Extinct Names

The lilting Lorelei has given birth to many variations, including this one, now extinct.

Boyish nicknames for girls -- like Charlie and Frankie -- are in fashion, but Geraldine is out. Gerri just might split the difference.

Orpha, with its Biblical roots and its animal meaning, was once a fairly popular name, but fell from sight around the time of the Second World War, along with so many other Old School Names. And its similarity to the word orphan probably didn't help.

Verda was a fairly popular girls' name in the US from the 1880s through the 1920s, when it started to slip, finally dropping from sight after World War II.

Don't put "girth" in a baby name.

Adelma shot to stardom on the coattails of 19th century Eastern European spiritualist Baroness Adelma Vay de Vaya. Delma continued to be used in the US until the 1950s, when it dropped from sight.

Hermine and Hermina once ranked in the US Top 1000 for girls, but the First World War put an end to the popularity of these and many other German names. Now, both names are extinct though father name Herman is sometimes found.

Prudy does not improve on Prudence.

Warm and open, but way too much teasing potential.

Earlene is even more out of style than Earl. These are among the names that have not been revived ala the Hundred Year Rule.