What do you think about old names like Arthur?

Question

And Alfred, Henry, Donald, Frank, Peggy, Dorothy, brenda etc..

Answer 1

Love them! Especially Henry!

I hate it when people say they're "old people" names, well the kids won't be young forever and one day they will be "old people". Its like when people name their kids they don't expect them to get "old"

Answer 2

I would probably not go for dorothy or peggy, or donald or alfred, just because I think those names are more likely to be names that a child will get (in some way) picked on, teased about, or bullied about. I like Henry the best, and the Frank, Brendas fine, and Aurthur is not so bad.

Hope Gilmour

Answer 3

Arthur would not be a name I would pick
But if you love it, it's find
I do like Alfred, Henry and Frank munch better
Donald reminds me of Donald Duck, but that's just me

Love Peggy, it's a nickname for Marget, I never got it. I love Peggy Sue, from the song and movie from the 80's
Dorothy is okay, if the wiggles go away with the song D.o.r.o.t.h.y.
I was never a fan of Brenda

I love Elizabeth, Catherine, Patrica, Suzanne, Daniel, James, Thomas, Alexander.

Pick out a name you love.

Answer 4

Mostly old names sound best on old people. Some stand the test of time though. Henry is often called Harry (don't ask me why!) and we have a young prince of that name. Donald is still popular in Scotland and Don or Donnie doesn't sound old. Frank can be short for Francis, which again is just as good a name for younger people. Peggy is short for Margaret as is Maggie and people still use those.

I'm a boring old Martin but thank God I'm not a Crux, Brooklyn, Romeo or Fifi Trixibel whatever!

Answer 5

Definately the child with those names will be considered the most mature in their schoolroom. New names at the beginning of every kindergarten year is like it is every new school season when all the kids go to school with new clothes. It is 'who has the newest sounding name' and 'who has the newest looking clothes'. Next they are held up to the yearly children's standards of whose name gets remembered first because its the best or who can live up to their cool sounding name. Now not all kids will because their parents either care too much and wont risk their child being cool, or just dont have enough money to buy them the new clothes all year to match their name or simply to just give them.

Old names are good, they have their old meanings, and are all in some European language or another. The only problem is how they all became cliched and overused. There was a time when even old english names were original for every 1:1000 people.

Answer 6

Some names are ready to come back, some aren't. Can depend on both how old the name is, but also the sound. Some may come back as a variation (add a "a" sound to the end of girls names)

Ready to come back:
Henry, Arthur, Franklin/Frank, Dorothea instead of Dorothy, Theodore, etc. Helena instead of Helen, Alina instead of Aline, etc.

Not ready:
Alfred, Donald, Brenda, Linda, Donna, (my mom's generation)

Answer 7

Most are still good for use, and sometimes its nice to resurrect a name that has fallen out of fashion.

Generally I like using the longer versions of names, as you can have the short versions for everyday use, or can make up your own derivatives.

Alfred, Arthur and Henry - Great names for me.
Donald I- Not so sure
Francis / Frank - Ok
Peggy - Cute for a nickname, but prefer full version, Margaret.
Dorothy- Lovely name
Brenda- Seems modern to me, dont like it

Obviously with things like Ebenezer, Eugene, Bramwell its best to think twice, but I like old names

Answer 8

Love 'em.

They've got history. You're not going to be the first Arthur to walk this world. So, yeah, there's Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips, but there is also King Arthur and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Choose any name with some history, and that's the case.

If they have *personal* history - your grandparents' names, for example - even better.

Kids can have nicknames - related to their given name or not. If you're hesitant to dub your little bean Bernard or Gertrude, figure out a nn in advance. (Bern, Gigi? BJ, Getty? Whatever. Sky's the limit - when it's not on your birth certificate.)

Between giving my child a made-up, kreeatif name like Kadalyn or Jayden and naming my child something like Arthur or Dorothy? The classics have it, every time.

Answer 9

I think it's probably a lot more sensible to call your baby Dorothy than it is to call her "Beyonce" or "Apple"

Some names may sound old fashioned but if you choose one these days it's probably more individual and unusual than opting for something more fashionable. In my daughter's school there are an awful lot of Laurens and Megans...a Shania...and two Orlandos : /

She's the only Annie

Sometimes people have good reasons for choosing an old fashioned name, like its a family name or they want to name a child after a grandparent or great grandparent. Some biblical names sound old fashioned too but they stand the test of time. This seems a lot better reason to me than just choosing a name because it sounds cool. Your child has to live with it, not you... so choose wisely.

Answer 10

I like Alfred, Arthur, Henry, Dorothy not so keen on the others. How about Eleanor?

Answer 11

Love them! Arthur, Alfred, Elmer, Esther, Hazel, Harvey... love them! They kick the a** of all the Emmas and Jacobs of the world!

I actually have Dorothy and Elmer on my "list"..... screw what people think! My kid won't be in school with 10 other kids in his/ her class with the same name. And you know what - any name will be made fun of by some little punk at school, and I ignore all the crap about "what about when they're adults, the name on resumes..." that's crap. If anyone is so small minded to base their opinion of someone solely on a name then we're in trouble....