Why is the name Emily used in so many songs from the 1960s?

I think the Beatles' “Eleanor Rigby” started a bit of a trend: “Eleanor” is an old-fashioned, kind of quaint “old-maid-ish” name… and so is “Emily”. read more

The Zombies song “A Rose for Emily” is named after a short story of the same name by William Faulkner. The Emily in Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play” is a British sculptor named Emily Young, who had a romantic relationship with Syd Barrett when she was a teenager. read more

Emily is used for so many girls that I can't STAND it! It totally ruins it. Emily is so common and un-special, that no one likes it anymore. read more

So, here’s the rules: (1) The song has to have a female’s name in the title, but not necessarily be about a female. In other words, “Lola” by The Kinks is about a male transvestite and “Martha My Dear” by The Beatles is about a sheep dog; neither about a chick, but both qualify. (2) It has to be the first name. read more