Where Have Those Popular Names Gone?
As I was thinking about how unusual, but good, the name Kayden was for my new grandson, I got to thinking about what happened to all the names that were popular when I was growing up. Many of the girls I went to school with were named Anne, Mary, Julie, Donna, Diane, Lisa, Sherry and Michelle. According to Ancestry.com, there are 10 girls' names that were once popular that have practically faded away.
- 1
Betty
This was my mom's name. It used to be second only to Mary in the 1930s, but has been in decline since. Here's a pretty famous Betty.
- 2
Ethel
Popular around the late 19th to early 20th century, but has not been popular since. Ethel Merman was a popular Hollywood star.
- 3
Tammy
All of a sudden this name went crazy in the '60s, but after the 1990s is not even in the top 200. A famous one was Tammy Fay Bakker.
- 4
Dorothy
This was popular even before that movie that starred Judy Garland came out. According to Ancestry.com, it's still in the top 1,000, but down in the 800s. Doris is not even in the top 1,000.
- 5
Ida
Popular in the end of the 19th century, but now pretty much not used. Journalist Ida Tarbell, also author of "The History of the Standard Oil Company," is a famous Ida.
- 6
Mildred
Big in the 1910s and 20s, but declined since.
- 7
Edna
Big in the late 19th to early 20th century. Then it became "who would name their child Edna"? Here's WNBA player Edna Campbell
- 8
Gladys
Again popular at the turn of the 20th century but dropped off quickly. Gladys Knight wears the name well though.
- 9
Florence
Sorry Mrs. Brady (Florence Henderson). This name was popular from 1880s to 1930s, then dropped off almost completely.
- 10
Bertha
Also Bessie. More popular for farm animals now than humans. Could only find this old photo of an Czech-Austrian pacifist novelist.