Names, like clothes are fashionable for a while, then they aren't. In family tree building I love to note the names, and how they come into fashion for a time and then fade from use. Here are some names in our tree that you are not likely to hear a kid called now, although I think many are great names, deserving of a come back. Note that Biblical names were often chosen, and spelling was often a phonetic rendition of a name.
Males: Asa, Elbert, Lafayette, Larkin, Absalom, Cephus, Jocephus, Dewey, Columbus, Drury, Edgar, Hubert, Elijah, Enoch, Harry, Hezekiah, Hubert, Issac, Juleous, Noah, Newitt, Plyer, Romulus, Rutter, Theophilus, Wormley, Ziba, Festus, Gideon, Ransom, Balaam, Dickey
Females: Mihaly, Olive, Bearsheba, Bethseda, Elverne, Etta, Lucy, Alcinda, Calle, Ebbie, Elsie, Ethel, Fanny, Fannie, Gerdina, Hettie, Louenza, Mamie, Oma, Patience, Bertha, Byrdie, Flossie, Mable, Myrtle
I think when we name children we should not just consider how cute it will be when they are a small child for a few years, but how it will serve them for the many years of adulthood.
Names like Absalom make me wonder if folks used to just randomly pick names from the bible, or if they were willing to ignore the history of the name in favor of its meaning.
ReplyDeleteMany of them could not read or write. So, I think they may have just liked the sound of the name.
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