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vintage girl names begging to be rediscovered

  1. Zella

    • Origin:

      African, Bobangi, Libyan place name, diminutive of Rosella, Marcella, Gizella, or Isabella

    • Meaning:

      "lacking nothing, one who knows the way"

    • Description:

      Sunny, sassy, and stylish, Zella is a multicultural and versatile choice which works across multiple languages. Popular back in the early 19th century, Zella is now catching the attention of cotemporary parent as a rival to Ella, Stella, and Della.
  2. Wesley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "western meadow"

    • Description:

      Wesley, the long-standing classic boy name that has never dipped below the Top 200, is popular again — this time for boys and girls. The shared sounds with Leslie — which was once a masculine name itself — give Wesley real potential on baby girls. Some parents have feminized the name, leading to variations such as Weslie, Wesleigh, and Weslee, one notable example being Weslie Renae, daughter of dancers Allison Holker and Stephen "tWitch" Boss.
  3. Theodosia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      This feminine form of Theodosius has long been buried deep in the attic, but might be a good discovery for the parent who wants to move beyond Theodora. Vice President Aaron Burr named a daughter Theodosia ("Dear Theodosia" is a song in the smash musical Hamilton), and it was the birth name of silent screen vamp Theda Bara. Theodosia actually appeared on the US popularity lists in the 1880s and 90s.
  4. Luciana

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Lucianus

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Lushly elaborate name that makes Lucy more grownup and sensual. Carnie Wilson chose it for her daughter. Lucianus is an ancient Roman family name and Lucianus of Samosata was an early satirist. Heard most often in the Italian and Spanish cultures, Luciana is usually pronounced loo-chee-anna.
  5. Kitty

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Katherine

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      This endearing nickname name is one Katherine pet form that predates all the Kathys and Katies, having been fairly common in the eighteenth century. With the current mini-craze for animal-related names, Kitty is sounding cute and cuddly again—she's already jumped back onto the U.K. list, at number 199.
  6. Love

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "love"

    • Description:

      Love makes an endearing middle name, as in Jennifer Love Hewitt. However, more parents are considering Love as a first name — enough for it to enter the charts for the first time in 2022 as one of the fastest-rising names of the year. Other love-related alternatives include Juliet, Valentina, and Amor.
  7. Murphy

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "sea warrior"

    • Description:

      This surname name popularized for girls by TV's Murphy Brown back in the 80's and 90's still has some breezy energy. Almost 400 baby girls were named Murphy in 2021, versus just over 200 baby boys, making the name solidly gender neutral.
  8. Maelys

    • Origin:

      French or Breton

    • Meaning:

      "chief or prince"

    • Description:

      Another feminine form of the old saint's name Mael. Spelled Maëlys, it is a very popular name in France today.
  9. Euphemia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "fair speech"

    • Description:

      Ancient martyr's name that, though not especially appealing, might still be mildly possible, especially for Anglophiles. It was widely used in early Scotland, but was overtaken by its nickname, Effie.
  10. Georgiana

    • Origin:

      English, feminine variation of George

    • Meaning:

      "farmer"

    • Description:

      Long a popular upper-crust form in England, where it's pronounced George-ee-AH-na, Georgiana has been been neglected here. But with Georgia growing more popular and the general fashion for elaborate feminine names, Georgiana might have room to grow.
  11. Nella

    • Description:

      Nella is a feminine name with Italian and Germanic origins. It can be a standalone name or a diminutive of names like Petronella, Antonella, or Cornelia. In Italian, it literally means 'at the' or 'in the,' while as a short form, it often inherits meanings from its longer versions. Nella has historical usage dating back centuries but has experienced periods of renewed popularity in recent decades. The name has a vintage charm that appeals to parents seeking something classic yet not overused. With its brief two syllables and melodic sound, Nella strikes a balance between simplicity and distinctiveness. The name carries connotations of sweetness and strength, making it versatile for different personalities.

  12. Beryl

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sea-green jewel"

    • Description:

      Dated British favorite that never caught on in this country, where Jade remains the green gem of choice. Interesting namesakes: British writer Beryl Bainbridge and British aviatrix Beryl Markham.
  13. Snow

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Description:

      There's definitely a cold front of names for winter babies moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure, evocative -- and magical. A haunting middle name choice.
  14. Leora

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Eleanor, or Hebrew and Greek

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Somewhat dated Hebrew name that appears more modern when spelled Liora.
  15. Portia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "pig"

    • Description:

      Portia is a perfect role-model name, relating to Shakespeare's brilliant and spirited lawyer in The Merchant of Venice, and is now also a Hunger Games name .
  16. Eulalie

    • Origin:

      French form of Eulalia, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sweetly speaking"

    • Description:

      Eulalie hasn't ranked in the US Top 1000 since 1899, but its French roots might make it more appealing to modern ears than its sister Eulalia.
  17. Audra

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "noble strength"

    • Description:

      Used primarily in Scotland, and represented here by singer Audra McDonald, the girls' name Audra has been overshadowed by the return of the classic Audrey. Audra may be to Audrey what Jenna is to Jennifer and Jessa is to Jessica: A variation that will rise as the original falls from favor, which may take another decade.
  18. Benjamin

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "son of the right hand"

    • Description:

      Yes, there are baby girls named Benjamin — typically between 10-20 recorded in a given year. These numbers are likely inflated due to data entry error, but you still could encounter a female Benjamin out there.
  19. Percy

    • Origin:

      French surname from place name Perci-en-Auge

    • Description:

      Percy is a traditional boys' name that could be cute and unexpected for a girl – perhaps as a short form for Persephone or Persis. Adventurous and literary Percy could follow in the footsteps of other boyish nicknames for girls, like Frankie and Charlie.
  20. Augusta

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Augustus, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts and stately homes, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, and the renewed interest in clunky classics like Gwendolyn and Winifred for girls, Augusta might just appeal to contemporary parents.