Names that Peaked in 1887
Across 6 pages
of 6
Burnett
Burnett is a masculine name of Old French and Germanic origins, derived from the word 'brun' meaning 'brown' or 'dark-haired/complexioned.' It originated as a surname for people with brown hair 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…
Claude
French from Latin
"lame; enclosure"
Claude is a soft-spoken French name that conjures up the pastel colors of Monet and harmonies of Debussy. In France, it is used for girls as well, in fact in the Tracy Chevalier novel Lady and the…
Elsworth
Elsworth is a masculine name with English origins, derived from an Old English surname meaning 'Ella's estate' or 'Ella's farm.' The name combines 'Ella,' a personal name, with 'worth,' denoting a…
Ethelbert
English
"highborn, shining"
A Middle English form of Adalbert (and therefore of Albert), which was the name of several Saxon kings. Nowadays, Ethel plus Bert is not a fashionable sound, but Albert is feeling fresh again.
Frazier
Variation of Fraser
"strawberry"
Stylish way to name your son after basketball great Walt -- though Walt is sounding fresh again too.
Fulton
English
"fields of the village"
One of the surname names used more in the last century, à la Milton and Morton.
Harley
English
"hare clearing"
You can ride one, you can use it as a baby name – or, as is often the case, both! Harley is currently trending up for girls and down for boys in the US, although it remains predominantly masculine in…
Hillery
Hillery is a masculine name with English origins, though it's now used for both genders with slightly different spelling variations (Hillary being more common for females). The name derives from…
Thompson
English
"son of Tom"
Thompson is not as popular as Jackson or Harrison, but a novel way to circumvent Junior for the son of a Thomas.
Iver
Norwegian variant of Ivar
"yew wood, archer, warrior"
Iver is a popular name in its native Norway, but parents in the U.S. are starting to take note of this rugged yet gentle name. Stemming from the original Norse name Ívarr , it is part of a small…
Jess
This short form of Jesse has an androgynous, cowperson feel. It's Jess rather than Jesse or Jessie that can be considered among the truly androgynous baby names
Jobe
Igede, Hebrew
"give thanks; persecuted"
Depending on its origin, this cool single-syllable name has either a wonderful meaning ("give thanks" in Igede) or a terrible one ("persecuted", as a variant of the Hebrew name Job).
Lorenz
Lorenz is a masculine name of Germanic and Latin origin, derived from the Roman name Laurentius, meaning 'from Laurentum' or 'crowned with laurel,' symbolizing victory and honor in ancient Rome. This…
Luther
German
"army people"
Once restricted to evangelical Protestants honoring the ecclesiastical reformer and theologian Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant revolution. In more recent times it has been favored by parents…
Millard
Latin
"caretaker of the mill"
If you're looking for a presidential first name, keep looking.
Napoleon
Greek
"lion of the new city"
Overly ambitious choice, recently borne by the hapless hero of cult movie hit Napoleon Dynamite.
Norval
Norval is a masculine name of Scottish origin, derived from a place name meaning 'north valley' or 'northern valley.' With roots dating back to medieval Scotland, it emerged as a given name in the…
Seldon
English
"from the house on the hill"
Seldon was seldom heard as a first name but that may change now that Elon Musk has used it for his 14th child, his fourth with Shivon Zilis. Little Seldon Musk's middle name is Lycurgus, the name of…
Theophile
Theophile is a masculine name of Greek origin, combining 'theos' (God) and 'philos' (friend or lover), thus meaning 'friend of God' or 'beloved by God.' This name has deep historical roots in Europe,…