Crazy Names of Yore

I doubt I am the only person who is not a fan of the invented name or spelling. I like unusual names, but you can have a perfectly lovely name without having hyphens, apostrophes, or lots of seldom-used letters. I thought this was a purely modern phenomenon. Alas, I was wrong. The Social Security Administration has compiled a list of the thousand most popular names in each decade since 1880. I was browsing through these lists today, and was surprised to see some of the names that our ancestors thought were awesome. I am a connoisseur of all things old, and these names are decidedly not awesome. Here is a list of "flash in the pan names;" they made the list in only one decade.


Not all of them are horrible. I actually know a few people whose names are on this list. My favorites are in red and. (By 'favorite' I mean those that made me scratch my head the most.) Which are your favorites?


The 1880s.


For boys: Dock, Edd, Columbus, Winfield, Arch, Green, Lyman, Benjiman, General, Dewitt, Judson, Pink, Gust, Lafayette, Judge, Sim, Wilber, Elza, Isom, Wash, Ellsworth, Lem, Lige, Wm, Thurman, Rollie, Houston, Rolla, Arther, Orin, Turner, Burl, Olin, Early, Lucious, Alford, Dorsey, Geo, Minor, Guss, Lonzo, West, Johnston, Elzie, Henery, Doc, Tobe, Perley, Elmore, Benjaman, Ransom, Verne, Wylie, Rollin, Emmitt, Clarance, Colonel, Lum, Watson, Miller, Fate, Mont, Willam, Williams, Alonza, Hamp, Zeb, Finis, Pleasant, Richmond, Cloyd, Barton, Mahlon, Artie, Odie, Alvie, Antone, Dillard, Eldridge, Butler, Evans, Jones, Burr, Dolphus, Burley, Rush, Squire, Toney, Cornelious, Levy, Willian, Almon, Rubin, Tillman, Sanders, Sumner, Wellington, Orange, Brown, Ephriam, Obie, Webb, Hilliard, Otha, Wheeler, Hampton, Lonie, Pinkney, Pleas, Buford, Orie, Wong, Hayes, Asbury, Berton, Doctor, Isham, Jule, Ocie, Archer, Auther, Byrd, Ferd, Woodie, Birt, Coy, Fayette, Samual, Hyrum, Newell, Golden, Ballard, Ottis, Park, Press, Danial, Hermon, Lafe, Melton, Okey, Soloman, Alpheus, Bascom, Orley, Dennie, Emmit, Furman, Helmer, Octave, Ples, Unknown, Alcide, Olen, Author, Elige, Edson, Junious, Mannie, Mart, Theadore, Vernie, Ebb, Julious, Manford, Mac, Ossie, Worth, Bedford, Volney, Algie, Lemon, Thos, Commodore, Dempsey, Joeseph, Eliga, Mithcel, Rice, Rome, Boss, Collins, Fleming, Huston, Watt, Bird, Doss, Gardner, Hosteen, Lawyer, Manning, Rosco, Whit, Loy, Arlington, Burrell, Simpson, Hurley, Dow, Budd, French, Harvy, Joesph, Orrie, Ewing, Handy, Moody, Stanton.


For girls: Birdie, Lura, Mittie, Dessie, Dovie, Kittie, Bell, Lilla, Artie, Floy, Oma, Sudie, Lona, Leota, Mertie, Tennie, Melvina, Leora, Lue, Mazie, Georgianna, Missouri, Belva, Jannie, Hilma, Retta, Pinkie, Almeda, Mellie, Vada, Besse, Lenna, Ludie, Adda, Libbie, Lovie, Cordie, Adella, Vallie, Vernie, Malissa, Florida, Myrta, Sena, Adaline, Lutie, Meda, Elizebeth, Mallie, Jettie, Christena, Ocie, Altha, Verda, Clemmie, Matie, Donie, Ethyl, Onie, Mame, Emmer, Lelah, Maye, Arrie, Tressie, Mintie, Lonie, Mettie, Zetta, Loula, Metta, Madie, Liddie, Leatha, Louvenia, Kathryne, Kattie, Etha, Corda, Sina, Tressa, Zeda, Edyth, Daisie, Hassie, Sula, Clora, Effa, Viva, Paralee, Arminta, Birtie, Cordia, Ottie, Bulah, Dessa, Osie, Tempie, Verdie, Dicie, Estell, Icie, Arizona, Odie, Maybell, Arvilla, Grayce, Lular, Icy, Vertie, Maymie, Sadye, Zoa, Glennie, Lissie, Eldora, Elta, Fronie, Manie, Mima, Rosia, Elvie, Eulah, Mammie, Nanie, Rossie, Margarette, Nelia, Adline, Edmonia, Nealie, Vergie, Adell, Erie, Fronia, Izora, Jossie, Dillie, Drucilla, Zadie, Berdie, Anner, Letta, Osa, Doshie, Novella, Electa, Exie, Lollie, Ossie, Loretto, Lovina, Luetta, Rella, Myrtis, Minda, Daisey, Evalena, Florance, Vella, Lelar, Tinnie, Golden, Olevia, Lavada, Attie, Delila, Fredericka, Lella, Omie, Dellar, Fairy, Ova, Rubie, Annabell, Freida, Sada, Allene, Goldia, Roseanna, Zilpha, Ardella, Bird, Tiny, Zettie, Alverta, Byrd, Celestia, Tennessee, Bama, Josiephine, Hessie, Maxie, Beaulah, Capitola, Lanie, Olie, Louetta, Margarett, Arminda, Hetty, Lulie, Ressie, Vannie, Dosha, Junie, Sabra, Ula, Ammie, Avie, Dellie, Maida, Sarrah, Doshia, Lavenia, Loma, Atha, Lota, Reta, Biddie, Eura, Johannah, Leana, Mannie, Media.