Vintage Names: 100-Year-Old Names That Sound New Again

I love that Vera is on this list. My name is Vera, and I have always loved it. Also, I chose my kids names from the unusual part of the top 1000 list of 1910, and I’m glad to see that they aren’t on this list. excellent list, I do love Clyde and Cecil for boys, I’m not brave enough to use them but I adore the names.

Hurray! A bunch of my fave names lately are on the last list! Hurrat for Herman, Earl, Bernice, and Gladys!

Awww, I like both Ernest and Gertrude!

Oh, and it’s interesting to note the number of names that contain “er” that made their way into the not-so-attractive list.

My grandmothers’ names were Gladys (born 1898) and Eunice (born 1893) – despite the 100 name rule, I did not expect either of those to become popular again. Maybe I will be proved wrong, then? My mother, born 1921, is Joyce (also my middle name, and a name I am not personally fond of although in the UK, it was No 1 for girls in the late 1920s!).

I am surprised Marjorie is on your list of names unlikely to be resurrected yet as I think it is a really pretty name and is one I would personally use right now. I also like the Scottish Gaelic version of Marjorie which is Marsali (pronounced MARsally).

The US “image” for lots of names is also different from the British image of a name. Helen is a case in point. This was popular at the turn of the last century (1900) in USA (think Helen Keller) while it became very popular in Britain much later than that, in the 1950s and 1960s (I have many friends called Helen), so here it is not seen as such an “old lady” name.

I think there was a big “is” ending going on in the 1910s in the UK – Phyllis, Doris, Iris, Eunice (although that is cheating with the spelling and it should anyway really be pronounced like the Greek, You-NEES-ee rather than YOU-niss.)

Sorry, rambling again, but at least I got to the site early today as I don’t work on Thursdays!
x

Love Clarence, Leroy, Ray, Harvey & Roy for the boys. For the girls, I’m loving Betty, Bessie, Mae and Minnie. I like Agnes, too, though don’t think I would use it in reality! The names in the first list and also Ruby, have been done to death already, here in Australia!

Ernest and Herbert to feature on rare occasions in the Times and Telegraph birth announcements here in the UK. Also, in 2007, Lois was just 11 places outside of the girl’s 100 in England & Wales, so we’re already steps ahead!

Elsabea, (interesting name? is that your real name or just an email thing?) – where are you in the UK? I have been scanning the Times and Telegraph for years too! Some people say Ailsa is the Gaelic equivalent of Elisabeth?

I love Agnes, Bessie, Betty, Elsie, Chester, and Theodore! I’d be delighted to meet real life babies with these names.

I loved seeing Dorothy as a possible comeback. I was named after my grandmother and I love my name!

Maybe this is just me, but I can see Marjorie coming back before Mildred…other than that, I love this list! I’m suggesting Marguerite to my hubby tonight, and Theodore, Martin, and Leona are already on out list!

My grandfather’s name is Lloyd Everett, and I thought a pretty modern version of Everett for a girl would be Everet, but I can’t get my fiance to agree with me! A different form of Eve, Eva, with a hint of adventure from its closeness to Everest.

I think it’s strange that Beulah pops up on the “never in a million years” list so frequently. I know a wee girl in the Uk with this name, which her parents chose because of its of-beat Old Testament style. The problem being, in the US, there is a tendency to make *ahem* racial or social connotations with some of the lesser used biblical names and then to cast them off into obscurity. e.g. Jemima – so popular and classy in the UK, pariah in the US, all because of a pancake syrup mascot. IMHO, Beulah will be the next Tallulah.

Holy smokes! Most all of the names on our short lists (girls and boys) are included on the 100 years lists above… guess that defines our naming tastes. Oddly, one of our names, Marjorie, is on your “not gonna happen” list… let’s say, I respectfully disagree!

(Lois makes me think Lois Lane and I know several that were born in the 50s – maybe that’s why it doesn’t feel as fresh?)

I was thinking the same thing about Marjorie. I had one this year in class (she’s 13).

I don’t understand the general distaste for the names Thelma and Ethel on nameberry…. I know they’re outdated, but are they really that bad? My view is of course skewed, as I see all of this from the outside (I live in Norway, always have), but I think both Ethel and Thelma are really cute, and have a delicate and soft sound like so many of the popular names these days… Have I missed out on something important to take into account when deciding to use them or not? Please, if someone could take the time to clarify, I would greatly appreciate it!

I also like Herman, Earnest, Claude, Ida, Bernard, Alma, Maxine, Myrtle, Everett, Agnes, Theodore, Clara, Edith, Evelyn, Lena, Mabel, Ruby, Vera, Viola, and the unique charm of Edna, which is one of my GP’s… ^^

I think Marjorie and Mildred need to switch places.

I knew I was not alone about Marjorie!

The reluctance to use Jemima in the United States is not just “all because of a pancake syrup mascot,” PunkPrincess. “Aunt Jemima” is associated with the minstrel tradition of the antebellum South, and considered to be an insulting stereotype of a servile black woman. It’s fine in the UK because it doesn’t have that heavy context. If someone wants to use Jemima here, maybe they can revive it and it will become a good thing but prospective parents should know what they’re getting into with certain names, and this is one of them.

Oh my, I love quite a few of these names, although some are all ready TOO popular for me to actually use them.
ANNA — sweet and classy, more spunky than Anne.
GRACE — too popular but lovely.
JULIA — my best friend’s top baby name and she is hearing it everywhere on babies!
LUCY — I’m hearing this everywhere but I still love it.
STELLA — ditto.
ALICE — definitely coming back! I would use a slightly more exotic version myself
BEATRICE — ditto.
CLARA — love it.
FLORENCE — under appreciated for sure. A natural extension after the popularity of Flora.
HAZEL — I can’t get this off my list!
LILLIAN — I’ve loved this for years but the popularity of Lily seems to have ruined it a bit.
MARGUERITE — I think the unfortunate nn Marge has put this name in an unfairly negative position for a lot of people. But Marguerite is too gorgeous a name to stay away forever.
VIOLA — great alternative to Violet, so charming.
ELSIE — my top name is a more exotic version of this name, although I’m not a huge fan of this nickname.
GENEVIEVE — I’m hearing this one tossed around quite a lot lately.
IDA — My great-grandmother’s name!
IRENE — another beautiful classic with a lovely meaning.
MARIAN — Another family name for me that I adore.

Boys
ANDREW — Always a classic. I’m surprised it’s not already popular.
BENJAMIN — A family name on the boy’s side! Ben is such a great nn.
CHARLES and CHARLIE — our top boy’s name (and my great grandfather’s name). I never though I’d use a top 100 name although so far it hasn’t reached that level in CA, fingers crossed!
HENRY — there’s just something so sweet about this name.
LEO — Maybe the next Max?
WILLIAM — really coming back!
EDWARD — ditto.
LOUIS — a newer addition to our lists: I like the nn Louie but I’m not a fan of Lou.
CECIL — a GP! Hubby hates it!
EDWIN — less popular than Edward but similar charm.
EVERETT — something distinguished about this name I like.
MILTON — ditto.
THEODORE — I’m already hearing this one considered a lot.

I like Marjorie too. It’s much beloved among LDS people; it’s the name of (late) President Hinckley’s (late) wife and I predict that if there’s a resurgence, it will spike in Utah and across the Western intermountain Book-Of-Mormon Belt.

I LOVE Mae/May/Mai and at the top of my short list is Coramai. Sweet, sweet names.

Evelyn is getting huge as a name. Three of my husband’s cousins and one of my friends all have an Evelyn, all in the past 3 years.

i love ALICE & EDWARD of course they’r making a come back because of TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, okay, uncle on Marjorie! I’m promoting her…..

I could see Gladys making a comeback in 20 years or so. I’ll go out on a limb and say Edna and Myrtle are never coming back in style.

Based on the baby name message board that I read, I think Everett is already coming back into style.

Mae is my middle name and my great grandmothers name, I hope to pass it on, it’s so pretty I hope it doesn’t get too popular. We almost named our second son Theodore, and it was at the top of our list for months, then I decided to go with our second favorite because my father pronounced it The O Door. Also, it has odor in it and what little boy wants to have smelly in his name?

Hazel is fab too, and seems to come from a different era in the USA? Here, it was really popular in the 1940s and 1950s, but I think it was more popular earlier than that in the States? More turn of the century? Rather like Helen and Barbara?

There was a little Gladys on Ohdeedoh a few weeks ago and I love it. It’s so cheery! I rather like Beulah too but it’s always popping up on ‘worst name’ lists on various websites so I suppose I’m in the minority on this one.

I do love trawling the old top 100s for names. From the Scottish top 100 from 1900 I could see a revival of:

Annie
Jane
Isabella
Maggie
Martha
Alice
Grace
Georgina
Eliza
Flora

… among many others. Most of these are probably already revived!

Scottish top 100 1900: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/name6.pdf

I think of a certain movie scene when I hear the name Beulah. Think classroom & droning voice repeating Beuller….Beuller…..etc. Maybe others have a similar association?

Ben, Charlie, Henry, Ted and Jack are all fairly popular here (US) already.

I happen to like Lloyd as it’s a family name, but wonder if it’ll ever reach popularity again. Was orig my dad’s great uncle….how many years back is that – mid 1800′s?

I think of a certain movie scene when I hear the name Beulah. Think classroom & droning voice repeating Beuller….Beuller…..etc. Maybe others have a similar association?

Ben, Charlie, Henry, Ted and Jack are all fairly popular here (US) already.

As for Esther, Ethel and such, maybe they are not as popular in the US because they are associated with “I Love Lucy” reruns. A bit like Ward still makes me think of “Leave it to Beaver” (I’m in my 30′s)

I happen to like Lloyd as it’s a family name, but wonder if it’ll ever reach popularity again. Was orig my dad’s great uncle….how many years back is that – mid 1800′s?

Most of my favorites are on the “almost in style” list, but I like plenty from the last two lists as well.

Lois is one I’d love to see revived. It’s biblical and it has the cool retro “-s” ending that may come back at some point. Plus, I think it has the potential to sound rather sexy, perhaps because of association with Lois Lane and perhaps because of similarity to names like Lola. There’s something provocative about the “Lo” sound at the beginning of names.

And, PunkPrincess, I’m excited to hear you know a little Beulah! I think it’s gorgeous. Unfortunately, I live in the US, so I’m definitely in the minority on this one. I’d love to see it make a comeback in the UK, though, and hopefully migrate over here. It has a gorgeous biblical meaning — God used it as a name for the nation of Israel to picture how he was going to redeem them and reunite them to him. (It literally means “she who is to be married,” where marriage is a metaphor for a relationship with God.)

My dad’s name was Floyd Warren and I really wanted to incorporate it with my son. Floyd was a bit too much for me but I paired Warren with Everett as a first name. I love it. I think it is my fav of all my kids. I hope it doesn’t get trendy though. I like it that I hardly ever hear it with other kids. I almost wish I had saved Warren as a first name though because we are pregnant again and I am at a lost if it is another boy.

I, for one, truly hope you’re wrong. I named my son Warren two years ago. I love that everyone has heard it and knows how to pronounce it but there aren’t a ton of little Warrens running around. I’ll be very disappointed if suddenly it becomes popular.

My mother’s name is Edith as was my grandmother’s. Personally my mother would have liked another name but her father named her after her mother who died after giving birth. I like the name myself, but don’t see myself using it to name a child of mine. Also I saw Edwin on your list and that’s my grandfather’s name, which I would use as a either a first or middle name I memory of him.

Guys, I find it really funny (and exciting – maybe it won’t ever get trendy?) that everyone completely ignores the name Doris – it’s cute, timely, and has great movie star associations. It’s number one on my list for a 2nd girl. My first daughter is Tallulah. (My grandmother is named Doris – she’s 97.)

I am a younger June Evelyn at 49, so my name is not very common for my age group. I love that my first and middle name are coming back!

I love vintage names- I am getting some disagreement from my family although I’m probably choosing a family name for my newest daughter. My grandmothers mother’s name was Louella Margaret and I’m choosing the name and spelling of
Luella. People tell me it sounds like a hillbilly name- I’m not anything near a redneck but I think it sounds old and feminine and sweet and I love the nicknames that come with it
lulu, lue, elle, ella, ellie
Please tell me what you think!
thanks!

Love Luella, and Louella! A serious classic like Margaret gives it a good balance as a middle name. And of course, great nicknames — Lou or Lu is another one.

i really like the name Everestt because of the sense of adventure name that comes with it.
i like Harper, because it sounds smart and Jane, just because jane is always put down as being plain, when its really not.

I love vintage names, but whenever I see the name Chester I just cringe. It would be great for a child, but as an adult I’m afraid the unfortunate guy would forever be known as “Chester the Molester.” Every Chester I’ve ever known has been dubbed with this awful nickname….

There was a baby Elsie at the library today. So I guess it’s becoming stylish again around here.

I love how my name is on this list! I have always loved my name, but I don’t like it how it is used in the Twilight series.

Hurray for classic names. I am the mom of a Matilda and an Eloise.

What’s wrong with Phyllis? I actually think it sounds beautiful and I almost feel personally insulted, when I hear that Arnold is not considered a beautiful name x(
I like most of the popular girls names, but for boys I’ think that Ray seems too short.

I was just purusing this list because I’m fascinated with names.

I think what a lot of people are missing is that, in the US, certain names just dont have the same appeal. I love hearing British people call their children Charlie or Freddy, but I would never give those to my children. I think it is partially a tonal difference in the way we talk.

Beula, Phyllis, Bertha, and Gertrude just don’t sound nice in our dialect (and personally bring to mind images of fat people… I think it may be because of acquaintances and because those are names we give our cows… “big bertha, gertie, etc). And there is also definitely cultural connotations that were already stated, chester the molester, Aunt Jemima, “Witchy” Names like Matilda..

Another case in point, I knew a baby named Elsa here in the US and she was precious… her mother was british and said it with such a nice ring, but when my mom says it, it just sounds very… yucky.

Anyways, my point is that you shouldn’t be offended when one name is said to be a bad one. When a child is cute, they are cute, and when they aren’t they aren’t. Has nothing to do with their names. I’ve had some strange names come through my rooms and some of them just make the name their own (Hobson… called him self Hobs.. Adorable redhead freckle faced spitfire..)

As a side, for boys I love the names Clark, Dean, Jack, & Wayne which are more 1930′s-50′s.. Very Masculine for me. For girls I love Ruby, Pearl, Violet, Opal, Scarlett, & Coral (which I didnt see on any lists, but it is so pretty). I find that many of the names I like are jem stones or colors but I just think they are very poetic.

HaHa! It’s funny to see my brother’s name Herbert (he’s 36) on this list. It’s actually his middle name, but it was my dad’s first name and my grand-dad’s first name. I have an uncle named Hillman, who was named after his uncle Hillman. Everyone always asks where the name came from. I don’t think anyone really knows. There’s always a joke or two about all of the names being taken in our family so they just named him Hillman cause his lived on the hill. Funny stuff.

I love the old names i have a Jack Robert & a Phoebe Grace,i’m on my 3rd baby which is a girl & i’m going to call her nanci but not sure what middle name to have,so if anyone has any ideas feel free to reply back.

My Grandmothers were Shirley and Mary, and my great Aunt is Edrye (ED-dree) which I love love love. I haven’t seen that name on any list in my search so far. Tops on our name lists are Jane, Claudia, Madeline (not sure how we would spell this one), Deirdre, Dinah, Audrey, and Tabitha …and for boys Charlie, Finn, Quentin, Myles, Cole, Henry and Aiden. Our last name has 3 syllables so I don’t want the name to be a “mouthful” when you say them together….

My favourite names would have to be
Ella
Eva
Harry
Alice
Evelyn
Hazel
Lena
Edward
Genevieve
Myrtle
Opal
Ethel
Melvin
These are some of the best names but i have always enjoyed Alexandra, Peyton, Kristen, Jessie and Mya. My favourite guys name woul have to be Edward. I have loved it for so long. And even though it is coming back i don’t mind because i love it.
I like Myrtle because it is really different but i really don’t see it coming back into fashion.

I love a lot of these! Even in the not-so-attractive list. Big fan of Alvin (but those damn chipmunks ruined it a bit), Melvin, Edwin, Lester and Chester, Lloyd, Floyd and Edgar. For girls, I love Hazel, always have. Genevieve is cool as well, though it’s always been quite popular in French (I’m French).

It’s really fascinating, how preferences for names vary, depending on the country you live in. I’m german and pretty sure that no one here would use the name “Chester” for their child. “Chester” is a brand for small, seperately wrapped slices of Cheese. Same goes for “Dixie” which I spotted in another article on this website – we have portable toilet cubicles (the ones used on building sites) called “Dixies”.

However, thanks for the list, it’s really interesting to read what was popular one hundred years ago on the other side of the globe. Some names are similar, but most completely different to our “vintage” ones.

this is so cute my friend loves this and she is about to turn 18 and is having a baby shower i picked a name for her baby she calling it sarabi leanne robertson so cuteeeeeeeeeeeeee

We named our daughter Hazel when she was born in April 2010. She fits it perfectly and we get tons of compliments on her name, it also helps that she is REALLY cute!

We named our daughter Hazel when she was born in April 2010. She fits it perfectly and we get tons of compliments on her name, it also helps that she is REALLY cute!

I have always wanted to name my first daughter Josephine. I’m somewhat shocked that no one has said they like that name. I fell in love with it when i read “Little Women” as a kid.

I like Lucy, Majorie, Maxine, Sam, and Leo!!

My great grandmothers names are Norene, Jeanette, Ruth and Mary. I love old names! My great great great aunt Dorothy is turning 100 next month! Its amazing how names have cycles every 100 years or so! I personally like Ezra for a boy ( it’s Biblical for those who don’t know ) and Jeanette or Miriam
for a girl. My last name is 1 syllable so we like 2 or more syllable names!! Our son is Adrian Michael.

Phyllis is my name, and I am only 25 years old. I love my name, and I sincerely hope you are incorrect!

Love Alvin, think it is just sooo cute! Don’t think I could persuade my husband on if though! We are struggling with our 3rd baby boy, due july, as we want a name that’s not too popular but also not too wacky! Names like Charlie and Harry are already so popular in the uk, Alfie and Archie are 2 older names that have also boomed over here! I love Lillian for the girls and also think Maggie and Annie are lovely too! love the old but new sound names!! Brill

Yay! I’m glad that me and my brothers names, Alice and Edward (Eddie) are making a come-back. I love pretty names like Lily and Julia but it is a shame they are being used so much. I thing that Ethel is also quite a nice name as it sounds very gentle and soft, it was also my great-grandmothers name and Florence Vivian was my grandmas. My middle name is Rose and I also think that is adorable!

[...] Old people names – or rather #oldpeoplenames – has been this week’s hottest Twitter craze, with thousands of people tweeting their ideas of what constitute names borne only by, well, old people. [...]

My Daughters Name is Cora Elizabeth and I think it is Beautiful.

Our newborn baby daughter is christened Betty (after three of our four grandmothers), and we’re calling her Bess, which I love! We call her “Good Queen Bess” and “Her Majesty”, because she rules this house!

My great grandmother’s name was Almarita Irmagene… I don’t think that will be on the list any time in the near or far future… I hope haha

After the Harry Potter series, I’m sorry to say, no one will name their child Myrtle, like Moaning Myrtle.

My daughter’s name is Rosella, after her grandmother. We call her Ella for short. I also like Alice and Laona.

My daughter Rosella’s middle name is Scarlett.

I also have son’s named Corbin Shaffer and Zade Emerson.

I’m pregnant with our 4th and looking for a unique or old fashioned name to go with these.

I think most of these names are beautiful and have really enjoyed reading them! So petite and elegant! I have many names (which I will post later) but just wanted to mention a couple of my nan/ great nan and great aunts names.

My Great nan was Trixie, her sister was Ina, her sister in law was Clarice, and her daughter (my nan) is Valerie. I think they are all lovely old names and would like to her more of them My other nan is Miriam, and I have great aunts with the names, June, Faye, Wilma, and my step mum is Fleur! We have lots of pretty names and with such a huge family wish I had the time to put them all up! Male wise my pa is Wes which I rarely here and my great grandfather was Alexander! Good luck with all the names and congratulations to each expecting parent that reads this! x

I see that Ethel is on the “ugly” list. I personally would love to name my daughter Ethel, or at least use it as a middle name. It was my great grandmother’s and once I discovered it, I was surprisingly in love with it.

There’s something really cool and vintage about it. I never met her, of course, so it’s not really a sentimental thing, but with my other old favorite name (like Hazel, Ada, and Amelia) coming back to popularity, Ethel has a chance.

I like Amelia, Meredith, Martha, Charlotte, Emma, and Rhea. Most of which are not in “style”, but my 25yo daughter has a friend named Amelia, and we call her Ami. I would be careful about naming your children after your parents and their siblings, combining two names to make one, like Luella, and Ellen; making a name like LuEllen which is just weird!

[...] Vintage Names: 100-Year-Old Names That Sound New Again – Baby Name Blog – Nameberry. [...]

My poor great grandparents. I had a Lois Ethel, a Melvin, and a Buelah on my family tree! I do love Ethel though. From the almost back in style, I love:
Agnes
Genevieve
Irene
Marian
Marjorie
Opal
Cecil
Claude
Clyde
Edgar
Edwin
Everett
Frederick
THeodore
From the already back names I love:

Alice
Beatrice
Edith
Evelyn
Hazel
Josephine
June
Leona
Mabel
Pearl
Ruby
Silvia
Vera
Viola
Vivian
Arthur
Edward
Homer
Oscar
Victor
Vincent

my family loves old fashioned names! Us kids are: Pearl, Wyatt, Emmett and Isabel (although my stepmother preferred violet). If I have kids I like: Ernest (after my favorite writer), Victoria, Rose, Allan (after my Grandfather), and of course a violet for my stepmom!

Both Irene & Evelyn are on my list.

Was shocked to see that Ethel is considered unattractive, I think it’s adorable!! Poised for a comeback, I’m sure.

It’s always interesting to see which names come back into fashion, and which don’t. Why is this? Is it purely based on their sound? Or is it the image the name conjures up in your mind?

I think it’s a combination of both. Names like Gladys and Doris just sound old and for me, create the image of an older woman, rather than a baby. Likewise, for boys, Herbert and Herman sound like names for older men.

= > http://allbabythings.net

Is it wrong that I like Melvin, Doris and Ethel?
I love Alice too!! Evelyn was on my list!!! I don’t like Sybil but Sybilla is great!!

Arthur and Walter and Edith, Sylvia, Vivian and Marion are also lovely!!

There are quite a few names that seem unlikely to make a comeback. But, a decade ago, everyone would have said there’s no way Agnes will ever be used again! All it takes is one celebrity to name their baby or a character from a popular movie or TV show! Don’t discount Gertrude just yet!