Updated November 2023
Across 2 pages
of 2
Diminutive of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
Just when we had written off Peggy as the eternal perky, pug-nosed prom-queen she projected from the 1920s into the fifties, along came Mad Men , with intriguing mid-century characters with names…
Ozell is a masculine name with somewhat obscure origins. It may have developed as a variant of Oswald (from Old English elements meaning 'divine power') or could be related to other 'Oz-' beginning…
Rayford is a masculine name of English origin, historically used as a surname before transitioning to a given name. It combines elements meaning 'counsel' and 'river crossing' or 'ford,' suggesting…
Harlene is a feminine name derived from the masculine Harlan, which has Old English origins meaning 'hare land' or 'army land.' Emerging primarily in the early to mid-20th century, Harlene peaked in…
Norita is a feminine name with Spanish origins, developed as a diminutive form of Nora or Eleanor. The name carries the meaning "honor" or "light" from its root elements. While not extremely common…
Denzil is a masculine name with Cornish origins, derived from the Cornish place name 'Dinsul,' meaning 'fortress on the hill.' It emerged as a given name in Cornwall, England, and was later adopted…
Shelba is a feminine name with variations like Shelby and Shelva. It likely originated as a variant of Shelby, which came from an English place name meaning 'estate on a ledge' or 'willow grove.'…
Shelva is a feminine name with American origins, possibly emerging as a variation of Shelby or a feminine form of Sheldon. The name has a gentle, melodic quality that gained modest usage in the…
Noretta is a feminine name that appears to be a diminutive or elaboration of Nora or Eleanor, incorporating the popular feminine suffix '-etta.' This melodic three-syllable name combines traditional…
Shelvia is a feminine name of modern American origin, likely created as a variation of Sylvia or possibly a combination of shell/Shelley with feminine endings like -via or -ia. The name has a melodic…
Variation of Shelby, English
"estate on the ledge"
A Shelby variation that didn't fly off the shelves.
Jonell is a feminine name that combines elements of John (Hebrew for "God is gracious") with the feminine suffix "-ell." It emerged in the mid-20th century in the United States as a creative blend,…
Noreta is a feminine name with a melodic quality that likely developed as a variant of names like Noreen, Nora, or Rita. It may also be viewed as a combination of 'Nora' (meaning 'honor' or 'light'…
Verdell is a feminine name with Germanic roots, derived from elements meaning "green valley" or "verdant dell." This nature-inspired name evokes imagery of lush, fertile landscapes and peaceful…
Welsh
"sea hill"
Terminally outmoded.
Diminutive of Patrick
"noble, patrician"
As seen on SNL, Pat is the ultimate androgynous name . Stick with long form Patrick, and make sure everyone calls him Patrick.
Feminine form of Melvin, English and Scottish
"council protector"
Melvin is one of the ultimate nerd names, and Melva is not far behind.
Gaynell is a feminine name with American origins, particularly popular in the Southern United States during the early to mid-20th century. It appears to be a combination of the names 'Gay' (meaning…