where that name originated.

  • Edith M Rees

    June 8, 2015

    My maternal gt. gt. gt. grandmother born in 1766 in Margate, Kent, U.K was named PLEASANT STREETING. I have never come across the lovely name Pleasant anywhere else.

  • Steve Williams

    June 8, 2015

    How about this one: Pennsiah Izaha

  • Trevor Coles

    June 8, 2015

    I have a Great Uncle Trissilian .

  • Clarissa

    June 8, 2015

    In my family there was a great uncle called Jarvis. Aunties called Vera and Florence.My mother in law was given as a second name Cornelia followed by Beaumont she always claimed she had french ancesters.

  • Clarissa

    June 8, 2015

    My name was chosen from the film “The man in grey” I believe it was one of James Mason’s films from the 1940’s.

  • Robyn Kirk

    June 8, 2015

    My mother’s second name is interesting, and we haven’t seen it outside the family: Etresyia.

    My paternal grandmother was named Dunyeld.

  • Dionise Gagiano

    June 8, 2015

    My first name is Dionise, haven`t seen it before.

  • Thomas A Burke

    June 8, 2015

    Wayne King mentioned four names, Ralph and Edith were quite common in English speaking countries until very recently. Minnie is a variant of Mary. In Ireland, Mary was so common that to differentiate one from another, many were known verbally as May, Maisie, Molly, Minnie, or Maire, Maura, Moira, the last three being the gaelic version and anglicised spelling of same.

    Lucille Caton refers to Eugene as a girls name. Eugenie is the feminine form of Eugene, I guess someone just lost the letter “i”.

  • Thomas A Burke

    June 8, 2015

    Faithful was a given name for several generations and branches in my Fortescue ancestors, named after the first Fortescue to migrate from Devon to Ireland about 1600.It died out about 1880.

  • Jacqueline

    June 8, 2015

    Anyone named Kilhooley?

  • Jo

    June 8, 2015

    My mother’s name was Auriel. Believed to be French in origin. Strange though as she was from a Geordie family of solid names like Hilda, Constance and Humphrey.

  • Gary Ovenell

    June 8, 2015

    Anyone called Ovenell?

  • Larry Wright

    June 8, 2015

    How about Johnann ?

  • Ria from Schiedam

    June 8, 2015

    Shirley mentioned the name Lidwina.
    Lidwina or Liduina was a girl who lived in the 14th century in the city of Schiedam in The Netherlands. She was declared a saint in 1890, so 125 years ago and this year many celebrations take place because she is the patron saint of the city. Still a lot of girls have Lidwina as a first or second name. It is often shortened to Lidy or Lidia

  • Helen Tubb

    June 8, 2015

    My Friend is Mavine, and In laws have family christian names of Woodfine / Miah / Sentina / Wrighton which was shortened to Rito !

  • Judith

    June 8, 2015

    I am so glad Judith is not a popular name anymore! My 3 x great grandfather was called Grace.

  • Cheryl

    June 8, 2015

    Does anyone know where the given name Rogan comes from? (My brother’s name)

  • Basil Moore

    June 8, 2015

    my Name is Basil

  • Jenny Willis

    June 8, 2015

    I have 2 ancestors born in the mid 1600s whose first names were Loveday

  • Molly Ann Beaufoy Blanchard (nee Reynolds)

    June 8, 2015

    I inherited my 3rd christian name Beaufoy from my maternal Grandmother & her Etherington ancestors. My Paternal Grandfather & his Reynolds forebears were named Crispin .

  • Pam Devers

    June 8, 2015

    My husband’s middle name is Ransom, after his great grandfather.

  • Annette Amos

    June 8, 2015

    My Uncle’s middle name was Switzerland He was born on a ship of that name en route to Australia

  • Barb

    June 8, 2015

    Have tried to determine where Ivola comes from. My mothers name, she is still living. My mother- in-law was named Viola. Same letters, different order. We always thought it odd.

  • Linda Brehmer

    June 8, 2015

    My MIL was given the first name of Alicedeanne. I know nothing of its origins.q

  • Madonna Cook

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Mazilpha b 1876 in Va. Only other I have encountered was her dad’s sister who died very young and spelled hers Mazilphy. Never been able to find out anything about where this name comes from.

  • marion cheatham

    June 8, 2015

    In my family their is an Ardwell (whom we all love but do not know where the christian name came from) was a Goliath,

  • Nick Sertell

    June 8, 2015

    I have several in may family. How about Hildegard, Thelma, Evelyn, Irma, and Bertha to name a few just one generation back

  • Sandra Tascarini

    June 8, 2015

    My mother’s name is Blonda, I had an uncle named Jb (the military mead him write it Jay Bee because they said he couldn’t use Jb). I have a cousin named JM (pronounced jay-em). I think down south they liked to use 2 letters for a name. Also have a ggm named Sabra and another named Martitia ( they called her Tishie)

  • Frank Milburn

    June 8, 2015

    My mother’s cousin was registered by one parent as Thalia Iona, but the other parent complained that everyone would say “Iona Failure”, so she went by the name: Olive May (an aunt’s name).

  • Mary Keyser

    June 8, 2015

    My dads name was Silas Vernon, and My brothers name was Floyd. Two names I don’t hear and only found one Floyd in my history on my dads side. and no other Silas. Often wonder where my grandmother got the name silas.

  • Judith Pack Gibson

    June 8, 2015

    My father, born in 1886, Knoxville, TN, was named Jesse James Pack. I recently found another Jesse James Pack, who was born in 1889. West Virginia, As far as I know they’re not related to each other. My middle name is Ollie. I was named after one of my father’s sisters.

  • Judy Dodd

    June 8, 2015

    My grandfather’s name was Ethelbert. It was also my father’s and brothers middle name

  • LYNN

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother was born in Valdosta, GA in 1902. Her name was Levada. In the south, it was custom (especially amongst the poor) to deliver at home by a midwife. Most midwives were African-American and they had the honor of naming the children they delivered. My grandmother delivered her six children at home the same way. Thus, I had a mother Beattie (which she changed to Betty) an uncle Willis and aunt willene (willet twins at birth) and an uncle Felton. Just a little history on where some of your family’s odd names may have originated.

  • Dottie Chandler

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Orpha and Opal. Father-in-law was Junius

  • Lisa Verness Cavallo

    June 8, 2015

    My cousins first name is Os Munda.

  • Olwen Baker

    June 8, 2015

    my husband had aunts called Blanche, Gertrude, Annie, Rose, Amelia.

  • Gail

    June 8, 2015

    I have Ancestors by the name of Job. Does anyone know where it comes from?

  • Duane

    June 8, 2015

    My Fathers Middle name was Eldred, He hated it. Anyone know where that might come from.

  • Carol Megill

    June 8, 2015

    My father was Harvey and his brothers were Maurice (pronounced Morris), Elwood, and Clair. My uncle Clair’e middle name was Clevenstine, his mother’s maiden name. My great grandmother was Permelia, sometimes Amelia and my husband’s great uncle was Nevada, called Wade. And then there was Zilphia, a 5 times great grandmother.

  • Gail

    June 8, 2015

    Job is a male name.

  • Irving

    June 8, 2015

    Father’s name is Lovene

  • yvonne kolbe

    June 8, 2015

    my stepson has 3 names -richard bartholomew allen. My best friends great grand daughters are Livana and Neve. Never heard of those before.Met someone called EVILO. her mother liked olives so spelt it backwards. My Grandfather from Romania: Harris first name and middle name Hopolita. Lucky no one carried that one forward! Another friends daughter called Romanda (husband Roy she is Amanda)

  • Danette Perez Caballero

    June 8, 2015

    My name is Danette.. I know of only 3 others.. could you tell me of it popluarity

  • T. Gent

    June 8, 2015

    My third great grandmother was a Fredonia and my sister, Frenita. Not come across either in my family or researching.

  • Gregory Libby

    June 8, 2015

    Gregory Libby is my given name followed by the surname. Is Gregory going extinct? It’s a relic of a Saint’s name and of an American Screen Actor hince the SAG.

  • Heather N. Paxton

    June 8, 2015

    To Leslie who posted on April 26th: Is your family from the Kansas City area? I’ve encountered several women named Thyrza in my research, though not in my family.

  • J.D. McCully

    June 8, 2015

    I have not seen more than one other ” Belle” Brody, my grandmother, and one other “Duncan ” which is my middle name.

  • Marianne

    June 8, 2015

    Some of the “old” European names that carried over to this country: Cornelius, Petronella, Petrus (Peter), Christian, Anneke, Barent, Conraedt, Heyltje, Trijntje, Tyman, Magdalena, Roelof. I am sure many of these names are still used in Norway, Holland, etc. They seem to have died out in the US, except for Peter and Christian.

  • Joyce

    June 8, 2015

    How about Aletha.

  • Gail Olive

    June 8, 2015

    My Great grandparents had the first names of Glee for her and Gay for him.! Their first child was named Doll; my grandmother.

  • LMW

    June 8, 2015

    My great grandmother’s name was Velitta

  • Tammy

    June 8, 2015

    My husband has a distant relative named Welcome Biggerstaff, as well as Friend.

  • Blaine M.

    June 8, 2015

    My ??x grand uncle was named Quigley

  • Tom hughes

    June 8, 2015

    My dad was named LEATHED
    My middle bame

  • Dennis Maher

    June 8, 2015

    My Mother was Leola. Her sisters Verrelle, Ethel, and Myrna. Her brothers were Guy and Merle.

  • Milton

    June 8, 2015

    My GGM’s name was Louisiana Semalatin Tribble. She was called Lou. Does anyone know where Semalatin came from? We have no idea why she was given the name Louisiana as we had no one in family with that name nor had anyone in the family every been to Louisiana.

  • Margaret King-MacNeil.

    June 8, 2015

    My Dad’s middle name was Temple. His mom’s name was Viney. My mom’s name was Muriel. Her mom’s name was Ethel.

  • Deb

    June 8, 2015

    I had an uncle and a cousin named Durward.

  • Margaret King-MacNeil.

    June 8, 2015

    Cousin’s names: Almeda, Amira, Ambrose, Anastasia, Blanche, Everett, Bridget and so many more.

  • Bev. Smith

    June 8, 2015

    I have the names Phylinda, Emilison (sisters) and Adelia used by both for their naming a daughter.

  • Leigh Ann

    June 8, 2015

    My grandfather’s name was Dugald. He was named after his grandfather. No other relatives were ever given this name. I think it might be of Scottish heritage.

  • Liana

    June 8, 2015

    My great grandfather’s name was Elisus. I have never found another, except for his son’s middle name, and a grandson’s name. But I find no other Elisus of his generation, ANYWHERE.
    Anyone ever find an Elisus amongst their family trees?

  • William A Rigney

    June 8, 2015

    I worked for a retired General in Tucson, his name was Ulay Littleton Jr. My wife’s name is Hilda (she is Mexican)

  • Karen

    June 8, 2015

    My great-grandfather’s name (andseveral of his male decendents) given name was Teunis. I have heard the name is the Dutch form of Anthony. Does anyone know the truth th this story?

  • Frances Wieselquist

    June 8, 2015

    My Mother’s name was Florina and my Father’s name was Amato. One of my sisters was Cecile. Never came across any of these and I’m 72 yrs. old.

  • CHRIS

    June 8, 2015

    Chris

    My third and fifth great grandmothers first names were Hopestill.

  • Fiona

    June 8, 2015

    I work with someone who is called Ben. He is not Benjamin but Benedict-cf an earlier comment

  • Jean

    June 8, 2015

    Jean
    My grandmother was named Maud and I had a great aunt who was called Mary Magdalene. I thought that odd.

  • Donna Gould

    June 8, 2015

    My dad’s sister was Inza Mona. My husband’s father was Glae and his dad was Clarence Ai. I’ve since learned that Ai was a small village named in the Old Testament.

  • Vera

    June 8, 2015

    My paternal grandmother’s name was Rhennie Handley. My great uncle’s name is Quanela Watson. My name is Veradel…hate it!

  • Locksley Mason

    June 8, 2015

    My first name is Locksley, my grandson is Locksley, my mother is Mary Locksley Long, her father was Wallace Locksley Long, and his father was William Locksley Long. No one knows where it came from, but we aren’t about to let it die!

  • Margaret Mary Nevenia

    June 8, 2015

    My grandmother was Nevenia. My cousin has it as a first name and I have it as a third name. Has anyone heard of it?

  • Richard M. Renneboog

    June 8, 2015

    We have five daughters named
    Renee Marie Germaine
    Angela Corinne Roselaine
    Karelyn Elspeth Victoria
    Naadine Phaedra Leanne
    Erica Shereen Emmalina,
    and one son named
    Jareld Quentin Auric
    None of the names are from family history, and were chosen to be unique because, in the end, the only lasting thing parents can give to their children is their names.

  • Derek Hopkins

    June 8, 2015

    Three boy’s names I remember from school in New Brunswick in the 40s/50s were Vinal, Burnell, and Clowse.

    My mother’s middle name was Venetta. My father always called her Ven, otherwise she was known by her first name, Ella.

  • Derek Hopkins

    June 8, 2015

    Addendum to previous comment:
    Clowse’s last name was Clowater.

  • Ruth Johnson Turner

    June 8, 2015

    There are several Onesphorous in our family tree.

  • Lorraine Mullins

    June 8, 2015

    My G G father was called Werlock Cant find it anywhere

  • Gay

    June 8, 2015

    I have several different names in my family tree. Gay,Guy,Alvin, Estelle,Lynna, Echo And Evelyn isn’t used much any more. These are all in the last 5 generations.

  • D drew

    June 9, 2015

    My mother name hughina cambell brownly

  • Linda Riengeutte

    June 9, 2015

    Has anyone heard of Exa, this was my sister-in-laws name. Never heard of it before.

  • Noreene

    June 9, 2015

    y name is Noreene. I have found two people in my area but spelled Noreen. One occasion researching my name I ran across one other person with my exact name first middle and last. Noreene May Bailey but born over one hundred years earlier.

  • Melody jones Meqyung

    June 9, 2015

    My dad was Thank Jones!

  • Noreene

    June 9, 2015

    I have a son named Dragynn. Some make commedia of me thinking I was drinking or something. The name is half of Pendragon. Welsh spelling and middle names Arturo and Avalon. He is named after king Arthur.

  • Noreene

    June 9, 2015

    My grandfather’s name was Stermen.

  • Kathy

    June 9, 2015

    Zinio was my great great grandfather and he was married to retinia or ettia

  • Josephine

    June 9, 2015

    My aunt was named Creola

  • Suze

    June 9, 2015

    My father was Bernard Terrance. His mother was Gladwys Evangeline.

  • Patricia

    June 9, 2015

    My Mothers Name was Noelle Batbara Denise Grossett, Her first name is quite rare but I dont think there are many Grossett.

  • Ralph

    June 9, 2015

    Our son’s unusual names are Rider as we love motorbikes and Rion, pronounced Reon made up by taking the ‘O’ off Orion.

  • Rosalyn

    June 9, 2015

    My mother’s name was Nevelyn, my aunt’s name is Esylena, and I had an uncle, their brother, named Thelmadge. I never heard of these names anywhere.

  • Barbara Bauer

    June 9, 2015

    A great grandmother named Alfredine (pronounced Alfredina).

  • Adele Pentony-Graham

    June 9, 2015

    my maiden name was PENTONY… then my middle name is GERARDINE.. only heard one other person with the GERARDINE. I know when we were in London, we were the only one in the Phone book of over 10 million names… Pentony comes from Normandy originally.. so with an unusual maiden name, have added it to my married name, so am double barrelled! Snob! Was told only 300 Pentony in all off England a few years back.

  • Jimmy

    June 9, 2015

    Doing research I ran across the name of Seaberry Buzzard this has got to be somewhat unusual and it certainly easy for me to remember 🙂

  • Carol

    June 9, 2015

    My great grandfather’s name was Mountsteven Richard Bluff. I had a great uncle called Hernhill.

  • Diane Soffar

    June 9, 2015

    How about Fannie, my husband’s grandmother’s name? I sincerely hope it is gone.

  • Carole

    June 9, 2015

    BARBRA was the more usual form of Barbara in old Scotland. My sons chose very old Welsh and Cornish names for their daughters which was better than making up odd names as is prevalent today. The modern phenomenon becomes extremely annoying and sometimes difficult for teachers with up to 4 kids in a class with same or similar name and vastly different spellings.

  • Lynn Silverton

    June 9, 2015

    I named my son Torbin, a derivative of my maiden name Thorburn I now understand it’s a known name in Denmark.

  • Alanna Brown

    June 9, 2015

    My great,great grandfather’s name was Temple. The 11th child, I think they ran out of names!

  • Carole Anne Kavelman

    June 9, 2015

    You should be able to type in your name and have it come up as distinct, extinct or who the heck names their kid that. Like Madison, Kentucky, London, Florida, Brooklin. Girls named after states, streets and heaven knows what. With any luck these will be extinct soon.

  • Sarah Morrison

    June 9, 2015

    I have 2 female ancestors from the 17th century both called Parnell, I had never seen this name until I started researching my family tree . Apparently a female form of Peter .

  • Pam

    June 9, 2015

    Euphemia, my mother’s name, great grandmother’s name and many generations back have a Euphemia. My dad calls her Phemie.

  • Lori scolley

    June 9, 2015

    My dad’s middle name was chester

  • Schuyler Erlich

    June 9, 2015

    Maternal Grandmother was Jewel. I’m Schuyler, which has changed spelling to Skyler/Skylar. My uncles were Aubrey & Grady. Great uncle was Hamp. Aunt & great aunt are/were Myrtle.

  • Schuyler Erlich

    June 9, 2015

    To the lady above- Jōb is from the bible.

  • Joyce

    June 9, 2015

    I had aunts named Jovita, Cleota, Viola and Zelma. My husband’s name is Lenard (no “o”). Uncle’s named Oliver, Floyd, Ferdinand, and Willio.

  • Evelyn Meyers

    June 9, 2015

    My parents ere good at comprising on names: one brother is Joal, a combo of first letters of both grsndfathers. My name is Evelyn (names after cousin Evalyn). Middle name is Ev + on…first two letters first name plus last two. Letters of maiden name.

    Eldred and Elfryth were sncient kings in England (and previous to union).

  • Larry

    June 9, 2015

    A cousin and his father are named Verlin

  • June Bonfield

    June 9, 2015

    My middle name is Hilda. Never hear of it any more (that is a good thing)
    my sister is Josephine Edith…Edith has also gone out of style for a name. as well as Josephine or Josie…

  • Wendy Maurer

    June 10, 2015

    My mothers name is Loena named after her 2 grandmothers. Not the Leona as everyone confused her with

  • My Name is Marhelen

    June 10, 2015

    I havent heard of another name like mine it has a silent h

  • Verdene Alcorn

    June 10, 2015

    My husband’s name is Vyrl, a little different spelling. My grandmother didn’t know what to name my father. The doctor that delivered him had had something to do with the Treaty of Verdun in France in WWI. He was named Verdun and named me Verdene.

  • Helen Wycoff

    June 10, 2015

    The name Job is from the Bible.

  • Helen Wycoff

    June 10, 2015

    My mother’s middle name was McGlaflin, her grandmother’s maiden name.

  • Bonnie

    June 10, 2015

    My father was the youngest of 16 children, his name was Frank Joseph Walbank. My mother is the eldest of 3 and her name was Merle Marion Drewes, her sister Wendy and brother Graham. I have only ever heard my mum’s name once before and that lady was of the same vintage. Lots of old names in my father’s side.

  • Sharlene

    June 10, 2015

    My name is Sharlene, it’s not that rare. But my grandfather’s name was Killien Magloire. There was also a Lemon, Eulalie and my grandmother Annice.

  • Carol P.

    June 10, 2015

    My mother, Guelda.

  • CARLEITA HARBIDGE

    June 10, 2015

    MY NAME IS CARLEITA, MY MOTHER SAW IT IN A WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT IN 1932. i HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANOTHER ONE, BUT THINK IT IS A SPANISH DERIVATIVE OF CHARLES. ALSO CHARLOTTE.

  • JoAnne Moudik

    June 10, 2015

    My mother’s middle name was Awilda and her grandmother’s name was Alwildia…have never seen either anywhere. I have seen Wilda many times.

  • Pieter du Plessis

    June 10, 2015

    In South Africa you will find names as Secret ; Pleasant; Beauty ; Ugly and Fortune . My granddaughter’s name is Shalen which apparently mean light.

  • Bettina Ortiz

    June 10, 2015

    I have never met anyone with my first name although I have seen it in a few places…Bettina. On my Father’s side, my grandparents named their children Rodben, Josphren (my Dad), Hewtman, Ralph and Iatser. In my Mother’s side, my grandmother was a twin and her name was Okla, her brother was Ovid!

  • Anthony

    June 10, 2015

    My mom,Thelizie, feels the pain.

  • Thelizie

    June 10, 2015

    I have been cursed with “Thelizie,” a family name.

  • Carnis Eugene Compton

    June 10, 2015

    A nurse gave my poor mother some baby clothes to name me after her boyfriend, Carnus. I mispelled it and legally changed it to Carnis.

  • Christine D

    June 10, 2015

    My husbands grandfathers sister was called Asnath, this unusual name helped me trace my husbands ancestors who had an extremely common welsh surname. I have never met anyone with that name, a different variation is Asenath

  • Andrea Force

    June 10, 2015

    My great-grandmother was Eula.

  • Lori McCaffery

    June 10, 2015

    Ancestors named Caldona, and a Mary Polly who’s Cherokee name was Glumdalclit. Wish I knew what it meant. A lot of Ephraims too.
    A lot of ancestors named after presidents: Arthur Benjamin Franklin, Grover Cleveland Franklin, George Washington Franklin, called “Wash”. And Everyone on the German side was either a Maria or Margarethe.

  • molly fettner jacob

    June 10, 2015

    My name given by my father Yehudah/Julius Fettner, is Malka

  • molly fettner jacob

    June 10, 2015

    Out of 3 sisters and 1 brother born in London, one was born in Brooklyn, Kings County, Abram
    What can you tell me about him?

  • Ralph Severson

    June 10, 2015

    Everyone seems to be citing uncommon spellings or one-off names. On the topic of once-popular given names, mine is clearly dead. I don’t know another Ralph under 50 years of age.

  • Marcy Fuller

    June 10, 2015

    My mother and I are both named Martha. I’ve only known one other person with that name. My 88 year old father’s name is Hayden Kittredge. Hayden seems to be making a comeback but I don’t know of any other Kittredge(s). It might have been a surname at some point put I can’t find it in our ancestry anywhere.

  • E Condos

    June 10, 2015

    My Great Grandfather was referred to as Cinnamon Pyatt. I saw war records where it was spelled Simeon and often wondered which was the correct version.
    I used Cinnamon as a 3rd name for my daughter because I thought it was exotic and pretty as well as being part of family history.

    The first time I heard Cinnamon used as a name was in the old Mission Impossible series where the actress Barbara Bain had the name Cinnamon ( she was an agent)

    I have met only 2 other people with that name.

  • danielle mckiinney

    June 10, 2015

    My grandfathers name was add

  • Marilyn

    June 10, 2015

    I have twin female ancestors who were named Josephine and Lassiphene. Of course Josephine is fairly normal, though somewhat uncommon now, but I had never seen the name Lassiphene anywhere else. She was called Lassie for short.
    This was in the 1860s.

    My grandfather was named Percy and his middle name was Marion. Those were both somewhat common a long time ago, but you certainly don’t see wither of those names now. Also my dad and his brother were Irwin and Ivan.

  • Mary

    June 10, 2015

    Honor was quite common in Ireland in the recent past

  • Sheila Finnie

    June 10, 2015

    My daughters Name is: Shulilah

  • Barbara Joyce

    June 10, 2015

    A great-aunt named Arvilla; and an Uncle named Elza

  • Ruthane Pickersgill (Wilson)

    June 10, 2015

    My 4th great grand uncle was named Strangeman after his mother’s maiden name. The rest of his family had normal names like James, John and Benjamin. He had no known middleman.

  • Lori-Lynn

    June 10, 2015

    My Maternal Grandmother x2 was named Evrosina, her daughter was Rosalie (pronounced Rosalia), my Grandmother was named Erna Barabara Anna Theresa Augusta and my mother was Rita Rosalie Regina. Maternal Great-Granfather was August and his sons were Augustine, Alfons, and Eugene. My Great-Aunt was Anastasia. My Uncle was Alois.

    My Maternal Great-Aunt was Waleska and Great-Uncle was Rupert.

    My Paternal Grandmother was named Corentine.

    My husband’s Maternal Grandfather’s second name was Everett and a cousin was named Burnel. On his paternal side there is a Great-Uncle named Walrik and a cousin named Brone. Also in his family tree an unfortunate ancestor was given the name Pickle.

    My nephew’s name is Arliss (only ever seen it referenced in “Old Yeller”) and his children are Austyn Ava and Vance Elliot.

  • Janice A.

    June 10, 2015

    My 2nd g-grandmother, Marcelia Geneveria Fishback.
    Her grandfather was Iraneous Neace. It was suggested that the name may have come from Arrhenius in the Greek but on looking it up today, it seems a Swedish scientist deceased 1927 is known for a physical law by that name, also his name being Arrhenius.
    Minnie from Irish, interesting as her dad was an Irish descendant in our family.
    I have not figured out Egeniar, Edgeniar, Eugenus – correct spelling of
    given name from late 1700’s; nearest thing was a surname unrelated.

  • boland

    June 10, 2015

    clarice ,named after the duchess of Windsor’s teaset

  • Melissa Mason

    June 11, 2015

    My father was Kinner Cobb. He went by KC (and who can blame him).

  • Mike Sadler

    June 11, 2015

    I have Menenius (surname Ellor) 1829 to 1894, born Yorkshire UK’ married my 3rd great aunt on my maternal side of the tree.
    I can find only one other reference to this given name as:
    Menenius Agrippa, a consul of the Roman Republic in 503 BC

  • Mike Sadler

    June 11, 2015

    We have a Rubertyne (Grace Martha) MANNS, born 1885 to Thomas
    Henry MANNS & Elizabeth CHANT, died 1961 Springvale, Victoria, Australia

  • Lois

    June 11, 2015

    My Aunts middle name is renown. She was born during WW1 as the “Renown” sailed into Sydney Harbour on this day.

  • Johnna Baker

    June 11, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Johna and my name is Johnna. How rare are they?

  • Elsie & Wally Turner

    June 11, 2015

    Elsie and Wally Turner
    June 11, 2015

    We have never heard of anyone else with our grandfather’s christian name of Shah, called after the Shah of Persia. Shah was his second christian name, but he always preferred to be known by it.
    Edward Shah Farr 2.7.1873- 1.10.1958

  • Roger A C Sweny

    June 11, 2015

    My 3rd forename is Carbery – no curtent relatives can tell me why!

  • Sue

    June 11, 2015

    My great grandfather was Nesbit. I believe it was his mother’s maiden name, but it makes him easy to find in old records!

  • Susan

    June 11, 2015

    To Gail, Job, pronounced with a long O, is a biblical name.

  • Arlene McNally

    June 11, 2015

    My husband had a great uncle Elzzie a great aunt Ozzie and his grandmother was Ola. An aunt Robeana.

  • prudence

    June 11, 2015

    my granddaughters name is Omiyo. its for the first time I hear this name. I don’t know the meaning

  • Ruth

    June 11, 2015

    My father christian name was Noble
    His father was born in Australia. Any significance?

  • Paula

    June 11, 2015

    My grandson is named Sabre Belodin

  • Lori Irene

    June 11, 2015

    my mother’s name is Vernetta and I have a great grandmother Euphemia.

  • Brian Hester

    June 11, 2015

    Publication of A Christmas Carol with an Ebenezer Scrooge as a leading character ended use of ‘Ebenezer’ as a given name. Similarly, revelations of the homosexual activities of Oscar Wilde moved the name ‘Oscar’ into the list of rarely used names.

  • Donna Cross

    June 11, 2015

    My grandmother’s name is Gladness. People are always suggesting it must really be Gladys, but the birth, marriage and death certificates clearly say Gladness. Sadly, I never knew her, as she died giving birth to my mom, which means my mom never knew her and, oddly, there were no photos of her. If anyone has a photo of Gladness S Ladd, I would really be happy.

  • Dolord

    June 11, 2015

    Why my parents gave this name ,I will never understand

  • Jacquelyn Refregier

    June 11, 2015

    My grand fathers name was Nere Leon. Nere was my fathers middle name. I also had a great Uncle named Sadi. Our last name is Refregier. Also unusual and rare!

  • PEGGY

    June 11, 2015

    HOW POPULAR IS MY NAME?????????????

  • Edith Holsopple

    June 11, 2015

    My father was named Erlis, and his mother was Ressie. My other grandmother was Frankie.

  • Heather Ferguson

    June 11, 2015

    My grandfather’s name was Oakley Banks.

  • Heather Ferguson

    June 11, 2015

    have never heard the name since.

  • Martha H.

    June 12, 2015

    My grandma’s name was Matie. Pronounced May-tea. Most people would pronounce it as Mat-tea – which she hated.

  • Ethel Shafer

    June 12, 2015

    My name Ethel Verlinda, my husband Orpha Stanley. his son & his father and grandfather had name Orpha. My grandmother Emma Elizabeth Maude Fowler. Fowler, Upton, Ezra, Prentiss as given names in her familly

  • Susan

    June 12, 2015

    Believe it or not my great great grandfather was named Instant Hall.
    Quite an interesting first and second name for a little baby. I know of three generations of little ones graced with this name. Wish I knew the story associated with the naming convention!

  • Steve

    June 12, 2015

    Eldon, Shaddrack & Aurella

  • Sue Parsa

    June 12, 2015

    I have a great grandmother Permelia. It may be of German origin.
    A great great uncle was Slathiel. It is from the Bible and I haven’t spelled it correctly. His nickname was Slats.
    In general, it looks like people through the centuries have come up with unusual names. Maybe we shouldn’t be so picky about our contemporaries who pick unusual names or spellings.

  • Angela

    June 12, 2015

    Our mother’s name was THYRA………she only ever met one other Thyra. The priest would not baptise her with that name, so she is baptised Mary Philomena …………he said it was a pagan name ..she had to have a saints name .

  • Robley Kentkent

    June 12, 2015

    My first name is Robley, I was named after my mother’s english teacher. My mother’ name was Caroline Dora Stefl, her sister’s were named: Pauline, Elsie, Victoria, Sidonia and Magdaline. They were born in Wisconsin. Their father was Stephen, his parents came from Bohemia.

  • Linda Ricketts

    June 12, 2015

    How about Jerusha. That was the name of my 3rd great grandmother born in 1800.

  • Barbara Jane

    June 12, 2015

    As a Barbara it has always been frustrating for me to have people leave out the middle “a”. It’s unAmerican!

    I worked with a girl whose name was Delight. Daughter’s best friend is Serendia. Neighbor’s girl Lillybelle. I can’t remember when the last time I heard anyone name their newborn John or Mary. Today’s baby makers appear to be in a contest of who can come up with the most unusual name, not realizing the kids have to live with it their entire life.

  • Carol Stoner

    June 12, 2015

    My Maternal Grandmother’s first name was Thyra, pronounced Teera in Denmark, the h is silent. Grandma told me she was named after a queen in Denmark, Queen Thyra! Grandma’s parents were born in Denmark & I found some information on Queen Thyra of Denmark.

  • Delane Benningfield

    June 12, 2015

    And I thought my name Delane was unusal…my dad’s name was Charles Lafayette Doty..his mother’s name was Ava Arizona Webb… while doing my tree I have come across some very unusual names but I know those names were very special to parents, g-parents, gg-parents…etc. My kids do not like their names and they are fairly common…Clay, Brenna, Cass (girl), Morgan (boy)…I had a lady ask me once why I named Morgan a girl’s name??? Some people…. but then Cass is a boy’s name….

  • WhiteDove

    June 12, 2015

    My Great Grandfather was Santiago. My Great Grandmother was Teodora–her daughter, my Grandmother was Theodora (someone writing the document added an “h”) and my Grandfather was Whitehorse The Man. . . .

  • Mary Coppin

    June 12, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Leither and a cousin was also given this name but I have never come across this name elsewhere. Grandmother had two sisters Ethel and Sybil..surname being Banyard.

  • Alan

    June 12, 2015

    Greatgrandmother—-Alzinah, and mother-in-law of a
    great aunt—-Araminta.

  • C.CHRISTAFORE

    June 12, 2015

    ZEBULON …

    WAS MY GGGG GRANDFATHER!

  • Pat

    June 12, 2015

    Where does the name Effie come from? Around the late 1800’s and early 1900’s I am finding it in several families.

  • Ryann h

    June 13, 2015

    My great great grandfather on my dad’s side was named Adelbert and two named Elisha

  • Janet Bhagat

    June 13, 2015

    I have a Croghan, a General McClellan (not the famous General!), a Lafayette, a Leota, a Emza and a Philander on my dad’s side.

    From Norway: Boel is my g-g-grandmother’s name. My great-grandmother had siblings named Andrine, Gunerius, Bollette, and Agat.

  • Alyce Martin

    June 13, 2015

    My grandmother’s middle name was Ozella. Never heard of anyone being named that before or anytime since.

  • Kerry

    June 13, 2015

    Sophronia

  • Ewen

    June 14, 2015

    My sister’s name is Rhyll, which I believe is Welsh. Only ever heard of one other Rhyll. It is also the name of a town on Phillip Island in Victoria Australia.

  • Amy Rigby

    June 14, 2015

    How about Dorothy? My great gran and Aunt have that name but those are the only two I know that have it! Is it common anywhere else because it is not common her in South Africa at all!

  • bruce..

    June 14, 2015

    what about hudson as a first name.or toby a girls first name.
    my grandsons first name is mo.

  • Linda

    June 14, 2015

    My grandmother’s name was Borgny. I have only seen this name once on a film credit. She said she only saw it on a cow at a fair when she was young. She was born in the US in 1911.

  • Lois

    June 15, 2015

    Family story goes that great granddad was sent off to register a home birth. However, he stopped in at a few pubs on the way to celebrate. When it came to the name, he couldn’t remember and thus he called his son Benjamin Disraeli. When a daughter was born (he probably had strict instructions not to go to the pubs) but he named her Florence Nightingale.

  • judith

    June 15, 2015

    Judith.

    my g/g/grandfather was named Jab ez. Where would that have origonated from.

  • Ela

    June 15, 2015

    My Welsh grandmother the 8th of 8 children was named Cissie. Maybe they ran out of names? My husbands great grandmother was from the east coast and was named “California”. His mother was named Callie. I wonder about the origins of these names.

  • Amy Rigby above

    June 15, 2015

    My mothers name was Dorothy Handren…….Frances Hatt

  • Faye

    June 15, 2015

    I think names cycle. Grandfather was Ory Earl and his wife Georgia Perle; other grandparents were Elbert and Artis. My mother was named after her aunt Mabel Floy and her Grandmother Mattie. No one knows where Floy came from. Dad is Vaughn Asher but per baby names Asher is popular but I have never heard of another Asher. When I was in my 20s names like Sarah and Emma were very old fashioned. Now the Judy, Barbara and Susan of my day are old fashioned.

  • DSpencer

    June 15, 2015

    To correct the original article (mentioning “Sheba”) the original name from which that was derived was “Bathsheba”, a married woman that King David was naughty with. I had a great aunt, born ca. 1851, named Bathsheba, although her name was written as “Bethsheba” (I assume a mistake) and she went by “Bertha”, another name that has essentially disappeared.
    If you are considering names that in, say, the 19th or early 20th centuries were very or quite common (in English-speaking countries) you can first look at the numerous Biblical (particularly Old Testament) names such as Ruth, Ester, Eve, etc. Even the woman’s name “Mary”, which for a period of probably nearly 50 or more years was number 1 or 2 in popularity, has become much less popular. Of course the name “Mary” almost certainly had a false popularity given the convention among Roman Catholics to at one time list ‘Mary’ on birth or baptismal records as the first name of any female child; similarly ‘Joseph’ (at least in the French Catholics of the region I live in) was the listed first name of all sons. This was not unlike the fondness for Germans of the late 18th and early 19th centuries (certainly in my home province at least) for giving all of their sons the first name ‘Johann’ or ‘Johannes”, so the English ‘John’, so an honorific; these people almost always went by their second name, which in fact was and may still be a standard German convention anyway.
    My paternal grandmother was ‘Gladys’ (a name that is now dated but was common in the late 19th century), she had a sister “Gertrude” (which also became my mother’s middle name, and she hated it), and another sister was “Vera”. These are names that at one time were fairly common (unlike a lot of the often unique or really odd names that we encounter in doing family history research).

  • Thirza

    June 16, 2015

    How about Thirza..apparently its from Tirtza a hebrew name.

  • Jack

    June 16, 2015

    My uncle’s Christian name is Ventry , that has been past down through many generations .

  • Marion Perry

    June 16, 2015

    My great grandmothers name was Alexandrina i have never seen that spelling since her
    Her married name was MOONLIGHT not very many of them left over the world
    My christian names are Marion Lindsay

  • Audrey

    June 16, 2015

    How rare is the name Audrey – see it sometimes mostly women over 70. Marion – not heard very often either or Gordon.

  • L M Payne

    June 16, 2015

    My third great grandfather had the name Sumner. I seems to have have not been that rare of a name but I have not heard it used to name a baby in my lifetime of 60+ years. I also have a great grandfather by the name of Pearl. Someone else mentioned having a male progenitor by the name of Pearl, but I am quite certain it is on the extinct list today.

  • Svetlana

    June 16, 2015

    My grandmothers name was Sheiva(Bat-Sheva) .mothers name was Heived(Yohevet) and name of mother’s sister was Shprintsa.

  • Mel

    June 16, 2015

    Gathel was my father’s first name.

  • G Lightowler

    June 16, 2015

    My father’s second name was Rondelle. I often wonder where this came from. Needless to say he was always called Ron.

    I noticed Tryphena and Thyrza (Thirza)in the above contributions. These names seem to occur quite frequently in Dorset census from 1841 to 1871 – less frequently after that, I think. they probably run in families today.

  • Janet Nazer

    June 16, 2015

    I have a neighbor whose first name is Velta. Another neighbor’s first name is Cassy (that’s right, Cassy).

  • PH

    June 16, 2015

    Sophronia and Kunigunda

  • Linda

    June 16, 2015

    Inn my family we have names like Okey Johnson, Florence Gertrude, Aunt Jessie, Aunt Maple, Mother Flodie, Uncles Thurman, Wilbur Jennings, grandfather Pearl Percy, Floyd, Wade,Gladys, Zera, Cornelia Alice, Sadie, Blanche, Otis, Arnold are just a few different names in my family. Never have I heard the name Flodie any where have you?

  • Claudia Malvicino

    June 17, 2015

    My mother’s name was Celerina and my uncle’s name was Avventino. I’m sure these names are rare.

  • Irene

    June 17, 2015

    My doughter name -is it stil in.

  • Amanda

    June 17, 2015

    My mothers name is different it is Zona

  • t.moore

    June 17, 2015

    My husband’s name is Gallie. Are there others by this name?

  • Hazel Cain

    June 17, 2015

    I lived by a boy called Donald, last name Duck. His Father ran a Firm called Duck Bros.
    My Daughter is called Aveline, I have never seen the name used by anyone else.

  • Jean Reah

    June 18, 2015

    In answer to a comment above, Enslin is a surname found here in South Africa.
    My Gran’s name was Desiree and my other gran was Rosemary.
    My husband had an ancestor called Solomon. Gertrude also seems to be vanishing. But as for future genealogists, it’ll be tricky for names
    in South Africa. The Afrikaaners like to make their own names up and
    often join the mom and dad’s names together. I had a boyfriend called Darret, named after Dave and Margaret. And the black Africans often name their child after the 1st person they see after giving birth or after a characteristic. This is why there are such strange names here like: Innocent, Precious, Patience, Happiness, Pretty and Doctor as 1st names.

  • Emily

    June 18, 2015

    My grandfather’s name was Abijah. I don’t think I have ever met another person with that name. Other unusual names in my family include Jehiel, Philo and Peleg.

  • Mauritius Normanfeld

    June 19, 2015

    The name John is quite rare.

  • Pat

    June 19, 2015

    My father’s middle name was Price. We assume it was from his father – Kendrick Price Morris but this isn’t registered on the birth certificate which makes it difficult. I used the Price for my son’s middle name

  • Palubon, Kent Allen, S.

    June 20, 2015

    fathers name is Palubon, Abert, S.
    mothers name is Palubon, Jeaneth, E.

  • Carolynne Attaway

    June 20, 2015

    I liked my GGgrandmother’s name, Clarinda Smith, who lived in the 1800’s. It must have been popular as there were several. Other GG
    GM was nice, Mariah. GM Ella named her 3 girls, Mabel, Myrtle & Minnie(my mom). 2 changed to Maybelle & Millicent in self-defense.
    The men in the family were often named for presidents, etc. such as
    GGGrandad Lafayette & his bros, Martin VanBuren and Napolean Bonaparte Casad.

  • Todd Bybee

    June 21, 2015

    My parent had a policy of naming us kids with less common names- males Todd, Chad, Gregory, Corey, and sisters Tracy, Pam, Monica, and Alexis.
    grandparents – Vera, John J, Faunda Gwenevier, Orson Sirren

  • Todd Bybee

    June 21, 2015

    My X Latricia, her mom ARZANN

  • Todd Bybee

    June 22, 2015

    Wanda, Theodore, Ora, Sophie, Edna, Marguerite, Hubert, Seth, Thankful, Hanna, Augusta, Marion, Celestie, Letia, Victoria, Rex, Floyd, Lloyd, Kate, Frederick, Alma, jasper, canzady, Unity, Eunice, Rueben, Richmond, Rutha, Syntha, Clarissa, Ira, Julian, Dorothea, Polly, Jennie, Myrtle, Abigail, Wilma, Roba, Lawrence, Clarissa, Winford, Sylvan, Waldo, Monroe – just a few more relatives!

  • Gisele

    June 25, 2015

    My paternal grandfather’s name was Damase and my paternal grandmother was Arlina. I had an aunt Olive, uncles Elric, Hector, Emile. My mother in law is Joycelyn. Sister in law is Velvet. There are a lot of non-everyday names in both my husband’s and my families.

  • Bev Parkes

    June 26, 2015

    My sister-in-laws mother’s first and middle name were Isis Anzac. Her first name was from the area they lived in Queensland, Australia and her middle name was because she was born on Anzac Day. Never heard of those names again.

  • Denise Jones

    June 26, 2015

    My grandmother’s first name was Fraza.

  • Glenora Helfrich

    July 1, 2015

    I was named GLENORA MAY after my grandmother. I have not found any others in the family that would connect to this. My grandmother’s maiden name was Applegate.

  • David Evans

    July 3, 2015

    My grandfather was named Major David and I am David Blyth

  • Ina-Sue

    July 8, 2015

    My name is Ina-Sue.

  • baidatch’

    July 11, 2015

    jewish family name, from belorus ?

  • baidatch’

    July 11, 2015

    in hebrew -‘ביידץ

  • Sylvia Hinkle

    July 12, 2015

    My mothers name was Elmerene,she was named for her father Elmer.

  • Sylvia Hinkle

    July 12, 2015

    She was called Rene.

  • Anthony Conway Prior

    July 18, 2015

    I seem to have collected girl friends with unusual names. Alisamond(Scot), Attracta (Irish), Ulla Chastine (Swedish).Gwenaella (French), Ajantha (Srilankan). and I went on to marry Ameril who’s father was Sedgie {both of New Orleans.) I also had a girlfriend with the masculine sounding name of Marc Wing.

  • Anthony Conway Prior

    July 18, 2015

    Interesting

  • Susan Ursula Ingram

    July 20, 2015

    My sister is called Dellerie. I’ve never come across anyone else with this name.

  • Marie S.

    July 26, 2015

    My greatgrandfather’s first and middle names were Ethelbert Rolston. He was born late 1800’s. My grandfather’s middle name was Faxton – born early 1900’s. no one else is several generations before – and none since – has any of these names in my family.

  • Nancy Berger

    July 27, 2015

    My father’s name was Hubert Aloysius,
    his brother’s name was Ellsworth Earl,
    other brother’s name was Clifford Virgil.

    As someone wrote, many names may be popular in other countries, but unheard of here, so we think them strange. Also, since World War II, American anti-German sentinent has caused names like “Adolph” to be avoided in naming a child.

    One of my nieces is named “Darice.” I love this name, but I have heard of only one other girl with the name.

  • Joyce

    August 13, 2015

    My name should be exstint have never liked it or my middle name Valerie, my mum Violet Ethel, aunts Vera, Nesta, Beatrice, Iris, grandmother Gertrude, Mabel, uncles Cyril, Bernard, my dad’s Name of John is frm 1780 down to my brother John who has no children, did derive it once to Jonah.

  • Joyce

    August 13, 2015

    Grand children’s names are Lily Alxis, Madison Lee, Logan Xavier, Trenton Ryder, Jessica Sage, McKayla Ray, Dominic James, Alexander Cole, Mason Ried.

  • KAYTHEGARDENER

    August 16, 2015

    Of course when families might have 6-10 children or more, there were a lot more names used.
    Picking out names for 1-3 children narrows the range of familiar names quite a bit!!

  • Ray Dunbar

    August 22, 2015

    What a fascinating topic

  • Bernadette Larsh

    August 29, 2015

    -My poor Mom, who was French, was named Marie Emerentienne Philomene . She was this tiny little girl. She was a great mom to eleven live births. Talk about names in French – Bernadette, Genevieve, Gerard, MarieReine, Patricia,Richard , Loretta,Eleonore,Marc, Jean Robert and Vincent. She gave birth to a baby who died at birth ; named Antoinette. We , eleven, are still all living.

  • a.m.l. De Meester

    September 11, 2015

    Roeland is the first name of a son of mine. Its the name of 7 of his grandfathers from the 1600 hundreds till now

  • Lori Harris

    September 11, 2015

    My 1st husband’s name is Theron, after his grandfather. My grandmothers names were Bertha and Rosalind Gertrude, my aunt was Gladys Gertrude. My grandfathers name was Oliver Townsend. Somehow my mother got lucky, Catherine Marie.

  • Sandra Robken

    October 8, 2015

    Great aunt Ellen Hepzibar and another older lady I knew was Ivyleaf Hortensia.

  • Bob West

    December 19, 2015

    My Uncle name is Egbert. A Dutch name that many males had.

  • Nancy Heger

    December 19, 2015

    I never hear the name “Nancy” anymore. Growing up, I never knew another Nancy and then I started working at a school and then there were 3 of us on Staff. We then had to refer to ourselves as Nancy H, Nancy P and Nancy M so people knew which one was which, if we buzzed down to the office or phoned in sick.

  • Violet Ecton

    December 20, 2015

    My Moms name was Dolora

  • L.Chantal Legault

    December 22, 2015

    Very interesting comments. A large percentage of these names ARE NOT uncommon names at all. Many of them are very popular french names or very popular names in other countries than perhaps your own. Just because you haven’t heard of them or don’t have the name repeated in your family history doesn’t make them rare names. Although, have to say there are some pretty unique ones listed here which is refreshing after seeing my own ancestors recycle the same old names over and over and over again. Perhaps because I live in Quebec, Canada I’m just so used to seeing and knowing people with most of these names because we are such a multi-culturally diverse society.

  • Tricia Egbert Miller

    March 31, 2016

    My mother’s name is Meadell Egbert. As time passed she changed the spelling to Maydel. We are from Louisiana..

  • elizabeth Kolupacev

    July 18, 2016

    I am interested in the surname Kalapach and where it originates. My parents are from the Balkans and my dad’s surname is Kolupacev and there are no others so I am thinking the spelling changed and the name comes from elsewhere,