MovieChat Forums > Legally Blonde (2001) Discussion > What's with all those obsolete names?

What's with all those obsolete names?

posted 9 years ago by ekpyrosis-1
11 replies | jump to latest

Sorry but Warner, Elle, Enid, Vivianne, Emmett (the last one before "Twilight" got all the rage) are old folks' names. Anyway, it was made 14 years ago so the characters were born in the 80's, I'm not sure if back then old names were that popular, unlike now. But I'm not an American, English isn't my native language. What do you think?

Btw, my Legally Blonde humorous fic :) https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11450996/1/The-Reason-to-Love-You

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http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2119876/

[–] MarblesLove 9 years ago

Enid is probably the most obsolete name out of all of them. The other ones I wouldn't say are super common, certainly not top 100, but definitely not as out-of the-norm as Enid.

Once upon a time there was a magical place where it never rained. The end.

[–] carrie_713 9 years ago

In the case of Warner and Vivianne, they may have been family names since they come from blue blooded New England families who probably tout their lineage.

[–] hayleythorpe95 9 years ago

You're right. In Warner's case, his full name is Warner Huntington III, so it was a family name.

[–] ekpyrosis-1 9 years ago

Ah, thanks. And what about an Emmett? Is it really THAT rare? I never heard this one before Twilight - ah, there was Emmett Brown but that's all. I once read on Behindthename that someone wanted this name for their baby but at the same time, on the other hand, was like "oh, no, it's a stupid name" and their interlocutors were like:"oh, no, it's not that bad, everybody will think that the parents were inspired by Twilight if anything". Before Emmett Brown from BTTF, I never heard this name. I think it was really uncommon even back then.

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http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2119876/

[–] ScorpionTDC 9 years ago

Enid is definitely out of date. Warner was named after his father and grandfather, and it's possible Vivienne is a family name too since she has a similar lineage. Elle and Emmett aren't all that abnormal

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[–] shadaif 9 years ago

There was a character named Enid in the Sweet Valley High books. She was Elizabeth's best friend.

"The end of the shoelace is called the...IT DOESN'T MATTER!"

[–] Cloudburst2000 9 years ago

Many of the older names are coming back into style. They come and go. Elle is a very common name (especially as a nickname for names starting with El...Ellen, Eleanor, etc). Vivienne isn't that uncommon either. I have a cousin named Vivian (different spelling but pronounced the same) and have known a few other Vivians. And I believe the name Vivian is in the top 100 again. The name Emmett has definitely increased in popularity over the last decade. I believe it is now in the top 200 for boys. Warner is not all that common though I have heard it used here and there. I think it is a more common name in wealthier families. Enid, otoh, is not common, at all. I have never met a woman named Enid.

[–] dorseybelle 9 years ago

I agree with you about the wealthier families using these names; especially people that are connected to an Ivy League school. To them, these names never go out of date. Except, of course, Enid. There are some many things wrong with that name.

I hate people who use big words just to make themselves look perspicacious.

[–] ekpyrosis-1 9 years ago

What's actually that wrong with an Enid? But for the fact it's so out of date? Btw, I think that even back in the past this name was rareish, am I right? The only Enid I ever heard of is Enid Blytton. Here in Poland the name pool is MUCH smaller - I read that there is a name pool consisting of like 400 names Poles mostly use. If there's a name, it is one that belongs to just that one generation or sometimes two but there aren't rather names that would belong in ANY generation only that in some generation is would be given less often - it just is like taht a name is old folks' name or middle aged ones' one or one that is typical of young people or one that is found just in the current kids' generation etc. I can't think of many that would be found in any generation - maybe there are some such ones that wouldn't sound weird in older generation but are typical of younger people - like Adam, Ewa, Anna, Tomasz etc - they are assocciated with young folks but if found in older generations they would just be less common, that's all - they are just those having met the owner of which, you think of someone young/middle aged and not about someone elderly. There are some names though that became supercommon now and which in my generation were just typical old folks' names.

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http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2119876/

[–] EmilyTheDramaQueen 8 years ago

Vivianne became popular again because of Brangelina naming one of their daughter's that.

"I'd rather lose for what I am than win for what I ain't"

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[–] IvyTempleton 9 years ago

I'm not sure if back then old names were that popular, unlike now.

Here is the partial list of:

Top 100 girls' names 2015
1. Olivia 26. Phoebe 51. Maryam
2. Sophia 27. Lucy 52. Rosie
3. Lily 28. Alice 53. Jasmine
4. Emily 29. Evelyn 54. Bella
5. Amelia 30. Daisy 55. Elizabeth

Isabelle was my great aunt's name and she would be 99 if alive.
Amelia but we called her Emily - my other great aunt, 97.
Lucy - Great Aunt would be 94
Sophia Loren is 81 years old
Bella short for Isabelle so again BUT
Bella Thorne is named for Bela Lugosi the first Movie Dracula (1931)

Not sure why you find those names outdated when the top most popular girl names are practically ancient. Here are more:

Olivia de Havilland is alive & will be 100 years old in July 2016 born obviously in 1916
Lily Munster - 1960's show.
Alice [in Wonderland] (1865)
Kate - Taming of the Shrew (1593).
Elizabeth the great (1533)

The names in Legally Blonde are no more old than those that are popular now. Especially Elle. Not sure about England but this list didn't state they were American names.