Extinct Names

Bobbsey Twins-era nickname name that could find new life via Nan, heroine of The Nanny Diaries. Nan was also the nickname of Annabel St George, the protagonist of Edith Wharton's novel "The Buccaneers".

Plummer might be an occupational name for someone who works with pipes -- yes, like a plumber -- or with feathers, from the Olde English (from the French) plume. Or it could indicate someone who lived near a plum tree.

Adelma is likely a feminization of Adelmar, which means famous nobleman. The name was seen a bit during the nineteenth century, with a famous bearer being Adelma Vay, a medium and spiritualist, which may be enough to put this in the new class of spiritual names. Count Adelma among the unusual but intriguing German names for girls.

Actress Kirstie Alley popularized this short form that's been off the popularity register for a decade.

Old Testament name of the daughter-in-law of Naomi, now eclipsed by the originally misspelled Oprah.

Aurelia may be back in a big way, but Oralee and Oralie definitely are not. Would you really want to name your daughter "orally"?

Basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain (born Wilton) lends a sort of mythic quality to his name. Few have ventured to use it since it is so tied to the famed Chamberlain, but it could make an inspired middle.

You're so vain, I bet you think this name is about you.

During the heyday of Deborah, Debra, and Debra -- the late 1950s and early 60s -- there were enough baby girls named Deb, just Deb, for it to make the Top 1000.