Names that Peaked in 1894
Across 4 pages
of 4
Donat
Donat is a masculine name with ancient roots, derived from the Latin name 'Donatus' meaning 'given' or 'gifted.' This classical name has historical significance in various European cultures,…
Dorsey
English from French
"from Orsay"
Associated all through the swing years with bandleader brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.
Earl
English word name
"nobleman, warrior"
Earl is a title name - brought to England by the vikings - that's out of fashion right now, unlike King and Duke. Its peak popularity was in the 1920s, which gives it a dusty great-grandpa feel, but…
Earle
Earle is a masculine name of Anglo-Saxon origin, serving as a variant of Earl. Derived from the Old English word 'eorl', it originally referred to a nobleman or warrior of high rank. The name carries…
Eldridge
English
"old, wise leader"
Name long associated with eloquent Black Panther activist Eldridge Cleaver and jazz great Roy Eldridge.
Essex
English place-name and surname
A rarely-used place name (probably because of the last three letters), Essex was the ancient kingdom of the East Saxons and is now a county in England. The singer David Essex used it as his stage…
Hervey
Hervey is a masculine name with Norman-French origins, introduced to England after the Norman Conquest. Derived from the Old French 'Hervé,' which comes from Germanic elements meaning 'army' and…
Hebert
Hebert is a masculine name with Germanic origins, functioning primarily as a surname that has occasionally transitioned to first-name usage. It represents a variant spelling of Herbert, which…
Isiah
Variation of Isaiah, Hebrew
"Salvation of the Lord"
Streamlined spelling of the biblical name, as in basketball great Isiah Thomas, falling fast from its height in the charts.
Nat
English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel
Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.
Seward
English
"sea defender"
Double whammy: the expression "Seward's folly" and inevitable sewer jokes.
Sherman
English occupational name
"shearer of woolen cloth"
Not quite as over-the-hill as Herman, but not far behind either.
Sylvanus
Latin
"wood; forest"
Sylvanus or Silvanus was the Roman god of the forest whose name is much more often found today in such variations as Sylvia, Sylvie and even Silas than in its original form. But if you're looking for…
Urban
Latin
"of the city"
Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both…
Valentine
Latin
"strength, health"
Valentine is an attractive Shakespearean name with romantic associations, but those very ties to the saint and the sentimental holiday have sent it into a decline, one which we think may be about to…
Verner
Verner is a masculine name with Germanic and Scandinavian origins, derived from the elements 'war' and 'army,' meaning 'defending warrior' or 'protecting army.' This ancient name was brought to…
Zed
Diminutive of Zedekiah
Newer than Zac, cooler than Ed, Ned, or Ted.
Etha
Etha is a feminine name with several possible origins. It may be a variant of Edith, a name of Old English origin meaning 'prosperous in war' or 'blessed combat'. Alternatively, it could be derived…
Levy
Levy is a masculine name with rich multicultural origins. In Hebrew, it derives from the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, signifying "joined" or "attached." The name carries…
Chesley
Chesley is a masculine name of Old English origin meaning 'camp clearing' or 'meadow settlement.' With roots as an English surname, it transitioned to occasional first-name use in the 19th century.…