Names that Peaked in 1887

Mathilde

French; Norwegian; Danish; Dutch; German, variation of Matilda

"battle-mighty"

Mathilde is even more popular in France than Matilda, a hipster favorite thanks to Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger, is here. And the French pronunciation, while confusing to English speakers,…

Theo

Diminutive of Theodora

"divine gift, gift of God"

Most commonly used as a short form of Theodora or Theodosia, this "boyish" nickname for girls is used much less frequently than Thea, Dora, or Teddy. One notable appearance however, was as the…

Magdalen

English

"woman from Magdala or high tower"

Biblical name long associated with the fallen-yet-redeemed Mary Magdalen, now rising improbably into the ranks of the fashionable among parents hungry for classic yet distinctive girls' names. The…

Mora

Spanish

"blackberry"

Intriguing derivation, though people will assume it's a simplified form of Maura.

Eleonore

Eleonore is a feminine name with Germanic origins, a variant of Eleanor, which derives from the Provençal name Aliénor, meaning 'other' or 'foreign.' This regal name has been carried by numerous…

Evalena

Evalena is a feminine name that combines elements of Eva and Lena, both classic names with their own rich histories. Eva derives from Hebrew, meaning 'life' or 'living one,' while Lena has multiple…

Elmira

English, Turkish

"noblewoman; country, world commander; ruler of the people"

A name with various origins, Elmira combines the sounds of multicultural Mira with the popular El- beginning. Despite this, the name is rarely heard in the US, though it does rank in the Top 100…

Amma

Tamil, Akan

"mother, or born on a Saturday"

An anagram of Mama, in tune with its Tamil meaning. Amma is also a Ghanaian name. The Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast frequently name their children after the day of the week they were born…

Orelia

Orelia is a melodious feminine name with Latin roots, derived from 'aurum' meaning 'gold.' It's closely related to Aurelia and can be considered a variant form. The name evokes a sense of…

Eugenie

French form of Eugenia, Greek

"wellborn, noble"

Eugenie enjoyed a major dusting off when Fergie and Prince Andrew chose it for their daughter, restoring a patina of royal sheen it hadn't had since the time of Napoleon III's glamorous empress--who…

Sabra

Hebrew

"prickly pear"

Term for a native-born Israeli, first brought to notice in Edna Ferber's 1929 novel Cimarron. Prickly pear has been interpreted to mean tough on the outside, soft and sweet within.

Gracia

Spanish variation of Grace

Although Gracia is the literal Spanish translation of Grace and is used as the Grace equivalent in Spanish-speaking countries, where it's pronounced grah-see-ah or grah-thee-ah, it's also a long-time…

Hassie

Hassie is a vintage feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Hasselene or as a nickname for names beginning with 'Has-'. It also appeared as a pet form of Hester or Esther in some…