Names that Peaked in 1889
Across 4 pages
of 4
The names
Anatole
Greek
"from the east, rising sun"
Anatole is one of the unique boys' names with an unusual-ish feel but an uncertain provenance, with a meaning related to sunrise and thus to fire. While it's Greek in origin, it is associated more…
Freeman
Word name or surname name, English
"free man"
Another meaningful word name that actually dates back to pre-Emancipation days.
Bertie
Diminutive of Albert, Bertram etc
Long a royal nickname in England, it's coming back there along with Archie and Alfie. British singer Kate Bush calls her little boy Bertie.
Lennie
Diminutive of Leonard
"brave lion"
A nickname of yesteryear that like alongside Reggie, Alby, Archie, and Bertie, is back in consideration in England and Wales. It is currently in the Top 300 there, however, it has yet to make the…
Lish
Lish is a rare masculine name with multiple potential origins. It may function as a shortened form of English names like Elisha or Aloysius, or derive from an old English word meaning 'happy' or…
Clarence
Latin
"bright"
The name of the guardian angel in It's a Wonderful Life is rarely heard the rest of the year because of its studious, near-nerdy image, but this could change in the current naming climate. An English…
Oliva
Oliva is a feminine name with Latin roots, serving as a variation of Olive or Olivia. Derived from the Latin word for the olive tree, 'oliva,' it symbolizes peace, fertility, and victory in classical…
Harris
English
"son of Harry"
When Harrison is too much, but Harry isn't enough, try this stylish surname name with a touch of British flair. It briefly reentered the US Top 1000 for the first time since 1988 in 2016, but has…
Gray
Color name, also diminutive of Grayson
The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Gray (or Grey), is one exception, which could make for a soft and…
Clem
, English, diminutive of Clement
Laid-back and humble, with a distinctive down-home charm.
Betsey
Diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
This playful variation of Elizabeth became popular in its own right during the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in England and America. Betsey offers a sweet, vintage quality with a touch of…
Sada
Hebrew variation of Sarah; also Japanese
"chaste"
The late actress Sada Thompson introduced this obscure but usable form.
Franz
German variation of Francis, Latin
"Frenchman or free man"
Franz is the German equivalent to Francis, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a Franz outside of countries with Germanic origins. In America the name is often associated with celebrated author Franz…
Claiborne
French and German
"boundary with clover"
This surname-name oozes Southern charm; nevertheless, its most famous bearer was a New Englander, Rhode Island senator Claiborne de Borda Pell, who sponsored education legislation leading to the much…
Linton
English
"flax settlement"
In Wuthering Heights, Cathy's milquetoast husband; Heath is so much more appealing.