You’re browsing a 19th-century census record and you see it. Cotton Mather. Or maybe Experience. Or Dorrity. Names that sound more like a craft store inventory list or a rigid moral command than a human being. We often think our ancestors were strictly traditional, sticking to the Johns and Marys of the world, but the truth is way weirder. Historical records from the 1600s through the late 1800s are packed with names that make modern "unique" naming trends look incredibly boring.
Choosing a name back then wasn't just about what sounded "cute." It was about theology, survival, and sometimes, a total lack of standardized spelling. Honestly, some of these strange old fashioned names were basically spiritual billboards. If you lived in a Puritan colony, your name might literally be a sentence.
The Puritan Obsession with Virtue and Vengeance
If you think naming a kid "Apple" or "North" is a bit much, you haven't met the 17th-century Puritans. They didn't just want a name; they wanted a life mission. This led to "exhortation names." We aren't just talking about Faith or Patience, which stayed popular. We are talking about Fly-Fornication, Humiliation, and the legendary If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned Barebone.
People actually called him "Damned Barebone" for short. Can you imagine?
Most of these names were meant to remind the child (and everyone they met) that they were inherently sinful. It’s a heavy burden for a toddler. Tribulation was a common choice for children born during difficult times or particularly painful labors. It wasn't meant to be cruel—it was an acknowledgment of the "vale of tears" they believed life to be. According to historian C.W. Bardsley in his study of English surnames and nomenclature, these names were often localized to specific radical congregations in England before hopping over to the American colonies.
When Names Were Just... Objects
As we moved into the 1800s, things got less "fire and brimstone" and more "whatever is nearby." This is where we see the rise of occupational and object-based names that didn't quite make the cut into the 20th century. Abundance was a thing. So was Pleasant. You’d see men named Archangel or Green.
The 1880 Social Security Administration records—the first year they officially started tracking—show some wild entries. You have Pink (mostly for boys, strangely enough), Lark, and Lemon.
Why Lemon? It’s hard to say. Sometimes it was a surname being used as a first name to keep a family line alive. Other times, it was just a vibe. People were less connected to a global "top 10" list, so if you lived in a rural village, you named your kid what felt right. Names like Temperance or Prudence stayed around because they signaled a certain social standing. They were the "quiet luxury" of the 1840s.
The Most Bizarre Names Found in Historical Records
Let’s look at some specific examples that actually appear in census data and parish registers. These aren't myths. These were real people who had to sign their tax forms with these names.
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Statesir. A name found in early American records, likely a mashup of "State" and "Sir," or a phonetic spelling of a family name.
Nimrod. Today, this is an insult. But in the 1800s, it was a totally normal name for a boy. It referred to the biblical "mighty hunter." It didn't become a synonym for "idiot" until Bugs Bunny used it sarcastically to describe Elmer Fudd in the 20th century. Before that, being a Nimrod was actually kind of cool.
Ona. A short, punchy name that was surprisingly popular in the late 1800s. It’s simple, but it has completely vanished from the modern lexicon.
Mahulda. This one sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. It was a Southern US staple for a while. It’s likely a variation of Hulda, a prophetess in the Hebrew Bible.
Icy. No, not like the rapper. Icy and its variation Icye were actual names given to girls in the late 19th century. It sounds modern, almost like a "cool" influencer name, but it was being used by farmers' daughters in Appalachia in 1885.
Why We Stopped Using Them
Social pressure is a powerful thing. As the world became more interconnected via the telegraph and then the telephone, people started to notice what everyone else was doing. The "Great Standardization" of names began. By the 1920s, the outliers—the Lettices, the Elders, and the Hoseas—started to dwindle.
People wanted to sound "modern."
Modernity in the early 20th century meant sounding professional. Strange old fashioned names started to feel "backwoods" or "uneducated." If you wanted your son to get a job at a bank in Chicago, you named him Robert, not Friendship. If you wanted your daughter to be a socialite, you named her Helen, not Dorrity.
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The Psychology of the "Old-New" Name
There is a theory in linguistics called the "100-Year Rule." It suggests that names take about a century to go from "cool" to "dad name" to "grandpa name" and finally to "vintage chic."
This is why Hazel, Olive, and Arthur are massive hits right now. They spent enough time in the "old person" bin that they feel fresh again. But some strange old fashioned names are stuck in a sort of permanent exile. Names like Mildred or Bertha haven't made the jump back yet because the phonetic sounds—the "dr" and the "th"—feel heavy to modern ears. We currently prefer names with lots of vowels and soft consonants (think Liam, Noah, Aria).
However, we are seeing a shift. The "Dark Academia" aesthetic on social media has sparked a renewed interest in names that sound like they belong in a dusty library. This is why Cassius, Silas, and Lyra are climbing the charts. They are "strange" but in a way that feels curated and intellectual.
How to Tell if a Name is "Vintage Cool" or Just "Old"
If you're looking at strange old fashioned names for a child or even a fictional character, there’s a fine line to walk. You have to look at the "mouthfeel" of the name.
- The "Vowel Test": Names that start or end with strong vowels tend to trend better. Otto is back. Ulysses is struggling.
- The "Nature Connection": If the name relates to a plant or a mineral, it has a better chance of a comeback. Fern and Wren are thriving. Iron is not.
- The "Surname Trap": Using a weird old surname as a first name is very "in" right now (think Brooks or Wilder). But using a weird old virtue name? That’s still risky. Calling a kid Verity is fine. Calling them Obedience is a bold move that might lead to some therapy sessions later.
Recovering Lost Gems
Some names were actually quite beautiful but got lost in the shuffle of history. Elsbeth is a gorgeous alternative to Elizabeth. Leopold has a certain grandeur that Leo lacks. Euphemia—nicknamed Effie—was huge in the Victorian era and has a whimsical, airy quality.
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Then there are the names that were just plain mistakes. Spelling wasn't standardized for a long time. You might see Phibby instead of Phoebe or Alce instead of Alice. In some cases, these "strange" names were just the result of a census taker who couldn't hear well or a parent who was illiterate.
Practical Steps for Choosing an Antique Name
If you are actually considering one of these for a human being in the 21st century, you need a strategy. Don't just pick something because it sounds "different."
- Check the "Bully Factor": Does the name sound like a modern body part or a slang term? Gaylord was a very prestigious name once. Today? Don't do that to a kid.
- Look for "International Flexibility": Some old names like Soren or Elara work across multiple languages, which is a huge plus in a globalized world.
- Say it Out Loud—Ten Times: A name like Theophilus sounds cool on paper. It sounds like a mouthful when you're yelling it across a playground at a kid who won't stop eating sand.
- Research the "Namesake": If you pick a name like Nimrod or Delilah, people will associate it with the biblical stories. Make sure you're okay with that baggage.
The resurgence of strange old fashioned names isn't just a fad; it's a reaction to a world that feels increasingly mass-produced. By reaching back into the 1700s or 1800s, people are trying to find a sense of individuality that feels grounded in history.
Whether you're naming a baby, a pet, or a protagonist, these names offer a depth that "Brayden" just can't touch. Just maybe stay away from Humiliation. That one is probably better left in the 1600s.
To find more specific options, your next step should be to dive into the 1880 US Census records or the UK's General Register Office archives. Look for the names at the bottom of the list—the ones with only 5 or 10 entries. That's where the real "strange" magic is hidden, away from the top 100 lists that everyone else is using. Check the social security "Extended Name Data" files for the most accurate historical frequency counts.