MGM Musical Stars

The quintessential friendly fifties name, nearly epidemic in its day. Now many grownup Debbies have reverted to the full and lovely form of their name, which modern parents often avoid because of the name Debbie ringing too loudly in their ears.

This short form of classic Victor is popular in its own right in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Lesley runs a distant second to more popular sister Leslie, used for about 30 baby girls in one recent year vs. Leslie's 400+. And interestingly, no baby boys were named Lesley though about 40 were named Leslie. Once one of the most widely-used girl names starting with L, Lesley and Leslie now trail behind trendy L-starting girl names like Layla and Lily.

The S may confuse English speakers, but it's a French classic.

This unusual spelling of a simple name is notable as the name of dancer Cyd Charisse, whose given name was Tula Ellice but whose brother's mispronunciation of Sis begat Sid. Famed dance teacher Arthur Freed varied it to Cyd.

This is a name you get stuck with, not (we hope) one your parents choose for you.

This Old Welsh name associated with blacksmiths has never caught on, but it has the right two-syllable occupational feel to qualify for revival. Gower Champion was a successful midcentury dancer, choreographer and director on the Broadway stage, in films and on TV.

Marge used to be as common as Maggie or Megan, ranking on its own in the girls' Top 1000 from 1900 until right after World War II, when so many Old School names fell off the list in favor of a new generation cuter, perkier choices.

Last moment of glory was in the Janis Joplin sixties.

Harve is a masculine name that functions as a shortened form of Harvey, which derives from Old Breton origins meaning "battle worthy" or "iron." This concise variant maintains the strength of the original while offering a more casual, approachable quality. Harve was more commonly used in the early to mid-20th century, particularly in rural American communities, giving it a rustic, vintage charm. Though less common than Harvey in contemporary usage, Harve fits with the trend toward shorter, straightforward masculine names. The name carries associations of reliability, straightforwardness, and unpretentious strength. While uncommon today, its simplicity and historical usage make it an option for parents seeking a distinctive name with traditional roots.