Names that Peaked in 1888
Across 5 pages
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About this list
The names
William
German
"resolute protection"
William is one of the most enduring of classic names for boys. It's also among the most popular boys' names, as American parents see it as being ideally conservative yet contemporary, and hands-down…
Elizabeth
Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Elizabeth is one of the most popular girls' names of all time, the female equivalent of James or William. Yet Elizabeth has so much going for it—rich history, broad appeal, and timeless style—that no…
John
Hebrew
"God is gracious"
John reigned as the most popular of all boys' Christian names for 400 years, from the time the first Crusaders carried it back to Britain until the 1950s. Then American baby namers finally seemed to…
Arthur
Celtic
" bear"
Arthur, once the shining head of the Knights of the Round Table, is, after decades of neglect, now being polished up and restored by stylish parents, inspired perhaps by the new generation of royals.…
Anna
Variation of Hannah, Hebrew
"grace"
Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne. Anna is the Latin form of…
Harrison
English
"son of Harry"
Harrison, a name made viable by Harrison Ford, is increasingly popular with parents who want an H name that's more formal than Harry or Hank but doesn't veer into the stiff Huntington-Harrington…
Mary
Hebrew or Egyptian
"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"
Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew…
George
Greek
"farmer"
Iconoclasts though we may be, we like Fred, we like Frank, and we like George, which was among the Top 10 from 1830 to 1950, when the number of little Georges started to decline. Solid, strong, royal…
Simon
Hebrew, Greek
"he has heard; flat-nosed"
Simon is pure and simple (not in the nursery rhyme sense), and an appealingly genuine Old and New Testament name that's not overused. These factors make Simon a stylish yet classic choice. In the…
Frank
Diminutive of Francis or Franklin
"Frenchman or free man"
A Top 10 name from the 1880s until the 1920s, Frank has been falling for decades but last year reversed course for the first time in a century, edging up the popularity list a few notches. And Frank…
Frankie
Diminutive of Frances, Latin
"from France; free man"
Frankie is a vintage nickname name for girls, with a down-to-earth country feel. It's one of the hottest boyish nicknames for girls, in the forefront of that trend. This renewed interest placed…
Handy
English
"useful"
Handy was once an English nickname, given to someone who was useful and skilled. It has a similar vibe to Curley, Doc, Dusty, and Muley, wordy nicknames that you might find in a John Steinbeck novel.
Epsie
Epsie is a feminine name with American origins, most commonly found in the southern United States. It likely emerged as a diminutive form of names beginning with 'Ep' such as Epiphany, or possibly as…
Ebba
Feminization of Ebbe, Swedish and Danish, or variation of Old English Æbbe
"bear god; brave boar"
Ebba, the feminine version of Ebbe (a diminutive of Eberhard or Asbjorn) and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of…
Epifanio
Spanish, Italian, Greek
"epiphany, appearance, manifesation"
A spiritual choice within Christian tradition, Epifanio is associated with the visit of Magi to the infant Christ. Sometimes known as Three Kings' Day in Western Christianity, in Eastern Christian…
Margrett
Margrett is a feminine name representing an alternative spelling of Margaret, which derives from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl.' This variant with the double 't' ending gives the classic name a…
Minda
Short form of Melinda or Sanskrit
"knowledge, wisdom"
Minda is a simle, even familiar-sounding name that is nevertheless completely unknown. It might be a contraction of Melinda but it is a genuine Indian name with an appealing meaning.
Pallie
Pallie is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It likely developed as a diminutive form of names containing the element 'pal,' such as Pallavi or Paloma, or possibly as a nickname for…
Elfie
Elfie is a charming feminine name with Germanic and Scandinavian roots. It originated as a diminutive form of names containing the element 'alf' or 'elf', which in Germanic mythology referred not to…
Florida
Place name and Spanish from Latin
"flowery"
Lacks the cachet of some newer place-names.
