Names that Peaked in 1900
Across 2 pages
of 2
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…
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…
Lillian
English from Latin
"lily; pledged to God"
Lillian has ranked among the US Top 100 for the past 20 years, making it Lily's less popular but more grown-up cousin. A Top 10 name at the turn of the last century, the heyday of Lillian Gish and…
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…
Helen
Greek
"torch; shining light"
Helen is a name that has connoted beauty since ancient times – Helen of Troy was the the mythological "face that launched a thousand ships," over whom the ten-year Trojan War was fought. The name…
Mack
Scottish or Irish
"son of"
Mack, when "formalized" with the final k, makes an engagingly amiable choice, a far more uncommon alternative to the ubiquitous Max and Jack, with a nice, every-guy feel. Mack entered the popularity…
Lee
English
"pasture, meadow"
A name that has a bit of a shouldn't-I-be-a-middle-name sound, though still in use as a first for both genders. Lee might be a good choice if you want something that sounds at once traditional yet…
Pearl
Latin gem name
"pearl"
Pearl, like Ruby, has begun to be polished up for a new generation of fashionable children after a century of jewelry box storage. The birthstone for the month of June, Pearl could also make a…
Ennis
Irish
"from the island"
An appealing Irish placename with a unisex feel, Ennis would be a fresh alternative to Dennis and Ellis. It's little-used for boys and even rarer for girls, but since Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons…
Earnest
Earnest is a masculine name of English origin that developed from the word 'earnest,' meaning 'serious,' 'sincere,' or 'determined.' The name gained popularity during the Victorian era when virtue…
Furman
Variation of Fermin, Basque, Spanish
"strong"
Furman is a surname-y spin on the Basque saint's name Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona, where Hemingway famously ran with the bulls.
Jessie
Variation of Jesse
The -ie version is usually for girls, with the simple e ending—pronounced the same as Jessie—for boys, though the spellings sometimes cross gender lines.
Lambert
French and German
"land brilliant"
Ancient saint's name used for cowardly cartoon lion.
Ossie
Short form of Oscar, Osias, Oswald et al
Ossie is best-known as the name of actor Ossie Davis, whose full name did not start with Os: It was Raiford. But Ossie makes a cute contemporary short form for any name beginning with Os.
Rossie
Rossie is a masculine name that can function as a diminutive of Ross or as a standalone name. It has Scottish and Gaelic origins, with Ross meaning 'headland' or 'promontory' in Gaelic, often…
Tallie
Tallie is a diminutive form that can derive from several longer names including Talbot, Taliesin, Tallia, or Natalia. As a masculine name, it's most often shortened from Talbot, an Old English…
Kattie
Short form of Katherine, Greek
"pure"
Kattie or Katti is an unusual short form of Katherine, more old fashioned than Kate and more unusual than Kathy. Plus there's the "catty" issue.
Leatha
Leatha is a feminine name of English origin, likely derived as a variant of Letha or Aletha, which comes from the Greek 'aletheia' meaning 'truth'. This vintage name was most popular in the United…
Birtha
Birtha is a feminine name with Germanic roots, functioning as a variation of Bertha, which derives from the elements 'beraht' or 'bright' meaning 'bright' or 'famous.' This ancient name carries…