The 50s Were a Gas, Daddy-O, Part 1

Well, I've already done comparisons between the 70s (Pt 1, Pt 2) & 90s (Pt 1, Pt 2) and now, so I guess it's time to jump another two decades back to the 50s (specifically, 1953, exactly 65 years earlier than the 2018 data I'm working with).

First off, let's look at the most common names from 1953 (Top 1000 only) that weren't used in 2018 at all.

(I have removed names that are likely errors, like Elizabeth and Mary for boys)

Boys:

• Pat, #400
• Barney, #404
• Dick, #474
• Geary, #493
• Donn, #511
• Bart, #531
• Vern, #545
• Gail, #575
• Rogers, #577
• Adolph, #585
• Ricki, #600
• Lonny, #602
• Connie, #612
• Lindsay, #626
• Burt, #634
• Clair, #636
• Kimberly, #638
• Butch, #662
• Laverne, #679
• Rod, #683
• Dickie, #686
• Earle, #687
• Buford, #691
• Glynn, #692
• Douglass, #697
• Curtiss, #715
• Lawerence, #717
• Gearld, #731
• Gayle, #737
• Tod, #751
• Rayford, #762
• Normand, #764
• Gaylord, #766
• Dell, #771
• Verne, #778
• Milford, #791
• Carol, #795
• Wilburn, #800
• Jere, #804
• Hayward, #810
• Randle, #816
• Delmer, #823
• Lynwood, #826
• Darold, #832
• Alford, #836
• Robbin, #848
• Elmo, #855
• Shirley, #857
• Cleve, #859
• Lesley, #863
• Garfield, #869
• Wardell, #874
• Meredith, #879
• Winford, #886
• Gerold, #892
• Lauren, #894
• Carleton, #903
• Kirt, #906
• Claud, #909
• Dennie, #911
• Garold, #920
• Melton, #928
• Duwayne, #932
• Willam, #936
• Gaylen, #938
• Randolf, #945
• Rolf, #946
• Jame, #949
• Vernell, #955
• Authur, #958
• Carrol, #959
• Garey, #969
• Arne, #979
• Rudolfo, #988
• Hobert, #992

Girls:

• Jan, #140
• Shelia, #204
• Patty, #239
• Gale, #264
• Deloris, #304
• Gay, #350
• Laverne, #367
• Diann, #380
• Ronda, #383
• Gayla, #387
• Melba, #395
• Sondra, #401
• Jacalyn, #410
• Kathi, #411
• Dee, #425
• Dona, #438
• Myrtle, #443
• Saundra, #447
• Bettye, #468
• Earnestine, #474
• Earlene, #490
• Debrah, #504
• Debby, #514
• Jerry, #516
• Lavonne, #516
• Cathie, #523
• Lyn, #532
• Pamala, #537
• Delois, #552
• Pat, #556
• Pam, #557
• Gilda, #564
• Nan, #585
• Gaye, #594
• Nanci, #596
• Sherrill, #598
• Cinda, #599
• Debbra, #605
• Melva, #611
• Vikki, #613
• Randy, #621
• Patrica, #623
• Earline, #625
• Barbra, #631
• Margery, #633
• Vickey, #634
• Robbin, #636
• Doretha, #639
• Pearlie, #642
• Pattie, #644
• Dorene, #646
• Joe, #648
• Caryn, #652
• Cheryle, #673
• Dian, #673
• Donita, #674
• Peggie, #676
• Karon, #691
• Eddie, #695
• Sherryl, #699
• Letha, #709
• Retha, #717
• Cathey, #726
• Fran, #739
• Lauri, #752
• Vonda, #754
• Virgie, #758
• Ronna, #768
• Bonny, #770
• Reta, #773
• Vernell, #775
• Concetta, #778
• Jerrie, #778
• Pamella, #779
• Nannette, #789
• Nedra, #801
• Cathrine, #809
• Jann, #811
• Romona, #813
• Deidre, #820
• Dorinda, #821
• Velda, #827
• Wilda, #832
• Merle, #840
• Sharen, #844
• Gerri, #846
• Jacque, #846
• Glinda, #854
• Sanjuanita, #857
• Shirlene, #859
• Caryl, #862
• Gerry, #863
• Daryl, #867
• Joette, #875
• Kathaleen, #880
• Teressa, #883
• Donnie, #886
• Corliss, #892
• Georgene, #893
• Lawanda, #895
• Sharyn, #896
• Suzann, #897
• Delma, #899
• Doretta, #900
• Lorri, #901
• Karan, #905
• Susann, #911
• Jerilyn, #914
• Cheryll, #920
• Florine, #921
• Lavern, #930
• George, #935
• Lessie, #938
• Candyce, #943
• Gaynell, #947
• Deborrah, #956
• Laurene, #960
• Belva, #966
• Judie, #970
• Aletha, #974
• Bernita, #974
• Carroll, #975
• Teena, #979
• Larry, #982
• Sharla, #984
• Cherrie, #987
• Joetta, #988
• Drema, #995

Always, so many more girls' names than boys' names! Sheesh. Saddened, but not surprised at all the Gay-names for both genders. Also interesting to which -arry/arol/aryn names have died out while others live on.
And apparently, if you want to name a kid of either gender Lavern(e), now is the time! He/she would be the only one. :)

Now for the reverse: the most popular names from 2018 that didn't appear at all in 1953.

Boys:

1. Aiden, #19
2. Jayden, #30
3. Jaxon, #39
4. Easton, #66
5. Maverick, #73
6. Jaxson, #76
7. Greyson, #77
8. Brayden, #84
9. Jace, #90
10. Axel, #94
11. Kayden, #97
12. Sawyer, #99
13. Declan, #101
14. Ayden, #104
15. Luca, #106
16. Chase, #112
17. Kingston, #117
18. Ryker, #122
19. Ryder, #131
20. Gael, #132

Girls:

1. Harper, #9
2. Madison, #22
3. Luna, #23
4. Layla, #27
5. Riley, #28
6. Zoey, #29
7. Addison, #35
8. Aubrey, #36
9. Brooklyn, #47
10. Skylar, #50
11. Paisley, #52
12. Everly, #53
13. Genesis, #57
14. Kennedy, #59
15. Kinsley, #63
16. Aaliyah, #65
17. Ariana, #68
18. Serenity, #76
19. Hailey, #79
20. Gianna, #80

In case you're wondering--the list of boys' names from 2018 that didn't appear in 1953 was 11535 names long. There were only 4338 names on the full 1953 boys name list, so yeah......we're a bit more diverse and creative now!

Taxonymy....nymy? (flowers)

Okay, yes, I have a lot of flower-name posts already. But, despite all those, I'm sure I can find more (plus, it's my birthday and I wanna).

[Previous "Taxonymy....nymy" posts: butterflies, ferns, seabirds & shorebirds, songbirds, trees]

I will try to avoid names I've mentioned on here before, especially more well-known names, but some are just too pretty to omit. :) I will also be omitting flowering trees, since most of those were already mentioned on my aforementioned trees post, as well as orchids, because they deserve their own list.

(all names are genera unless otherwise specified)

• Acaena
• Adriana
• Alcea
• Aletris
• Alisma
• Allium
• Althaea
• Alyxia
• Ambrosina
• Anticlea
• Aristaloe
• Aristea
• Astelia
• Astonia
• Bellevalia
• Caesia
• Calathea (also common name)
• Calla
• Callisia
• Calluna
• Calydorea
• Canna (also common name)
• Carex
• Carlina
• Cassiope
• Celosia
• Cistanthe
• Cleome
• Cleomella (also common name)
• Clivia
• Cordia
• Cressa
• Cyanella
• Danae
• Dianella
• Dioclea
• Elettaria
• Eurybia
• Genista
• Gloriosa
• Halenia
• Hestia
• Inula
• Ismene
• Iva
• Ixia
• Ixora
• Jovellana
• Lanaria
• Liatris
• Lilaea (also common name)
• Lilium
• Liriope
• Lissanthe
• Menodora
• Milla
• Muilla (also common name)
• Moraea
• Nerine (also common name)
• Nicandra
• Nolina
• Ottelia
• Paris
• Pereskia
• Philesia
• Phycella
• Rivina
• Roseling (common name)
• Ruscus
• Scilla
• Silene
• Solandra
• Stellaria
• Tacca
• Triantha
• Tulista
• Velleia
• Vellozia
• Xyris
• Ypsilandra
• Zenobia
• Zephyra
• Zizia

Guide to the Valkyries

I know, it's been a while, but I suddenly find myself with a lot more free time right now....


Anyway, my husband asked in passing earlier if the Valkyries of Norse mythology had individual names [before you go thinking we're cultured intellectuals or something, the context was.....watching the MCU :p ], and I realized that I had no idea!
Turns out: yes they did, and while some are familiar Nordic names, most are not.

Enjoy this Scandi-themed jump back into my name blog. ;)

• Brynhildr (BRUN ['u' like in German "über"] -hildr)--"armor-battle". Most common modern form is Brynhild (BREEN-hil, BREEN-hild).
• Eir (AYR)--"help, mercy". Modern form is Eira (AY-rah). [some sources have Eir as a Valkyrie; others as a separate goddess of healing]
• Geirahǫð (GAY-rah-hoth ['th' like in "the"])--"spear-battle"
• Geiravǫr (GAY-rah-vahr)--"spear-defender" or "spear-woman"
• Geirdriful (GAYR-dree-vool)--"spear-flinger"
• Geirskǫgul (GAYR-skog-ool)--"spear-battle" or "spear-shaker"
• Geirǫlul (GAY-rah-lool)--poss. "spear-luck"
• Geirǫnul (GAY-rah-nool)--unknown, "spear" + ?
• Guðr (GOOTHr ['th' like in "the"])--"battle". Also called Gunnr (GOONr). Modern form is Gun/Gunn (GOON, 'oo' like in "foot"). 
• Gǫll (GAHL)--"noise, tumult"
• Gǫndul (GAHN-dool)--"magic" or "magical creature"
• Herfjǫtur (HEHRV-yah-toor)--"army-fetter"
• Herja (HEHR-yah)--"devastate"
• Hervǫr (HEHR-vahr)--"army defender" or "army-woman". Modern forms are Hervor (HEHR-vohr, Swedish) and Hervör (HEHR-vur, Icelandic). 
• Hildr (HEEL-dr)--"battle". Most common modern form is Hilda/Hilde. 
• Hjalmþrimul (HYAHLM-threem ['th' like in "the"] -ool)--"helmet-battle"
• Hjǫrþrimul (HYAHR-threem ['th' like in "the"] -ool)--"sword-battle"
• Hlaðgunnr (HLATH ['th' like in "the"] -goonr)--"weaving battle". Also called Hlaðguðr (HLATH-goothr [both 'th' like in "the"]). 
• Hlǫkk (HLAHK)--"noise". Moden Icelandic form is Hlökk (HLUK). 
• Hrist (HREEST)--"shake"
• Hrund (HROOND)--poss. "push". Modern Icelandic form is Hrund (HROONT ['oo' like in "foot"]). 
• Kára (KAH-rah)--"curly" or poss. "obstinate". Most common modern form is Kara (KAH-rah). 
• Mist (MEEST)--"mist, cloud". Modern form is still Mist. :) [don't you love the easy ones?]
• Ráðgríðr (RAHTH-greethr [both 'th' like in "the"])--"counsel-eagerness" [fig. "bossy"] or "counsel-peace"
• Randgríðr (RAHND-greethr ['th' like in "the"])--"shield-eagerness" or "shield-peace"
• Reginleif (REG-een-layf)--"might-heir"
• Róta (ROH-tah)--poss. "storm" or "make messy"
• Sangríðr (SAHN-greethr ['th' like in "the"])--"true eagerness" or "true peace". Modern Swedish form is Sangrid (SAHN-grid). 
• Sigrdríf (SEEGr-dreef)--"victory-drive". Modern Icelandic form is Sigurdrif (SIG-ur-dreef). 
• Sigrún (SEEG-roon)--"victory-secret". Most common modern forms are Sigrún (SIG-roon, Icelandic) and Sigrun (SEEG-roon ['oo' like in "foot"], Norwegian, Swedish, Danish). 
• Skaga (SKAH-gah)--"promontory, cape". Modern [masculine] Norwegian form is Skage (SKAH-geh).
• Skalmǫld (SKAHL-mahld)--"sword-time"
• Skeggjǫld (SKEG-gyahld)--"battleaxe-time"
• Skuld (SKOOLD)--"blame" or "future". Modern Icelandic form is Skuld (SKOOLT ['oo' like in "foot"]). [also a name of one of the Norns (Fates)]
• Skǫgul (SKAHG-ool)--"battle" or "shaker"
• Svafa (SVAH-vah)--"Swabian". Modern forms are Svava (SVAH-vah, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Danish) and Svafa (SVAH-vah, Icelandic). 
• Svanhvít (SVAHN-hveet)--"white swan". Modern Icelandic form is Svanhvít (SVAHN-kveet). 
• Sveið (SVAYTH ['th' like in "the"])--poss. "noise, vibration"
• Svipul (SVEE-pool)--"changeable"
• Tanngniðr (TAHNG-neethr ['th' like in "the"])--"tooth-grinder"
• Ǫlrún (AHL-roon)--"luck-secret". Modern forms are Åro (AWR [not quite like the English 'aw', but partway between English 'aw' and 'oh' sounds] -oh, Norwegian) and Ölrún (UL-roon, Icelandic).
• Þrima (THREE ['th' like in "three"] -mah)--"fight"
• Þrúðr (THROO-thr [first 'th' like in "three", second like in "the"])--"strength". Most common modern form is Trude (TROO-deh). [also, same root as English Trudy :) ]
• Þǫgn (THAHGn ['th' like in "three")--"silence"