Names due for a comeback

  1. Phyllis
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "green bough"
    • Description:

      Phyllis has been used by classical poets for the idealized pastoral maiden. A Greek mythological name of a woman who was turned into an almond tree, Phyllis was in the Top 100 from 1916 to 1958, reaching #24 in 1929, and has the (remote) possibility of joining other revived s-ending names like Iris. In the 'St Clare' book series by Enid Blyton Phyllis is nicknamed Fizz. Just a thought. Phyllida is a variation that sounds at once more old-fashioned and more stylish.
  2. Regina
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "queen"
    • Description:

      A classic name with regal elegance--Queen Victoria, like other queens, had Regina appended to her name. She was a Top 100 name in the 1960s.
  3. Wilma
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Wilhelmina
    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"
    • Description:

      In the US, Wilma is appears to be eternally fossilized in Bedrock as Fred Flintstone's wife, but in Sweden it's a Top 10 hottie. It did have its moment in the US--from 1912 to 1940 it was a Top 100 name. One notable namesake: track and field star Wilma Rudolph.
  4. Avril
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "April"
    • Description:

      The French Canadian pop star Avril Lavigne put the spotlight on this name when she made the charts with "Sk8er Boi". It is simply the French form of April, the fourth month of the year, whose name might derive from the Latin aperire meaning "to open" in reference to the start of spring in the Northern hemisphere. Other sources suggest it comes from the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.
  5. Phryne
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "toad"
    • Description:

      A name with a less conventional animal meaning, rescued by the reputation of the Greek courtesan Phryne (more beautiful than Aphrodite, one of the wealthiest women in classical Athens) and the charming character Phryne Fisher from Australian author Kerry Greenwood's detective series Phryne Fisher's Mysteries, set in the 1930s.
  6. Dorcas
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "doe, gazelle"
    • Description:

      Classic name used by the Romans, the Puritans, and the Bard, but pretty much taboo today due to the objectionable connotations of both its front and back ends.
  7. Hetty
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Henrietta, English, or Mehetabel, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler; God makes happy"
    • Description:

      A classic short form of Henrietta, also seen as a nickname for Mehetabel.
  8. Dot
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Dorothy
    • Description:

      Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.

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