Names that Peaked in 1898
Across 4 pages
of 4
Dewey
Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
"beloved"
Not heard since the 1980s, Dewey shot into the Top 20 in 1898 thanks to the popularity of Spanish-American War naval hero Admiral George Dewey. Dewey has subtle links to his Welsh roots and relation…
Elam
Hebrew
"distant"
Elam is the name of no fewer than eight Old Testament figures. The most notable was a grandson of Noah whose followers were dubbed the Elamites. Elam is commonly used in Amish communities today.
Gifford
English
"puffy cheeks"
Could catch on in tandem with the newfound popularity of Griffin and Griffith.
Golden
Word name
Like Silver, a shimmering metallic color name, that may lean too dazzling for some, but more grounded for others, thanks to its similarity of Alden, Auden, Elden and Gordon. Given to 100 babies in a…
Hillary
Hillary as a masculine name has ancient Roman origins, derived from the Latin 'Hilarius' meaning 'cheerful' or 'merry.' Long before it gained popularity as a feminine name, Hillary was traditionally…
Hobson
English
"son of Robert"
An original way to honor an ancestral Robert. Hobson is outside the Top 1000 but is among the fastest-rising names for boys.
Hurley
Irish
"sea tide"
Hurley is a possibility as a unisex surname-name ending with the "lee" sound. It is perhaps most associated with British actress Elizabeth Hurley, and is much rarer than Harley, because the "ur"…
Juluis
Juluis is a masculine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Julius, which derives from ancient Roman origins. The Roman name Julius is associated with the prestigious Julian family line and…
Laurence
English from Latin
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
Lawrence is the dominant spelling in the US, but in the UK Laurence and Lawrence are given in almost equal numbers each year, often with the adorable nickname Laurie or Lawrie. British actor Sir…
Sampson
Hebrew
"sun"
This name, once considered overly powerful due to the superhuman strength of the biblical figure, is now an option for parents in search of an unusual route to Sam. But you really don't need that p:…
Stewart
Scottish
"steward"
This ancient royal Scottish name and its equally-correct spelling French variation Stuart had a brief vogue in midcentury America--it was Number 286 in 1955--dropped off the list completely in the…
Vivian
Latin
"life"
Deriving from the Roman cognomen Vivianus , Vivian was originally a masculine name, with Vivien being a feminine soundalike coined by Alfred Lord Tennyson for the Lady of the Lake in his famous…
Worth
English
"enclosure, homestead"
No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.
Fitzhugh
English, from German
"son of intelligence"
All the Fitz names are hard to carry, but this one has a wonderful meaning and might be a good middle name choice to honor a brilliant lineage.
Manila
Place name
The name of the capital city of the Philippines is just conceivable as a baby name, giving off the faint scent of vanilla.
Cecile
French feminine form of Cecil
"blind"
Cecile is a fairly common French saint's name, scattered throughout classic French literature--in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, in Balzac's Cousin Pons, and Zola's Germinal. Cecile, Cecily and Cecilia…
Era
Word name
Name that enjoyed some popularity early in the 20th century but now is locked in another, ahem, era.
Dillard
English
"proud and hard"
Best known these days as the name of an American department store chain, Dillard was once a baby name that ranked on the US Top 1000, at least until the middle of the last century. Today, Dillard…
Ova
Ova is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Slavic languages, it can be derived from words meaning 'egg' or 'life,' symbolizing fertility and new beginnings. In some Nordic contexts, it…
Toy
Toy is a short, distinctive masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In English, it evolved from a nickname possibly derived from the Middle English word for "fun" or "amusement." In Thai…