Nettie

Originated as a pet form for names bearing a diminutive suffix, most commonly Henrietta, Annette, and Jeanette. In the late nineteenth century, American parents began registering it as an independent legal name on its own merits. It settled into the census rolls as a standalone staple before the First World War.

A Nettie is almost impossible to picture under retirement age without active effort. The name suggests crocheted antimacassars, porch screens that latch with a hook, and a recipe box organized by occasion rather than ingredient. Over three-quarters of all living bearers belong to the Baby Boomer or Silent generations. It sounds like someone who would firmly refuse to let you leave the table hungry.