This decade is almost over! We’re less than two months away from a new decade and this makes me wonder what this decade will be called. We called the decade from 1980 to 1989 the Eighties (80s), 1990 to 1999 the Nineties (90s). The next decade 2010 to 2019 will be called the Teens. But what about the decade we’re in right now? What will 2000 to 2009 be called? The Zeros? that just doesn’t sound right. Any ideas?
Well now. If you want an answer to that, ask yourself what people called the first decade of the 1900s. As it happens, they didn’t call it anything in particular. One researcher, back in the 1990s and wondering what to call the 2000s before they happened, looked for OED citations for as many different names he could come up with himself and came back with this many uses of them the last time we had to deal with double-0:
Opening/first/early years [of the century]–19 citations.
Beginning of the/this century–20 citations.
Turn of the century–38 citations.
When you come right down to it all the short possibilities just clunk around the ear, which defeats the whole purpose of nicknames. Go for “the 1900s” if you must, or just give it up as a bad job.
Missy
the oh oh’s.
Billy
The new millenium.
Style’s from the new millenium.
Music from the new millenium.
and so on…
Billy
Natalka
It seems to be that The Aughts is the most popular choice.
In looking back, it would probably be referred to as the Twenty-Hundreds, just as the 1900s were.
Moom
The Noughties…
Mae
The “O-Zone”
baggypants
Over???
itsjustmebub
I wonder about this far too often! lol
nerd alert!!!
Bush Years, the Lost Decade, End Of Humanity, BullS#&@ Years,
We have forgotten who we are and what we stand for. People in the 70, 80, 90s stood up for what they believed in. Currently we dont have any consistency in who we are or what we stand for.
Shima
It should be called “FDSM” = First decade of the Second Millenium
haha I love all the suggestions so far gave me a few good laughs!
and yes I’m a nerd
avoncallingu
Can I open my Y2K stash now? Do you think it’s safe to eat?
Sally
Sha, thats what I think. The 2000’s
the 1900’s
the 1800’s
it makes sense!
Stephen
But Sally, that’s usually what they call the whole century … not just the decade.
Zephara
I like the aughts. sounds cool. My daughter was born in Jan. Aught aught haa haa and a son in aught one and then aught 6. sounds funky I hate the new millenium thing it is old and so overdone.
Deb B.
The “tweenies” or “pre-teens”.
cdnchk
I’m a bit late coming into this, but I’m thinking the “Ands.” Two thousand _and_ one, two thousand _and_ two, etc..
Mary
2000–2009 is the 2000’s and i think the new decade should be called the teens
fantastopotomus
so much technology came around (especially with computers and the internet during the decade…they should call it the “Tech Dec”
Kevin :-)
I personally like “The Ohs” (Oh-Oh, 0h-1, Oh-2, etc.).
Kevin :-)
As for 2010–2019, I prefer “The Tens”, although it kind of sounds like –10, –20, –30 rather than –10, –11, 12. “The Teens” only covers 2013–2019.
Ciel
The past week referred to the past decade as the Noughties. I would have like the Zeroes or the Singles.
Well… if people are still hyped up about it, it will be called
The Obama Years
the naughties
the twonies
Well now. If you want an answer to that, ask yourself what people called the first decade of the 1900s. As it happens, they didn’t call it anything in particular. One researcher, back in the 1990s and wondering what to call the 2000s before they happened, looked for OED citations for as many different names he could come up with himself and came back with this many uses of them the last time we had to deal with double-0:
Hundreds, aughts, aughties, naughts, naughties, zeroes, zeds, zips, zilches, ohs, double-Os, nothings, ciphers–no relevant citations.
1900s–5 citations.
First decade [of the century]–9 citations.
Opening/first/early years [of the century]–19 citations.
Beginning of the/this century–20 citations.
Turn of the century–38 citations.
When you come right down to it all the short possibilities just clunk around the ear, which defeats the whole purpose of nicknames. Go for “the 1900s” if you must, or just give it up as a bad job.
the oh oh’s.
The new millenium.
Style’s from the new millenium.
Music from the new millenium.
and so on…
Billy
It seems to be that The Aughts is the most popular choice.
In looking back, it would probably be referred to as the Twenty-Hundreds, just as the 1900s were.
The Noughties…
The “O-Zone”
Over???
I wonder about this far too often! lol
nerd alert!!!
The FAILS, the 0-craps, the snake-eyes?
No, itsjustmebub.…I’ve wondered that too!!!
I just think “the new millenium years”.
What do they call 1900–1909? “In the early nineteen-hundreds.” So…“In the early two thousands”. Um, ok, maybe not. LOL!
“Wasted Time”
the 2000s
Naughts! (not)
Bush Years, the Lost Decade, End Of Humanity, BullS#&@ Years,
We have forgotten who we are and what we stand for. People in the 70, 80, 90s stood up for what they believed in. Currently we dont have any consistency in who we are or what we stand for.
It should be called “FDSM” = First decade of the Second Millenium
haha I love all the suggestions so far
gave me a few good laughs!
and yes I’m a nerd
Can I open my Y2K stash now? Do you think it’s safe to eat?
Sha, thats what I think. The 2000’s
the 1900’s
the 1800’s
it makes sense!
But Sally, that’s usually what they call the whole century … not just the decade.
I like the aughts. sounds cool. My daughter was born in Jan. Aught aught haa haa and a son in aught one and then aught 6. sounds funky I hate the new millenium thing it is old and so overdone.
The “tweenies” or “pre-teens”.
I’m a bit late coming into this, but I’m thinking the “Ands.” Two thousand _and_ one, two thousand _and_ two, etc..
2000–2009 is the 2000’s and i think the new decade should be called the teens
so much technology came around (especially with computers and the internet during the decade…they should call it the “Tech Dec”
I personally like “The Ohs” (Oh-Oh, 0h-1, Oh-2, etc.).
As for 2010–2019, I prefer “The Tens”, although it kind of sounds like –10, –20, –30 rather than –10, –11, 12. “The Teens” only covers 2013–2019.
The past week referred to the past decade as the Noughties. I would have like the Zeroes or the Singles.
This decade-my preference is for the Tens/10’s.
Great job on the site, it looks outstanding. I am going to save it and will make sure to visit often