Fantastic Names From The Past: 1930 Southern California Edition

These are actual names of students from John Burroughs Junior High School in Burbank, California. The year was 1930.

Mercelia Crutcher

Constance F. Chalmers

Marjorie Eugenia Cobb

Blossom A. Wise

Emily Escalanti

Howard Zieve

Elna Leone Noyes

Berna O'Harra

Irving Perluss

Lee Ora Funk

Dawn Adelee Yeend

Margie Marie Feigenbaum

Rollin Franklin

Gordon Gilbert Philp

Laurette Clair

Orville Holmes Joy, Jr.

Pearl Gold

Maynard C. Hathaway

Janet Powers Knox

Ray O. Hundertmark

Russelind Ann Conley

Larry Longnecker

J. Raymond Medberry

Isabel A. Moorhead

Murray Louis Rudnick

 Edith Iris Anderani

Irving L. Ashkenas

Raynelle Bell

Sydney Lucile Brough

Dorothy May Day

Madalon Culver

Justin J. Slaff

Sherman Slade

Frances B. Skinner

And here are my choices for the
Top 10 Fantastic Names Of 1930...

10. Marcella deVere Whelan

9. Grover Gail Gilmore

8. Agnes McNair Early

7. Idale H. Goodfriend

6. J. Hewes Crispin

5. Eunice Pearl Gill

4. Violette Marcivna Rightman

3. William LaTouche Gair

2. Bond Pfeifer

and

1. Rhodin Hord Scudder

And (for the first time!) we have a new category, Most UNfantastic Name, which this time around goes to...

Newell Ballreich

May you rest in peace.

For many more lists of Fantastic Names From The Past, click here!

Fantastic Names From The Past: 1976 California Edition

1976: The war (well... one of 'em) was over, the Times were Good, and these groovy California kids were sporting fantastic names...

Betty Bevilaqua

Theresa Caffese

Mario Arroyo

 Izabel Aghazarian

Yolanda Calderon

Vollie Calloway

Karen Kalander

Bobbie Bass

Dwayne Kite

Sally Sepulveda

Armando Alonzo

Theodosia Benjamin

Randy Cantaloupi

Sienna Scaletta

Chipo Chambers

Paula Presto

Claude Chauveau

Bud Sanguinetti

Hugh Hui

Dierdre O'Farrell

Eddie Lucchesi

Antonia Noble

Beth Petzinger

Damon Pombo

Alide Ponsi

Rena Quitiquit

Blake Samples

Virgilio Solis

Shanda Strawn

Tancie Treadway

And My Choices For the Top Three Fantastic Names of 1976..

3. Pape Padeselaux

2. Adelbert Eggleston

and

1. Yola Volpi

I hope at least some of you make it to your 50th Reunion in 2026!

Fantastic Names From The Past: Another Visit To The 1930s!

Previously on this blog, I've marveled at names from several Franklin High School yearbooks circa 1936-1937 and 1938-1939. But! Unbeknownst to the people of Franklin, just eight miles away, Jefferson High School was blithely educating its own set of fantastically-monikered teenagers at the same time! 

The 1930s may have been the era of the Great Depression, but there's nothing depressing about these names!

Kitty Ritter ('34)

Sophie Economus ('36)

Ward Sigafoos ('34)

Esther Erna Arnas ('36)

Elmer L. Hamm ('36)

Selma Zitzer ('34)

Joyce Aurelia Wilkes ('37)

Salola Roach ('35)

Celestia Hise Livermore ('37)

Virginia Marlea Mitts ('37)

Velda May Curry ('37)

Janness Judith Jewell ('37)

Zenetta Britt ('37)

Shirley B. Lash ('37)

Jenelle L. Long ('37)

Sophy Povovich ('37)

Fritzi Helen Ditt Brenner ('37)

Dell Rundle Hayes ('37)

Elmer Harold Helenius ('37)

Mason V. Carlson ('37)

Jack Wade Pattee ('37)

Violet Bender ('37)

Jack E. Gleeson ('34)

Jack Lothrop Bellah ('37)

John Fred Facer ('32)

Doxine A. Fix ('32)

Lloyd Lister ('36)

Homer Douglas Rambo ('36)

Marjorie Ora Stout ('36)

Brunette Berselle ('37)

Hortense A. Karp ('36)

Leonard Ward DeYoung ('34)

Inos Rainwater ('34)

Marciabelle Swina ('34)

Clark Van Vlert ('34)

Thelma Trout ('34)

Wilma W. Wynkoop ('37)

Delbert D. Delzer ('37)

Forrest Woodward Landeen ('35)

David Gustar O'Ehme ('35)

Margaret Passarge ('36)

Bettylou Swartout ('36)

Rollo Stowaser ('36)

Edrow Virginia Look ('34)

Eileen Engeldinger ('34)

Sylvester Lindekugel ('34)

Orville Gentry ('36)

Myrtle Spanke ('36)

Esther Metzler ('36)

Vurl Virginia Mallory ('36)

Tura Claudia Millet ('34)

Eleanor Irene Dalrymple ('34)

Lavelle Kelly ('34)

Charles Virgil Darby ('37)

Vinson Victor Sly ('37)

May Rae Rolph ('37)

John Beresford Delapoer ('34)

Wanda Cozette Swett ('37)

And finally, my Top 10 Fantastic Names from 1930s Jefferson High School are:

10. Shirley Ardita Struble ('37)

9. Ruby Victory Winterburn ('36)

8. Lovell DeVere Rousseau ('37)

7. Kaliope Varkados ('34)

6. Jewell Irene Goble ('35)

5. Waive Flues ('34)

4. Iris Cordelia Pease ('32)

3. Delight Brockmeier ('36)

2. Elwood Gerald Bizeau ('37)

and

1. Worthy Horsman ('32)

Fantastic Names From The Past: 1936-1937 Edition

The students of Benjamin Franklin High School circa 1936-1937 didn't all have fantastic names -- there were plenty of boring monikers on the roll call (Bill Johnson, Harry Carson, Jean Lewis, etc.) as well as a few... um... unfortunate names (Moron Meeker and Dolly Leaky, I am so sorry... Sandy Sanderson, the jury's still out.) There was also a lot of repetition: dozens of Donalds, Bettys, Mildreds, Earls and Roberts.

Thankfully, though, this was a big school, and there were still plenty of fantastic names to be found on these pages -- even considering these yearbooks had some overlap with the 1938-1939 ones featured in this post (How've you been, Gaynor Petrequin? 102? Sorry I asked.)

So without any further ado, I present these fantastic names....

Lena Yaconetti

Halsey Bigger

Virginia Much

Solomon Menashe 

Jack Fruit

Velda Yeska

Ivadel Beth Beaman

Irmgard Zorn

Lorilee McQuarrie

Jacqueline Montchalin

Illif VanRonk

Joauleta Johnson

Babe Lundgren

Benson Mates

Avice Ryel

Earnest Stefar

Hawley Bloomquist

Munson Dorais

Melvin DesVoigne

Harry Degermark

Viola McAllister

Rosaleen Obelisk

Mary Lois Ditto

Blossom Dobson

Esther Bridelle Swarts

Phyllis Mae Grow

Flora Frances Prideaux

Harland Max Hafter

Florence Afton O'Dill

Haruko Tsuboi

Rudolph Winters

Kerma Rowclitte

Orville Oris McCoy

Dorothy LaVonne Darling

Mildred Mae Cahoon

LaVonne McBee

Phillip Sonny Petrarca

Esther Bridelle Swartz

Erwin VanBlaricom 

And, finally, my Top 10 Fantastic Names From 1936-1937:

10. Yoreka Inzurka

9. Carlyle McKnight

8. Juanita Wafler

7. Audrea Lord Slattery

6. Wava W. Wells

5. Lulu Heist

4. Valoris Iona Whetstine

3. LaJeanne Marjorie Stroup

2. Ella May Rock

and

1. Valories Evelsizer

(who I can only assume went on to pursue villainy)

These folks are all 100+ or dead, now.

And on that happy note -- I wish you a fantastic day!

Fantastic Names From The Past: Early 1960s Edition

We're back with even more fantastic names -- straight out of yearbooks of old! 

Well, semi-old. These yearbooks are from 1961-1964, so many of these people could still be alive and kicking.

Although maybe just with slightly less pep nowadays.

Born between 1942 and 1948, these former teens mainly bore the names popular in their time -- Gene, Barbara, Jack, Rick, Jim, Sherry, Carl, Sue, Peggy, Gordon, et al.

But some of them had parents who had a more artistic sense -- and/or a sense of humor.

Let's give a shout out to those kids... the ones with these fantastic names.

Clyde Fry

Adeana Poff

LaVonne Gasatis

Arleen Klingsporn

Cliff Cofer

Paul Petrequin

Sigurd Gustafson

Valene Jansik

Kip Nagely

Pat Paist

Norman Pekkola

LaRue Poisel

Merlin Buser

Dick Weidenkeller

Laraine Latourette

Paulette DeShores

Dean Popp

Joe Shade

Challys Estabrook

Clydenia Starr

Les Leatherberry

Otto Witte

Kirk Skyles

Jerri Quantiance

Penny Miner

Twilla Kittelson

Bill Wriglesworth

Dinah Irish

Connie Pommerening

Durwood McDowell

And now...

My Top 10 Fantastic Names Of 1961-1964

10. Charity Lionberger

9. Rusty Rico

8. Marjorie McQuowen

7. Genelle Groat

6. Anita Hart

5. JoDee Liberty

4. Treasure Sullivan

3. Lila Zalonia

2. Peggy Pickelsimer

and

1. Yvonna Zirkle

Fantastic Names From The Past: An Index

 Fantastic Names From The Past: Index

1901-1902 - Washington Agricultural College (now WSU) Yearbook

(Charles Centennial Carlisle, J. Sweetheart McDonald, John Storrs Cotton)

1907 - Pullman, Washington High School Yearbook

(Ward Squires, Grover Gentry, Merle Stallcop)

1923-25, 1955, and 1968 - Miscellaneous Yearbooks and College Programs

(Patty Wack, Ina Carr, Mary Melody)

1924-1926 Portland, Oregon Yearbooks - Jefferson HS

(Carolyn Octolony Jones, Boatner Chamberlain, Adelaide Embody)

1930 Burbank, California Yearbook - John Burroughs Junior High

(Bond Pfeifer, Rhodin Hord Scudder, Violette Marcivna Rightman)

1932-1937 Portland, Oregon Yearbooks - Jefferson HS

(Worthy Horsman, Waive Flues, Iris Cordelia Pease)

1936 & 1937 - Portland, Oregon Yearbooks - Franklin HS

(Lulu Heist, Ella May Rock, Wava W. Wells)

1938 & 1939 - Portland, Oregon Yearbooks - Franklin HS

(Gaynor Petrequin, Hoyt Boatright, Valorice Vivian Billups)

1949-1951 - Washington (State) Yearbooks

(Lois LeNell Dunnihoo, Commodore George Gaither, Asa Elmore Seeds)

1957-1958 - Long Beach, California Yearbooks

(Wincie Yeargain, Corliss Filbert, Dick Elliott Doody)

1960s "What To Name The Baby?" Books

(Tyrannus, Twitchell, Pentecost)

1961-1964 Portland, Oregon-Area Yearbooks

(Lila Zalonia, Peggy Pickelsimer, Yvonna Zirkle)

1974 & 1976 Portland, Oregon Yearbooks (Grant HS)

(Jennings Gallup, Treondus Morman, Semler Nudelman)

1976 Stockton, California HS Yearbook

(Yola Volpi, Bud Sanguinetti, Sally Sepulveda)

Fantastic Names From The Past: 1901-1902 Edition

120 years ago, Washington State University was called the Washington Agricultural College and School Of Science. Personally, I prefer the former name. It's almost as fantastic as the names of some of the students who attended the school circa 1901-1902!

Problematic yearbook name... not so fantastic.

But before we get to the fantastic student names, I have one question to ask...

Why did the children of the 1990s never get referred to as the Naughty-Ones? It's so delightfully absurd. We totally should've claimed it.

Oh well. 

Meanwhile, Grace Lula Coburn? Not a bad name at all. But it just isn't nearly as fantastic as these ones...

Solon Shedd

Walter Dibble Plough

Eleazor Darrow

Roscoe E. Swank

Charlotte Malotte

Cleo B. Corner

Fred Ford Flanders

Beattie Cordiner

Leah Bean

Elsworth Thorp

Ethel Espy

Guy Sargent

Sofus B. Nelson

Adam Duncan Dunn

Weltha Webster

Lucyle Hogaboam

Milton P. McCroskey

And my choices for the top 3 most fantastic names...

Charles Centennial Carlisle

J. Sweetheart McDonald

and (read it aloud...)

John Storrs Cotton

Brilliant.

Well, congratulations kids of the early 20th century. 

Not that you're reading this... since I assume, if you are still alive, it's only because you're this guy...

Please don't be that guy.

Want to immerse yourself in more fantastic names from the past? Click here!

Fantastic Names From The Past: 1938-1939 Edition

 Yes, folks, it's true! We've got more yearbooks, and with them comes more fantastic names! These are the names of actual people who graduated from Portland, Oregon-area schools between 1938 and 1939. If they're still alive, they'd be about 100 today. But since they're probably not (sorry, fact of life), let's honor their memory by celebrating their fabulous monikers!

Myrtle Church

Robertson Cook

Florence Fishburn

Haig Dinihanian

Ina Ingham

Luella Leasy

Jack Ripley

Dick Tunzat

Lloyd Bertoglio

Madean Boss

Ardythe Russell

LaVerne Girvan

Hilda Hartwig

Violet Oulbelgian

Merritt Meadows

Rosebud DuPius

Gildo Salta

Velma Bump

Elery Newcomer

Bertha Baker

Granville McCormick

Bob Bulger

Luella Bloss

Leroy Parsley

Boneta Bonner

Estella Royal

Belle Fontaine

Rosalie Looney

Olive Bridenbecker

Olive Palm

Margie Wark

Paul Wahl

Vernalta Pomeroy

Suzzanne Maskot

Stanley Wornstaff

Maxine Killer

Elmer Abplanalp

Tushie Tanabe

Freeman Fowler

annnnd....

MY TOP 10 NAMES FROM 1938-1939

10. Manley Miles

9. Maryolive Snarr

8. Allegra DesVoignes

7. Dorothy Van Doozer

6. Laverta Nofziger

5. Berle Clifton DeLashmutt

4. Hulbert Sipple

3. Gaynor Petrequin

2. Hoyt Boatright

and

1. Valorice Vivian Billups