Names that Peaked in 1881
Across 12 pages
of 12
Rhoda
Greek
"rose"
To those who remember, Rhoda is still reminiscent of the brassy Bronx 1970s sitcom Rhoda Morgenstern. But Rhoda has a much longer history--it is a name that can be found in the New Testament as a…
Rilla
German
"small brook"
Rilla dropped out of the US Top 1000 in 1915, but it's starting to feel like an intriguing possibility again in this age of short, sweet, a-ending names for girls. It is traditionally a short form…
Amey
Amey is a feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In Sanskrit, it means "boundless" or "immeasurable," suggesting limitless potential and possibilities. In English contexts, it may be considered…
Nella
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…
Nana
English, Greek, Hawaiian, Japanese
"grace; God is gracious; spring, beauty; vegetable, greens"
To most English speakers, Nana is the dog in Peter Pan , the daughter played by Emma Stone in Crazy Stupid Love , and another name for Grandma, however, it is also a diminutive of Nancy and Anna…
Sallie
Spelling variation of Sally, diminutive of Sarah, Hebrew
"princess"
Sallie ranked highest along with other -ie ending girls' names in the 1800s. It's been downhill since then for Sallie, though she didn't fall off the Top 1000 until 1970. Last year, only a couple…
Sophronia
Greek
"sensible, prudent"
Stately and elegant, but with the familiar sounds of Sophia and Sophie, Sophronia was a familiar choice back in the 19th century but has since fallen into obscurity. Derived from the Greek sophron ,…
Sylvania
Sylvania is a feminine name derived from Latin elements 'silva' or 'sylva' meaning 'forest' or 'woods', combined with the suffix '-ia' denoting 'land of'. The name literally translates to 'woodland'…
Victorine
French variation of Victoria, Latin
"victory"
Victorine is appealing if you know it's an authentic vintage French girls' name, less so if you assume it's an awkward feminization, ala Davette or Richardine.
Zaida
Arabic
"properous"
Could be some disconnect between spelling and pronunciation.
Dollie
Dollie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Dorothy (meaning 'gift of God') or Dolores (meaning 'sorrows'). Popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Dollie has a…
Zillah
Hebrew
"shade"
A light, bohemian-sounding biblical name, mentioned in the bible as a wife of Lamech, one of the first men.
Malinda
Variation of Melinda, English
"beautiful honey"
This spelling of Melinda is used primarily in Amish communities.
Dolph
German, diminutive of Adolph
All Adolph variations are best avoided, though this takes some of the onus off.
Albion
Latin
"white, bright"
Albion is an ancient, poetic, and literary name for Great Britain. As a name, Albion is a variation of Albus -- and Dumbledore fans might find it a congenial update. Attractive short forms include Al…
Dolly
English, diminutive of Dorothy
"gift of God"
Sweet and cosy with a touch of sass, this nickname-y choice was a familiar option up until the sixties in the US. Then, for a while, it was a bit of a one-person name, associated with singer Dolly…
Hester
Medieval variation of Esther, Persian
"star"
The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter 's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an…
Polly
English variation of Molly, diminutive of Mary, Hebrew
"bitter"
An alternative to the no-longer-fresh Molly, the initial 'P' gives Polly a peppier sound, combining the cozy virtues of an old-timey name with the bounce of a barmaid. Associated with Tom Sawyer's…
Mame
Diminutive of Mary or Margaret
Has a dotty, antic feel via dotty, antic Auntie Mame.
Dell
English
"shaded valley"
A sweet and simple nature name that could also be short for the surname name Odell, the vintage name Della, or the obscure saint's name Endellion.