Pet Names So Ugly They're Cute

Hyman was commonly used by first-generation Jewish immigrants to Anglicize Chaim, but similarities to terms like heinie and hymen have taken it out of the realm of modern possibility. The original Chaim would be preferable to Hyman.

Best left on the old southern plantation, sipping his mint julep.

As wooden as its second syllable.

Named after Isaac. Or Wayne.

Although it has a sweet meaning, this name feels dated nowadays, like a fifties poodle skirt. Lavender may be a fresher alternative.

Its jaunty o-ending makes this name more appealing than most of its Germanic brothers, and we hope we're beyond the constant response to his name being "Where's Waldo?" The weighty reputation of writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson adds a measure of backbone to the name.

Verlin is an obscure name that found some use in the US in the early part of the 20th century, but now it and variation Verlyn are extinct, given to no baby boys in the US last year.

An ancient saint's name belonging to an 8th century English missionary. Variants include Walpurga and Walpurgis.

Hagar is an Old Testament name with an unfortunate association with comic strip character "Hagar the Horrible."

Leota is an antique name rarely used any more -- it was given to just 8 baby girls in the US in 2021. Some sources says Leota is a Native American name meaning blue flower.

Hermina is a feminine name with Germanic origins, functioning as a feminine form of Herman or Armin. It derives from the elements 'heri' or 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'man' meaning 'man,' together conveying the sense of 'army woman' or 'warrior.' The name has variations across European cultures, including Hermina, Hermione, and Ermina. While never achieving widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, Hermina has maintained consistent usage in Central and Eastern European countries, particularly Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The name carries an old-world elegance and strength, balancing feminine softness with its warrior etymology. With its classical sound and uncommon status, Hermina offers an alternative to more popular names while maintaining recognizable linguistic roots. It projects dignity and resilience through its connection to martial tradition.

Has a decidedly middle-aged image.

There aren't many Glendas under forty.

Associated all through the swing years with bandleader brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

Orpha, with its Biblical roots and its animal meaning, was once a fairly popular name, but fell from sight around the time of the Second World War, along with so many other Old School Names. And its similarity to the word orphan probably didn't help.

Occasionally heard in Ireland, small chance of success here.

Melvina ranked in the Top 1000 for over 65 years in the US, coinciding to a large extent with the years its much more popular masculine counterpart Melvin ranked in the Top 100. Today, Melvin is still hanging on in the Top 1000 for boys, but Melvina hasn't been given to more than 20 babies in a year since 1991.

Part Verna, part Bernice, Vernice saw use as a girls' name during the heyday of both those names. Both entered the Top 200 in the 1880s, where Verna lasted until 1940 and Bernice a decade longer.

If you're looking for a presidential first name, keep looking.

Hilma is heard in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, and sometimes used as a shortening of Wilhelmina--though there are more appealing German names for girls. to be found. Hilma Wolitzer is an American novelist and the mother of author Meg Wolitzer.