Funky-Clunky is a term I have found myself using for certain names in the past few years. For me, it perfectly sums up those quirky, borderline names that straddle a divide between "old-fashioned" and "uber-cool". These names certainly are not soft, light or particularly "cute" sounding. Their bold, and somewhat heavy, sound and stuffy image is precisely what makes them intriguing. These names are like the posh family silver, covered in dust in a box and forgotten about by many people. But, taken out, polished up and placed in a new setting then can look remarkably striking.
These names are not modern or popular as you could describe Miley or Mason; neither are they long-standing vintage choices such as Sophie or Joshua that are very much vogue, nor recent turn-of-the-century revivals such as Stanley or Harriet. They do, however, have the distinction of having bundles of history and weight behind them, giving them a distinguished and dignified charm. They are familiar, but not popular; and with some of their former contemporaries, who sat alongside them in their heyday, sitting at the top of the ranks, these funky-clunkies do have potential to be future hits in decades to come. Daring but trend-setting choices.
| Alban Algernon Alvin Ambrose Amos Archibald Augustine Augustus Basil Bernard Bertie Bertram Boris Bryn Cecil Cedric Chester Clarence Claude Clement Clifford Clinton Clive Cornelius Cuthbert Cyril Digby Donald Ebenezer Edgar Edwin Emmett |
Emrys Ernest Eugene Eustace Ferdinand Fergus Florian Geoffrey Gerald Gideon Gilbert Giles Godfrey Godwin Gregory Harold Herbert Herman Horace Howard Hubert Humphrey Ivor Kenneth Leonard Leopold Leslie Lester Lionel Malcolm Marvin Maurice |
Melvin Montague Neville Nigel Norman Octavian Oswald Percival Percy Randolph Reginald Roderick Roland Roger Ronald Roy Rudolf Septimus Silas Simeon Sylvester Terrence Theophilus Trevor Valentine Vernon Virgil Wallace Walter Wilbert Wilbur Winston |
Adeline Agatha Agnes Alma Augusta Araminta Avis Beryl Bessie Betty Blanche Blythe Celia Cecile Clarice Clotilde Cornelia Delyth Demelza Dilys Dinah Dorcas Dora Dorothea Dorothy Elspeth Enid Ethel Eudora Eugenie Euphemia Fanny |
Freda Gertrude Gloria Glynis Greta Gwendolen Henrietta Hester Hetty Hilda Honoria Ida Isadora Iva Joyce Judith Juniper Irene Lavinia Loretta Lucille Mabel Magdalene Marcie Marguerite Marian Margot / Margaux Marjorie Mathilde Maude / Maud Mercy Millicent |
Minerva Muriel Myrtle Nora Octavia Olive Opal Patience Peggy Phyllida Philomena Primrose Priscilla Prudence Queenie Rhoda Rita Rosetta Rosina Rowena Sybil Temperance Theodora Thomasina Tilda Ursula Vera Wilhelmina Winifred Zelda Zilla Zipporah |
