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Names that Peaked in 1919

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Thu Nov 30 2023
  1. William

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"

    • Description:

      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 the most popular baby name beginning with W of all time.
  2. Vera

    • Origin:

      Russian

    • Meaning:

      "faith"

    • Description:

      Vera was the height of fashion in 1910, then was for a long time difficult to picture embroidered on a baby blanket. Now, though, it has come back into style along with other old-fashioned simple names such as Ada and Iris.
  3. John

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      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 tire of this straight-arrow, almost anonymous John Doe of names, replacing it with fancier forms like Jonathan and the imported Sean and Ian.
  4. Edward

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy guardian"

    • Description:

      Unlike perennials William, John and James, Edward is a classic that moves in and out of fashion. This royal Anglo-Saxon standard has benefited in recent years from the popularity of the hot hero of the vampire sensation Twilight — Edward Cullen — who has given his name a new infusion of cool.
  5. Sybil

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "seer, prophetess"

    • Description:

      The image of the lovely Lady Sybil, tragic youngest daughter of the Crawley family on Downton Abbey is likely to go a long way towards reviving this almost forgotten name, off the list since 1966 and most popular in the 1920s and '30s.
  6. Mary

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"

    • Description:

      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 roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).
  7. Lucille

    • Origin:

      French variation of Latin Lucilla

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Lucille is a name that had long been overpowered by its link to Lucille Ball, with an image of tangerine-colored hair, big, round eyes, and a tendency to stage daffy and desperate stunts. But with the newfound craze for double-L names like Lily and Lila, Lulu and Luna, and as the choice of Lucille by hipster parents Maya Rudolph and Paul Thomas Anderson, Lucille is breaking free from its old clownish image, moving rapidly up the charts over the past decade after a long nap.
  8. Chester

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fortress, walled town,"

    • Description:

      Chester is a comfortable, little-used teddy-bear of a name that suddenly sounds both quirky and cuddly.
  9. Edwin

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wealthy friend"

    • Description:

      Some might be surprised to learn that Edwin has been a consistent presence on the popular names list since statistics have become available.
  10. Irene

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Serene Irene, the name of the Greek goddess of peace and one of the most familiar Greek goddess names, was hugely popular in ancient Rome and again in the United States a hundred years ago.
  11. Raymond

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "wise protector"

    • Description:

      Now that the show has gone into reruns, does anybody still love Raymond? Though it's been long dormant, some parents, including Jack Nicholson, are finding its cool name component, largely through the nickname Ray.
  12. Helen

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "torch; shining light"

    • Description:

      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.
  13. Howard

    • Origin:

      German, English

    • Meaning:

      "high guardian; brave heart"

    • Description:

      Howard, once hugely popular -- in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to life. Along with such formerly-fusty names as George and Harold, Howard may soon feel baby-appropriate, perhaps with the short form Ward, or the clunky-cute Howie.
  14. Bernard

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "strong, brave as a bear"

    • Description:

      Bernard is obviously a saint's name, but how did it get to the big, benevolent dog? The eleventh century monk, patron saint of mountain climbers, who lived in the Alps, was famed for setting up safe houses for pilgrims on their way to Rome over the treacherous St. Bernard Pass, and the canine breed, also used to rescue people in treacherous conditions, was named for him.
  15. Quentin

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fifth"

    • Description:

      Quentin, an offbeat name with lots of character, relates to the Latin for the number five and is by far the subtlest and most usable of the Latin birth-order names, masculine as well as stylish and distinctive. It was borne by a third-century saint and came to England with the Normans.
  16. Mildred

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "gentle strength"

    • Description:

      Is it clunky cute, strong and vintage, or dreadful and mildewy? Like Gertrude and Bertha, Mildred is one that divides the crowds, but with popular nickname Mildred and renewed interest in Winifred, Deborah, Millicent, and Gwendolen, it's not entirely out of the question that Mildred might make a return in coming years
  17. Vernon

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "place of alders"

    • Description:

      Once aristocratic British surname yet to be revived. Vince Vaughn recently gave his son the same double initials as his own when he named him Vernon Vaughn.
  18. Eloisa

    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish variation of Eloise

    • Meaning:

      "healthy; wide"

    • Description:

      Eloisa captures a lovely name back from the spoiled little girl at the Plaza. Historical romance writer Eloisa James has helped make this antique name sound fresh and sassy again.
  19. Sibyl

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "seer, oracle"

    • Description:

      The original but less common spelling of Sybil, this name comes from Greek and Roman mythology, in which the sibyls were female prophets. A name that has dipped in and out of style since the Middle Ages, the rise of the lovely Lady Sybil Crawley on television's Downton Abbey may shine a light on this mythological name.
  20. Santina

    • Description:

      Santina is a feminine name of Italian origin, functioning as a diminutive form of Santa, meaning "saint" or "holy." The suffix "-ina" adds an endearing quality, essentially meaning "little saint" or "little holy one." The name has traditional usage in Italian families, particularly those with Catholic backgrounds, and carries connotations of purity and virtue. Santina has moderate recognition in Italian-American communities but remains relatively uncommon in mainstream American naming practices. The name has a melodic, romantic quality typical of Italian names, with its soft consonants and flowing vowel endings. Parents might choose Santina to honor Italian heritage, express religious devotion, or simply for its gentle, feminine sound and graceful character.