Fashionable in the 1900s, many first names have been forgotten over time. Ida, Victorin, Nine, Philémon… Here are the female and male first names that have been shunned, but which for some are coming back in force.
Baby name trends come and go. In the midst of all these fashions, some first names are quickly forgotten over the years. Either we no longer hear them, or else they are no longer given as much at the birth of a child. However, among these forgotten first names, most have kept all their charm. For future parents who are looking for the rare pearl for their child, it is often in the register of forgotten first names that they have the best chance of finding their happiness. The Official Names 2023written by Stéphanie Rapoport and Claire Tabarly Perrin, listed feminine and masculine first names which were very trendy in the 1900s, and which have gradually been forgotten.
What are the forgotten female names?
Starting from this list, the editorial staff of the Journal des Femmes distinguished certain so-called forgotten first names which were attributed to fewer than 20 births in 2021 in France, according to figures from INSEE. Here is the detail for female names:
- Artemis : this first name was assigned to only 3 girls in 2021. It refers to the goddess of the hunt in Greek mythology Artemis.
- Ida : common in Scandinavian countries, this first name means “worker” in German. It was given to 15 little girls in 2021.
- Marcelle : in 2021, there were 15 births of Marcelle. This name is derived from the Latin name Marcella, and also refers to the Roman god of war, namely Mars.
- Nine : in Hebrew, this first name means “grace”. In 2021, 17 girls were named Nine.
- Odette : 4 little Odettes were born in 2021. This first name is derived from the name Oda, which comes from the Greek and means “wealth” or “prosperity”.
Forgotten boy names
On the side of boy names also, we find some forgotten first names which are still little attributed today, such as:
- Fernando : 12 births of boys, named Fernand, were recorded in 2021. This old first name, of Germanic origin, means “courageous” and “adventurer”.
- Philemon : in Greek, like the female name Philomena, it means “affectionate” and “friendly”. In 2021, 14 boys have been so named.
- Victorin : this first name is derived from Latin and means “victorious”. It was given to only 5 boys in 2021.
- Rein : this first name was assigned to 8 little boys in 2021. It comes from the Latin renatuswhich translates to “reborn”.
By analyzing most of these forgotten first names, we notice that they are of the old names, which our ancestors, especially our grandparents, could wear. Do not hesitate to take inspiration from the first names of your ancestors to find the first name of your future baby.