Names that Peaked in 1897
Across 3 pages
of 3
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…
Hazel
English
"the hazelnut tree"
Hazel has a pleasantly hazy, brownish-green-eyed, old-fashioned image that more and more parents are choosing to share. Former Old Lady name Hazel reentered the popularity lists in 1998 and now is…
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…
Elsie
Diminutive of Elizabeth via its Scottish variation, Elspeth
"pledged to God"
Elsie is a sweet vintage nickname-name turned modern star. After a 30-year hiatus, Elsie started climbing the US popularity list 20 years ago and is still headed for the top. In its native Britain,…
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…
Alma
Latin, Hebrew, Kazakh
"nurturing, soul; young woman; apple"
Alma is a solemn, soulful, yet gentle sounding name that became fashionable in England following the Battle of Alma during the 19th century Crimean War. A name with multiple origins, Alma has subtle,…
Arnett
Arnett is a masculine name of Germanic origin that functions as a diminutive of Arnold, meaning 'eagle power' or 'strong as an eagle.' The name combines 'arn' (eagle) with a diminutive suffix. As a…
Manley
English
"shared wood"
Not manly enough.
Josephus
Josephus is a masculine name with ancient Roman and Biblical connections, representing the Latin form of Joseph. With roots in Hebrew Yosef meaning "he will add," the name gained prominence through…
Norton
English
"northern town"
Forever the upstairs neighbor on The Honeymooners.
Myrle
Myrle is a feminine name that serves as a variant of Merle or Muriel. Of Celtic and French origins, it ultimately derives from the Latin word 'muralis,' meaning 'relating to a wall.' Historically,…
Early
Diminutive of Earl, English, or word name
"nobleman, warrior; early"
Early is a word-turned-name, pleasantly suggesting the start of a bright new day. Of the new word and day names, Early is one of the best. Early James is the stage name of singer-songwriter Fredrick…
Arno
German
"eagle"
Subtract the last two letters of Arnold, and you're left with a much more modern-sounding name. Arno is also the name of the main river in Florence, upon which sits the famed Ponte Vecchio. The…
Percy
French surname from place name Perci-en-Auge
Percy is an adorable old name that is finally shedding its pampered Little Lord Fauntleroy image in this new era of boys with soft yet traditionally male names like Jasper and Elijah. Originating as…
Alto
Latin
"high"
With its musical allusions, a harmonious possibility.
Azzie
Azzie is a feminine name that likely originated as a diminutive form of names beginning with 'Az-' such as Azalea or Azriel, or possibly as a variant of Ozzie. With its zippy 'z' sound and cheerful…
Gussie
Gussie is traditionally a masculine nickname that originated as a diminutive for names like Augustus, Augustine, or Gustav. These parent names have Latin and Germanic roots meaning "revered,"…
