I am trying to find a list of the more obscure (or dated)names for people, such as; Tarquin, Bartholemew, Rupert etc.
I've tried some googling but seem to be getting lists of funny names like; Ben Dover, Paige Turner, Stu Pid, K N Pepper etc.
Does anyone know of any good websites where I can find lists of the older obscure (but ordinary) names?
Thinking about it, I do actually like 'Paige Turner'!
Def.
Try looking for names for babies.
Or medieval family trees.
I give you: Gerberga, Zwentibold, Ermentrud, Luitpold, Odo, Liudgard, Thankmar, Wendilgart, Casimir, Cunigund.
I always go to these three pages:
Surnames: http://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/dist.all.last
Female: http://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/dist.female.first
Male: http://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/dist.male.first
I love thinking up stuff like character names. Sometimes, when I'm in desperate need of a break, from the stress of proper writing, I concentrate on names, as well as stuff like episode titles, etc.
Getting the bus into London for the occassional meets is great. Some of the shop names are so wonderful. Kashabian is one I plan to use.
"KUM Vision" and "Rimworld" are my favourites.
Peregrin
This isn't exactly what you want, but may be worth a look:
http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager
It only goes back to the 1880s, but it lets you see the relative popularity of names since then. Doesn't seem to have a huge database but could be useful for choosing popular names from different periods.
In my job I see people with real names that are funny, weird, stupid or embarrassing. I wonder why parents inflict these on their kids.
Deborah Uphill, Zachary Smith, John Illman, Lyn Anderson, Steven Bottom.
These are just a few of the REAL names I've seen over recent weeks.
My question is really how many of these kind of names can you incorporate in a story? If it's an out and out comedy everyone could have one but if it's a reality based comedy I would think you could only use one or two.
Quote: Chappers @ 16th September 2014, 10:52 PM BSTIn my job I see people with real names that are funny, weird, stupid or embarrassing. I wonder why parents inflict these on their kids.
Deborah Uphill, Zachary Smith, John Illman, Lyn Anderson, Steven Bottom.
These are just a few of the REAL names I've seen over recent weeks.
You'll have to explain what you think is odd about most of those names.
If you want dated names, try looking up a list of Dickens characters, there's bound to be one online somewhere. But, watch out for silly names he made up - there's only ever been one person wit the forename Wackford. 
Quote: Nogget @ 17th September 2014, 5:51 AM BSTYou'll have to explain what you think is odd about most of those names.
Zachary Smith is the dr from Lost In Space, I think. Not sure that makes it funny, precisely. Lyn Anderson is a singer, I have an inkling....? Again, not amusing in and of itself.
Funniest real name I ever came across was Mabel Cockhead.
Quote: gappy @ 17th September 2014, 8:52 AM BSTMabel Cockhead.
It's coming to something when the least funny of your names is Mabel.
When I went to university, I was told that a guy had just left the year before whose name was Anal Banger - it was pronounced Anaal Bonjay. I suspect it's not true, but I truly hope it is.
On a practical note - and I speak from bitter experience - try not to have too many names that begin with the same letter.
If your writing software has any sort of 'auto complete' it can be a nightmare, and something you can easily miss if working at speed - only to discover the wrong people have got the wrong lines in your final draft.
On a separate note, use a thesaurus to find (second) names that reflect some of the characteristics or whatever of the person your trying to name.