Classic Baby Names

Looking for classic baby names? Here's where you'll find lists of classic baby names for girls and boys, traditional baby names from the Bible and ancient cultures, and international variations of classic names.

• Alexandra's International Variations

  Alexandra has been in the Top 100 for 20 years and with so many little girls named Alexa, Alexis, and Alex around, you might want to explore some of the name's international options. Read More 

• Ann's International Variations

  The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls' baby names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Modern parents who might consider Ann a bit bland, have their choice of dozens of cool international versions. Read More 

• Bible Baby Names: Most Popular

  Bible baby names have been getting increasingly popular over the past several decades. Old Testament Names for boys, particularly, have been high on the popular baby names list, but some Biblical girls' names are also longtime favorites. Here's a selection of the most popular Bible baby names. For more unusual choices, you might also want to check the Cool Bible Baby Names list. Read More 

• Biblical Baby Names for Boys

  Biblical baby names have been popular for boys for more than a generation now, with early favorites Aaron and Adam giving way to new favorites such as Asher and Abraham. Here's our collection of biblical baby names for boys. Read More 

• Biblical Baby Names for Girls

  Biblical baby names have been popular for girls for more than a generation now, with early favorites Mary and Anna giving way to new favorites such as Ada and Abigail. Here's the complete collection of biblical baby names for girls. Read More 

• Catherine/Katherine's International Variations

  Variations of the classic baby names Catherine and Katherine are found around the world. Read More 

• Recent User Lists

  • Call me Superboy
  • Nice Names & Names I <3
  • brave names
  • Boys' names I'd love to see on someone else's kid
  • Boys Names That Don't Suck.

  Popular Lists

  • Crazy Celebrity Baby Names
  • Mac Names

• Christmas Baby Names

  Names for a baby born at Christmastime can be especially festive and creative, drawing from all aspects of the holiday season. For more ideas, see the Christmas Baby Names blog. Read More 

• Classic Baby Names

  What are the most classic baby names for girls and boys? While there are hundreds of classic baby names from the Bible, ancient cultures, and other traditional sources in common use today, these are our picks for the most, um, classic classic baby names. Read More 

• Classic Baby Names for Boys

  Classic baby names for boys, those that have been well used in the English-speaking world over time, are an elite group. While many Biblical baby names certainly qualify, we've grouped most of those on their own list. Here are the classic boy baby names that remain. Read More 

• Classic Baby Names for Girls

  Classic baby names for girls, those that have been well used in the English-speaking world over time, are an elite group. While many Biblical names certainly qualify, we've grouped most of those on their own list. Here are the classic girl baby names that remain. Read More 

• Classic Baby Names with a Twist

  What if you love classic baby names but want something more original? Or if you're looking to honor a relative but want to spin their classic name a bit differently? Without getting into too-crazy spelling variations or too-easy international forms, here some twists on classic baby names. Read More 

• Classic Girl Baby Names That Aren't Boring

  If your tastes run toward classic baby names but you want a name that sounds interesting and distinctive, consider these girl baby names that are traditional but not boring. Read More 

• Early African-American Names

  Early American slave rolls are filled with classical and biblical names designed to show off the slave-owners' education and not normally used for whites; variations of African day names and place-names; along with other unusual names more closely identified over the years with black than white American culture. Some of the most notable: Read More 

• Elizabeth's International Variations

  Elizabeth is one of the most classic baby names you can choose for your little girl. And it's one that comes with a host of international variations that can make for original nicknames or spins on Elizabeth. Read More 

• Feminizations

  Feminizations are, in the classic sense, feminine variations of male names rather than unisex baby names. You may be attracted to these baby names because you want to name a daughter after dad or grandpa, or maybe you simply love the traditional feel of many of these baby names. Read More 

• Girls' Names With Gravity

  For many parents, girls' names (and boys' names too) should carry more than an attractive sound and appealing image; they should have real history behind them. These names relate to a range of impressive personages, real and imagined, and also have both breadth and depth in terms of the meaning they convey. Inspired by a fascinating discussion on our forums, here are some girls' names with history and weight. Read More 

• Gladiator Baby Names

  Gladiator baby names -- boys' names from Ancient Rome -- are suddenly hot again after a couple of millennia, thanks to Hunger Games, HBO's Rome, Atticus Finch, and Russell Crowe. If you're looking for a baby name for your own little gladiator -- or emperor or god, for that matter -- consider the following. Read More 

• If You Like Emily, You Might Love...

  As one of the top baby names for girls for over two decades, Emily has proven itself both popular and at the same time become overused. Here, some alternative baby names you might want to consider instead. Read More 

• Jane Austen Baby Names

  If you're a fan of Jane Austen, you might draw inspiration for baby names from her characters. These classic baby names are perfect for parents who value strength, sophistication, and substance. Read More 

• Margaret's International Variations

  Margaret is among the most classic baby names, with a wide range of intriguing variations throughout the Western World. Read More 

• Mary's International Variations

  Mary may not be exactly stylish among baby names now, but as the top girls' name for centuries, it's spawned many intriguing international variations. Read More 

• Mary's Stylish Variations

  What can we say? There's still something about Mary -- even after a 400 year run -- that's made it a solid option for countless folks who adore its symbolic value. But don't be afraid to jazz things up a little. Here are some timely, fresh-faced variations of this traditional name. Read More 

• Nicknames for Elizabeth

  Elizabeth is one of those classic, widely-used baby names that has an entire raft of nicknames, going in and out of style over time. There's a pet form of Elizabeth that's right for any child. Read More 

• Old Lady Names

  Old lady names are cool by virtue of their very disdain for fashion. If you're interested in the baby names on this list, check out our blog on old lady names for more commentary and ideas. Read More 

• Old Man Names

  Old man names like Max and Sam and Henry have been used for babies for so long now that they no longer sound like old man names. But don't worry, there are plenty more where those came from. To qualify as a cool old man name, a name has to feel both classic and slightly moth-eaten, like the perfect vintage suit. Read More 

• Old-Fashioned Baby Names

  Old-fashioned baby names sound new again: We mean the gently old-fashioned vintage names last popular a century ago. Some of the old-fashioned baby names recommended for your consideration today include: Read More 

• Papal Names

  The selection of Pope Francis I has added a new name to the ist of papal names, which began in the year 32 with St. Peter. Here are some other names of popes that are still usable today--many of them worn by multiple bearers. Read More 

• Perennially Popular Boy Baby Names

  There are just over 200 boy baby names that have been on the Top 1000 since 1880, when the U.S. Social Security office began tracking baby names. The names here are included among that elite that has been perennially popular. For the full group plus analysis, see our blog on perennially popular boy baby names. Read More 

• Perennially Popular Girl Baby Names

  These forever-popular girl baby names have all appeared on the Top 1000 list for every year since the U.S. government started keeping records in 1880. For more, check out our blog on the subject. Read More 

• Roman Names

  Roman Names are suddenly hot and fresh again as baby names, partly thanks to The Hunger Games, the futuristic book that featured Roman names for most of the male characters, partly because of the HBO series Rome, and also thanks to the classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird and its hero Atticus Finch. Roman baby names on today's roster include several familiar choices along with even more fascinating names yet to be revived. Read More 

• Romantic Baby Names for Girls

  There has been an upturn in the use of romantic baby names for girls in recent years, think Isabelle and Sophia. Some of these romantic baby names seem to coincide with classic names, and others are heard less often. Here's a list of romantic girl names chosen for their originality, use in literature and film, as well as romance novels: Read More 

• Royal Baby Names

  Royal baby names are those used by royal families in recent years. Many of them have been used by royal families over the centuries, while some of newcomers to the royal name lexicon. Royal baby names include: Read More 

• Royal Names for Boys

  Royal names for boys on this list are those used by the British royal family for over a thousand years. Some of the royal names for boy you might consider are: Read More 

• Royal Names for Girls

  Royal names on this list come from those used by the British royal family over the centuries. Royal names for girls you might consider include: Read More 

• Traditional Baby Names

  Traditional baby names, by our definition, are those that have been used consistently in English-speaking countries for centuries -- and are still in widespread use. Traditional baby names might not be the most exciting choices in the book, but they are the most reliable. Here are some of the top traditional baby names for both boys and girls. Read More 

• Unusual Biblical Baby Names

  The Bible is full of names, many of them having grown more popular as baby names over recent years but hundreds of others still unusual. Unusual biblical baby names for boys and girls from both the Old and New Testaments include the following. Read More 

• Victorian Royal Baby Names

  Queen Victoria named six of nine children after either herself or her husband Prince Albert, making the royal baby names from the 19th and early 20th centuries a cozy bunch. The full list of royal names from the Victorian era includes: Read More 

• Vintage Baby Names

  Vintage baby names are among the most fashionable today, for girls as well as boys. Choosing a vintage name can give you the best of all worlds, drawing on classic inspiration with modern style. Vintage baby names are drawn from the popularity lists of a hundred years ago, from classic literature along with biblical and royal sources. Here, a list of the vintage baby names stylish today. Read More 

• Vintage Baby Names for Boys

  Vintage baby names for boys are in style now, along with vintage clothes and furniture. The most popular vintage baby names for boys include the following. Read More 

• Vintage Baby Names for Girls

  Vintage baby names for girls are as chic as vintage clothes and furniture. The vintage baby names for girls that are most stylish today include the following. Read More 

See All List Categories